The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-02
His domestic Life at weimar.


Berlin Letter, May Is.
After ell that has been written of this great
musicians earlier life, surrounded as he was by
the first society of Europe his home of to-day in
Wcimar is apt to surprise visitors by its extreme
unpretentiousness. The residence is plain,
two-stcry brick. almost square, piastered over to
represent stone and painted light brown. The
thoroughfare at this spot broadens out into the
magnificent Belvedere Alice which leads to q
summer residence of the Grand Duke of SAKE
Weimar, about one and half mile beyond.
The ducal palace Is nearer the centre of the
town. Liszt's house is really the residence of
the court gardener who only occupies the first
floor, as the Grand Duke has placed the apart
ments on the second floor at Liszts disposal dur
ing the remainder of his lifetime. There is no
street entrance to the house itself Entrance
forbidden" is the welcome on the same In black
and white.
The three front windows in the second story
belong to ''the master" A little dormer win
dow. usually filled with flowers, peeps out OF the
low, sloping roof. The hall is about fourteen
feet square, paved with brick and covered with
a rough mating On the south and east sides
doors open into the gardeners rooms. while on
the north and right.hand side are two doors for
Liszt's use. They both open iuto very narrow
corner corridor, the first facing the winding
stairway which leads TO the floor above. while
the second leads to the kitchen door just ut the
left. This kitchen is short and narrow like the
corridor. Ascending to the next floor door
leads from the small landing into narrow ante
room, the size of the kitchen, just beneath it.
Immediately at the left door connects with the
dining room, carpeted with thick ingram of sub
dued color and furnished with cherry. In the
center of the floor stands square extension
table.
A few cushioned chairs stand about the room,
and some large steel engravings adorn the wall
A door IN the south partition wall leads into q
still palmer bed-chamber, about Sxl4 To the
right, behind the door. is narrow single bed
provided with soft mattress and large pillows
Above it. on the wall, whore the master" can
see them when reclining. are two tiny framed
pictures, one above the other. The upper is the
'Heilige Schweiss Tuch' Holy Sweat Cloth,
from the famous picture of that name (Chrlsts
agonized dying face imprinted on a handker-
chief), the lower picture of one of the saints.
Below thes~ hangs an ebony and mother-of-pearl
rosary, WI is in the owners hands every day.
At the east end door opens into the salon,
which is about 24x14 The carpet, of dark
greenish hue, corresponds with the one In the
bed-chamber. The room is quite full Of furni-
ture. At the left of the entrance door, against
the west wall. O little ottomanlike sofa and an
upright piano. only used to supply the orchestral
part for concertos, etc, and a long easy sofa
reaching to the window. which completely fills
that side of the room. In front OF the sofa Is a
Bechstein grand piano. chair for the pupil,
stand in front of the keyboard, with the backs
turned to the sofa.
In front of the south window stand the mas
ter's wrting-table and leather-cushioned chair
with low back and sides that come up under the
arms only. Tho top of the table or desk usually
holds an kstank pens pencils, portfolio blotter
and fat bronze dish, in which List saves mp
the cigar ends that he cuts off. Ut is a great in
dustrv in Germany to collect these. Snuff Is
made from the tobacco, and the proceeds 60 to
hos oho NE NJ
dish holding some long, strong. slender cigars. a
cabinet photograph of Hans ven Bulow in an
easel frame at the right, and similar one of the
Princess Wittgenstein Ian interesting though not
pretty facet with whom Liszt lived many
years the Altenburg. old castle on hill in
Wemar, on the left A slender bottle OF Coguac
occupies sliding shelf at the right, and at the
left of the chair is high waste basket. By the
writing table, and beyond it, is tall book case
filed with volumes, many handsomely bound, of
every sort, in German, French, English, etc. OF
course works relating to music predominant.
The general effect of the room is attractive and
homelike. At any rate. it is very comfortable,
aud List has all he cares for. All the costly
gifts that have been showered upon him in past
years are mostly packed away In a house not far
distant with the household effects and works of
art that formerly belonged in the Altenburg, and
are still the property OF the Princess Wlttgen-
STEIN who has resided for fourteen or fifteen
years in Rome. These valuables will eventually
find their way TO museum.
The master arises at $50 in the morning,
drinks some cognac and writes until 7:3O, when
breakfast of tea. bread butter and soft-boied
eggs is served. At s o'clock he lies down I'M
til $50 or 10 Arising them he continues his
work or receives callers as 1t chances. At
o'clock regularly every afternoon he crosses the
alice and chats with the Baroness Won Mayen-
dorf for half an hour. Then he returns for
dinner, and after it is again lies down until
$50 p NJ. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday
ne has the lessons from $50 to o'clock. after
which some of his favorte pupils remain and
play whist for which he has a passion. On the
days between the lessons List PLAYS whist every
afternoon. About 7:30 or o'clock he again
crosses to the Baroness's. where he takes supper
and spends the evening. AT 1890 nc returns
and goes to bed.
Anecdotes of the Great Musician.
Coated from Various Sources.