Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel], December 08, 1907, Page 12, Image 48

About Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911

Image provided by: University of California, Riverside; Riverside, CA

                
BEETHOVEN.
When, on October 13th, 1863, the Gesellschaft
der Musiktreunde exhumed and reburied Schubert,
the occasion was used for disturbing Beethoven's
bones, which lay three places higher up in the
Ortsfriedhof of Wahring. The skeleton of the
Bonn master proved him to be 5 ft. 5 in. high so
that like many of the world's greatest men, he
was below medium stature.
EARLY DESCRIPTION OF THB MASTER.
The head was large, with a grand forehead, great
breadth of jaw, and somewhat protruding lips,
the lower one more developed in his late years
• as the habit of serious reflection and set thought
grew more inter se. A profuse mass of black
hair, cast upwaids and backwards, left the full
open face — the more striking with its ruddy
clean-shaven skin. As Beethoven grew older and
bore the brunt of excessive troubles, his hair, as
abundant as ever, turned white, but remained a
great ornament behind his red but, as we are in
formed, from early youth pock-marked face. The
eyes arched with luxuriant brows were, indeed,
the mirror of his soul. Large and jet-black, they
were full of the fire of genius, and on occasions of
special joy or inspiration were remarkably bright
and peculiarly piercing. The teeth — beautifully
white and regular — were much shown in laugh
ing; happily, the careless man at least kept them
brushed. Unlike his hands, Beethoven's feet were
small and graceful. The former were ugly, thick,
dumpy, with short untapering fingers, which
could stretch little over an octave and afforded
anything but the impression of grace or fluency
over the piano keys. His voice varied. When
quite himself it was light in tone, and singu
larly affecting; but when forced, as it so often
was, on occasions of anger and temper, it became
very rough and far from sympathetic.
BEETHOVEN AS A SCHOOLBOY.
As a schoolboy Beethoven was reserved, having
little of that boisterous element which charac
terizes ninety-nine out of every hundred lads.
Caring little for boyish amusements, he was no
ticed to be invariably self-contained, quiet, and
reflective. He preferred to be alone, and this love
of solitude — which was marked throughout his
life— gave him precious time to devote to his
favorite pursuit— that of forming music both on
paper and the pianoforte. His marvelous ca
pacity for work showed itself very early in life,
for he began composing with a purpose before
most children have done with their toys.
One of the most marked characteristics that
showed itself very early in Beethoven's life and
remained there ever afterwards, was his fondness
for joking, which not only took a practical shape,
but often developed into sheer horse-play. When
but a youth of fifteen years (1785), he was or
ganist of the Electoral Chapel at Bonn, whereat
was a coxcomb who was constantly pluming him
self upon his singing abilities, or upon the in
ability of the accompanist to disconcert or "throw
him out" when singing. Beethoven soon made a
wager that be would bring him to a standstill, and
at one of the services in Passion Week, while the
singer was warbling in the most approved fash
RARE STORIES
OF
GREAT MEN
Compiled by
Thos. H. Russell, LL. B.
Editor-in-Chief Webster's Imperial Dictionary.
ion, Beethoven by a gradual and adroit modula
tion suddenly landed the vocalist in a region in
which he could not move nor do anything but
leave off singing. The trick was almost too com
plete. Choking wtih rage, the singer complained
to the Elector, who — wise man — acted on the
audi alteram partem principle and came to the
conclusion that both were 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 a party
to the wager.
EXCITED BY MUSIC.
The music that racked his brain gave him no
rest — he became an inspired madman. For hours
he would pace his room, "howling and roaring,"
as it has been put; or he would stand beating
time to the music that was so vividly present to
his mind. This soon put him into a terrible
excitement which could only be allayed by a fre
quent recourse to the water jug, the contents of
which he poured over his head and bared arms
until the floor was swimming with water. Dam
aged ceilings were the consequence — and with
complaints as to these, discord between owner
and tenant was set going. Then the fellow
lodgers threatened to quit unless the "madman
went," so that on the whole there was a little of
the undesirable about Beethoven as a lodger. A
worse habit affected the owner more than the
composer's fellow-lodgers. 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 spoiling
the carpets, coverings and furniture. He had a
habit of shaving at his window and passers-by
could see 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 reasons he was at one 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 a new quartet; in another corner the re
mains of breakfast. On the pianoforte, the scrib
bled hints for a noble symphony, yet little
more than in embryo — hard by, a proof-sheet,
waiting to be returned. Letters from friends,
and on business, spread all over the floor. Be
tween the windows a goodly Stracchino cheese;
on 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 mislaid was 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 a few minutes all was for
gotten — till a similar occasion renewed the scene.
AFFECTION FOB HIS NEPHEW.
No episode in Beethoven's remarkable career
presents us with such a picture of his kindness
of heart, the real, inward, natural being — the man
at the core — as that afforded by his passionate
loving concern for the well-being of the only per
son, bound by blood ties, who ever became ue
pendent on him — his nephew Carl. Sureiy no
parent ever possessed, or exercised, a more so
licitous concern for an only son, and it must,
indeed, have caused many a grievous pang to the
great-hearted man to behold this unworthy prodi
gal descending to depths of Degradation from
which it had been this uncle's ouject, for years,
to raise him far above. Pathetic to a degree,
as those who read them will allow, are the words
of advice, appeal, and admonition — all so good
and disinterested, — which Beethoven addresses to
his nephew; and, when it is remembered that the
periods of penning them were moments snatched
from work which was to be immortal, it is sin
cerely to be regretted that the precious seed did not
fall on less stony ground. Follow the composer: —
"Continue to love me, my dear boy," pleads the
poor man in his yearning for affection; "if ever
I cause you pain it is not from a wish to grieve
you, but for your eventful benefit. . . I
embrace you cordially. All I wish is that you
should be loving, industrious, and upright. Write
to me, my dear son." — "Study assiduously and
rise early, as various things may occur to you
in the morning which you could do for me. It
cannot be otherwise than becoming in a youth,
now in his nineteenth year, to combine his du
ties toward his benefactor and foster-father with
those of his education and progress. I fulfilled
my obligations toward my own parents." — "I have
been assured though as yet it is only a matter of
conjecture, that a clandestine intercourse has
been renewed between your mother and your
self. Am I doomed again to experience such
detestable ingratitude? No! if the tie is to be
severed, so be it. By such conduct you will incur
the hatred of all impartial persons ... If
you find the pactum oppressive, then, in God's
name, I resign you to His Holy keeping. I have
done my part, and on this score I do not dread ap
pearing before the Highest of all Judges. Do
not be afraid to come to me to-morrow, for as
yet I only suspect; God grant my suspicions may
not prove true, for to you it would be an incal
culable misfortune, with whatever levity my ras
cally brother, and perhaps your mother also, may
treat the matter." — "If it Is too hard a task for
you to visit me, give it up, but if you can by any
possibility do so, I shall rejoice in my desert home
to have a feeling heart near me." — "Be good and
honest. ... Be my own dear precious son, and
Imitate my virtues but not my faults; still, though
a man is frail, do not, at least, have worse defects
than those of your sincere and fondly attached
father." — "Only observe moderation. Fortune
crowns my efforts, but do not lay the foundation
of misery by mistaken notions; be truthful and
exact in the account of your expenses, and give
up the theatre for the present. Follow the ad
vice of your guide and father; be counselled by
him whose exertions and aspirations have always
been directed to your moral welfare, though with
out neglecting your temporal benefits." — "Spend
your money on good objects alone. Be my dear
son. What a frightful discord would it be were
you to prove false to me, as many persons main
tain that you already are. May God bless you."
MAGAZINE SECTION
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