New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-16

in between the music and the edgc OF
the sheet. the Words "The Old Wo-
man (die Alte) is again in need OF her
weekly allowance" The handwriting
Of the interlineation is plainly OF
different date. and at the time of the
conversation the "Old Woman was not
in Beethoyen's service.
Mr. Thayer, who repeatedly gave eN-
preston to his belief that SCHNEIDER
was honest. in transcribing this page
of the Conversation Book, writes: ut IS
to be noted. first, that the writing cine
Old Woman. etc.D does not correspond
with the rest, and. secondly, that die
Alte' was no longer in Beethoven's
service. 1t is evident on inspection that
SCHNEIDER inserted these words long al
forwards. The 'Es muss sem can only
refer here TO Beethoven's receipt Tor
the ring" Whether or not Thayer sus-
pected what may have been Schindlers
purpose in making the interlineation
does not appear. IT is not easy TO &C
quit SCHNEIDER of a sinister motive IN
this case nor to avoid the suspicion
that il was his hand which made an
attempt TO obliterate an entry on De-
cember 5 which proves that Holz sent
for DR.. Wawruch on that date and thus
gives the lie to the infamous story
about Karl and the billiard marquer.
The evidences of Schindler's eagerness
to encourage Beethovens detestation
of his brother and his suspicion Of his
nephew are too numerous TO be over
looked. and some of them may call for
mention later.
BEETHOVEN AND SIR WALTER
SCOTT.
An offer by Gerhard Won Breuning to
bring one of his school-books contain
ing pictures Of classic antiquities rs
proof of the lads familiarity with
Beethoven's literary tastes. II was
Brother Johann, however, who sug-
gested the novels of Sir Walter Scott
for his entertainment, and the impress
sion conveyed by the familiar story
that after beginning "Kenilworth"
Beethoven threw down the volume with
the angry remark: ITO the devil with
the scribblingl The fellow writes
only for money!" that the composer
would have no more of the novelist, IS
somewhat rudely disturbed by the evil
dence in the Conversation Book that
Beethoven read all of SCOTS works
which were to be found in transla-
ton in the circulating library. Bee
thoven later himself calls for Ovid's
"Metamorphoses" and his interest in
international politics is so keen that
he is not content with an abstract OF
Channing's great speech of December
y, 1926, but expresses desire to read
a full report of it.
A SECOND SURGICAL OPERATION.
While Beethoven's friends are dis
cussing the necessity Of a second tap
ping with DR.. Wawruch and Karl is
packing his boxes for lglau, the yea.
1926 ends. The surgeon Seibert seems
TO nave advised 2 postponement of the
operation. In conversation on Janu-
airy 8, 1927, SCHNEIDER says TO Bee
thoven: "Then DR.. Seibert was really
right in still postponing the second OPP
Grafton, for it will probably make
third unnecessary" There are now signs
of Beethoven's dissatisfaction with the
attending physician. Gerhard Won
Breuning has much to say on this point
in his little book, and SCHNEIDER joins
IN the criticism many years after Bee
tnoven's death, but in the Conversation
Books he appears more than once rs
Wswruch's defender.
From Won Brouning we learn thai
while at a later date DR.. Malfatti's
coming was awaited with eagerness
and hailed with unfeigned gladness,
Wawruch's visits were ungraciously re-
ceivcd, Beethoven sometimes turning
his face to the wall and exclaiming,
ooh, the asst" when he heard the name
announced. But in the first week Of
January SCHNEIDER is still concerned in
keeping up the patients faith in the