Herr Johann Strauss, with whose dreamy waltzes most of us are
familiar, for his part says that he is far too modest to designate
any composition as his _best_. When he finishes one he forgets it
completely for a time in the interest caused by his next work. Method
he has none--only inspiration, genius--for in his opinion composers can
never be made. "One may compose," he says, "very easily, or--not at
all." The divine art must be innate, and a composer--like his brother
genius, the poet--must be born, and can never be made. The music is
taken from one of his well-known waltzes.
[Illustration: Johann Strauss]