BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Monday, September 22, 1823

The maid notes that since her sister was so well trained in cooking, she thought that Uncle Ludwig would be pleased if she demonstrated how chickens were roasted. She appears to be illiterate, and thus has Karl ask whether it is all right. As it turns out, the sister’s chickens are far better than usual, though not as good as at a restaurant. Her sister has cooked since she was 12.

Ludwig asks when Karl is going into the City to run errands, and Karl repeats his plan to leave on Wednesday evening the 24th, and get the money on Thursday the 25th.

There is more discussion about the chickens, and the economy of having them cooked at the restaurant. The two chickens that they ate for evening dinner last night and midday today comes to something over 5 florins. Housekeeper Barbara Holzmann is not here today. In the Landstrasse on Thursday he can speak to the housekeeper there.He’ll go shopping for things, and let her know 14 days in advance whether they will take her on. Ludwig is grumpy and wants nothing to do with her. Karl asks whether he doesn’t want her at all?

Karl doesn’t like this Maria Pamer, and doesn’t want her more than any other housekeeper. But one could not wish for better housekeeping than with two robust women like her and the maid, and they have good will. It’s certainly true in Vienna at least that having housekeeping is cheaper than eating at a hotel-restaurant.

They have soup for dinner. Karl complains there is too much water and it is too weak. But it doesn’t taste bad, at least. Ludwig testily thinks it’s fine. Karl says his uncle should not become angry just because he has a different opinion. Better not to ask at all. Ludwig won’t let go of it, asking what’s wrong with the soup. Karl says, “I don’t see anything wrong with the soup other than it has too much water.” Ludwig is dismissive, and Karl says, “Then you should never ask me for my opinion.” But he did have to tell the maid in the morning to carry out the chamber pot because it stinks. She is very much from the country; she is happy and laughs all the time. Obviously she is not familiar with city ways, but she is innocent and honest. Ludwig asks where she is from, and Karl responds Teesdorf, a town about 8 miles south of Baden.

The weather is supposed to be nice tomorrow, Karl believes; it has been rainy for the last two days.

Karl goes into Baden, and on his return mentions that he saw Eckschlager, the conductor of the local theater. He is quite poor, Karl observes. The maid has made rabbit for dinner, and it has turned out quite well.

Conversation Book 43, 16v-22r.

Today’s Wiener Zeitung at 882 has a followup report on the progress of the papal conclave in Rome to elect the new pope. Some of the cardinals arrived late, and voting has continued through September 6th without any decision. The newspaper also includes a list of all of the cardinals, their ages and how long they have been a cardinal. Near the end of the list is “Ranieri Rudolph Johann Joseph, Archduke of Austria, 35 years old, Cardinal for 4 years.” Again, the newspaper does not comment on Rudolph’s absence from the conclave. The conclusion of the report will follow in the next newspaper.