Transcriber's Note:
1. Page scan source: http://www.archive.org/details/storyageniusfro00lockgoog
2. There are three stories included in this volume:
(a) The Story of a Genius
(b) The Nobl' Zwilk
(c) What Happened to Holy Saint Pancras of Evolo
The Story of a Genius
Monsieur Alphonse de Sterny will come to Brussels in November andconduct his Oratoria of "Satan."
This short notice in the Indépendence Belge created a generalsensation. The musicians shrugged, bit their lips, and sneered aboutthe public's injustice toward home talent. The "great world,"--betweenourselves the most unmusical "world" in the universe,--very nearlystepped out of its aristocratic apathy. This is something which seldomhappens to it in artistic matters, but now, for a whole week it talkednothing but de Sterny: of his octave playing a little, and of his loveaffairs a great deal. In autumn Brussels has so little to talk about!
Alphonse de Sterny had been in his day a great virtuoso and a sociallion. Reigning belles had contended for his favor; George Sand was saidto have written a book about him, nobody knew exactly which one; thefair Princess G---- was supposed to have taken poison on his account.But five years before the appearance of this notice in theIndépendence Belge, de Sterny had suddenly withdrawn from the world.During that time he had not given any concerts, nor had he produced anynew piano pieces, in his well-known style, paraphrases and fantasies onfavorite airs.
Now, for the first in that long interval his name emerged, and inconnection with an Oratorio!
De Sterny and an Oratorio!
The world found that a little odd. The artists thought it a great joke.
It is November fifth, the day on which the first rehearsal of "Satan"is to be held, under the composer's own direction.
In the concert hall of the "Grand Harmonic" the performers are alreadyassembled. In honor of the distinguished guest half a dozen more gasjets are burning than is usual at rehearsals, yet the large hall withits dark auditorium and the dim flickering light on its stage, has adesolate, ghostly air. A smell of gas, dust and moist cloth pervadesthe atmosphere.
A grey rime of congealed mist clings to and trickles down the clothesof the latest arrivals. One sees within the hall how bad the weathermust be without. The lusty male chorus, with their pea