New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-13

Il would De easy TO fancy that II was only to
CRAFTY a feeling Of friendship. The Mrs. van
Beethoven referred TO was the widow Of the
nephew Carl. Of whom Beethoven became guar
dian in 1916. The conduct Of the nephew in his
youth and the legal contest waged against his
mother by Beethoven greatly embittcred the
composers life but had Thayer lived 10 com
ple,e his biography there can be doubt that
be would have demolished many Of the fabrics
reared by romarcing writer's upon and around
the unhappy incident. He was a sincere friend
Of th- widow van Beethoven. who still
alive in 1890 and she gladly put all the material
IN her possession bearing on the subject OF his
studies at his disposal. He was eager, too. to
clear the memory f the nephew OF all Of the
stigmas placed upon il by so-caled history.
which were undeserved, and in 1880 sent an
article several columns long 10 The Tribune. in
which he chastised Herr Nohl for his treatment
Of Beethovens brother Johann and the family
Of the nephew Carl The latter was certainly
dis pated in his youth and once attempted sui
eide but The good elements in his character as
serted themselves when he reached maturity,
and he lived an honorable life. He was only
eighteen years of age when Beethoven died.
Leaving him sole heir 20 his possessions. He en-
tered the army in due course. and after compet
tg his term Of service married in Moravia- II
eied H. lSJS leaving widow. four daughters
and a son. who. when Thayer made their
cuaintance and became their friend, were the
only representatives Ny1g Of the old Beethoven
family = Bonn. Writing TO The Tribune over
seventeen year. ago Thaysr said that the widow
had only known the great composers nephew
(whom tie writer's taking hints from Ries and
schinder and expanding them in the style Of
the penny-a-liners had metamorphosed into an
utterly graceless scamp "as the young lover,
The kind and affectionate husband, the fond de-
voted and indulgent father Of her children; a
man Of simple habits retiring and intimate with
few friends-a thoroughly domestic man
Madame Caroline van Beethoven died, We be
leye only a few years ago. She had been pre-
ceded by her only son. Public record has not
Concerned itself with the daughters. though we
fancy that Mr. Thayer kept himself Informed
Concerning the Hermne whose photograph he
ADDED 20 his collection. We fancy also that we
have detected his reason for doing so. He had
two photographs. che a profile and one full
face view. Compare the profile (Which has been
enlarged for the purpose) with a profile view OF
the Beethoven mask taken by the sculptor
Franz Klein In 1872 1--WE have brought them INTO
!uxtaposition) and observe how marvellously
the features II the great composer were repro
tuced in those Of his grandniece.
Original prints Of the invitation to Beetho-
ven's funeral and the poems by CastelIi and
Won Schlechta, which were read at the cemetery
Ge also in the collection; likewise bunch OF
clover leaves from the grave. These memorials
@ the composers death. however, seem insgnlh-
cant compared with several personal relies OF
NE man Years ago Mr. Thayer bought inc
bookcase which stood in Beethoven's working
room IN The Schwarzspanierhaus in which ne