Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-08-26


again swept over the spirit of the artist with
fertlizng breath, and had also uplifted Beetho-
ven who had already suffered so much, morally,
physically and materially, into that spiritual
condition of Titan greatness, which had power
ci en- from time to TIME to dise the mob which
cternally groveled 10 a conception Of something
higher and better. He even felt joyous, and the
great AVAILABILITY Of Count Dri'rchsten had SO
mitch the m6fB Increased his nipnieutary good
nature, as he was convincedj 1t took It's rise III
true admiration and respect for himself Inc
chronicle of that day authentieates littlej but
characteristic incidents III tie life Of this, in
the broadcast sense OF the word-adBleiiiaill
Beethoven's good humor continued the next
day after The invitation of Count Drtrichsteln.
With almost hilarious tones he ordered his glass
of Wine brought In the coffee room, which he
most liked to visit, the "BlhElenstOckel
Flowers" One could easily discover that to-day
he was disposed to engage in conversation with
any one, although it is true, his deafness stood
In the way of this. The poor master! His
glance swept searehingly around the room and
fell upon one guest, who sat at dhtttef tdOle
over opposite to him, whom lie surprised with
his full attention turned towards him-Beetho-
ven, The master appeared to day, in an ex-
ceptional manner not to take offence, lof Wilt
out any cloud appearing upon his face, as under
similar circumstances often happened, he bore
the gaze of the other patiently.
This one now felt himself encouraged by Bee
thoven's friendlincss to d deefmihatlOhi with
which he appears for long time to have strhgz
gled. He arose and approached with RESPECT
full salutation, the master, whom he Immediately
addressed.
Beethoven took a pencil from his pocket,
turned over the bill of fare for the unwritten
side and handed both to the gentleman. By
the aid of this means the following conversation
ensued:
pardon, Mr.. Organist, but I belong to your
worshippers."
Every fattering."
"Do not take offence, but 1t pains me very
much, if it can be true, to know that such
great man as you, sir, should many times be
in money pcrpeXities."
"But, now aud then get out Of theItt again."
at would be an honor TO me if | could be per-
mtted with my small means to help you out"
GLOW! You do not appear TO be very dis
creetp
90 Mr.. Organistl my reverence for you is so
great! Unfortunately / have only these hun
dred forms with me-"
80, give nothing to YOU, you nothing to
me, no bondp Indeed, that is new to mep
81 beg, only for the form of it, on account of
this little transaction, that you will grace with
your name this bit Of paper, 1t will receive by
| this act great valuc as an autograph"
You are fool? But you lay here a hun
dred forms, and there stands on the paper:
Three months from date you pay two hundred
| HorinsP Ali so that is what YOU intend! |
y y
foo, but you are a Yillainl"
Beethoven had upon this sprung up lind
spoken the last clause with such a voice of
thunder that the face of the scOundrel, who
obviously had been exactly informed concerning
BcethOYenS circumstances and peculiarites,
and had waited here for him, appeared for a
moment as il turned into stone. Then Mr.
"WOrshippeT' of the great master seemed to
consider it for his safety to remove himself az
quickly as possible. Beethoven found this scene
| An1 ~
This incident served to keep him in good hu-
NOR all day.
In the evening, the hour approached, which
was appointed for the sOiree of the music count,
Beethoven dressed himself quickly, and left the
| house. AT the door, awaited him lordly equi-
page sent by Count Dritrichstcin, and servant
| who knew him, offered to serve him with it.
Beethoven, however, took not the least notice of
him, but set out Notwithstanding the muddy
streets, on foot.
Having entered the salon of the count he
was warmly greeted by him and large number
OF distinguished persons, among whom, were
the historian Muller, the authors, HarItayr,
Maylath, Srigentesch, the musicians, Weigl,
Grawaty, the painters, Fuger and Lamp, the
sculptor Tauner and others. Beethoven felt
himself unusually animated and conducted him
self in the liyeliest manner. He made him
| self thereby so popular and was withal so
| happy and fine in his witicsms, that all
were enchanted with him, and were COM
PEELED to confess, that in nothing-aside
from the very dirty condition of his shoes
had he violated in the least, the rules of etiquette
even Of that elegant salon. After the company,
| together with Beethoven had departed, Count
| Dritrichstein expressed particular pleasure at
| the excellent manner with which the master
had conducted himself. But that was, as we
| Shall presently show, mostly attributed to the
count, all honor to his noble mind!
