Scan 61
Famous Violinists and Fine Violins: Historical Notes, Anecdotes, and …, 1896
10 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1began to write an opera for Louis XVI., on the subject of Marguerite d'Anjou, firmly established his reputation as one of the greatest musicians of the period.
3But when the Revolution broke out, Cherubini's prospects became almost as clouded as those of the Monarchy. His position depended to a great extent upon the aristocracy, who patronised him as he deserved; but now these noble friends were flying from France, or being murdered by the mob.
5During the first four years of anarchy he suffered great distress. Forced to live in seclusion, his livelihood became precarious, and his time was passed chiefly in the study of music and botany (a branch of science of which he was extremely fond) without remuneration, and anxiously awaiting the advent of better days.
7He was compelled to limit his acquaintance, in those horrible times, to a very few trustworthy friends, musicians like himself, on whom he could thoroughly rely, and among whom there was not one who, by denouncing him as an aristocrat or a royalist, would have caused him, like so many equally good men, to be slaughtered on the scaffold at a few hours' notice.
9Even to stir out of doors was a risky thing to do, for reckless mobs of half-drunken anarchists rolled along the streets day and night, seeking to satisfy
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