18th Century: Age of Enlightenment

Palomar · 2002-11-23 14:29:50

I just now posted this to my mailing list:

http://www.telemuseum.se/historia/optel/optteleng.html

I happened to be browsing at the 18th Century History web site [refer
to our Links section] and decided to click on the "Inventions"
section. I found reference to the first optical telegraph of 1794,
but the articles listed at the web site weren't of help to me.

I decided to do my own search with Google, "optical telegraph," and
found the kind of information I was looking for with this particular
article. Coincidentally, a few evenings ago, while my husband and I
were driving around town, I mentioned the telegraph and asked him if
he knew about when the telegraph had been invented. He didn't know.
I have to admit being surprised that it was invented as early as 1794.

--Cindy

Shaun Barrett · 2002-11-24 07:28:49

Fascinating!!

You could almost imagine the ancient Greeks coming up with something similar, couldn't you?!
They were always inventing stuff way ahead of their time.

Josh Cryer · 2002-11-24 08:32:24

Heheh, I know Shaun, can you imagine the kinds technology that must have been in Alexandria in its time (which actually predated the Greeks I think)? Too bad it was destroyed.

Palomar · 2002-11-24 12:15:02

Fascinating!!

You could almost imagine the ancient Greeks coming up with something similar, couldn't you?!
They were always inventing stuff way ahead of their time.

*Actually, one of the web sites [not the one I referred to in my previous post] did mention something about ancient Greece; I believe in one of the articles below [sorry, I don't have the time to re-wade through all the material]:

http://www.telemuseum.se/historia/optel … /Home.html

Below is a very good web site pertaining to the 18th century -- all aspects of it; the link above comes from this web site:

http://www.history1700s.com/

--Cindy

Palomar · 2002-11-24 19:05:39

*Just now posted at my mailing list:

http://earlyamerica.com/lives/boone/

http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyameric … boone.html

I was very happy to find two articles about Daniel Boone at the
earlyamerica.com web site. I discovered he was included at the web
site while browsing through the "Famous Obituaries" section.

Daniel Boone is a direct ancestor of mine. A 2nd cousin in Illinois,
now elderly, has done extensive geneaological research into our family
[my mother's side of the family]; he discovered decades ago, while
tracing our ancestral lineage via birth registers, death certificates, marriage
licenses, etc., that Daniel Boone is a relative.

And no, I haven't read _The Adventures of Daniel Boone_...yet.

These will be included in our Links section.

--Cindy

Shaun Barrett · 2002-11-25 01:31:05

My God, Cindy! Directly descended from ol' Dan'l Boone ... that is just so cool!!

Our two sons just loved "The Adventures of Daniel Boone" on T.V. when they were little.
One evening, at the end of a particularly riveting episode, one of our boys (about 6 years old) looked up and said to his mother: "When Daddy dies, you could marry Daniel Boone." !

Kids!! ... You gotta love 'em!!

But sometimes I don't know why!

Phobos · 2002-11-25 02:28:58

Did that show run on American TV? I don't remember ever watching episodes of Daniel Boone. Anyways, considering Cindy's genetic legacy, it's probably not good to get her mad when she has a bowie knife in hand. Or mad at all since she probably wrestles grizzly bars in her sleep. :0 Hmm, anybody else here related to a famous personage?

Palomar · 2002-11-25 08:15:58

Did that show run on American TV? I don't remember ever watching episodes of Daniel Boone. Anyways, considering Cindy's genetic legacy, it's probably not good to get her mad when she has a bowie knife in hand. Or mad at all since she probably wrestles grizzly bars in her sleep. :0 Hmm, anybody else here related to a famous personage?

*Phobos: No, no. I'm a ::lover:: -- not a fighter.

Shaun: Does this mean we almost ended up being in-laws? :0

--Cindy

Shaun Barrett · 2002-11-26 05:51:25

No Cindy! Read it again ... I'm dead, remember?!!

It's my wife you were nearly related to!!

Palomar · 2002-12-05 14:10:32

*Posted by me recently to my private mailing list:

Last evening I finished _Madame de Pompadour_ by Nancy Mitford. I'd
deliberately delayed reading of her illness and death; she was such a
vivacious, spirited, vital woman of so many talents and charisma, who
retained her humanity and didn't let success spoil her, even though
she possessed the heart of a King. It was, then, difficult for me to
read of her demise; very few women of history are as notable as this
lady was; I've never read of any woman quite like her.

