The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-11-02
HIS LAST PENFORMNCE.
Pathetic incident of BeethOycn's
Mournful End.


Beethoven's last days. as all the world
knows, were days OF disappointment and
deprivation. His resources were small his
genius unsppreciated, his hearing entirely
gone, and--smsll wonder!--his temper was
very irritable one. He dragged out his
life in a workhouse near Baden, often
needing the ordinary comforts OF life. An
incident connected with these last days. an
incident OF the utmost patbos. is related
by Alice Quarry, as followS:
He had been deaf for twenty-five years.
rearly half OF his life, when, In 1877, a
letter reached him at Pa,ien FROM his
nephew, the being dearest 10 him ON earth.
Tho young man wrote from Vienna. where
he had got into n scrape, from which he
looked to his uncle TO extricate him Bee
thoven set out at once, but his funds were
SO low that he WIS obliged TO make the
greater part OF the journey on foot. He
had gone most OF the way, and was only
few leagues from tho capital when his
strength failed. He vas forced TO beg hos
pitnlity at a poor, mean looking house one
evening. The inhabitants received the eS-
hausued, Ill tempered looking, dark, SrlO-
voiced stranger with the utmost ccrdlality.
shared their meager supper with him. and
then gave him a comfortable seat near the
mrs. The meal was hardly cleared away
before the head of the family opened an
old piano, while the sons each brought
forth some instrument, the women mean
time beginning to mend the linen. There
was general tuning up, and then the
music began As 1t proceeded the players,
the women, all alike, were more aud more
deeply moved. Tears stole down The old
mans cheek. His wife watched him with
moist eyes and a pathetic, far-away smile
on her lips. She dropped her needlework
and her managing daughter forgot to fnd
fault She was listening, too The sweet
sounds left only one perstn IN the room
unmoval The deaf guest looked on nj
this scene with ycarDing melancholy. When
the concert Was over he stretched cut his
hands for a sheet OF the music they had
used. ] could not hear, friends, he ex-
claimed In hoarsc tones OF apology, but
would Ike TO know who wrote this piece
which has so moved you all The plano
player put before him the 'Allegretto' In
Bsothoven's symphony IN A. Tears now
stole down the visitors cheeks All he
exclaimed. 4 wrote IT. am Beethoven!
Come and let US finish the piece He went
himself to the piano. and the evening
passed In true del.rium o, pleasure and
pride for the jewellers in that humble ma-
steal home. When the concerted music was
over he improvised lovely songs and sacred
hymns for the delighted family. who re-
manned UP far into the iAght listening TO
his playing.
1t was the last time he ever touched
an instrument. When he took possession
OF the humble room and couch allotted TO
him he could not sleep or rest. His pulses
beat with fever. He could not breathe. He
stole cut OF doors In search OF refresnment.
and returned to bed in the early morning
chilled to the heart. He WAS too Ill 10
continue his journey. HIS friends In VI
ehna were communicated with and Il ply
sician was summoned. but his end was at
hand. Hummel stood disconsolate beside
his dying bed Beethoven was. or seemed
To be, unconscious. Just before the end.
however. hs raised himself and caught the
watchers hand closely in both his own.
After all. IinmIpe, must have had some
talent he murmured. and then he died :"