How could they, we naturally ask, get an audience, when so many performances were in progress, and how could the people get around to so many places?  The answer is:  these performances were given daily, including Sunday, and at all hours of the day, some concerts being given as early as six o’clock in the morning.  It was indeed a “golden age for Beethoven,” as Schindler remarks.  Thayer gives a list of twenty-one great houses open to Beethoven, nine of which belonged to princes.  The young musician was often the guest of honor at the various musical functions given by these people, and received much attention from illustrious persons who were attracted to him by the force of his character as well as his genius.  Not in any degree a society man, rough in exterior and careless of appearance, he was sought after by the most exclusive of Vienna society.

That a man of such force and originality, such independence, should have won the lifelong friendship of those of his own sex, goes without saying.  His very scorn for the conventions and refinements of life, the manliness which was reflected in his every act, in the tones of his voice and the expression of his face, all this, united to such talents, would be sure to win the enthusiastic admiration of his fellow-men.  But that the beautiful society women of the capital should have been attracted to a man so uncouth may at first sight seem surprising, until we consider that he attracted them in spite of these drawbacks and on account of other qualities, such as his sensibility, his earnestness and devotion to his art, and the wealth of his emotional and intellectual nature.  He thoroughly enjoyed standing so well socially with these ladies, who in family connections were above him, but who were willing to sit at his feet in homage to his genius.  Beginning with hero worship on the part of these devotees, the sentiment usually developed into the more intimate relation of friendship or love.  The “Ewig Weibliche” appears constantly in his music and was always in his life.  He formed many romantic attachments which may not always have been Platonic, but they were always pure.  Beethoven had as chivalrous a regard for women as had any knight of the middle ages.

Among those with whom he became intimate are the Baroness Ertmann, the Countess Erdoedy, the sisters of the Count of Brunswick and many others.  It is interesting to note the affectionate familiarity which these ladies permitted him.  Taking into account the extreme sensibility of the artistic temperament and the sentimental character of the Germans, it is still surprising to meet with a letter to the Countess Erdoedy, which he begins:  “Liebe, liebe, liebe, liebe, liebe Graefin” ("Dear, dear, dear, dear, dear Countess"), although the letter itself is simple enough and ends:  “Ihr wahrer Freund und Verehrer.”  He begins another letter to this lady in a strain courtly and dignified, in marked contrast to the excessive warmth of the previous example:  “Alles Gute