***

Madame was in her early 40s when she died. She'd begun experiencing
difficulty climbing stairs, complaining of a heaviness in her chest
accompanied with difficulty breathing. These symptoms became so
severe that, toward the end, she could not even lie down. Her doctor
diagnosed fluid on her lungs. She had also began experiencing
blinding headaches; at Choisy an especially debilitating headache
came upon her, causing her acute disorientation; so much so that a
friend, Champlost, had to help her back to her room.

The King broke a rule of Versailles: Only royals were allowed to die
there. He took Madame back to Versailles, and there she died.

A man named Collin was summoned to bring her Will. She dictated to
him the terms of it; Mitford states that the stains of Collins' tears
can still be seen on the document.

The King rarely left her room in her last days. She never
complained, but bravely gave everyone a smile and continued to wear
blush on her cheeks.

Madame was reluctant to make her final confession and communication,
for once having done so it would be impossible for her and King Louis
to see each other again. He said goodbye to her, and later the
priest arrived to receive the confession and communication. The
priest made a movement as if to leave Madame's room; she said to
him, "One moment, M. le Cure; we'll go together," and died.

Her body was immediately draped with coverings and taken out of the
palace.

The weather that spring had been very wet and cold, as it remained
during the time of her death. And now I'll quote Nancy Mitford:

"The day of the funeral arrived; a freezing storm howled around the
palace. 'The Marquise has bad weather for her journey,' Louis
remarked. At 6 PM the cortege was to leave for Paris; Louis'
servants shut the shutters, hoping to spare him the sight. But the
King, by whose orders everything had been done, took Champlost by the
arm and went out with him onto the balcony of his corner room. He
watched the Marquise as she went back up the long Avenue de Paris; in
the bitter wind he stood there, without coat or hat, until she was
out of sight. Then he turned away, tears pouring down his
cheeks. 'That is the only tribute I can pay her.'"

--Cindy

Palomar · 2002-12-05 14:15:58

*This is one part of a serial I'm discussing at my private mailing list:

Subject: "Fanaticism" by Deleyre, Part 3

"The particular causes of fanaticism are to be found:

2. In atrocious morals. Some men for whom life is a state of
continual danger and torment have to aspire after death either as the
end of or as the recompense for their evil ways. But what havoc will
not be wrought to society by the person who desires death, if he is
impelled to inflict as well as to accept it? We can therefore call
fanatics all those excessive minds who interpret the maxims of
religion to the letter and who rigorously follow the letter, those
despotic doctors who choose the most revolting systems, those
ruthless casuists who distress nature and who, after having torn your
eye out and cut your hand off, also tell you to love completely the
thing that tyrannizes you."

--Cindy

Palomar · 2002-12-11 11:57:28

*Posted by me to my mailing list months ago:

Subject: Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Mr. Dirk Freymuth writes of Bach:

"JSB was the greatest composer of the Baroque era, and perhaps the
single most influential composer of all time. He was born into a
family whose lineage of successful musicians already traced back more
than two centuries. Although Sebastian was initially forbidden to
pursue a career in music (does anybody here know why?), he secretly
taught himself to write music and play the keyboard.

By the time Bach was 20 he had become a virtuoso organist and
composer. Bach worked as a professional composer until his death at
age 65. He married twice and had 20 children (I guess he was as
prolific at making love as he was in writing music, *wink*), though
just 9 survived. Of them, 4 of his sons became successful composers.

JSB wrote thousands of pieces of music, spanning from simple keyboard
exercises to massive works for choir and orchestra written for the
Lutheran Church."

Mozart and JSB are my favorite composers. Usually either one or the
other serenade me throughout my day. "Air" from Orchestral Suite #3
is my most favorite of Bach's pieces. If ever anyone has been able
to capture and express, in music, the most noble and sublime elements
of the human soul, it was Bach with this piece.

--Cindy

Palomar · 2003-01-02 08:17:16

*Recently posted by me to my "Age of Voltaire" mailing list:

Benjamin Rush, M.D. (1746 - 1813)

As mentioned yesterday, I've "discovered" another very interesting
18th century personage. Dr. Benjamin Rush, "Father of American
Psychiatry" and the "American Hippocrates."

