"Ah, yes, I shall never forget it! That was the hour when we both sold ourselves to hell." "Until that time I had been an honest man," he continued.

"I had toiled in honest ways to obtain support for my family and myself.

I had earnestly endeavored to make my knowledge profitable--humble enough to be willing to teach for the lowest price, to offer my services everywhere.

But I could get no employment; people wanted no teacher of music; everywhere I was pitilessly turned away.

During the mournful years of war which had closed in upon us, no one wanted to spend his money for a useless art, which perhaps could be used only for dirges.