Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 276, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 November 1919 — INSPIRATION AT ODD TIMES [ARTICLE]

INSPIRATION AT ODD TIMES

How Longfellow Wrote “Wreck of the Hesperus”—Rossini Composed Music in Bed. ~’ « Longfellow’s “Wreck of the Hesperus”'‘caTne to him" as he "was by his fireside, the night after a violent storm.. He went to bed, but-could not sleep; the Hesperus would not be denl ed ; an d as Tie 1a y the verses tl owetT on witbout let or hindrance until the poem was completed. One at leqst of Rossini’s splendid pieces of music was composed in bed. It was when he was young, poor and unknown, and lived in wretched quarters. After writing a duet thp composer allowed his manuscripts to slip off the sheets and fall under the bed, and moreover he believed it would be unlucky to pick the sheets up; so he and crashed through one of the physihis disgust he could not remember it. It was therefore necessary to write a riewbne;“ This he had .finished when a friend entered. “Try that,” said the composer, “and tell me what you think of it.” The verdict was favorable. “Now,” said Rossini, “look under the bed. You’ll find another duet there. Try that, too.” The friend did so. and declared the original composition was much the better. It Is Included in his works today.