Last week my husband and I were watching a television program on the
Discovery Channel. The next program was advertised as "The
Mutter Museum" in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I'm not sure if I've
heard of this museum before, but as it deals with medical mysteries
and science, I was intrigued.

Mentioned in the program was "the 18th century Enlightenment," and a
prestigious physician of the time. My ears perked up, and though the
program didn't discuss Dr. Rush extensively, I, of course, decided to
do some internet research on him. Here are some of the highlights of
his brilliant career:

*Dr. Rush graduated from Princeton when he was not yet 15 years old.

*Dr. Rush was the first to believe that mental illness is the result
of a diseased mind and NOT demonic possession (this information
obtained from the University of Pennsylvania Health System web site;
perhaps Dr. Rush was the first medical professional to document in
writing/publish this belief regarding mental illness).

*Dr. Rush signed the Declaration of Independence.

*Dr. Rush was a member of the Continental Congress, being elected
thereto on July 20, 1776.

*Dr. Rush was opposed slavery. He wrote a pamphlet denouncing
slavery and helped to organize the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting
the Abolition of Slavery and the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully
Held in Bondage; this was the first anti-slavery society of America,
and he later became its president.

*Dr. Rush was on friendly terms with Benjamin Franklin, and when
traveling to Europe [in his early 20s] met Denis Diderot in Paris,
who wrote him a letter of recommendation to David Hume.

*At the age of 23 he became the first professor of chemistry in
America.

*From the beginning of his career to its end, Dr. Rush believed in
helping the poor; early in his career he built a large private
practice amongst the poor. He founded the Philadelphia Dispensary
for the relief of the poor; it was the first of its kind in the U.S.,
and for many years it provided medical care without charge to the
poor.

*Dr. Rush associated with American Revolutionary icons such as Thomas
Paine, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. At Dr. Rush's urging, Thomas
Paine wrote "Common Sense"; according to a Princeton educational web
site, Dr. Rush suggested the title of "Common Sense" to Paine.

*Dr. Rush served as Surgeon General under President George
Washington.

*Dr. Rush was troubled by the disparity of education and knowledge
which existed between the sexes, and promoted better education for
women; he became an ardent advocate and supporter of the Young Ladies
Academy in Philadelphia.

*Dr. Rush advocated for free public schools.

*Dr. Rush's greatest contributions to medical service are considered
to be the reforms he instituted in the care of the mentally ill
during his years as senior physician at the Pennsylvania Hospital; he
replaced cruelty with kindess and compassion for the mentally ill,
and (unlike his predecessors) made careful clinical observations and
studies of his patients. In 1812 he published _Medical Inquiries and
Observations upon the Diseases of the Mind_, which was the first
psychiatric textbook in America. A Dr. Binger called this book "the
crowning achievement of Dr. Rush's professional life."

*Dr. Rush's wife was named Julia; they had 13 children.

*The official seal of the American Psychiatric Association bears
Rush's portrait. In 1965 a bronze plaque was placed at his grave in
Philadelphia, with the inscription "Father of American Psychiatry."

*In 1837 former students of Dr. Rush's created a medical college in
Chicago, Illinois; they named it after him.

---

I will certainly be posting more about the good doctor in the future,
as I progress through material relative to him. Very soon I will
post a list of wonderful web sites devoted to him.

--Cindy

Palomar · 2003-01-22 08:22:18

Astronomy Events & Inventions of the Enlightenment Period (interesting; note especially discoveries pertaining to Mars):

http://www.sonoma.edu/history/reason/astronomy.html

--Cindy

Palomar · 2003-02-08 09:16:26

*The gentleman in my icon is the man discussed in the links below (keep reading, guys...he invented more than just rollerskates and you may be pleasanty surprised. All of this appeared previously at my "Age of Voltaire" Yahoo! Group). What was the Silver Lady? Read on:

***
Mr. Merlin is mentioned in the 2nd item of this web page, under "1760":

http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa050997.htm

The moral of the story? Don't fiddle while you skate!

