New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-13
REPEATING A SIMPLE RUMOR

81 Schindler's first knowledge of the
passion of Beethoven for Julia Gucciardi
was obtained in 1929. Whatever he heard
from other sources could only have been
afterward. and in all probability was after
Beethoven's death. when his attention was
recalled 10 the subject by paper presently
10 be noticed. He does not pretend 10 have
heard this Jedlersee story from any party
TO IT: nor could he. for the Countess Erdody
had long been banshed from the Austrian
dominion before it could have come to his
ears He is, I'm fact. and upon his own
showing. gravely detailing mere private
rumor, current. he says. among certain
friends of Beethoven. Of an event which
happened df at alb fifteen, twenty or
thirty years before. and which was sur
missed by them. or by him. 70 have occurred
at the time he was Tilted by the young
Countess Guicciardi.
go There is nothing whatever in Ries's
"reminiscences. most OF which are of the
precise period of that affair which by any
stretch Of the fancy can be made to con-
firm the story; nay. more. they are utterly
inconsistent with il. There Is nothing even
70 show that he ever observed that his
masters relations 10 the Guicciardis were
i'm any way remarkable; yet Beethoven's
inclination TO the society of women was
point in his character that particularly i'm
dressed him. Beethoven he says, was
fond Of the company Of women. especially
if they had young and pretty faces, and
generally when he passed somewhat
charming girl he would turn back and
gaze at her through his glasses keenly,
and laughed or grinned II he noticed that
was noticing him. He WIS frequently I'm
love. but generally only for a short period.
Once when | twitted him concerning his
conquest OF pretty woman he admitted
that she had held him in the strongest
bonds for the longest time-viz: full seven
months
80 And so, too. with Breunng. There Is
no letter or part OF letter by him $50 FAR
rs made known by Wegeler) nor any tradi-
ton derived from him that relates 10 this
passion or its supposed consequences, and
vet IL is only from one of his letters that
we know OF a proposal OF marriage In $50;
nay. more. we shall find in 1903 Beethoven
inviting friend 10 dine with Countess
Guicciard AZ a time when he and Breunlng
lodged together!
"a II the Jedersee story be true al all
IN connection with this particular lady, the
time must have been 1903. But II is totally
inconsistent with what is known OF the
composers history during that year.
"5 Brauchle was not the Countess Err
d6dy's music teacher. but the tutor OF her
children. in which capacity he could hard
, f. have been employed al the time when
the eldest was not six years OF age. II
we are correctly informed, he was not In
that service until after the year 1893. nor Is
II known that Beethoven's intimacy with
the countess had then been formed. In
any case. the starvation story may be CON
sldered as disposed OF FOR the present
20 The force of these arguments Will be
incidentally but materially. increased by
the views-if they find favor and accept
ance advanced and supported In a short
discussion Of the single remaining question.
belonging to the Guicciardi arair. to which
We now come.
| 1T was well known 10 Beethoyen's