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Full Title	Our continent, v. I, no. 21, July 5, 1882.
Contributor	Hood, Edwin Paxton, 1820-1885.
Date Added	24 February 2020
Format	Magazine
Language	English
Publish Date	1882-07-05
Publisher	Philadelphia : Our Continent Pub. Co.
Source	Dime Novel and Popular Literature
Alternate Title	Voluntaries on the Lake of Como / by Rev. Paxton Hood.
Topic	American literature > 19th century > Periodicals. Popular literature > Specimens. English literature > 19th century > Periodicals.
About	More Details Permanent Link
Disclaimers	Disclaimer of Liability Disclaimer of Endorsement

OCR 322 OUR CONTINENT, AN ILLUSTRATED WEEKLY MAGAZINE——~ISSUEO EVERY WEONESOAY. conDucTxD ay ALBION W. TOURGEE. Teaus: 34.00 a year; $2.00 for siz months, invariably in ad- vance. Mailed postage free. Money sent by registered letter or money order will be at our risk, . Correspondence, both business and editorial, should be addressed, “Our Continent,’’ Philadelphia, Pa. Back numbers containing the preceding chapters of our serials can be obtained from all newsdealers and booksellers, or direct Srom this office. —— “Ocr ConTINENT” is on sale in London at the International News Company, 11 Bouverie Street, Fleet Streets in Paris at ms, 15 Bonlevard St. Martin; ia Germany at F. A. Brockhans's, Leipzig, Berlin and Vienna. Published by - : “QUR CONTINENT" PUBLISHING CO., ELEVENTH ANO CHESTNUT STS. Philadetphia. Entered at the Poust-office at Philadelphia as second-clase mutter, PHILADELPHIA, JULY 5, 1882. Ir the reader will take this number of Our ContI- NENT, and fold it once across the middle and turn the folded side to his left, he will have the form in which the magazine will hereafter appear. It will be a thirty-two page quarto, of two columns to the page, printed on a sheet of the same size, and containing the same amount of matter as at present, To this will be added a cover and a Business Department of eight pages. In explanation of this change, we desire to say that when the original cover was taken off we assured our readers that as soon as we could ascertain the shape best adapted. to the magazine and the changes needed they should be adopted. Toascertain that we carefully noted all objections to the present form, and from these and our own observations deduce the following reasons in favor of the new one: 1.—It is more easily held and carried and read. 2.—It is more convenient for preservation and binding. 3.—It is in harmony with the magazine character of the publication. 4.—Fine engravings can be printed better upon a smaller page. 5.—It gives opportunity for advertising without trench- ing upon the pages devoted to reading matter. §.—It is less liable to injury in the mails. These considerations have overborne the counter ar- gument of increased cost and we believe that all our readers will fully endorse the change, It was our inten- tion to have delayed this until the first six months had entirely expired; but we were ‘unwilling to make the change after ‘‘ ot Plowshares’? had begun, and so de- cided to begin the second volume with No. 22 instead of No. 27. We have also deferred that story until the next number in order that it may begin with the new form, The CoNTINENT starts upon its second volume with the most flattering prospects. After six months, the most unfavorable of the year for such an enterprise, we are able to say that we owe no man anything and are ona paying basis, The increase of our subscription during the summer is in itself an indication of solid and healthy growth that shows us to have been correct in the belief | that a pure, high-toned and outspoken weekly magazine, giving its readers the work of leading writers and artists, was a want of our day. The former staff of the maga- zine will remain, and in addition thereto Miss Louise Stockton will become an assistant editor, with the bes ginning of the new volume. Since our last have arranged for a series of SKETCHES OF PuiLADEL- PHIA, its history and characteristics, which will be profusely illustrated by leading artists, and will appear during the coming fall, Noone interested in the Quaker City can afford to be without these most attractive papers. Ilow quickly one passes out of the focus of public regard! <A few weeks ago there was hardly room on the Herald's broad page for the head-lines and tele- grams relating to Danenhower and the Jeannette sur- ! vivors. Hardly had his foot become wonted to his na- tive land again when ten insignificant lines were all that could be spared to announce the fact that ‘ Danen- hower is ordered to special duty.” If he should live tive years and then die, he would hardly get a mention in the crowded columns of the journal he risked his life to advertise, ——— Witn Garibaldi’s death, another famous name is added to the necrology of 1882. In character he seems as if transplanted from another age, A sailor, a mer- chant in a small way, a teacher of Italian to Gentile children in Constantinople, a vaquero of the pampas, a conqueror, a Senator of the nation created by his devo- tion, a decrepit old man, dying alone upon a barren island in sight of the land which he had lifted from i in- significance to power, his life is a kaleidoscope of n vels, each turn of which was more wonderful than ‘the I way ‘from Riga to Paris, to take lessons from Kalkbrenner. | imperiled by ignorance and the present ystem of yolun- OuR GONTINENT last. Poor, unfriended, ignorant but honest, brave, de- | voted to liberty and forgetful of himself, he left a mar- | velous impress on his age and sent a name unstained | by a hint of meanness down the ages. Ie