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STORIES OF
he struck a bargain it was generally employed in settling his beer score. On one occasion a friend of Wilhelm, a schoolmaster, asked him as a favour to compose a chorus for his pupils, which they would sing on prize-distribution day. Wilhelm acceded. The promise was kept, and the school teacher wrote words appropriate for the event. Later he unscrupulously sold the manuscript so generously composed for a special object, and thus the " Wacht am Rhein" was brought to light with what success everybody knows. Thousands of copies were sold all over the world, but poor Wilhelm derived no benefit therefrom. Neither of these stories is quite correct; the music was composed by Carl Wil-helm in 1854. It was first sung with united choruses at Crefeld, June nth, 1854. Wilhelm was born at Schmalkalden, September 5th, 1815. He was appointed director of the Liedertafel at Crefeld in 1840, and held the post until 1865. In 1871 he was granted an annual pension of one hundred and fifty pounds, and died at his native place in 1873.
There are numberless English versions of the " Watch on the Rhine," for it was excep-tionally popular in England during the seven-ties. One by C. H. P. (published by Cramer and Co.) is worthy of mention, as also is another
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