***

http://www.rollerskatingmuseum.com/prod03.htm

Includes portrait of Mr. Merlin. I am imagining this rather attractive
man rolling into the ballroom, dressed as an 18th century dandy --
complete with ruffles, velvet breeches and freshly powdered wig...and
that's pretty damned funky.

***

Here is more indepth biographical information about Mr. Merlin
(apparently sometimes referred to as "John Joseph" or just "Joseph"
at these links); quite an interesting fellow, and I would like to know more about the "robots":

http://www.uh.edu/engines/epi630.htm

***

And the answer to the "robots" question, 2nd portion of this web page (contributed by a member of my list; the previous links were discovered by me):

http://www.marcdatabase.com/~lemur/dm-cox-merlin.html

--Cindy

Ah, the beautiful, bountiful 18th century...

Palomar · 2003-02-23 21:01:22

*Posted this evening by me to my private mailing list; enjoy:

I read about this gentleman this afternoon, in _Tom Paine: America's
Godfather_ by W.E. Woodward (I am summarizing the material in my own
words, with the few exceptions of direct quotes, most of which are
from the persons themselves):

Mr. Woodward discusses the social class situation of 18th-century
England: Wealth, luxury and dissipation for the upper classes;
grinding poverty, starvation wages and workhouses for the lower
class. The upper crust was so anxious for any tax penny it could
squeeze out of the populace that, as an example, a tax was placed on
windows. Landlords bricked up windows in slums; thus the poor were
deprived of even a view out of their dismal, impoverished home. The
upper class were very jealous of their position, and begrudged the
working class being "pampered" by being able to (sometimes) afford
such things as tea, sugar and white bread.

Mr. Woodward illustrates the situation, to help us better understand
Paine's surroundings and environment...and why he so bitterly hated
the class system and was an ardent supporter of democracy.

Of King George III, Mr. Woodward has this to say (direct
quote): "The Hanoverian kings from George I to George IV were all
ignorant boobies, so stupid that they never learned anything but the
most rudimentary facts about the English people. Although they were
British sovereigns, they never forgot their German origin, and when
circumstances called upon one of them for an important decision, the
question was referred to some deeply imbedded brain cell which had
never emigrated from Hanover." Mr. Woodward goes on to cite the
amount of money annually paid the King (800,000 pounds), most of
which went to "hangers-on, lickspittles and yes-sayers." He also
informs us that George III did not like public opinion and felt it
should not exist, let alone be tolerated. More about George III
later (when relating Mozart and his family meeting the him and the
Queen).

One man felt differently, and wasn't afraid to speak up and continue
speaking up: John Wilkes. The only direct quotations I'll take from
the book come from the persons themselves: Wilkes published a weekly
journal called "The North Briton." The aristocracy attempted,
vigorously, to crush any voice of dissent or criticism. They did
manage eventually to stop the publication of "The North Briton", but
not Wilkes himself. In the 1760s, Wilkes was hailed as a hero by
the underclass for his unwavering fight for democracy and free
speech; the aristocracy hated his guts and called him a blackguard,
vile wretch and fool. Nowadays, of course, his criticism of his
government would be seen as merely a political editorial by an anti-
administration editor. But not in those times. The King gave a
speech before Parliament on April 19, 1763. On April 23rd, Wilkes
published No. 45 of his paper, in which he characterized the members
of the King's cabinet as "the tools of despotism and corruption." He
went on, "They have sent the spirit of discord through the land, and
I prophesy it will never be extinguished but by the extinction of
their power." He also went on to describe the King's speech as "the
most abandoned instance of ministerial effrontery ever attempted to
be imposed on mankind." The remainder of the article continued in
the same vein. This article was considered treasonous.

A warrant was issued on behalf of Lord Halifax, who was then the Home
Secretary, against every person who had anything to do with "The
North Briton." Forty-eight people were rounded up including printing
apprentices, typesetters, and many people who had contributed
anything to the paper about any subject. Wilkes was thrown into the
Tower, but was released in a week by Lord Chief Justice Pratt, on the
grounds that Wilkes' arrest was a breach of privilege accorded to all
members of the House of Commons (of which Wilkes was a member). His
enemies launched a new attack: Through theft and bribery, they
obtained a pamphlet which had just come off Wilkes' press: An
obscene parody of "Essay on Man" by the poet Pope, which was
entitled "Essay on Woman." Twelve copies had been made; all were
confiscated. Wilkes fled to Paris. A short time later, Wilkes was
expelled from the House of Commons; he didn't return to England for
his trial, and was outlawed. The next 4 years he lived on the
European Continent. He returned to England in 1768 and shortly
thereafter was elected again to Parliament. He still faced previous
legal charges, however, and had to pay a fine of 500 pounds and
served a year's prison sentence.

