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Literary
March 8, 1900
The Dupuyer Acantha
Dupuyer, Pondera County, Montana
What is this article about?
Article recounts Joseph Haydn's romantic infatuations during his 1790s England visit, including Mrs. Shaw, Mrs. Hodges, Mrs. Schroeter (with her affectionate 1792 letter), and Mrs. Billington (anecdote on her portrait as St. Cecilia). Highlights his charm in London society.
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OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
HAYDN AND THE LADIES.
Wonderful Susceptibility of the Great Composer.
When Haydn came to England he succumbed, says the writer of an article on "Music and Matrimony," in the Cornhill Magazine, to the charms of a certain Mrs. Shaw, who figures in his diary as the most beautiful woman he had ever met. As a matter of fact Haydn was always meeting the "most beautiful" woman. "The loveliest woman I ever saw" was at one time a Mrs. Hodges, while at another time the widow of a musician named Schroeter so fascinated him that he kept her letters for many years, and declared that if it were not for the existence of Anna Maria he would have married her. Certainly Mrs. Schroeter's letters were pleasant enough.
"Every moment of your company," she wrote from Buckingham Gate, in 1792, "is more and more precious to me now that your departure is so near. I feel for you the fondest and tenderest affection the human heart is capable of. I ever am, with the most inviolable attachment, my dearest and most beloved Haydn, most faithfully and most affectionately yours."
What would the absent Frau Doctorin Haydn have said had she known of it? The composer also got mixed up in a little affair with the beautiful Mrs. Billington. Sir Joshua Reynolds was painting her portrait for him and had represented her as St. Cecilia listening to celestial music.
"What do you think of the charming Billington's picture?" said the artist to Haydn when the work was finished.
"It is indeed a beautiful picture," replied Haydn. "It is just like her, but there is a strange mistake. You have painted her listening to the angels, when you ought to have painted the angels listening to her."
If Haydn paid compliments like this all 'round, we can easily understand how he attained such fame as a London society man.
Wonderful Susceptibility of the Great Composer.
When Haydn came to England he succumbed, says the writer of an article on "Music and Matrimony," in the Cornhill Magazine, to the charms of a certain Mrs. Shaw, who figures in his diary as the most beautiful woman he had ever met. As a matter of fact Haydn was always meeting the "most beautiful" woman. "The loveliest woman I ever saw" was at one time a Mrs. Hodges, while at another time the widow of a musician named Schroeter so fascinated him that he kept her letters for many years, and declared that if it were not for the existence of Anna Maria he would have married her. Certainly Mrs. Schroeter's letters were pleasant enough.
"Every moment of your company," she wrote from Buckingham Gate, in 1792, "is more and more precious to me now that your departure is so near. I feel for you the fondest and tenderest affection the human heart is capable of. I ever am, with the most inviolable attachment, my dearest and most beloved Haydn, most faithfully and most affectionately yours."
What would the absent Frau Doctorin Haydn have said had she known of it? The composer also got mixed up in a little affair with the beautiful Mrs. Billington. Sir Joshua Reynolds was painting her portrait for him and had represented her as St. Cecilia listening to celestial music.
"What do you think of the charming Billington's picture?" said the artist to Haydn when the work was finished.
"It is indeed a beautiful picture," replied Haydn. "It is just like her, but there is a strange mistake. You have painted her listening to the angels, when you ought to have painted the angels listening to her."
If Haydn paid compliments like this all 'round, we can easily understand how he attained such fame as a London society man.
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
Satire
What themes does it cover?
Love Romance
Social Manners
What keywords are associated?
Haydn
Romance
London Society
Mrs Schroeter
Mrs Billington
Susceptibility
Cornhill Magazine
Literary Details
Title
Haydn And The Ladies.
Subject
Wonderful Susceptibility Of The Great Composer.
Form / Style
Anecdotal Prose Sketch On Haydn's Romantic Encounters In England.
Key Lines
"Every Moment Of Your Company," She Wrote From Buckingham Gate, In 1792, "Is More And More Precious To Me Now That Your Departure Is So Near. I Feel For You The Fondest And Tenderest Affection The Human Heart Is Capable Of. I Ever Am, With The Most Inviolable Attachment, My Dearest And Most Beloved Haydn, Most Faithfully And Most Affectionately Yours."
"What Do You Think Of The Charming Billington's Picture?" Said The Artist To Haydn When The Work Was Finished.
"It Is Indeed A Beautiful Picture," Replied Haydn. "It Is Just Like Her, But There Is A Strange Mistake. You Have Painted Her Listening To The Angels, When You Ought To Have Painted The Angels Listening To Her."