Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1909-01-30

noon In St Paul's cathtdral The con.
gregatlon fingered as he supposed he
was playing them out until at last the
outraged vergcrS went ard let all the
wind out of the bellows in the middl'
of Bachs mighty fugue in \ minor
He was grateful fer the "brGutiCul
manner" in which they performed his
oratorlO. In the WCiGhti2r sense the
English are without doubt more pro
foundly musical people than those Of
the supposedly more artistic countries.
The sacred oratOrio does not commend
itself generally to Amcri, ans as to tha
English, though Handlers "Mcssiah" Is
now heard every winter in all the
large cities and towns.
When the new king, William ",
came to the throne of Prussia he of
fered MendclsSohn the dictatorship OF
music In his new Academy Of Arts.
MendclsSohn declined at first, afraid
of the anXicticS and hustle incident to
every new institution. At last he ac-
cepted, in May, 1871. That he had his
hands full is evident from " letter to
a London friend: The spring program
Is more troublesome than ever nine
teen concerts between Jan. / and
March IL, seven more to com" in the
next three weeks and at least three
rehearsalS Il week" He was bound
for year. Meanwhile he was often
| In England playing for Queen Vic
toria and giving her organ lessons, and
he dedicated his Scotch symphony to
her
The king decorated him with his
Order of Merit, given at the same time
to LisZt, Mcyerbeer and RoSSini. Soon
after receiving it Mcndclssohn and
party of friends were enjoying Il walk
and crossed the bridge at Offcnbach.
One of the gentlemen paid toll for the
party. The tollkecpcr came up to this
gentleman moment after. "l1Xcusc
me. Isn't that the NJ. MendelSSohn
whose music we sing at our society,""
On being answered Yes" the man
handed one toll fee back IF you
please, l would like to pay for him
myself" When told of this Mcndcls-
sohn was delighted. II like that bet
ter than his maJesty's order"
Family cares, the birth of a fourth
child, his wife'S and his own delicate
health and the many journeys and
public duties he had to perform
wcaricd him Of the Berlin academy
tie The king gave in to his petition
for release from permanent residence
IN Berlin. He received an invitation
to conduct a music festival In New
York In 1915, but he had to rest. His
opera "Antigone" was produced in
London and his great dramatic ora
torio "Eliiah" in birmingham, for
whose society it was written. This
was In August, 1916. 1t is classcd
with The Messiah" in popular esti-
nation.
TO merely name the celebrities who
crowded around him now would fill
this column and the list of his works
page. Deaths in the family and
anXieties incident to Il nervous tenn
permanent undermined his health, so
that he collapsed on Nov. t, lS47.
He was of slight If not frail build,
about five feet six. active and excita-
Bile. His face is to be clasScd with
that of Edgar Poe fellow pilgrim from
1909, but who outlived the German
nearly two years. y face always pale,
but dark of hair and in the hollows,
an overrctined natural air and intense
susceptibility. Thackeray said, Men
deSSohnS IS the most beautiful face |
ever saw, like what l imagine our Sa-
viour's to have been" His whole
frame and countcnance were In con-
stant activity, and his large dark
brown eyes glOwed like lamps. 1t
may cheer the ambitious who covet
the fame of genius to know that the
brain food for which Mcndclssohn
most hankered was rice with milk and
cherry pie. And this dreadful glut-
tony produced not only his music, but
the pictures and lively letters and did
not lessen his enthusiasm for dancing
swimming and gymnastics.
1t is not given to many sons of gen
iuS to enjoy MendelsSOhns immunity
from the ordinary ills of life. His
was Il path of roses. No improvldent
marriage, no wolf at his door, no
vices, no catastrophes none of the
imbitter their victim by distorting his
real better self. Why grumblc be
cause a placid life produces gentle
works? Nothing can be less profitable
or equitable than to compare Men
delSsohn's music with Becthovens,
CbOpID'S an. NEnpunr'c Tho hoo iG oil