The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-01-23
BEETHOVEN AND WEBER,

From kate Fields Morning with Sir Julius
Benedict," Scrlbner for February.
"Did you ever meet Beethoven, Sir Ju-
liusW
Yes, at Vienna. Everything had
been done to foster hostile feeling be-
tween him ana Weber, but the mighty
Ludwig was above small talk and gos-
sip. He had heard from WIlhelmine
chroeder-atterwar the celebrated
ocnroeder-D how much
care, devotion, and energy Weber had
produced 'Fideliy' ia the summer of
1922, and how deep and lasting the i'm
preston of his masterpiece was on the
Dresden public. He had been In active
correspondence with the Saxon Capell-
meister himself, and, TO my great joy
and surprise, Wnen met him one morn
ing at his publishers, Beethoven actull
ly condescended to speak with ma on
the subject. | can see him before ME
now, with his grand brow and thick
iron-gray hair encircling it in most pic
turesque disorder, with that square
liOn's nose, that broad chtn and noble,
soft mouth. over his cheeks, scanned
with scars of smallpox, there spread a
high color. From under the Dusny,
closely compressed eyebrows flashed a
pair OF piercing eyes, and his thicKset
-
frame. He approached me with his it,
separable tablet in hand, and began
speaking with his usuat brusqueness.
you are WeDer's pupilP | gave an
affirmative nod. 'Why doesn't he come
to see me! Tell him TO come to Baden
with friend uaslinger,' pointing to his
publishers partner"
Asking for the masters tablet, l
wrote in it, 'May l come tUoT"
"BeethoYen replied, smiling, '4es, lit
tie saucy fellow
$50, having duly announced his visit,
Weber, with Hasinger and myself,
drove out on the 9th Of October to Baden,
near Vienna, where the old lion was
| won't, till late in the autumn, TO have
his den. We all felt strangely moved on
entering the great mans poor, desolate-
looking room. Everything was in APP
| palIing disorder-muslc, money, clotu-
| ing on the floor, tue bed unmade, broken
cotfee-cupS upon the table, the open
| piano.lorte with scarcely any strings
| left, and covered with many coats OF
dust, while Beethoven himself was
wrapped in u shabby Old dressing-goWn.
He recognized Weber at once, and on
| embracing MIN energetIcallY, shouted,
There you are, you devil of lellowP
| Handing Weber the tablet, Beethoven
pushed heap OF music from the old
piano, threw himself upon it, and, dur
ing The conversation, commenced dress
ing to go out with us. He began with ~
string OF complaints about his position
the public, lne theaters, The Italians,
and especially about his ungratetul
nephew.
'rouched by this tale of woe, Weber
| advised him to leave Vienna and go to
Germany and England. where his works
were so much appreciated. 600 late /
cried Beethoven, pointing to his ear and
shaking his head sadly; then he seized
Webers arm and dragged him away to
the hotel wnere he used to take his
meals. After long and most interest
ing conversation referring to the highest
ques OF art, the time came for de-
parture. Again and again Beethoven
embraced Weber, and it was long be-
fore the latter would loose his thin, deli
cate hand from the grasp Of mighty
list. success to your new opera! II
can, will come Oh the first night were
his last words.'