Beethoven’s waggishness was frequently vented on a young friend, Zmeskall, who was court secretary.  Zmeskall undertook the task of keeping the master supplied with pens, which he cut from goose-quills.  Beethoven used up large quantities of them and was incessant in his demands on him.  A certain drollery characterizes all his letters to him.  He knew how to hit the vulnerable points in the other, and they were often made the subject of attack.  Zmeskall being a member of the nobility, is often addressed by him, “Most high-born of men.”  He was useful to Beethoven not alone on the subject of pens, but was appealed to by him for advice and assistance on all sorts of matters.  Zmeskall, though a bachelor, lived in fine state, and maintained several servants.  He was thus in a position to procure the right sort of one for Beethoven.  Many of the letters are either on this theme or in regard to securing him another lodging.  Zmeskall is his resource in many of the small matters of every-day life, perplexing to him, but simple enough to the practical man.  The master’s helplessness is shown with pathos and unconscious humor in the following note: 

LIEBER ZMESKALL,—­

Schicken sie mir doch ihrem spiegel, der naechts ihrem fenster haengt auf ein paar stunden der meinige ist gebrochen, haben sie zugleich die Guete haben wolten mir noch heute einen solchen zu kaufen so erzeigten sie mir einen grossen Gefallen.  Ihre Auslage sollen sie sogleich zuruek erhalten.  Verzeien sie lieber Z meiner zudringlichkeit.  Ich hoffe sie bald zu sehen.

Ihr,
BTHVN.

DEAR ZMESKALL,—­

Won’t you kindly send me the mirror that hangs next to your window for a few hours.  Mine is broken.  If you will at the same time have the goodness to buy me such another you will do me a great favor.  Your outlay will be immediately returned to you.

Pardon dear Z my importunity.  I hope soon to see you.

Your,
BTHVN.

Beethoven’s lapses from grammar (untranslatable into English), indicate his impatience at the trivial wants and necessities which interrupt his creative work and take his thoughts from his compositions.  Instances of bad grammar in his letters are frequent, when dealing with ordinary topics.  In no sense a polished man, he could, however, when the occasion required it, assume in his grammar and diction the grace and elegance of the scholar, but it does not often come to the front.  He was too rugged, too headstrong, to pay much attention to the little niceties of life.

In common with his contemporaries, Zmeskall found his principal enjoyment in music.  He gave musical parties at his quarters, playing the cello himself, and gathered about him many of the most distinguished artists and amateurs of the day.  Beethoven was always interested in feats of virtuosity, but he cared little for the compositions of others.  He occupied himself with his own work to the exclusion of that