The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-11-23
Beethoven's Experience as a Cook.

The great musician extended his gen..
ius to his household, producing chaos.
He strictly forbade the things in his
room to be put in order. Only with his
special permission was the broom used
to sweep the floor. He used this as a
waste basket, throwing all envelopes on
it, and sometimes the torn letters too.
Books or notes were lying ON every chair.
The dishes, even from breakfast, were
sometimes left in the room till the next
morning. When he was searching for
something the chaos became alive.
Loosened manuscripts fell in their sew
eral ways to the floor, and wine bottles
came rolling from the corners. But
what be was searching for he could not
find, because the confusion grew still
worse by his impatient, unsystamatic
searching. He frequently mislaid some
thing, however, and searching was
therefore common occupation of his.
The active composer on such occasions
often chided his housekeeper, whom he
strangely called Mrs. Schnapps. He as
serted that all the trouble, all the disor-
der was her fault, stating that he him
self was strictly orderly and could find
even pin again at nighttime, if every
thing in his room had not been changed
by her. The principal cause of this dis
order was the disccntented, morose COM
posers frequent change of residence.
He frequently changed his residence, but
never took necessary time to fit up his
new home properly. Once he missed a
most precious manuscript, the score of
his favOrite symphony, copied complete
ly and neatly. Poor Beethoven search
ed for it over fortnight. Finally he
found it. But alas, where? In the
kitchen, where it was placed under but
ter, bacon, and other provisions Quite
beside himself from ire, he threw all the
eggs at hand at his cooks head and turn
ed her out of the house. He determined
not to admit such a person to his kitch-
en- again. The meals moreover, he said,
for long time had not been to his taste,
remarking that cooking was not more
difficult than composing, that he de-
termined to tend his kitchen himself.
He went to the market and made his
purchases. Glad of the choice and
cheapness of the provisions, he invited
several friends to dinner, and went to
work to prepare all the dishes himself.
When The guests came they were aston
ished to see their host in the kitchen.
He wore white cap and apron like a
cook by trade. The fire on the hearth
blazed, the pots seethed, the butter in
the pan sizzled, but nothing was ready
at the appointed time. Beethoven stood
in despair, menacing now with the la
die, then with the carving -knife,t the I'M
governable pots. He ioverset and set
them up again he burnt his fingers, but
he burnt the roast meat far more. The
guests waited impatiently for the re-
suits of Beethoven's labors as a cook. At
last he came triumphantly from the
kitchen, like warrior from the battle
field. But his victories were not great.
The soup looked thin and poor. Bee
thoven did not know that it had to be
skinned, and let it boil too long, con-
tinually adding water. The vegetables
had not come in contact with the water.
They were covered with sand, and swan
in grease. But the most horrible of all
was the roast meat. Nobody could eat
anything, except Beethoven himself,
who did full justice to his cookery. The
guests asked for some bread, butter and
cheese, and drank of the good wine
which had Just been ordered in addition
to the dinner. On the day following,
Mrs. Schnapps entered into Beethoven's
kitchen again. He had seen that cook
ing must be learned, like his own sub
lime art, and he thought best not to
meddle with it any more.