New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-01
SCHUBERTS BIRTHDAY.
FEW RECORDS OF INFLUENCE OF WOMEN
IN THE LIFE OF FRANZ SCHUBERT.


This wonderful composer. whose centenary oc-
CURED yesterday died in 1885, aged thirty-one
years. and left the work of that short life. 1l3l
compositions printed and imprinted.
Some OF his bographers have suggested love af-
fairs. but there is a remarkable absence of record
Of the influence OF women on his life and work.
His mother, Elizabeth Wiz, FitZ. n Slesian
was. like Beethovens mother cook. who had
been in service in Vienna. She gave birth TO four
teen children, nine Of whom died In infancy She
died in 1872 when Franz fifteen An octet. one
OF his compositions OF this year Is supposed by his
biographer. Krc!ssle to have been composed for
the funeral Of his mother but this is doubted by
Others ana he has left no reference TO his loss.
His father married again in about year, and from
letters written several years later. in which he
refers to her mothery care. il appears that there
were pleasant relations between the second wife
and her stepson.
In 1874 he became teacher in the lowe. ,radc
in his fathers school, and remained there for three
years. To his temperament, this mus: have been
most uncongenal drudgery. But his life. outside Of
school hours. frightened at this time By the
friendship OF family In the Lichtenthal. nsmel
Grob. whose relations to him somewha. like
those Of the Breunngs 10 Beethoven. Therese the
daughter, had fine soprano voice, and II is sug-
gested that she may have inspired him with softer
feeling He wrote his first mass in F, for the Lich-
tentha Church. II was first performed on October
16. 1874 the first Sunday after ST. Theresas day. and
repeated at the Augustine Church ten days after
ward when Franz Schuber, conducted and Therese
Grob sang
Later in his he is said to have had an
ideal devotion for the young Countess Caroline
Esterhazy. but the statements regarding II appear
to be merely differences. In the summer Of 1878 he
accepted an engagement as teacher OF music in the
family Of Count Johann Estcrhazy. He be
q member OF the establishment. TO pass the sum
mer az ,he country seat at ZeltSz in Hungary
and Caroline, were al this time only thirteen and
eleven years OF age. Franz was born bourgeois
q - Of L. a
associates but shy, silent ana grave-faccd In the
society OF persons OF higher rank From his let
at this time. II appears that he felt more at
lie wrote: "No one mere cares for true art unless
1t be and then the Countess so IN, left alone
with my beloved, and nave TO hide her In ny
cook is pleas SAINT fellow: the ladies, maid IS thirty:
visit: the nurse is somewhat ancient the butler j.
dr s tVA is said tRai raon S Nth toG siry y
at Zelesz brought him somewhat into diSfavor with
Six Years later. in 1894. he again passed several
months in the Esterhazy family az Xelesz. and
then if ever. the date OF his tender feeling for
musical and with fine contrLlto voice. She =
said TO have been the obiec; Of devotion which
end of his life. The. etiquette Of the, tim vas
rigid, there was wide distance in the stations
he a lover, would have been cause for scandal;
There is only one occasion, on winch ne Is alleged
his feelings. kreisse says. but without giving his
authority. that when the young Countess laugh;
anHhng ser n he r rS5 WhY should =
Every work Of mine has been dedicated 10 you"
and the authority for Kreissles statement of it is
not known; The fine Fantasia, in T minor, pub
Gated to Caroline Esterhazy "by Franz Schubert"
II Is believed that it was handed to bis publishers
ventured TO make this dedication unless II had
been so inscribed by Franz himself -,
afterward