242. To Eduard Liszt
Weymar, September 20th, 1860
The true and loving character of your whole being, as well as of your letter, dearest Eduard, touches me always with joy, and fortifies me; but with your letter of today is mingled also somewhat of sadness. It is conceivable that the ebb of the Milanese and Hungarian Civil Service employes, with its effect on Vienna, has acted as a check upon your very justifiable and well- founded prospects of promotion. This is all the more to be regretted as, years ago, I was assured many times from a trustworthy official source that your suitability and deserts were far above the official position that you hold. Without wanting to preach to you unseasonably, let me assure you of my sincere sympathy in the disappointments you have so undeservedly to bear, and remind you also how things generally go badly in this world with the better and best sort of men. One must not let oneself be embittered by bitter experiences, and one must bear all sorts of mortifications without mortification.
I will also repeat for your amusement a droll saying of General Wrangel's: "A man should never vex himself;—if there must be vexation anywhere, let him rather vex somebody else!"—The best way, in case of extreme necessity to vex others, is to bear imperturbably many an injury and unpleasantness—without prejudice to any defense or help that may offer, when opportunity occurs—for we were not born to sleep our lives away!—
Under the given circumstances one cannot do otherwise than agree with your resolution to let your son go into the Military Academy when he is eleven years old. May this young Franz bring you all the happiness that your older Franziskus wishes you from his innermost heart.—[He did not become a soldier, but the renowned Professor of Law now teaching at the University of Halle.]
In the expectation of this we will comfort ourselves by swallowing Pfefferoni and Paprika together with Gumpoldskirchner. Have I ever told you how excellent the latter, which you had chosen just right, tasted?
It is almost impossible to further B.'s affairs. You think it would be right to let his drama be examined by a "competent authority." Undoubtedly; but that will not help him, so long as this competent authority, who here could be none other than Dingelstedt, is not able to help him any further. As far as I know our Intendant he will NOT condescend to perform King Alphonso; but none the less I will speak to Dingelstedt about it, and will prevail on him first of all to write a few lines to B., as the rules of courtesy demand. I scarcely hope to effect more than this, glad as I should be if it happened so, for you know that I am glad to show myself obliging. It is doubtful also whether B. will have much better chances with other Intendants— for, as it seems, the good man has decidedly bad luck. Please make my excuses to him if I do not answer his letter other than by a silent condolence (in German Beleidsbezeugung!).—It has become horribly difficult nowadays to make a footing on the boards—"which signify the world"—especially for writers of classic tragic-plays, whose lot is far more a tragic than a playing one!—Things certainly are not much better with most of the Opera composers, although that genre is the most thankful one of all. Without a strong dose of obstinacy and resignation there is no doing anything. In spite of the comforting proverb "Geduldige Schafe gehen viele in den Stall," [The English equivalent seems to be "Patience and application will carry us through.">[ there is for the greater number and most patient of the sheep no more room in the fold, to say nothing of food!—Thus the problem of the literary and artistic proletariat becomes from year to year more clamorous.
Your orchestral concert plan has surprised me very much, and I thank you from my heart for this fresh proof of your energy and goodwill. Yet for this year I think it would be more judicious to pause, for several reasons which it would lead me rather too far to explain, and which, therefore, I prefer to reserve for a viva voce talk. They relate to (A) my personal position and something connected with it socially; (B) the position of musical matters among artists and in the Press, which not only influence but intimidate the public, disconcert it, and palm off upon it ears, with which it cannot hear. This temporary very bad state of things I think I have, alas! at all times quite rightly acknowledged, and, if I do not greatly mistake, it must surely soon perceptibly modify in our favor. Our opponents "triumph far more than they conquer us," as Tacitus says. They will not be able to hold their narrow, malicious, negative, and unproductive thesis much longer against our quiet, assured, positive progress in Art-works. A consoling and significant symptom of this is that they are no longer able to support their adherents among living and working composers, but devour them critically while the public is so indifferent. The resume of the whole criticism of the opposition may be summed up in the following words: "All the heroes of Art in past times find, alas! no worthy successors in our day." But our time will not give up its rights—and the rightful successors will prove themselves such!
More of this when we have an opportunity. You have doubtless heard that a similar plan to yours is in progress in Leipzig. My friend Bronsart undertakes the direction of the Euterpe concerts for this winter, and there will be some rows about it. We will await the result; if it should not be satisfactory, yet the matter is so arranged that it cannot do us any great harm. As regards Vienna I think it would be wisest to let this winter pass by without troubling ourselves about it. Messrs. B., V.B., and their associates may peacefully have Symphonies and other works performed there and mutually blow each other's trumpets.
I have still a request to make to you today, dearest Eduard. Persuade Herbeck to send the score and the chorus and orchestral part of my "Prometheus" at once to C.F. Kahnt, the music publisher in Leipzig. The work is fixed for performance at one of the Euterpe concerts, which will take place before Christmas of this year; so it is necessary that the choruses should be studied in time. Kahnt has already written to Herbeck and also to Spina— but as yet he has received neither an answer nor the parts and score of Prometheus that he wants.