"Beethoven was dressed in a dark gray jacket and trousers of some long-haired material which reminded me of the description of Robinson Crusoe that I had just been reading. The jet-black hair stood upright on his head. A beard, unshaven for several days, made still darker his naturally swarthy face. I noticed also, with a child's quick perception, that in both ears he had cotton wool which seemed to have been dipped in some yellow fluid. His hands were covered with hair, and the fingers were very broad, especially at the tips."

But although Beethoven was so homely and roughlooking, he had flashing eyes and a noble, gentle mouth. His friends knew that he suffered greatly from ill health and from his deafness and loneliness. They forgave him whenever he was cross or unreasonable.

In the end, Beethoven not only equaled the wonderful Mozart, but actually became greater than Mozart. We consider Beethoven now the very greatest musician of his time, and one of the greatest composers of all times. Mozart's prophecy came true. Beethoven surely "made the world speak of him."

There is a pleasure in the pathless woods;
There is a rapture on the lonely shore;
There is society, where none intrudes,
By the deep sea, and music in its roar.

-Byron.

TO A VIOLIN

Thou mystic thing, all beautiful! What mind
Conceived thee, what intelligence began
And out of chaos thy rare shape designed,
Thou delicate and perfect work of man?

Across my hands thou liest mute and still;
Thou wilt not breathe to me thy secret fine;
Thy matchless tones the eager air shall thrill
To no entreaty or command of mine;

But comes thy master, lo! thou yieldest all:
Passion and pathos, rapture and despair;
To the soul's need thy searching voice doth call
In language exquisite beyond compare;

And with bowed head he lets the sweet wave roll
Across him, swayed by that weird power of thine,
And reverence and wonder fill his soul

That man's creation should be so divine.

-Celia Thaxter.