The evening world., 1917-01-08
Fifty Boys and Girls
Famous in History
BY Albert Payson Terhune

by Albert PaySOn lerhune Al
cs1d,at 1911. b. n: r- Tascs,. Co, n. ~ Tl E'@. w~s5
No. IS. RAMEAU, the Boy Prodigy. ),
e was destined to be the foremost musician OF his day. But ~
was forced to fight for every step Of his long journey to fame
And tn hight began when he a only six years old. ~
N He was Jean Philippe Rameau. % Of . church orsanist n
Dnon. France. From babyhood music a a s a second language to him
At FIRST bis father was well pleased with the little fellows queer aptitude
for melody. He even Dragged that the child las a prodigy.
But presently jeans family began to worry. The boy a six yssrs
old and would not take the trouble to learn his letters He would not
even play with other children. but spent his every waking hour in studying
He war packed on to bosrding school. But in a amazingly short tins
he a expelled. A letter from the schools Principal explained that JNaa
used to sing to himself during recitations, jotung down musical notes %
his copy book and that he even replied In song to his teachers examine
ton questions.
The Dillon orsani,t pleaded with thu Principal to take Jean back. de-.
ciarins that he himself had thrashed " nonsense of him. and that .
few OccasdOna whippnss from the Principal would doubtless make TIE
s~~~~~~e 1t a {. n age when so,omons maxim o., spar.
nsm the rod and spoil the child IA vigorously snforesd'
both at home and in schools A modern teacher who
should innict such mercres. punishment. o n a pupn
as a then the fate of all schooboys would be sent to prison for gross
cruelty. A bunch OF tough wooden witches n was art y TN
regular equipment of evey schooiroom. Study hours were long; holiday
Back to school rent the unhappy Jean Rameau. And. q . before As
was o absorbed in music that he unconsciOu'iy AMI aloud in class seen.
He was whipped brutaily and frequently.
They logged me-" he wrote iater." until I cried. But I cried in tuaa-
when whIppinss failed to cureh him he was locked for a day IN = aark
cupboard. He spent that day of darkness In composing a song Of despair.
tTMs song. by the way is the principal aria in his opera "pardanus) TIE
Principal gave III the ask of breaking the sensitive ehnds spirit and saes
The elder Raaeau a: last realized tina. Jean could .ve b. anything
but a musician. So h sen him to Italy to complete hi. musical sducauoaL
There the happy lad threw himself heart and soul intoehs study Of hs
BY the time he reached hi, thirteenth year he i. o brilliant =.
orsanis, that he was engaged to play a the Eeat cathedral at csrmont
France. In hiring him a. organist h authorities made him sis q N
tract to remain In the cathedrals service for a term Of years.
Jean a willing enough to do his For a time everything went well.
Throngs Of people Hooked to ear he marvellous boy orsanist Jean WI
=. .s' ssss ss 90 'Sss TN, sS1 r; sss ' saS'sl a the &c s s%s ? .';ss 10 sl s::'; 10. Az Il:
career to develop Is he wished 1T to. =
He begged the Ckrmont authorities TO free him
from his contract They refused. Next day there
- Se~W n to be a great organ recital Rameau sestaA
~ ~y himself al the instrument and began to phy. Al
hrst the notes sweled forth in solemn beat Then.
suddenly under the boys dft fingers, the began to play two tuner
at a ume-one sacred and n operate. N
The big audience as aghast. But a minute later a hideous series Of
crashing discords shook the whole building. The organ was now piayins
three airs n nee. and playing them horribly. The recital broke u In cen.
fusion. Rameau was asked % explain. He answered gravely:
81 think the organ Is bewitched. I think It will keep OF being Sa.
wnched until ar allowed to 20 % Paris"
The authorities. after a stormy conference, released Jean from his con
tract lie hurried "a Paris. There his rea career began-a career that
was to make him immortal in the world Of music. y