The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-07-09

Publishers. New YORK
The autobiography Of Wagner is the
sensation of tho time throughout the
literary and musical world, 1t is al
most as intimate as that OF rousseau
and is of the most effective character.
Mr.. Wagner certainly had style OF
writing that was most appealing, to
the charm of which every reader must
yield.
In explaining the writing of this life
of his, Mr.. Wagner says in the preface;
The contents OF these volumes havs
been wrtten down directly from my d,c
Ntation. over a period of several years.
by my friend and wife. who wished me
10 tell her the story OF my life. 1T was
the desire of both of us that these de-
tails OF my life should be accessible 10
our family and to our sincere and trustee
friends: and we decided therefore, III
order to provide against a possible de.
struction of the one mafiuscript. to nave
a small number Of copies printed at our
own expense AS the value of this auto
biography consists In IT'S unadorned We
is it's only justification, therefore my
statements had TO be accompanied py
precise names and dates, hence there
could be no question OF tneT Hea,h 2hoiGa,IId sbonId
interest in them still survive in our DC,
scendants. and on that point / intend
leaving directions In my VIII.
1t appears that number OF friends
were well acquainted with the leading
facts in this autobiography, but they
carefully observed the iniunctions of
the great musician and writer. and
kept to themselves such knowledge as
they possessed.
The work is divided into four parts.
Volume one contains the first and Sec
ond parts; volume two contains the
third and fourth parts. Part first tells
of mis- childhood, his musical studies,
his travels in Germany, including his
first marriage, and his visit to Paris
in 1889 to ls42. A very curious sec
tion of the first part relates to his chal-
lenees and acceptances of duels in his
student days, and the amazing fact
that all of his antagonists, any one
Of whom was easily his master in
sword play, disappeared under singu-
lar circumstances prior to the time
when the duel was to come off. The
nrst part treats of his studies and
brings him to the point Of deciding that
music must be his career, and Tint to
be successful in his career he must be
his own librettist
Part two relates to his residences and
work in Dresden during the years from
]s42 TO 1851, in which he was n busy
and prolific composer, and at the close
of which he Inadvertently got into Il
political ENHANCEMENT which caused
him much distress His essay and
speech intended really as Il compliment
TO the King of Saxony was universally
construed as an attack upon the throne,
an oflense to the court, and II brought
on him impacable enemies, who con
tinued 10 persecute him for years.
The second volume tells in part three
of his life from 1850 to 1861. chiefly at
Zurich, but also Of his work at Venice,
Lucerne and Paris.
Part four, 1861 to 1864, continues
his activity in composition, and brings
him to the haven of peace, where the
young king Of Bavaria sent for him.
The messenger of the king, Pfstermeis-
ter, private secretary, on finding Wag
ner, expressed his great pleasure at the
meeting, Saying that he had been vain
ly seeking for him in Vienna and other
places. He was charged with note
FOR Wagner from the young king of
Bavaria, together with portrait and
ring as present. The narrative
continues
In words which. though few. penetrated
10 the very core OF my being the youth
iul monarch confessed his great partially
LOT my work. and announced his firm re-
solVe 10 keep me near him as his friend,
so that might escape any malignant
stroke OF fate. Herr Phstermeister In
formed me at the Same time thet he was
instructed 10 conduct me to Munich al
once TO see the King. and begged my per-
mission TO Inform his master by tee-
Ing day. | was invited TO dine with the
Eckerts. but Herr Pfistermeister was
obliged TO decline 10 accompany me- My
friends. who had been Joined by young
Weishetiner from Osthofen were very
naturally amazed and delighted at the
news ] brought them While we were at
table Eckert was Informed by telegram
Of Meyerbeer's death in Paris. and
Weishel liner burst out in boorlsh laughter
10 think that the master OF opera, who
had doine me so much harm, had by a
strange coincidence not lived TO see this
day. Herr Won Gall also made his ap-
pearance, and had to admit In friendly
surprise that I certainly did not need
his good services any more He had al
ready giver the order for Lohengrin. and
now paid me the stipulated sum on the
spot. At o'clock that afternoon I met
travel with him 10 Munich, where my
visit to the King was announced for the
following morning.
From thenceforward Wagner was
lifted out Of all anxiety for his future.
A model theater was erected for him
at Bayreuth. where his operas were
given 10 the delight OF music lovers
all over the world, on a scale of mag.
nihcence and perfection bevond any
thing known heretofore in the world.
His series Of compositions are well
known to any who wish to consult cas-
lily accessible records respecting them.
His last work. "Parsifal,' is by all
odds his greatest work tt was pro-
duccd in the Bayreuth theater, making
sensation in the musical world, in
1882. He rovolutionized the opera.
Wagner's was great life, of vicis-
situdes, full of trouble, disappoint.
ments, toll, and even peril up to the
time that he was befriended by the
King of Bavaria, He had to run the
gauntlet of false friends, of misguided
friends who undertook very earnestly
TO dissuhde him from his purpose of a
musical career, and the usual advisers
who meddle in his life, sometimes seek.
Ing their own advantage, and some.
tinestimos through pure love of med
dlesomeness. The iDborn tenacity OF
character Of the man, however. tri
u,nphsd over everything and surmount
ed all obstacles. He pursued his own
career, III srAtc Of all adverse in
huences, and came out at the. end ms
the great musical genius of his time
Yet In sookiug advantages, Wagne,