The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-06-26

O and Schubert are the three highest pinnacles of music.
 schubert. the most poetic musician that ever was. "-Liszt.
 "Truly. Schubert has the divine spark. Beethoven
 He was born in the city if Vienna, on January S1, 1797, and when they laid the babe in his mothers arms she named him Franz Peter By his Christian name however, few know him; he is cailed tEe world over simply Schubert.
 Franz was the thirteenth child born to his mother and to poverty. His father was a schoolmaster, and at that time, as well as now, members of that most emi- nent profession received no salaries Tn proportion to the important services they were rendering the state. Schubert, the schoolmaster, received only about S175 per annum. and on this sum he was forced to provide for his wife and children.
 Poverty therefore, became com panion of the Schubert that the world knows, at his very birth; it continued with him through his brilliant career, and was at his bedside when his brain, all afre, ceased to throb.
 AS A child Schubert sang soprano solos in the parish church, and played the vio- lin with remarkab ble skill When he was II years old he was sent to the lmperlal school where boys were taught 10 sing in order that they might be prepared to assist in rendering the musical parts Of the services in the imperial court chapel. He remained here for about five years, | for him.
 Though a mere child, Schubert had done some work in composition before he en- tered the imperial school, but while at the school he accomplished an enormous amount of work and piled up his compo- sitions for the future. He had wild genius for composing. for composing s sake.
 Upon leaving the imperial school, Schu- bert began to teach in his fathers S school; but his ability and his ambition led him to seek for something higher. This "something higher had it's financial side, also and as the poor young man needed money he became restive under his em- barrassments. He, therefore, applied for the position of music master in school, but failed in his desire. School after school was tried, but he was always too late or too early; disappointment after disappointment fell to him. In despair finally he abandoned his purpose, or wish, I to teach music and determined to devote his life to composing
 One of his former classmates at the imperial school offered him one of his lte nd some financial aid This kindness was ac- cepted and Schubert at once became musical Bohemian.
 If the reader has seen MT. David War field, in his perfection of histrionic gen jus as he personates "The Music Mas ter" he can easily picture in his mind tbe life of a musical Bohemian, or TOT that matter. the life of the Bohemian painter or writer. It Is a life without regular employment, without regard 10 the conventionalities of society not al ways scrupulous about associates ana in whose realm everybody is hard up against the money-proposition; yet, 1t IS a. life of adventure, of a certain order of iollity, of late suppers, of wine and |
 shin The Bohemian life is helpful, In d. way. It brings together men Of the same tastes and of the same professions, who discuss art criticize one another's s work in all friendliness, thus furnishing Inspiration to do better. This Bohemia has no laws nor constitution, except the unwritten law that every dime shall he shared with him who has nothing. All these features are disclosed In MT David Warfeld's Music Master
 Into Bohemia Schubert entered as the friend of his schoolmate, Schober. Hlther he brought his songs to be read or sung while Bohemia regaled itself with
 .schwartz-Brod und Bier Winter IS usuallv severe on Bohemians, and fuel there is scarce, because money among the Rohemtans is conspicuous by his ab- sence. Then, too, the unsystematic lire ;s mt conducive to health. So that Schu- bert being frail anyway. began to fall Into ill-health. Sickness and poverty stared him in the face He could now hardly keep up with the pace of Bo- lhar,nia He felt that he must retire fro,, its strange fascinations; but he ,,new mt how he could live without its to,d and sympathy. To live in Vienna, and
 ,o+ +o abandon his old friends was im-
 ,oss,hle He had come now to despise the nrofession of a music master and vet only this was left to him.
 He accepted an offer to teach the wire land daughter of a nobleman remote rom vienna As the music master ho was in stalled in the old castle; he was treated as the servants were. eating with them a ,odeine in the servants quarters. ,yo rece,ved. for each lesson that he gave, tba munificent sum of 40 cents. Poverty lin its ragged robes still followed nlm. Rv this time his wonderful co1npo- sitions were quite well known and lsunr everywhere, but, to his dtsappolnt- ment. he received mere ptttance TOT his work, while his publishers With lbotb hands were gathering Tn the sbekels from the singing world by ms novertv Schubert was driven to accep. lanvthing that might be offered Tor his songs. To instance: When the Erlktng was offered to the publishers thev declined 1t. Some friends made m the amount necessary to print ft Tn q wear 800 copies were sold, but half the proceeds the printers claimed. When it was seen that the musical world wanted the Erlking a publisher orered Schubert 800 forins for 1t pro-