Wilkes' popularity with the underclass was great. Four times he was
elected to Parliament, and expelled each time. The persecution of
Wilkes by the aristocrats and nobility caused riots among the "common
people" -- workmen and artisans. Eventually his enemies gave in, and
in 1774 he was elected again, and this time took office. He was
also, in 1774, elected Lord Mayor of London.

One of Wilkes' most strenuous opponents was Lord Sandwich. The
following gave me a good laugh: Wilkes was a witty man, and his
remarks about his enemies were long remembered in Britain. In a
public debate, Lord Sandwich declared that Wilkes would either die on
the gallows or of veneral disease. Proving he was good at come-
backs, Wilkes retorted: "The depends, my lord, on whether I embrace
your principles or your mistress."

Mr. Woodward praises Wilkes as being a liberal and far ahead of his
time, but cautions us that Wilkes was not an anarchist or
ruffian...and perhaps not even a revolutionary. The 4 strongest
elements of Wilkes' political platform were:

1. Reform of Parliament.
2. Enfranchisement of the lower classes.
3. Suppression of rotten boroughs (I believe this refers to the vast
corruption surrounding purchasing boroughs and oppressing the people
who lived there; depriving them of genuine votes, raising their
taxes, etc.).
4. Protection of individual liberty.

Wilkes was, however, a supporter of the American Revolution. This,
of course, earned him more hatred by the upper classes. In public
speeches pertaining to the American Revolution, Wilkes maintained
repeatedly that there was no point of dispute with the Colonies that
could not be settled amicably. He was ignored.

Mr. Woodward goes on to tell us that though Thomas Paine never met
Wilkes, he had been a reader of "The North Briton", a silent witness
of Wilkes' fight for reforms, and in later years said he had been
deeply moved by the ideas which Wilkes had expressed in his
writings.

--Cindy

Palomar · 2003-03-14 11:45:19

*A member of my mailing list contributed information regarding a "Collaborative Translation Project" relative to the Encyclopedia project of Denis Diderot and Jean le Rond d'Alembert. The Encyclopedia [or "l'Encyclopedie," its original French name] is considered by scholars the crowning achievement of the 18th century Enlightenment. If you are interested, read the introduction first; it provides an overview of Enlightenment philosophy, the intended objectives/aims of "l'Encyclopedie," etc. Some of the Encyclopedia's articles have previously been translated into English [I own such a book; approximately 50 translated articles], but the CTP is seeking to translate as many of the 70,000+ original articles into English as possible. This is marvellous, and I certainly thanked my list member for contributing it!!

The Introduction:

http://www.hti.umich.edu/d/did/intro.html

The Site:

http://www.hti.umich.edu/d/did/

--Cindy

Palomar · 2003-03-19 09:17:18

*Posted by me yesterday, to my mailing list:

A Letter from The Court Trumpeter, Andreas Schachtner, #1

Dear list members:

We are about to enter the early teenaged years of Mozart. Before we
read the letters of Leopold as Wolfgang is about to leave childhood, I
want to quote a letter from Herr Schachtner which, although written
to Nannerl in 1792 (4 months after Mozart's death), deals exclusively
with the young child Mozart. I hope you will find this letter as
insightful, charming and awe-inspiring as I did. Nannerl has written
to Herr Schachtner, asking him 5 specific questions about her brother
as genius child. Here is the letter (which will be related in 2
parts, as it is very long):

Salzburg, April 24, 1792

Honoured and gracious Madam,

Your very welcome letter reached me, not at Salzburg, but at
Hammerau, where I was visiting my son...

From my habitual obligingness towards everyone and especially towards
the Mozart family, you may judge how sorry I was that I could not at
once discharge your comission. To the point, then!

