Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-08

ion, Beethoven by a gradual and adroit modula
tion suddenly landed the vocalist in region in
which he could not move nor do anything but
leave off singing. The trick almost too COM
plete. Choking with rage, the singer complained
to the Elector, who-wise man-acted on the
audi dlterGm pdrtem principle and came to the
conclusion that both in the wrong, while if
there was any difference, more blame attached
to the singer for his meanness in complaining of
his antagonist after having himself been party
to the wager.
EXCITED BY MUSIC.
The music that racked his brain gave him no
rest-he became an inspired mailman. For hours
he would pace his room, "howling and roaring"
it has been put; or he would stand beating
time to the music that was so vividly present to
his mind This put him into terrible
excitement which could only be allayed by a fire.
quent recourse to the water Jug the contents of
which he poured over his head and barred arms
until the floor was swimming with water. Dam
aged ceilings the consequence-and with
complaints as to these, discord between owner
and tenant was set going. Then the fellow
dodgers threatened to quit unless the "madman
went" that on the whole there little Of
the undesirable about Beethoven as lodger.
worse habit affected the owner more than the
composers acknowledges. He injured the furni-
ture in terrible fashion. Rather than lose his
customary walks, he would go out in the wettest
of weathers, then come in dripping with rain
and shake the water from his hat and clothes,
quite oblivious seemingly that he was spelling
the carpets, coverings and furniture. He had
habit OF shaving at his window and paSSerS-by
could and sometimes pelted him. OF course
the landladies objected, but he would not discon
tinue the practice, preferring to pack up his
things and seek fresh lodgings. For this and
similar he at time paying the
rent of four lodgings at once.
CONFUSION IN HIS HOUSE.
A more careless, untidy man never was. One
who visited him says: THE most exquisite con-
fusion reigned in his house. Books and music
were scattered in all directions; here the resi-
due of a cold luncheon-there some full, some
half-emptied bottles. On the desk the hasty
sketch of new quartet; in another corner the re-
mains of breakfast. On the pianoforte, the scrib-
bled hints for noble symphony, yet little
than in embryo-hard by, a proof-sheet,
waiting to be returned. Letters from friends,
and business spread all the floor. Be-
tween the windows a goodly Stracchino cheese;
one side of it ample vestiges of a genuine
Verona Salami; and, Notwithstanding all this con-
fusion, he constantly eulogized with Ciceronian
eloquence, his own neatness and love of order!
When however, for whole hours, days. and often
weeks, something mislad looked for, and all
search had proved fruitless then he changed his
tone, and bitterly complained that everything was
done to annoy him. But the servants knew the
natural goodness of their master; they suffered
him to rave, and in few minutes all was for
gotten-tl similar occasion renewed the scene.
AFFECTION FOR HIS NEPHEW.
No episode in Beethovens remarkable career
presents with such picture of his kindness
of heart the real inward natural henP-the