Newark post., 1910-07-20


story OF its writing is given.
The composer. Ferdinand Lust,
came from Germany to the Onited
States about thirty-iive years ago. lie
taught Nine. Mojeska's son i'll San
Francisco in 1876, when that actress
was preparing for her American debut
He was chorus master at the Winter
Garden Theatre at the same time; al
terwards became music critic Tor ,.
Bramards Sons Co. OF Chicago, from
there he went to Boston, where he
became director of the Symphony Or
chestra. He composed manv pieces,
the ROYALTIES from one alone bringing
small fortune.
After living at the height OF such
popularity, enjoying all that money
and friends could supply, sudden re-
verses came. Even his health deserted
him. He driited to California, taught
few years and then went TO Colorado
Springs. From that time he became
wanderer, without friends. He
joined the Marie Ball Opera Com
pany as conductor, but things didn't
go well, and when Clarksville, Tenn,
was reached the organization dsband
ed
As his youth slipped away sorrow
came upon him The memory OF the
girl he had loved in the fatherland.
from whom he had been separated by
lovers quarrel, and all the sorrow
OF that romance, grew upon him.
Through the efforts OF w. w Barks-
dale, proprietor OF the Leaf Chronicle.
he was able to get few pupils, and
through one OF these bit OF cheer
was brought to him. This pupil was a
beautiful Southern girl of nineteen
one who was aS sweet and unseliish
as beautiful She caught the sadness
in the old mans life and to make the
sun shine ior him ccame her chief
aim. Sometimes when the lesson was
over. she would pin a rosebud on his
coat or send some little delicacy to his
lonely study. Whcn he found big
bunch OF Southern roses there he
would place them on the piano aid
play ont his soul To the fragrant bios
some. One morning. when he arrived
for the usual lesson. she saw that he
was weak and insisted that i should be
postponed. He refused--he needed the
money. so she reluctantly consented
The effort was too much for him.
His head began TO reel, his eyes dim
med and his voice failed.
When consciousness returned. the
lonely man felt gentle touch on his
brow. 1t recalled the girl OF long ago
III friend like this one could do ST.
much for an old man, what would love
have been N his younger days.?
The kindness OF the girl beside him.
her tender words. her gentle deeds.
overwhelmed him. His eyes filled
with tears as he began to speak:
Your name is Rosa. 1t is a sweet
name. You are my friend You-you
are my Rosa! My Rosary. | will
write song and it shall be called that
/ for YOU"
It was then that this song was born.
! Although almost too i'll to stand alone
he was seized with inspiration, and
reached his studio. All night long he
toiled at the piano, putting his feel
| ings into music.
He adopted Robert Cameron Rod
gers poem, My Rosary, to the music
| OF his soul. In the morning he car
ried the copy to the girl, and she, sing
| ing to his accompaniment, sang the
| song as II has never been sung since.
He never recovered from this. II
! was his Rosary who sat by his bedside
| and cooled his brow. as the light of lie
| died away.
His funeral took place from the
church which he had served as organ
! ist rs the minister finished his dis
! coarse girl stepped to the chancel
/ rail and sang My Rosary to the soft
accompaniment of the great organ
| The dead composer lay at the singer $
| feet. As the tender, sweet melody
| tfoated out over the audience, many
eyes were filled with tears.
| When the remains had been laid to
rest in the cemetery, the same girlish
| figure placed bunch OF his iavorite
| Southern roses on the new mound