Your first question: "What favorite pastimes, outside his occupation
with music, your late-lamented brother had as a child?" is not to be
answered, since as soon as he began to give himself up to music his
mind was as good as dead to other things and even his childish games
and toys, to be interesting to him, had to be accompanied with
music. When we (he and I) carried his toys from one room into
another, the one who went empty-handed had always to sing and fiddle
a march. Before he began to study music he was so keenly alive to
any bit of fun enlivened with a spice of mischief that he would
forget about eating and drinking and everything else. As you know,
he became so extremely fond of me (being devoted to him) that he
would ask me ten times a day whether I loved him, and if I jokingly
answered "No", immediately bright tears came into his eyes, so tender
and affectionate was his good little heart.

Second question: "How did he behave as a child with the great, when
they admired his talent and proficiency in music?" In truth he
betrayed very little pride or veneration for rank, for he could have
shown both by playing before the great who understood little or
nothing of music, but he never wanted to play unless there were
musical connoisseurs among his audience or unless he were deceived
into thinking that there were.

Third question: "What studious occupation did he like best?"
Answer: In this respect it was much the same to him what he was set
to learn; he only wanted to learn and left the choice to his beloved
father. It seemed as if he realized that he could find in the world
no teacher or guide like his ever-memorable father.

Whatever he was given to learn, he gave himself so completely to that
that everything else, even music, was laid aside. For example, when
he was learning arithmetic tables, stools and walls, and even the
floor, were chalked over with figures.

Fourth queestion: "What particular qualities, maxims, rules of life,
singularities, good or evil propensities had he?" Answer: He was
full of fire; his inclinations were easily swayed; I believe that had
he been without the advantage of the good education which he
received, he might have become a profligate scoundrel -- he was so
ready to yeild to every attraction which offered."

Let me add some remarkable and astonishing facts relating to his 4th
and 5th years, of whose truth I can guarantee. Once I went with his
father to your home after the Thursday service and we found the 4-
year-old Wolfgangerl busy with the pen:

Leopold: "What are you doing?"

Wolfgang: "Writing a concerto for the clavier, the first part is
almost done."

Leopold: "Let me see."

Wolfgang: "It's not quite finished."

Leopold: "Never mind, let me see it, it must be something very fine."

Your father took it from him and showed me a daub of notes for the
most part written over dried ink blots. (N.B. The little
Wolfgangerl dipped his pen every time to the bottom of the inkwell so
that a blot fell every time he touched the paper, but that did not
disturb him; he rubbed it off with his hand and went on writing). We
laughed at first at this apparent nonsense, but then your father
began to note the theme, the notes, the composition; his study of the
sheet became more intent until at last tears of wonder and delight
fell from his eyes.

"Look, Herr Schachtner," Leopold said, "how correct and orderly it
is; only it is of no use because it is so very difficult that nobody
could play it."

Then Wolfgangerl struck in, "That is why it is a concerto, one must
practice it until one can do it; look! this is how it goes." He
played, but could only bring out enough to show us what he intended.
He had then the notion that playing concertos and working miracles
were the same thing.

***

--Cindy

Palomar · 2003-03-19 09:20:31

*...Continuing...

A Letter from The Court Trumpeter, Andreas Schachtner, #2:

Once more, gracious madam! You will doubtless remember that I had a
very good violin which Wolfgangerl, on account of its soft and full
tone, always called "butter-fiddle." One day, soon after you came
back from Vienna (early in 1763), he played on it and could not
praise it enough; a day or two after, I came to see him again and
found him playing with his own violin; he said: "What is your butter-
fiddle doing?" and went on playing to his fancy. At last he
reflected a little and said: "Herr Schachtner, your violin is half a
quarter of a note lower than mine; that is, if it is tuned as it was
when I last played on it." I laughed at this, but your father, who
knew the extraordinary ear and memory of the child, begged me to get
my violin and see whether he was right. I did, and right he was.

