Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1860-05-07
Anecdote of Beethoven.

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Anecdote of Beethoven.
was at Boon some months ago; it i
the birthplace of Beethoven. there me
an old musician who had intimately
known the illustrious composer, and i
was from him learned the following an
ccdote. You know, said he, that Beetho.
ven was born in house of the Rhein
Cape (rue de Rim: but at the time of my
making his acquaintance, he lived over {
small humble shop in the ''Romerpidtz."
lie was then very poor-so poor that he
| walked out only in the evening, on &C
count of the tattered condition of his
clothes. However, lie had Il piano, pens,
| paper. ink and some books: and notwith-
standing his many privations. lie passed
some happy moments in his wretched
abode. He was not yet deaf, and he could
at least enjoy the harmony of his own
compositions. Later he WAS deprived of
| this consolation.
On beautiful winter evening called
upon him, hoping to persuade him to take a
M.hli search fear the window, in the moon
light, without fire or caudle-light, his face
concealed between his hands, and his
whole body trembling with cold, for it was
freezing hard. BY degrees drew him
from this lcthargy, persuaded him to "c-
company me, and cNhorted him to "ban-
don his melancholy. He came with me.
but he was snmbre and discouraged this
evening, not wishing to be consolcd.
~ hate the world" said he angrily. land
| hate myself. No one comprehends me,
nobody cares for me. have genius, and
am treated as an outcast; have heart,
and no one to love; am completely
wretchedT'
made no reply; it was useless to argue
with Beethoven, and l suffered him to con-
tinue his lamentations, which he kept up
until our return to the city; then lie re-
lapsed into his moTrnful silence. We
were walking in an obscure and narrow
street, near the gate of CobleUtz. All at
once he stopped.
IHfSgbSdha HgSh o qdn dnRFsta Rst 6e"t 65 faint is tho fHRGsS
old piano at distance. 1t was a plant
i've melody in triple time, and in spite of
the poorncss of the instrument, the player
gave a most delightful expression to the
| niece. Beethoven gazed ut me with spark
I ling eyes. "It Is taken from my sympho-
| nv in tl.n said he. "There's the house.
Lislin-how we'll it plnycd!', The house
was q sorry one, of the most humble sor'
! light shoue through the cracks OF the
shutter He still continued listening In
| the midst of the fndls there was sudden
| stop-a profound silence-theu Il stitted
voice said:
Il cannot continue" Ctwns the voice OF
q frmoIe.l II can go no further this even
ing, Frederic"
unless it be that this composition IS SO
beautiful feel incapable Of doing it JUS
tice. | love music so much! Oh wh"'
would | not give to hear this morcsah
pIaved bv some one capable of exhibiting
its whole beantyI' 'Ah! dear sister
said Frederic, sighing, zone must be riei
to have this pleasure. What use to desire
when there nre not the means to Obtain
We can scarcely pay or rent; wheretor.
think of things so far beyond our rehcn
"You are right, Frederici aud yet whet
rlav the desire to hear music well eX
ecutcd always comes to my mind. But
is useless-uselcss!'
There was something singularly touch
inG in the tone and repetition of the las
word. Beethoven looked at me. Let u
go in, said he brnskly.
60 in ?" said l. "Why should we en-
ter?'
81 wish to play for her., replied he wit
vivacity. '.She has feeling genius, intel
ligence; will play for her, and she VII
appreciate me-
Before could stop him, his hand wa
upon the handle of the gateway, and nc
being closed, it opened immediately.
followed him in a dark corridor, toward
door partly open. He pushed it, and W
found ourselves in a poor room, contain
ing nothing but stove in one corner an
some old articles of furniture. Ver
I pale young man was sitting at tau
working mt a shoe. Near him was youn
o1,r a n
Both were cleanly but poorly clad. Inc
arose aud turned toward MS with IL look {
surprise. ia.
Excuse me-" said Beethoven, littI
embarrassed, "excuse me- but hearin
music, ] was tempted to enter. am
musicianl" The young girl blushed, an
the Young man assumed serious, almo:
severe expression of countenance. u ais
heard some of Your words" continued III
friend. "You desire to henr-that is
sav. Won would likc-in short, you woul
like me to play something" There WI
= something, know not what. so strange,
I comicaI in this whole scene, and somethln
E agreeable and eccentric in the manner
: the speaker, that the ice was ut one
broken, and all began to smile. ~ tn"u
E you" smid the young shoemoker, ,loo1 o.
pinuo is so bad, and, BESIDES we nave
Nov "How, then, Miss -" He stopped al
blusbed; for the young girl had Just tnrl ar
ed towards him, and by her sad, y yeii'
+ ewes. he saw that she was blind 81 eI
treat your PARDON" he stammered 9u %
"but did not at first observe; yon nia IA
tbeu. from cmcmory?'' "Altogether,
"Where have yon heard this music p st
n a lady to whom l was neighhor two yea
s ago at Bruhl" "And you have neS
\ heard any other music z" 'sNeYeF; exec
c that of the streets.a She seemed "l'irlLie