nyway, of falling in love with women old enough to be
their mothers--I don't know why it is. Sometimes I am rather inclined to
commend the scheme, since it often brings good results. The fact that
the woman's emotions are well tempered with a sort of maternal regard
for her charge holds folly in check, dispels that tired feeling,
promotes digestion, and stimulates the action of the ganglionic cells.

It was surely so in this instance, for Madame Carus taught the youth how
to compose, and fired his mind to excel as a pianist. He wrote and
dedicated small songs to her, and their relationship added cubits to the
boy's stature.

From a boy he became a man at a bound. Just as one single April day,
with its showers and sunshine, will transform the seemingly lifeless
twigs into leafy branches, so did this young man's intellect ripen in
the sunshine of love.

As for Professor Carus, he was too busy with his theorems and biological
experiments to trouble himself about so trivial a matter as a youngster
falling in love with his accomplished wife--here the Professor's good
sense was shown.

Jean Paul Richter lighted his torch at the flame of Jean Jacques
Rousseau. In a letter to Agnes Carus, Schumann has acknowledged his
obligation to Richter, in a style that is truly Richteresque.

Says Robert:

Dear Lady:--I read from Jean Paul last night until I fell asleep
and then I dreamed of you. It was at the torch of Jean Paul that I
lighted my tallow dip, and now he is dead and these eyes shall
never look into his, nor will his voice fall upon my ears. I cry
salt tears to think that Jean Paul never knew you. If I could only
have brought you two together and then looked upon you, realizing,
as I would, that you had both come from High Olympus! Blissful are
the days since I knew you, for you have brought within my range of
vision new constellations, and into my soul has come the clear,
white light of peace and truth. With you I am purified, freed from
sin, and harmony fills my tired heart. Without you--why, really I
have never dared think about it, for fear that reason would topple,
and my mind forget its 'customed way--let's talk of music. * * *

Professor Carus kept his ear close to the ground for a higher call, and
when the call came from Leipzig, he moved there with his family.

It was not many weeks before Robert was writing home, explaining that
lawyers were me