Some time before this, the day after your return from Vienna,
Wolfgang having brought with him a small violin which he got as a
present from Vienna, then came in our then excellent violinist Herr
Wenzl, who was a beginner at composition. He brought six Trios with
him which he had prepared in the absence of your father, to have his
opinion on them. We played these Trios, your father taking the bass
part on the viola, Wenzl the first violin and I the second.
Wolfgangerl begged to be allowed to play the second violin, but your
father reproved him for his silly request since he had not had the
slightest instruction on the violin and your father thought he was
not in the least prepared for playing. Wolfgang said: "One does not
need to have learned to play the second violin," and when your father
told him to go away and not disturb us further, Wolfgang began to cry
bitterly and toddled off with his little violin. I interceded for
him to be allowed to play with me and at last his father said: "Play
with Herr Schachtner, but so softly that you are not heard, or you
must go away at once." Wolfgang played with me. Soon I perceived
with astonishment that I was quite superfluous; I put my violin
quietly down and looked at your father, down whose cheeks tears of
wonder and delight were rolling, and so he played all six Trios.
When we had finished, Wolfgang grew so bold with our applause that he
declared he could play first violin. We let him try as a joke and we
almost died of laughter to hear him play, with incorrect and
uncertain execution certainly, but without breaking down.

In conclusion: "Of the delicacy and fineness of his ear." Almost up
to his 10th year he had an insurmountable dread of the trumpet when
it was played alone, without other instruments; if one merely held
out a trumpet towards him it was as if one had pointed a loaded
pistol at his heart. His father wanted to rid him of this childish
fear and asked me once, in spite of his objections, to blow towards
him, but my God! I had to desist. Wolfgang no sooner heard the
clanging sound than he turned pale, began to totter, and would have
fallen into convulsions had I not stopped.

This is all I can say, I think, in answer to your questions. Pardon
my scrawl, I am too cast down to do better.

I am, honored madam,
With the greatest esteem and regard,
Your most obedient servant,

Andreas Schachtner, Court Trumpeter.

***

--Cindy

Palomar · 2003-03-19 17:24:51

*I was going to post this information sooner or later. Clark, was Voltaire an atheist? (brought over from "Naming Martian Settlements" thread) Read and decide for yourself; they are his own words.

Here are some of Voltaire's thoughts on God, as translated in _World
Classics Library: Voltaire_.

"We are his work. This is an important truth for us to know; for to
know philosophically at what time he made man, what he did before, if
he exists materially, or in vacuum, if he is at one point, if he
constantly acts or not, if he acts everywhere, if he acts without or
within himself; these are researches which strengthen the conviction
of my profound ignorance.

I ever see that there has been scarce a dozen men in Europe who have
written upon these abstracted things with any kind of method; and if
I could suppose that they had spoken in an intelligible manner, what
would be the consequence? We have already found [previous article]
that things which so few persons can flatter themselves with
understanding are useless to the rest of mankind. We are certainly
the work of God, this is useful for me to know; and the proof is also
clear. All things in my body are causes and effects; that is:
spring, pulley, moving power, hydraulic machine, equilibrium of
fluids, and chemical laboratory. It is therefore arranged by an
intelligence. I am not indebted for this arrangements to the
intelligence of my parents, for they certainly did not know what they
did when they produced me; they were only the blind instruments of
this eternal manufacturer, who animates the worm of the earth and
makes the sun turn upon its own axis."

Voltaire also often mentions "adoring God." He also proclaimed that "the work proves the workman" (meaning, in this context, that the proof of the existense of the universe proves God's existence).

--Cindy

P.S.: Again, I am an agnostic, not a Deist. I differ from Voltaire in this, among other things.

Shaun Barrett · 2003-03-19 18:18:03

Cindy, this thread of yours really is largely a labour of love, isn't it?!
You put such a lot of effort into reproducing lengthy excerpts from the writings of various prominent people of the 18th century, while getting only occasional responses from interested parties!

I myself confess to being guilty of neglecting this thread much of the time, though I do 'drop in' now and then for the refreshing taste of a more gracious era (at least for some). I do admire the way language was used in those days. It looks so quaint by comparison with our utilitarian use of words today but has a peculiar beauty about it which I find still influencing my way of thinking for some hours after I've read it. And not just influencing my mental use of words. I actually find it has quite a calming effect in general - almost as though the slower pace of life of the 18th century is conveyed through time by the words.
Call me slightly wacky if you will!
I just love the way Charles Dickens uses language, too!

Palomar · 2003-03-19 20:38:17

Shaun: "Cindy, this thread of yours really is largely a labour of love, isn't it?!"

