BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Friday, July 9, 1824 (approximately)

Nephew Karl, probably at Uncle Ludwig’s apartment, mentions that he encountered now-fired unpaid assistant Anton Schindler this morning; he is newly decked out.

[Karl may here add a question at the empty end of page 31r back in Conversation Book 72, as to whether Ludwig had visited Dr. Staudenheim yesterday, which he had done.]

Looking back at Dr. Staudenheim’s remarks from yesterday, Karl asks whether his uncle is still supposed to take 40 baths when he goes to Baden. Ludwig would like to rent a place for two months in Baden bei Wien. Karl believes that the timing is good, for people are already renting out apartments at a lower rate. But they don’t want to rent for only one month, because they fear the apartment will then stand empty the rest of the season.

Housekeeper Barbara Holzmann, who had a four-week leave to work for the Beethovens from the old folks’ home for the poor, was granted a one-month extension. She has to go in on the 25th, though, since they are having a banquet. Ludwig asks what the banquet is for. Karl tells him it is for St. Ann’s Day [July 26th.] She has prepared a pair of wax candles and bouquets for the administrator for the event.

Uncle Ludwig wants to go apartment hunting in Baden tomorrow with Holzmann. Karl reminds him that she needs to make the reservation of the coachman today, and she will need to know the time for departure.

Ludwig asks whether Karl has kept up with his tutorial sessions. “Yes, the tutorial sessions always continued.”

Karl needs long-legged boots, and asks whether he should have them made at the shoemaker. He’d like permission for that while his uncle is in Baden.

Ludwig suggests that Karl join him in Baden next weekend. Karl says he must attend Mass, but he can skip the sermon. So he will go to church early, and from there return to Vienna. Like his uncle, he needs to be back in the City by Sunday evening.

Ludwig would like to get a very early start, but Karl lets him know the first coach to Baden doesn’t leave until 7 o’clock in the morning.

Karl observes that a self-turning roasting spit is a necessary thing. That way, a roast can never be ruined. “An eternal piece of equipment.”

Conversation Book 73, 3r-5v.