From memory's shrine; the reminiscences of Carmen Sylva ( Elisabeth of Roumania) . never take pleasurein anything again. And just then Mme. Schumannarrived with her daughter Marie. The GrandDuchess Helene, in whom so many artists had founda true friend and enlightened patroness, hastenedto place rooms in her palace at the disposal of thecelebrated pianist. So mother and daughter, to myunspeakable joy and consolation, took up their abodewith us for seven weeks, and were lodged in thesuite of apartments just above my own. Whenevershe was going to practise, Mme. Schumann wouldsend word to
From memory's shrine; the reminiscences of Carmen Sylva ( Elisabeth of Roumania) . never take pleasurein anything again. And just then Mme. Schumannarrived with her daughter Marie. The GrandDuchess Helene, in whom so many artists had founda true friend and enlightened patroness, hastenedto place rooms in her palace at the disposal of thecelebrated pianist. So mother and daughter, to myunspeakable joy and consolation, took up their abodewith us for seven weeks, and were lodged in thesuite of apartments just above my own. Whenevershe was going to practise, Mme. Schumann wouldsend word to me, and then I would manage to dragmyself upstairs, and let myself be propped up bycushions in a corner of the room, where I couldlisten undisturbed. It was as if I were being slowlyawakened from a deathlike trance, and being brought;back to an interest in life again by the strains ofthat exquisite music. Better still, my aunt verysoon arranged for me to take some piano-lessons ofthis great artist, and these mark quite an epoch inmy life. They were certainly quite exceptional les- 16. By kind periiiissioQ of Messrs. Breitkopf & Hartel, 54 Great Marlborough Street, London, W. Madame Schumann CLARA SCHUMANN sons in every way, altogether unlike everything elseof that nature, for at first I was almost too feebleto hold my fingers on the keys. But my dear pro-fessor soon found something for me, to which mystrength was just equal—Schumanns deliciousScenes of Childhood—and from these we went onlittle by little to higher fiights. But it was not alonefor the progress in my music that these hours wereof inestimable value; I look back to them as havingleft their mark on the whole course of my life eversince, for I was roused from my own lethargy anddespondency by learning the trials through whichmy new friend had passed. This noble-mindedwoman could, indeed, have hit upon no better lessonin fortitude than that which was contained in thesimple story of her own youth, as calmly and un-
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