The tune of old ocean—Neptune.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1870, 13 February 1892, Page 1 (Supplement)

The tune of old ocean— Neptune.

"I'll wait until you are at) leisure," eaid a caller to the editor. « I'm afraid I'll be of no use lo you Yfbeu I'm dead," leolied the editor,

j "Slims Oreit Musicians.

The Grael Financial Struggles of Beethoven, Sohubert and Mozart.

In tha cemetery at Wahring, a suburb of Vienr«, three tombs have long lain close together, inscribed with the names of Baethoven, Sohubert and Mozart. The cemetery, Bays a London paper, is now to be destroyed and not long ago the remains of Beethoven were removed and reinterred with all Buitable honor in the oentral cemetery of the oity. The same will be done with Schubert's remains, and his native country will strive by manifestations of its reverence to wipa out the memory of his neglected life and unhonored death. With Mozart it is too late even for this tardy reparation, for his monument coven no tomb and his body can never be rescued from the pauper's grave in vihich, to the disgrace of civilisation, it was laid.

The lives of musicians are, for the most part, sad reading ; and the last days of Beethoven, Schubert and Mozart may divide tha palm for pathos. All three composers were harrassed on their death- beds with money difficulties. Sahuberl'a whole stock of musical manuscripts was valued at half a guinea, and Beethoven was constrained to beg a complimentary concert from the English Philharmonic Society. The hundred pounds, which was the prompt response to his appeal, helped to quicken his end by tho grateful emotion it caused. Beethoven's stormy life bad a striking close, as roused by a sudden clap of thunder, with his last strength he opened his eyes and shook his clenched hand at the elements. Sohubert, who had the greatest reverence for Beethoven, visited his death-bed, and left, say the historians, deeply moved. In another year he, too, had given up the struggle, and was lying peacefully in the ground. Beethoven's image haunted his dying visions, and he tegged to be buried by the master's side. The Etory of Mozart's death, rendered almost tragic by the incident of the halffinished requiem, is familiar to all. Three men of supremo poetical endowments were tjhus suffered to die in poverty, and in tho oase of two at least to pas 3 the greater part of their lives in a vain struggle to keep the wolf from the doer,