is a wonder- ful example of the good that one man may do, when he puts himself under a great idea and forgets himself in his unceasing exertion to lift that thought into the light. Tlis daring, his moderation, his measure of himself ; were all remarkable, and there are few names in his- tory, either ancient or modern, that will be better re- membered or longer mentioned with tender veneration by the lovers of liberty than that of Guiseppe Garibaldi. rr - The Political Situation. TuE Republican party, instead of accepting or making for itself issues that will fix the attention of the country upon great questions of national policy, is bent, it would seem; upon illustrating the beauty of a Kilkenny cat fight. The result would without doubt be fatal to the prospects of success, both in New York and Pennsylvania, were it not that no such principle has yet been evoked or at least has yet taken hold upon the popular mind. The leaders of what is known as the ‘ independent” movement among the Republicans do not thus far seem to be men upon whose staunchness and sincerity the utmost dependence can be placed. There is a pain- ful impression that it is a new deal rather than a new doctrine that awakens their enthusiasm, It seems to be one of those periods of political depression when parties advertise for an issue and the old buskined gladiators get up a by-play among themselves before the real show begins, Unfortunately, it would seem, though it may prove fortunate in the end, this struggle between the factions has for the present put quite out of sight the two political questions of prime importance at this time, to wit: the enlightenment of the Southern voter and the protection and regulation of party primaries by | stringent and carefully guarded legislation. It is evi- dent to the most superticial observer that these two things must be done before self-government can be truth fully predicated of the American people. The neces sity has not yet become an overwhelming personal fact + to the voter, and it may be that the sort of serub-race we seem destined to witness this year is needed to awaken us to the fact that something must be done to carry into effect the basis idea of republicani sm, which is equally tary party organization. TuE legislature of New York have devoted themselves to infamy by adopting a report which exculpates Judge Westbrook from intentional malfeasance, “The robbery that was perpetrated with his sanction or through his negligence was so extensive and outrageous that for the sake of judicial decency he should have been put to de- fend himself on a trial for his impeachment. It is no answer to say that he was not wilfully guilty, He was either corruptly influenced, or he acted with a careless- ness and disregard of all ordinary proprieties of judicial life that is simply amazing. Saint Simon Stylites, taken from his pillar in the desert after twenty years of silence and seclusion, would have known better than to do as Judge Westbrook is shown to have done. The hold of the New York bench on the regard of the country at large is not very stable at the best, and might well have been strengthened by the arraignment of a judge of such phenomenal innocence as to make himself the unwitting | instrument of wholesale extortion and ruin. The fail- ure to do this produces an unpleasant conviction that a majority of the legislature were as corrupt or inefficient | or ‘innocent’ as the Judge himself. ———————_————__—_- Ir is the ignorance of the majority and the intelligence of the minority that render such fraud upon the ballot as has been disclosed by the election contests before the Tlouse of Representatives, possible at the South. It is) not enough for the Republican party to do justice to the contestants, by giving the seats to those honestly elected. It ought also to do justice to the country and protect , the future by doing something to remove the cause. | National aid to education is the only cure. | ‘ ' — ‘Musical Reminiscences. NO, L—DAYS WITH LISZT. BY ELISE J. THERE lately came into our possession a pleasant little | German book, in which are recounted many delightful things concerning the ‘“piano-masters of our time.” It was in the year 1842, when W. Von Lenz, the author of our little work, came fora second time from the stately capital of Russia to the fickle-hearted, pleasure-loving Paris. In those times gayety was holding in Paris her carnival days. Louis Philippe was King, and his splen- did capital had become the central sun of the constella- tion of European States. Thiers’ ministerial power was in the zenith, which, considering the political fluctuations, ° was, perhaps, not much to say ; the resplendent genius of Georges Sand had already, been acknowledged by the world; Chopin’s subtle gifts were making themselves felt among the chosen few ; Europe, from Madrid to St. Peters- burg, was sounding the glories of Liszt, and Paris—so Balzac affirmed—was permeated by a fine, electrical at- mosphere, which made that city a miliew in which only one could lire. In this favored time Liszt and Lenz met a second time in Paris, Their first meeting had heen in | ALLEN. 1828, when Lenz, then nineteen years of age, made his | best. — | Weber’s ‘Invitation to the Dance, . Jury 5, 1882 Arrived in Paris, the youth saw on the boulevards a posted hand-bill, announcing that a Mr. Liszt would, that even- ns, play the E-flat major piano concerto of Beethoven. Lenz had already written six volumes in German and two volumes in French upon Beethoven, and although he com- prehended the colossal genius of the man, yet of his works he‘was practically ignorant. Who, then, was this Mr. Liszt, who had advertised to play the works of the great musical Paracelsus? Lenz hastened to Schlesinger’s —the musical bourse of Paris—and made inquiries of the clerks concerning Liszt, pronouncing the name Litz. When man that was announced to play the works of Beethoven, all present laughed outright, and all in one breath ex- claimed : ‘‘ Liszt is no piano teacher ; he will not give you lessons!’ But the boy persevered, and .vund Liszt at his home in the Rue Montholon, a rare oceurrence said the, mother, piously adding: ‘‘My Franz is usually in the church.”’ In those-days Liszt would willingly have been considered a St. Simon, Tle is described by Lenz as being at this time a pale, slender, young man, with extraordi- narily attractive features. enz entered his room, in which stood three pianos, the artist was lying on a sofa, apparently lost in profound thought; he was smoking a long Turkish pipe, and did not stir when Lenz appeared. The latter, speaking in French, explained that his family had sent him to Paris to take lessons from Kalkbrenner, but that he, reading on the boulevards that Liszt was to play a piano concerto by Beethoven in public, wished to take lessons from him, At this Liszt appeared to smile. “Play something for me,”’ he said satirically. “*T play Kalkbrenner’s sonata for tlie left hand,” said Lenz, believing that he was saying the right thing. Liszt stopped him instantly, saying scornfully : ‘I will not hear anything of that; Ido not know it, and I do not wish to know Lenz, undismayed, approached the nearest piano. “Not at that one!’ exclaimed Liszt, without changing his recumbent position. ‘‘ There, at the other. Lenz seated himself at the piano indicated and began ” but when he sought to give the first three A-flats in the piece, not a sound came from the instrument. He played with greater force; the A-flats came now, but in the softest piano. Lenz began to feel ridiculous, but he went bravely on, until he reached the first chords. Then Liszt arose, approached him, took his hand, saying: ‘‘ What is that? It sounds well.” “<T believe it,’’ said Lenz, who was one of Weber’s de- votees, ‘that is Weber.” **And has he written also for the } piano? ?”? asked Liszt. “Tere we know only his Robin des Be “Certainly, he has written for the piano, and that mere beautifully than any one else,”’ replied Lenz in astonish- I have in my portmanteau,’ he continued, “ many things by Weber, and among them a solo sonata, which contains all Switzerland, and ‘is preternaturally beautiful; in it all lovely women smile at once ; it is in A-flat major, and you cannot conceive how beautiful it is. No one has ever yet written such piano music as Weber.” was visibly impressed by the youth’s earnestness, “ Well, * he said in a winning tone, “bring me all that you have in your portmanteau and I will give you lessons —lessons for the first time in my life—because you have introduced me to Weber at the piano, and because you were not terrified at this anomalous instrument ; this was a maucaise plaisanterie of mine, an unmanageable piano, which I ordered myself, in order to write ten scales by it, whereas I have written only one. Now, come, play me that affair that begins so curiously, Here, on this piano, on which you wished first, to play; it is one of the noblest instruments in Paris.’ Lenz now played the “Invitation,” the solo sonata in A-flat major, and other Weber gems, Liszt’s delight mean- while constantly increasing. After this visit the days came and went, and in them all there was some hour in which the two musicians played together the beloved Weber, whose gentle beauties until now had been un- known to the brilliant Parisian, Finally Lenz departed from Paris; Liszt wrote, traveled, played and gathered laurels everywhere, not only for himself, but also for Weber, whose incomparable concerto. was now added to Liszt's repertoire and played by him during his triumphal concert tours through Europe. 2: After the lapse of fourteen years Liszt and Lenz had again met in Paris. It was August, and Liszt had but lately returned from St. Petersburg, where he had played before four thousand people. At the close of his concerts | ladies of the highest rank had received him on the steps of his hotel, offering him garlands of flowers, and when he left the city the highest nobles ordered one of their own steamers, with bands of singers and musical perform- ers, to accompany the artist to Cronstadt, and thence to the borders of the Finland Gulf. “After I arrived in Paris,’’ writes Lenz, “my first visit was to Liszt, who then lived in the Rue Blanche. Liszt, who was now no longer a “St, Simon,” received me with great cordiality. ‘I shall visit you daily,” were his first words. ‘I will order an Erard piano for you. We will live over the old times at our instrument, especially with the* sonatas of Weber, which of course you carry with , the copy with your annotations, which I treasure as a sacred relic, but I should much like to learn some- | thing by Chopin.” “We will study what you wish. But do not imagine that you will be allowed to pay for it. I give no lessons for a price. A cup of coffee at the hotel is return enough. I shall come every day punctually at two o'clock, and we will appoint the afternoon and evening for our work, The whole morning you must spend at the piano. I shall select the instrument at Erard’s and shall send you the Those were never-to-be-for- gotten mornings. Liszt seldom failed to come at the hour, e stripling said that he wanted to take lessons of this * ron marrige eno a

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