THE LIFE AND WORKS OF ROBERT SCHUMANN. CHAPTER I. PATERNAL HOME. LEIPSIC AND HEIDELBERG. LL as Robert Schumann's education and the entire surroundings of his paternal home may have been adapted to bring his slumbering genius to early and glorious bloom, yet both played an important part in giving his spirit that peculiar bent by which his high artistic and literary fame was almost exclusively gained. Schumann's individuality was far too personal to require any special training. External stimulus and time for mental work were its most important agents, and as it bore wondrous flower and fruit in years of luxuriant growth under the fructifying influence of Shakespeare, Jean Paul Richter, Hoffmann, Heinrich Heine, Franz Schubert, Chopin, and Mendelssohn, so even then and there in the paternal home it sought and found the soil in which it might strike root for rich productive growth. B His father, Friedrich August Gottlob Schumann, was one of those happy, highly gifted natures, which shape themselves successfully to whatever untoward fate may lead them to. He worked his way up from most modest circumstances to an honourable position by his own efforts, and although he was able to do but little to promote the specific mental tendency of his son Robert, he introduced into the boy's life that element which afterwards formed so important a part of it. Wholly contrary to his own desire, he was obliged to adopt the mercantile calling; but work in a grocer's shop could not kill his love of polite literature. The writings of Milton and Young particularly attracted him, and when he came to Leipsic later in life, he inscribed himself upon the list of students at the university. His studies ended, he began his literary labours, which had no success save as they led to his being made assistant to Heinse, a bookseller of Zeitz. This position insured him not only a living, but many means for farther culture, which he must have used most assiduously, for when he wished to marry in 1795, and was therefore led to open a grocery shop, he was able to earn the necessary sum of some thousand thalers by literary work. After the lapse of four years he gave up the business, which had been carried on in conjunction with a merchant of Ronneburg, and established himself in the book trade. By untiring energy, he managed so to increase this business, that he was forced to move to a larger town. In 1808 he went to Zwickau, where, with one of his brothers, he established the well-known firm of "Schumann Brothers," publishers, which was continued until 1840, and won good repute by the publication of many valuable works. Our Robert, as a boy of fourteen, worked on the text of the "Gallery of Celebrated Men of the Time." Thus we see the father always occupied in building up the happiness of his family upon a firm foundation, and at the same time aiding the progress of his age in the noblest way. He not only strove to inculcate a spirit of order and well regulated industry, but he also carefully respected the higher tastes of his children, as is especially shown in the case of his son Robert. The latter was born at Zwickau on the 8th of June, 1810, at 10.30 in the evening. Being the youngest child, he seems to have been the favourite both of his parents and of his brothers and sisters-particularly of his mother. She, a daughter of the town physician of Zeitz, Dr. Schnabel, is described as a woman of agreeable appearance, natural good sense, and a depth of feeling which in later life took the form of romantic sentimentality. Her whole character, her ardent love for her son, as well as her practical good sense, are unreservedly displayed in a letter written from Zwickau (August 7th, 1830) to Wieck, in which she asks "tremblingly and with inward fear," how “he likes Robert's plan " (to give up law for music). It is no mere prejudice which makes her "shudder for Robert's future -many things are requisite to attain distinction in that art," and the anxious mother's heart already feels all the black shadows destined to darken her son's soul if he persevere; "and even were his talent really marked, it is and must remain uncertain whether he will win applause and enjoy an assured future." But, anxious as she is, and loudly as the three elder sons protest against their brother's wish, she "cannot consent to force him to do that which is repugnant to his own feelings." How sensible and how full of the tenderest love is the close of the letter.' 66 I know that you 1 Given entire in Wasielewski's "Life of Schumann." Wherever reference is made to this life, the American translation, published by Oliver Ditson, Boston, Mass., has been used. |