Famous Musicians and Poets.
Chopin, the great modern master of pianoforte composition, was unable, because of lack of physical strength, to play some of his own works as he would have them played. A trip to England, of only eleven days’ duration, was enough to develop the latent consumption which was in his family, and from this time on he worked under the advancing ravages of the disease, though he lived twelve years before finally succumbing to its onslaught. Many times during this period he was reported at death’s door.
Handel became blind seven years before his death, yet continued his work and accompanied one of his oratorios upon the organ only eight days before his death.
Lord Byron and Sir Walter Scott both were lame from a deformed foot, but suffered no inconvenience from the infirmity. Milton became blind and Beethoven was deaf from about his thirtieth year. He faced the pathetic situation with the brave resolve: “I will grapple with fate; it shall never drag me down.” His life was lived along these lines, and never did his courage falter or his fortitude give way, though the affliction to a musician was almost the greatest he could suffer.