ted: Only the union of character and talent produces what is called
genius.

On one of these days I was also commanded to appear before the grand
duke, whom I met in all his simplicity and unaffectedness in the
so-called Roman House. He conversed with me for over an hour, and my
description of Austrian conditions seemed to interest him. Not he, but
most of the others, hinted at the desire of acquiring my services for
the Weimar theatre--a desire that did not coincide with my own
inclination.

When on the fourth day of my stay I paid my farewell visit to Goethe, he
was friendly, but somewhat reserved. He expressed astonishment at my
leaving Weimar so soon, and added that they would all be glad to hear
from me occasionally. "They," then, would be glad, not he. Even in later
years he did not do me justice, for I do consider myself the best poet
that has appeared after him and Schiller, in spite of the gulf that
separates me from them. That all this did not lessen my love and
reverence for him, I need scarcely say.

* * * * *

BEETHOVEN AS A LETTER WRITER

BY WALTER R. SPALDING, A.M.

Associate Professor of Music, Harvard University

The first musician to whom a place among the representative masters of
German literature may justly be assigned is Beethoven, and this fact is
so significant and so closely connected with the subsequent development
both of music and literature that the reasons for such a statement
should be set forth in detail. Although Haydn kept a note-book, still
extant, during his two visits to London, and although Mozart wrote the
average number of letters, from no one of the musicians prior to
Beethoven have we received, in writings which can be classed as
literature, any expression of their personalities. Their intellectual
and imaginative activity was manifested almost exclusively in music, and
their interest in whatever lay outside the musical horizon was very
slight. In the written words of neither Haydn nor Mozart do we find any
reference to the poetical and prose works of Germany or of other
nations, nor is there any evidence that their imaginations were
influenced by suggestions drawn from literature. Famous though they were
as musicians by reason of their sincere and masterful handling of the
raw material of music, there is so little depth of thought in their
compositions that many of them have failed to live. Neither Haydn nor
Mozart can be consider