90 ([return])
[ Niemetschek, p. 57. Nissen, p. 580.]
91 ([return])
[ How far Mozart was misjudged in this respect is shown by such expressions as those in Schlichtegroirs Nekrolog: "In Vienna he married Constanze Weber, who made a good mother to his two children and a careful wife, striving to restrain his folly and extravagance. His income was considerable, but his excesses and want of economy in household affairs caused him to leave nothing to his family but the fame of his genius and the observation of the world." It is not surprising that Mozart's widow should have bought up a whole impression of this notice in 1794. Rochlitz warmly condemns such shameless calumny. Arnold is much coarser (Mozart's Geist, p. 65), accounting for his premature death by saying: "Besides this [excessive work] he was a husband, brought up two children, and had many intrigues with lively actresses and other women, which his wife good-naturedly overlooked. He must often have starved with his wife and children, if the threats of impatient creditors had been carried into effect. But when a few louis-d'or made their appearance the scene changed at once. All went merrily, Mozart got tipsy on champagne and tokay, spent freely, and in a few days was as badly off as ever. The liberties he took with his health are well known; how he used to drink champagne with Schikaneder all morning, and punch all night, and go to work again after midnight, without any thought of his bodily health.">[
92 ([return])
[ Nissen, p. 692.]
93 ([return])
[ Niemetschek, p. 99.]
94 ([return])
[ Niemetschek, p. 93. Mozart was very accessible to the pleasures of society and friendship. "Among his friends he was as open as a child, and full of merriment, which found vent in the drollest tricks. His friends in Prague have a pleasant remembrance of the hours passed in his company, and are never weary of praising his good, innocent heart; when he was present, one forgot the artist in the man" (Cf. Rochlitz, A. M. Z., III., p. 494). His brother-in-law, Jos. Lange, remarked that Mozart was generally in most jesting mood when he was busy with some great work (Selbstbiogr., p. 171).]