BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Sunday, June 18, 1826

Beethoven works on a shopping and errand list (several items on this list had appeared at the end of the previous conversation book number 112):

a new wash chest
about spraying
slippers [again]
mirror
new wicker chairs
for the eggs, big bowls
coffee machine
strings on the violins
Böhm— [Beethoven had expressed an interest on Thursday, June 15 about speaking to Joseph Böhm about a method for violin.]
weigh out sugar for the housekeeper

Nephew Karl comes to visit. He suggests that the maid, Marie Stiegel, not be oppressed. If she pays attention to the new housekeeper, Elisabeth Passy, she will be able to accomplish much in the kitchen, and if Passy doesn’t work out, the maid could serve alone.

Uncle Ludwig points out that he is spending less money on food than he did when Barbara Holzmann, “the old woman,” was serving as housekeeper. Karl tells his uncle that she was not cheating him; groceries have become cheaper now. Uncle Ludwig wonders about whether that trend will continue with Passy. Karl himself is very curious about how it will go with Passy.

From talking to her, Karl is aware that she has a very old mother. The mother is such a churchy woman that she slips something to the priests whenever she can.

Karl ran into someone unidentified [probably unpaid assistant Karl Holz] who was going to dinner at Dr. Vivenot’s. [Holz is the person who most mentions Dr. Vivenot, though it certainly could be any number of other mutual acquaintances.] Uncle Ludwig asks when this was; Karl says it was Friday, the day before yesterday [establishing today as Sunday.]

Uncle Ludwig mentions that the word “Budweis” was written on his door. Karl knows what the story is about this. “The word Budweis has been found written in pencil on many doors all over the city; I noticed it myself because it was written on several houses on the Wieden, and even here on your door. However, I did not think further about it. But some days ago, it was found out that it was a thieves’ sign, which the rascals paint on doors where they think it would be easy to steal something. The guys who were caught in the act have testified that there are 88 members of the gang. Of course, the whole lot will be caught soon.” Uncle Ludwig suggests painting over it; Karl says to wipe it out. That will be better. It was on his door, but not downstairs. Karl says “It is the same writing which can be seen on the Wieden and in the city. It is the sign.” They put it on doors where there are only female servants.

The code of silence is in effect amongst the Italians. “The day before yesterday, a salami vendor stabbed a painter with his knife; yesterday all the salami vendors were locked up in order to find the culprit; but they did not betray him. They had to let them all go again, without learning anything of importance.”

Karl notes that green beans are so rare, they have to be counted out. He shows Uncle Ludwig 100 beans that were obtained by the maid.

With the bankruptcy of the Fries banking house, Uncle Ludwig is worried about the solvency of his publisher, B. Schott’s Sons in Mainz. Karl assures him that even if the Schotts go bankrupt, the Franck banking house that manage their affairs will still have to make good on the bill of exchange for Uncle Ludwig. The owner of Franck’s is married to the sister of pianist Dorothea von Ertmann, making him her brother[-in-law.]

Karl still has many calculations to do for his coursework at the Polytechnic Institute, and they are not finished. Uncle Ludwig asks for an example of the calculations he needs to do. For example, if the ducats are at 6%, 80 ducats will make how much? [21 florins, 20 kreutzers C.M., or 53 florins 20 kreutzers W.W., is the answer Karl gives. Whether he is correct is an exercise left to the reader.]

Once Karl finishes his studies this fall, Uncle Ludwig expects he will find a spot in an office. Karl says that if he doesn’t find an office position right away, he could take other classes, such as physics or chemistry. [Karl may here be preparing his uncle for the idea that Karl will not be passing his examinations.]

The person who is to help the maid, Marie Stiegel, with the laundry and the meals arrives. Even if the maid were here by herself, she could always periodically call on help like this, rather than having a fulltime housekeeper.

Karl mentions a green item that is made of goat leather; it costs 4 florins. He also does some monetary computations for his uncle, showing him how to convert 24 florins 45 kreutzers C.M. to paper money, W.W.

Conversation Book 113, 19r-22v.