New-York tribune., 1920-08-15

me 10 40 as much Tor Papa Haydn.
81 fancy that to these appropriations
OF Beethoven's | owe my most vivid
musical impressions. l maintain that
unless one has heard him improvize
we'll and quite at ease one can but i'm
perfectly appreciate the vast scope of
his genius. Swayed wholly by the i'm
pulse of the moment he sometimes said
TO me- after striking a few chords:
Nothing comes into my head; let's
put it off till Then we would
talk philosophy, religion, politics and
especially Of Shakespear, his idol and
always in a language that would have
provoked the laughter of any hearers.
beethoven was not a man of esprit,
If we mean by that term one who makes
keen and witty remarks. He was by
nature too taciturn to be an animated
conversationalst. His thoughts were
thrown out by hts and starts, but they
were lofty and generous, though often
rather illogical. Between him and Jean
jacques Rousseau there was q bond of
erroneous opinion, springing from the
disposition, Of a fancifu world bearing
no positive relation to human nature
and social conditions. But Beethoven
was we'll read. The isolation Of cell
bacy, his deafness and his sojournings
in the country had led him to make a
study Of the Greek and Latin authors
and enthusiastically of Shakespeare.
taxing this in conjunction with the
KIND of singular, though genuine, in
terest which results from wrong no.
tons set forth and maintained in all
good faith, his conversation was, if not
specially magnetic, at least original
and curious. And as he was we'll af
tected toward me, by a whimscv of
his atrabilious character he preferred
that should sometimes contradict him
rather than agree with him on every
point.
when he felt inclined to improvisa-
tion on the day appointed he was sub
lime. His tempestuous inspiration
poured forth lovely melodies and har-
monies unsought, because, mastered by
musical emotion, he gave no THOUGHT TO
the search after effects that might have
occurred to him with pen in hand:
they were produced spontaneously with
out divagation.
"As a pianist his playing was incor-
rect and his mode of lingering often
faulty, whence it came that the ouaI;tv ft"
OF tone was neglected. But who could
thlnk OF the pianist? He was absorbed
IN his thoughts and his hands had ia
express them as best they might.
inducements to Visit France
i asked him If he would not like to
become acquainted with France, 4
greatly desired to do so,' he replied.
before she gave herself master Now.
my desire has passed. For all that,
sh shouid IKE to hear Mozart's sym
phonles (he mentioned neither his
own nor those of Haydn)-in Paris:
am told that they are played better at
the Conservatoire than anywhere else.
hesloes, am too poor to take a Jour
hey out OF pure curiosity and probably
recurring great speed. Come with me
, will take you along'-'What an idea,
could not think of allowing you to
60 to such expense on my account
Don't worry about that, there's no ex-
pense; all my charges for the post are
betrayed, and | am alone in my car
rage II you would be satisfied with
a single small room, l have one at
your disposal. Only say yes. It's well
worth your while to spend fortnight
IN Farls; your sole expense will be for
the return journey, and less than so
horns will bring you home again.
You tempt me; l shall think it over
Several times pressed him to make
decision: His hesitation was always
result of his morose hunior. 4 shall
be overrun by visitors! !'-'You will not
receive them m'-'Overwhelmed bv invi-
tations! Which you will not accept.
They will insist that I play, that
compose! You will answer that Won
have no time.-'Your Parisians will
say that l am bear. What does that
matter to you? 1t is evident that you
DO not know them Paris is the home
OF liberty, of freedom from social con-
ventions: Distinguished men are ac-
cepted there exactly as they please to
show themselves, and should one such.
especially stranger, be tri1e eccen-
tr1c. that contributes to his success
Finally, he gave me his hand one
day and said that he would come with
me. | was delighted-again from van
ity, no doubt. To take Beethoven TO
Paris, to have him in my own lodgings,
to. introduce him to the musical world,
what a triumph was there-but, to
punish me for my pleasurable antici-
| patlons the realization was not to fol-
low them.
THE armistice of Znaim caused US
to occupy Moravia, whittier was sent
as intendant. l remained there four
months. The Treaty of Vienna having
| given this province to Austria, | re-
turned to Vienna, where | found Bee
thoven still of the same mind. | was
expecting to receive the order for nv
return to Paris, when I received one to
as intendant. After spending a year
there received my appointment to
the prefecture Of PAveyron, together
with an order to wind up an affair at
Agram with which had also been
charged, and then to travel in all haste
to Paris to render an account of nv
mission before proceeding to my new
/ destination. So I could neither pass
through Vienna nor revisit Beethoven.
His mind was much occupied with
the greatness of Napoleon, and he often
/ spoke to me about it. Through all his
( resentment | could see that he admired
his rise from such obscure beginnings;
MS democratic ideas were f1attered by
it. One day he remarked: If | 20 to.
Paris shall | be obliged to salute your
! Emperor" l assured him that he
would not unless commanded for an
audience. And do you think he would
command me?' I do not doubt that he
would, if he appreciated your impor
tance; but you have seen in Cheru-
| hot ho