Yours most respectfully and sincerely,
F. Liszt
Rome, February 4th, 1875
(Next week I return to Pest, and at the beginning of April go to
Weimar, where I should be delighted to welcome you again.)
164. To Count Albert Apponyi
[From a rough copy of a letter in the possession of Herr O. A.
Schulz, bookseller in Leipzig.]
February 18th, [1875?]
This morning the Politische Volksblatt [The Political People's- Paper] brings me your portrait, my honored and dear friend. The notice accompanying it pleases me only in so far as it predicts a great future for you, based on your very evident merits and great talents. People are agreed upon your great height ("Haupteslange")—all the better, for it corresponds to the height of your character, and I bet a hundred to one that you will never combat "the spirit of the times" ("Herr von Zeitgeist und Frau von offentliche Meinung," [Mr. Spirit of the Times and Mrs. Public Opinion.] as the honorable Count Gozzi ceremoniously said), except when you meet with stupidities and adventures on which this spirit of the times is astride.
A friendly invitation for tomorrow evening at the house of
Your very devoted and grateful