New-York tribune., 1907-07-07
Childhood of MendeEssobr1.
BY ELIZABETH DUDDERIDGE.

Fannie and Felix music she gave them at first
hard for the most restless child Other teach
ers were engaged as the children grew older. and
they had thorough instruction in piano. musical
composition, drawing and languages. well in
general subjects 1t easily be imagined that
these small people had little time for dleness and
FeIlX. al least. remembered years after how much
they enjoyed Sunday because on that day they
were not obliged 10 get up at 5 o'clock 10 work
II must not De supposed, however. that they were
not allowed any recreation. AS Felix was the most
important member OF the family, we are told q
good deal about his faVOrte amusements. He was
a good hOrseman took unusual pleasure In swim
ming and dancing and delighted In frolics Of all
kinds. Indeed he was called by n friend ..rhe king
Of games and romps." IS likely that the other
children, with such monarch among them. had
good time. too. In spite OF all their hard work.
1t was not long before the good musical training
these children had and their industry, along with
their great natural gifts, produced such good re
suits that It became the custom Of the Mendels
sohhs 10 nave musical party on every second
Sunday morning. On these occasions there was 4
small orchestra; either Fannie or Felix played the
piano. Rebekah sang and Paul played the vIolOn-
cello. Felix always conducted. even when he was
small that he had stand on a stool TO he
seen In his twelfth year he began regularly to
compose, and the Sunday morning concerts
his compositions were enjoyed by Qf the
most noted musicians. for It seldom that
any such passed through Berlin without
attending Of the Mendelssohn Sunday con
certs. When Felix fifteen the family removed
10 larger house, where there n hall that
seated several hundred persons. and here ne hac
an opportunity 70 become accustomed to larger
audiences. lie had played at a public concert when
he not quite ten, and had been much applaud
ed, but his public appearances during his early
youth were few. and 1t IN the home concerts
that he gained nearly all the experience in play
ing and conducting before audience that he
needed to ft him for the career Of a professional
musician.
When at last Felix Mendelssohn- Bartholdy went
out into the world TO II he could his living
By his music he cordially received everywhere
and a OF Europe lasting three years. which
he began when he twenty. series Of
successes and delights After this journey was
completed he received an appointment as director
of music III Dusseldorf whore he remained less
than three years. He then went TO IeipsC, and
the remainder OF his life spent In that city
and in Berlin. except when he made short visits to
other cities TO III musical enBagements.
-Felix' means happy, ana the name is descript-
i've of Mendelssohn's life. He was one Of the few
great musicians who never had to endure poverty,
neglect unkindness and any disappointments lac
met with nothing compared with the love
and admiration he received from his friends. But
his life short one. for he died when he was
only thirty y-eight.
Those who know only little about music greatly
admire Mendclssohn's Songs Without Words and
his oratorio Elijah" although the more learned
may value some Of his other compositions more
highly. But II that the time has not yet
arrived when we should SIX the learned musicians
has now been dead for sixty years, they have not
been able to agree to how great he really was.
He was much praised during his lifetime, and some
have thought that he praised more than he de
served but there one service which he rendered
10 the cause of music about which there Is appar-
emily no difference Of opinion. When he was in his
nineteenth year he got together a small choir Of
sixteen members to study the St Matthew Pas
sion of Johann Sebastian Bach. and finally sue
ceeded in bringing about great public perform
ance OF that work IN Berlin for the first time in
one hundred years. Throughout his life Mendels-
sohn did all In his power 20 bring the works of
this great man. who had never been eeneraly un-
derstood or appreciated, TO the knowledge OF the
nnblic and II was through his efforts that mon
ument was erected to his memory in Leipslc.