*Yes. And especially my private mailing list. I've got 30 members, with perhaps 10 responses and/or contributions per month from them; and perhaps 1/2 of my members I've never heard from. It gets discouraging sometimes, but then I remind myself quickly that these people came to my group to ::learn:: something. And they've held steady with me for nearly a year now; only 4 to 5 people unsubscribed in 10 months' time, with the same new additions. Many of my members are, according to their Yahoo! profiles, from foreign nations...thus, I assume they don't have the main resource I do: Plenty of money for books, particularly old and rare/out of print volumes (which usually prove to be absolute gems). The Enlightenment philosophers spent a lot of time and energy writing their ideas (in long hand, no less! No fancy computer and a 130+ word per minute typing speed like me) to a minimal audience...I think I can certainly manage. And besides, I love sharing what I love.

Shaun: "You put such a lot of effort into reproducing lengthy excerpts from the writings of various prominent people of the 18th century,"

*Actually, it took less than 20 minutes to type in the letter of Andreas Schachtner regarding Wolfgang Mozart...thanks to the typing skills and speed I've accrued over the years. Whatever I post here was first posted at my mailing list.

Shaun: "I myself confess to being guilty of neglecting this thread much of the time, though I do 'drop in' now and then for the refreshing taste of a more gracious era (at least for some)."

*I'm glad for whenever you or anyone else drops in.

Shaun: "I do admire the way language was used in those days. It looks so quaint by comparison with our utilitarian use of words today but has a peculiar beauty about it which I find still influencing my way of thinking for some hours after I've read it."

*That is so true. I can become so absorbed in the books I read pertaining to the 18th century -- whether relative to philosophy or biography or whatever. The beauty of it -- sensuous, actually. Rich and warm and wonderful.

Shaun: "And not just influencing my mental use of words. I actually find it has quite a calming effect in general - almost as though the slower pace of life of the 18th century is conveyed through time by the words."

*You've experienced that too? Yes, the calming effect. Distant echoes of richly-worded sentences which tug gently on the ear and wrap themselves around your heart.

Shaun: "Call me slightly wacky if you will! I just love the way Charles Dickens uses language, too!"

*Wacky? Nah, I'd say you've got really good taste! I've not read much Dickens, though I have Nicholas Nickleby, Hard Times and A Christmas Carole_in my closet, waiting to be read some day...

--Cindy

Shaun Barrett · 2003-03-19 23:37:47

130+ words per minute?!!! Wowww! [Paraphrasing a certain literary title: "How green is my envy"! ]

My two-finger speed is closer to 130+ words per hour!

That Andreas Schachtner letter would have taken me rather longer than 20 minutes, I can assure you of that. :laugh:

But still, I admire your enthusiasm and look forward to 'dropping in' again soon.

Palomar · 2003-03-28 09:58:15

Is Every Thing Eternal?

-More Deistic thoughts of Voltaire-

"Subject to eternal laws like every sphere that replenishes space, as
the elements, animals and plants, I view with astonishment every
thing that surrounds me; I search for my author, and the author of
that immense machine, of which I am scarce a perceptible wheel.

I am not derived from nothing; for the substance of my father and
mother, who bore me nine months in her womb, is something. It is
evident to me that the sperm which produced me could not be produced
from nothing; for how can nothing produce existence? I find myself
subdued by this maxim of all antiquity: 'nothing arises from nought,
nothing can return to nought.'

This axiom carries with it such dreadful power that it bears down
all my understanding, without my being able to contend with it. No
philosopher has ever lost sight of it...My reason tells me that
matter must necessarily be eternal, because it exists: if it [matter]
was in being yesterday, it was before."

--Cindy

Palomar · 2003-03-28 10:06:06

Intelligence

-Continuing Deistic thoughts of Voltaire-

"But in perceiving the order, prodigious skill, mechanical and
geometrical laws that reign in the universe, their causes, the
innumerable ends of all things, I am seized with admiration and
respect. I immediately judge that if the works of man, even my own,
compel me to acknowledge an intelligence within us, I should
acknowledge one far more superior, actuating the multitude of so many
works. I admit of this supreme intelligence, without fear that I
shall be obliged to change my opinions. Nothing staggers me with
respect to this axiom -- every work demonstrates a workman."

***

All quotes of Voltaire regarding his Deism taken from _World Classics Library: Voltaire_.

--Cindy

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