Gounod at School.

Otago Witness, Issue 2215, 13 August 1896, Page 52

Gounod at School.

i: Foirson, the stern, inflexible head master of the Lycfo Charlemagne, listened impMsively as Madame Gounod unburdened herself to him anenb the foolish freaks of her unhappy son. 11 You have nothing to few," he said ; ".your boy will nob become a rnusioian ; he works hard, hit teacher* are pleased with him. I will make it my business to see him safe through with his preparatory work for the Ecole Normnle. Leave him to me; the lad is not going to be ft musiclan." _ • Subsequently the head master sent for the boy, but instead of reprimanding him and •endinghim baok tohia books, hesaidl: " You want to tarn composer, eh ? That remains to be seen. Here is some poetry ; yeu shall set it to music *nd bring ittomewhen you have done." And Mr Poirson beaded the pupil a sheet of paper, on wbiob he had written the words of the .celebrate, d>«m&noe" entitled 4t Joseph " j jA..peineausortir del'enfance, <fee, Charles paid scant attention to his Latin that morning, for when pUr-time oame round his romance-was finished, aud he r*n with it to the' head master. "I shall want » pitno," said the young. Ecamp. Every lad in the school knew that fche inexorable Mr Poirson kepfc a piano in the house, for, to tell the tralib, he was »« fond of music as anyone; beside, we had often beard, on coming out of class, the strains of Eossini ■ musio through the open window, as rendered by the deft fingers of Miss P., who was an accomplished player. But the austere master thought it doubtless highly improper to own to any liking for an instrument that Cicero »nd Plato had never known. " A piano ? I want no piano." 14 Yes.but I do ; for the harmony, you know/ " The harmony I Where do you keep it, The lad pointed to his forehead. " Here/ •'Nevermind, sing on; we shall manage without." , j We continue in the writers own words :— j ♦'I had barely got through half of tha first stanza when I saw a change came over the faoe ' of my judge. This gave me courage. »I felt that victory was on my side. I went on with greater confidence, and when I had done the head roaster said, • Now come to the piano.' .> I was triumphant; my armour was now complete. I once more recited my little piece, and at the close poor Mr PoirsoD, with tears in his eje3, took my head in his hand* and kissed me, saying:- ■ • "' Go on, my. lad; make music to your heart's content.'" II; j Still, foounod did not allow his passion for music to interfere with his lessons, and hjs musters had every reason to be satisfied with hirfls One year the whole of hia form had two days taken off their Easter vacation for some crime or other, perpetrated by one of the boys who had failed to report himself. | 14 It came into my head to attack Mr Bo* berge, our master, on his weak side, and endeavour to move him. Without saying a word to my mates, I wrote out a composition in Latin verse,-having for its subjectthe sorrow* of ■the little birds confiued in a cage far from the fields, the woods,' the sunshine, and the fresh air, and cl«momiog for their liberty. I placed it on Jiis desk unobserved. He espied the paper, unfolded ir, and began to read. Then he Baid: ' Gentlemen, who is the author of this bit of poetry ?' | " "I raised my hand. i ' " 'It is Very good,' he said, adding, " I o&n- j eel tfce punishment. You may tljank your comrade Gounod, by whoae efforts yep have obtained your release.'"—•" Mcmoires de Charles Gounod."