(c) “I was actively engaged in the revolutionary movement up to its final struggle.”
(4) His active participation, related by himself to me, corroborated by Hainberger’s testimony. (I should add that Hainberger came to London in April, 1851, stayed with me, and that I secured for him lessons and a place in the orchestra of the New Philharmonic.)
(5) Max von Weber, son of Carl Maria von Weber, told me that he was present during the Revolution, and saw Wagner shoulder his musket.
A SIGNIFICANT OMISSION.
As I have stated, the general drift of Wagner’s references to the Revolution is to minimize his share; I content myself with two extracts only:—
1. From “Eine Mittheilung an meine Freunde” (a communication to my friends), vol. IV. of his collected writings, and dated 1851: “I never had occupied myself really with politics.”
2. “The Work and Mission of my Life,” the latest of Wagner’s published writings, written in 1876 for America: “In my innermost nature I really had nothing in common with its political side,” i.e. of the Revolution.
The significant omission of “The Abolition of the Monarchy” paper from his eleven volumes of “Collected Writings,” a collection which includes shorter papers written too at earlier periods than the above, may also be noted.
CHAPTER XVI.
1850-1854.
“TERRIBLY IN EARNEST.”