A few days later Dritrichstein had occasion to
speak with the emperor Franz concerning this
| Soiree.
"You see how this Beethoven is illuminated, y
remarked the emperor "And with you he con-
| Quoted himself so blamelesslyP
"As have already had the honor to assure
your majesty" "Do You know count, that
pcases me! l would gladly have invited this
man to court, but have feared him! say it
openly. Not on account of his political whims,
and not on account of his bold speech, for on
| the contrary, it seems to me right that man
| should speak what he thinks, but you know,
count, TO go beyond all bounds, that, will not
| doP
i repeat, your majesty, that all, at my soiree,
spoke most approvingly of Beethoven S conduct"
Then will consider, how shall manage, to
obtain an interview with this singular man."
i believe myself able to assure you, that Bee
| thoyen will show himself worthy such distin-
gulShed favor, your majesty"
well, l will see how it shall be accomplished
And there ended the conversation on this SUBJ
| Ject But in one of the following weeks, there
appeared at the house of Ludwig Won Beethoven
a chamberlain of the emperor. He gave Ito the
master note, in which was written: ellis
| majesty, the emperor, has commissioned me to
invite MIR. Beethoven to quartette production
in the apartments of his majesty, on the
| INST, at the hour Of. The presence of Bee
thoven would add still more to the happiness of
| the emperor, inasmuch as on that evening a
| composition Of Beethoven himself, will be exc
| cuted."
Beethoven was astonished. With the exception
OF the arch-duke Rudolph, he had never received
| particular attention from any member of the
emperor's court; and BESIDES he could not be
unknown in respect to his republican principles,
| or rather i'll respect to the reckless bold
ness with which he expressed them. The
master apparently did not know what answer
he should give TO this invitation TO court.
| He therefore silently bowed to the cham
berlain, and this one Withdrew, after
having again taken the note which he had pre-
| scented. Whether Beethoven had determined to
Slight this distinguished invitation or not, it is
impossible for us to say. But as the day came
and the hour approached which was appointed
| for his appearance at the emperOr's apartments,
he was found, where it had been his daily GUS
tom for long lime to resort at the coffee house
| lie had not been there long, before the same
chamberlain who had brought him the invita-
ton appeared, even there in the coffee room of
| luc nolcl. nc courier was out OF Dreatn. Inc
| court mad waited for Beethoven, and as he did
not appear, the chamberlain was sent in search
of the tardy one. With much trouble he had
traced him to the coffee house. In vain he adj
monished the master of the consequences of
sighting this most distinguished invitation.
Beethoven was immoyablc. But the chamber
lain believed, after having exhausted every other
| means, to be able to move him by striking
chord in sympathy with his art.
but Just consider, Mr.. Beethoven" said he,
| that quartet of your own composition will be
| played, and that the emperor himself has under
taken parti it,.
Beethoven looked quietly up at this excited
one, dripping with perspration, and then said
"All right, but l have already certainly heard
my quartette played much betterl that you will
acknowledged"
This was naturally too much for the chamber
lain. Like a hurricane he rushed out through
the door, but Beethoven remained unmoved at
the coffee housed
This circumstance became somewhat noised
about in certain circles, and as may be supposed,
Beethoven was seldom honored with invitations,
which pleased no one more than Beethoven him
self.
However, the next summer, a foreign prince
came to Vienna. A soiree was to be given, all
were DESTROYS of Beethoven's presence to lend
particular splendor TO the OCCASION Beethoven
appeared inclined to accept this particularly
friendly invitation, for on the evening of the aD-
pointed day, he left the CITY where he was pass
in GfnY. ,nl, I A.