The St. Joseph observer. [volume] (St. Joseph, Mo.) 1906-1932, 1917-06-16
STORY ABOUT A
GREAT MUSICIAN

zone moonlight evening In winter"
writes the biographer of Beethoven.
1--WE were walking thru a narrow street
of Bonn. 'Hush!' exclaimed the great
composer. suddenly pausing before a
little mean dwelling, what sound Is
that? IL Is from my Sonata in f.
Hark! how well IL Is played! In the
midst of the finale there was a break.
and a sobbing voice cried, L cannot
play any more. 1t Is 80 beautiful: 1t
is utterly beyond my power to do 1t
justice. oh, what would / not give to
go to the concert at Coiogne' Ah! my
sister, said a 2nd voice. why create
regrets when there Is no remedy? We
can scarcely pay our rent You are
right said the 1st speaker, and yet
I wish for once in my life to hear some
really good music. But IL is of no
use.' Let us go in said Beethoven.
Go i'm I demonstrated, what should
we go in for?' Il will play to her.
replied my companion in an excited
tone, here is feellng-genius-un
standing! / will play to her, and she
will understand 1t. Pardon me- he
continued as he opened the door and
saw young man sitting by table,
mending shoes, and a young girl lean
ing sorrowfully upon an old-fashioned
piano. L heard music and was tempt
ed to enter. l am a musician. Il
also overheard something of what you
said You wish to hear-that is, you
would like-that is-shall play for
you% Thank you said the shoemaker.
but our plano is so wretched, and we
have no music No music!' exclaim-
ed the composer, How, then, does the
don.' he added, stammering as he saw
that the girl was blind, 4 had not per-
ceived before. Then play by ear? But
where do you hear the music, since you
frequent no concerts?' we lived at
Bruhl for 2 years, and, while there, l
used to hear a lady practicing near us.
During the summer evenings her win
dows were generally open, and I walk
ed to and fro outside to listen to her.
Beethoven seated himself at the piano.
Never, during all the years / knew
him, did hear him play better than to
that blind girl and her brother. Even
the old instrument seemed inspired.
The young man and woman sat as If
entranced by the magical, sweet sounds
that flowed out upon the air in rhyth-
mical swell and cadence, until, sud
denly, the flame of the single candle
wayered, sank, flickered, and went out.
The shutters were thrown open, admit
ting "A flood of brilliant moonlight, but
the player paused, as If lost in thought.
| Wonderful mani said the shoemaker
in a low tone, who and what are your
! Listen!' replied the master, and he
| played the opening bars of the Sonata
in +. Then you are Beethoven burst
from the young people In a delighted
recognition. oh. play to us once
| more they added, as he rose to go
only once more!' L will improvise a
sonata to the moonlight said he. gaz-
ing thoughtfully upon the liquid stars
shining so softly out of the depths Of
| cloudless winter sky. Then he play
ed a sad and infinitely lovely move
ment which crept gently over the in
strument like the calm flow of moon
light over the earth. This.was follow
ed by a WILD. elfin passage in triple
time-a sort of grotesque interlude,
like the dance Of fairies upon the lawn.
Then came a swift agitated ending-a
breathless, hurrying, trembling move
ment, descriptive OF flight. and un-
certainty, and vague impulsive terror,
which carried us away on it's rustling
wings, and left us all In emotion and
wonder. Farewell to you.' he said, as
he rose and turned toward the door.
You will come again?' asked the host
and hostess in a breath. Yes. yes said
Beethoven hurriedly 4 will come
again. and give the young lady some
lessons FAREWELL Then to me he
added. let us make haste back. that
may write out that sonata while l can
yet remember IT. We did return in
haste. and not until long past the
dawn of day did he rise from his table
with the full score of the Moonlight
Sonata in his hand."-Personality