New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-10-08
The Love Letters of Beethoven
- Id Discovery of Another Such Epste Brings a New
Phase to an Old Conroversey-On the
Trail of Various Theories


on the day after the last of the postscripts
round in the secret place in a cupboard or
desk in Beethoven's apartments on the day
aiter his death. Also. If one is inclined TO
accept its authenticity without cavil, that
the date was July s. 1901. But there are "a
few things 20 give a careful investigator
pause. Perhaps the letter was invented
for the very purpose OF bolstering up the
theory Of 1901 and the Gucciardi. To this
end the writer Cforger is an ugly world
chose a composition from which 10 make
an excerpt which was written without
question In 1901. He also cunningy chose
a work unknown 20 all the discovered
sketchboolJs But the melody. If by occurs
70 me- the writer meant not a reminiscence
but an original conceit calls for question
as not being written down as If for the
words, but as it appears in the first violin
part Of the quintet from which it was
taken, with a concluding chord which pre-
suppOses continuation and development eX-
actly in the manner Illustrated I'm the
quintet. That is something in itself sus-
piciOus So IS the choice Of the rather
commonplace phrase and the fact that it
proves that It was in the composers mind
in July i'm the perfected form in which 80
appears in the finished quintet Another
suspicious fact is the use of the word
"Generalissimus." which Beethoven began
20 apply to himself in his humorous CORE
spondence with his publishers, Steiner *
CO.. about 1914. That is internal evidence
against the genuineness Of the letter. which
is strengthened by the spirit Of the letter
throughout. The new letter is written in
ink and on paper of a different size from
that used for the others; and thus other
grounds Of suspicion arise. Moreover. II
the other letter or letters We're returned 20
the writer and piously kept by him till
death. how did this letter escape from the
collection? Why has nothing been heard
OF it in all the seventy years or more that
the world has been talking about its com
paniOns and the woman TO whom they were
addressed? All the hidden literary and
musical hooks in the world have been
searched for letters and documents in the
handwriting of Beethoven or bearing his
signature-why did not this letter come 10
light before? Certainly no amateur col
lector Of autographs could have been ig-
nOrart Of its value Is the owner a dealer
in autographs one at least Of the gentle
men who vouched for its genuineness in
Berlin is The editor Of Die Musk owes
Il to the world that he produce all the evil
dence in the case in justification of his
exploitation of the sensational document
When he has done this something more
may be said about the letter and its bear
ing on the mystery which il so wildly re-
calls.
/ Meanwhile Investigations into the incl
/ dent in Beethovens life, of which the love
D Lrfr moi II
/ a sentimental. but thorough and scien-
tifc manner. The Tribunes writer Of last
/ summer advanced the hypothesis that the
| letters might have been written in 1906
and sent 10 the abiding place Of Countess
Therese Brunswick. indicated by the initial
X" even If that place were not Korompa'
as Madame La Mara opines' since the
countess was with her sister, Countess
Teleky. fin Klausenburg Tor rather, on
Count Telekv's estates near Klausenburg).
fin Pennsylvania, in July. 1896. Frau'eh
rirsius ia Nara writes TO The Tribune's
reviewer from Tyrol under date Septem-
Der o. that she had hit upon the same no
ton when writing her book on the Countess
Brunswick. but had abandoned it on receiV-
! ing assurance from Johann Batka, city
archiv!st I'm Pressburg, that, Transatlantic
I not being part Of Hungary az thaL LIle'
the Journey would have been long and
difficult one. However. Investigations now
making for the writer I'm the postal records
of the Hungarian government will
soon provide official information on that
point Very interesting and promising is
this information given by Fraulein Lipsius
in her letter
II am by no means at the end of my in
quiries concerning the 'Unsteroiiche Ge-
uebte' From the archives Of niece OF
Therese Bruuswick's preserved in a Tran
sylvania castle. very interesting and valua-
bic letters and documents have been placed
I'm my hands and others have been prom
ised The visit which I was invited to
make 10 the castle by the chatelaine had 10
be postponed this summer. as well as last.
because Of illness The execution Of the
plan would be particularly appropriate at
the present time, when the somewhat mys-
terious discovery Of d Beethoven letter Of
July has again called attention 10
the subject But I must yield TO circum-
stances and abide my opportunity 10 con-
Hnue my Investigations at a more favora-
Die time. ID. T.. a.