But whenever I was sent supperless to bed or confined to my room for some misdeed, it was always mother who would comfort me and perhaps bring me a plate of soup or dessert secretly and talk to me gently until my obstinacy would melt and I would be ready to knock at my father’s study and ask his forgiveness. Once I did not dare, but instead drew a picture of myself standing penitently at his door and underneath the words: “Seven times seventy times shalt thou forgive.” This I shoved under the door into his study and it produced the desired effect, as it brought my father out and in a very forgiving mood. One of my sins was that I simply could not bear to eat spinach, and as in those days it was considered the absolute duty of a child to eat anything that was put before him because “God had grown the spinach and other vegetables in order to feed hungry children,” and “there were thousands of poor little children who would be only too glad to eat spinach,” I was forced to eat it although it often choked me and made me ill. Even to this day I cannot bear spinach, and with all the reverence and deep affection that I have for my father, I do not think he was right in this particular case as regards his pedagogic theories. * * * * * The following excerpts from letters of von Bülow throw an interesting light on the conditions under which my father worked in Breslau at that time. _To the Princess Carolyn Sayn-Wittgenstein (Liszt’s closest friend)_ Berlin, Feb. 10, 1859. . . . Anticipating Liszt’s promise I have sent the score of his “Ideale” to Damrosch who will have the parts copied and get the work to his public already during this month. If we could only have a half dozen soldiers like Damrosch at our disposal! . . . _To Felix Draescke (composer and disciple of Liszt for whom Bülow had tried to obtain a position)_ Berlin, Oct. 16, 1860. . . . I am assured of my complete lack of power to help. To achieve the like for Damrosch has also failed. D., with wife and child, and another one in the nearest future, is _quasi_ near to starvation. It has taken me much time to find out finally that I cannot help. . . . _To Hans von Bronsart (mutual friend and musician. Intendant of the Royal Opera in Hanover. In relation to a joint concert with Bülow)_ . . . A propos! Please fix Damrosch’s honorarium as high as possible. He needs it. In order to recompense him the better, I do not desire any violoncellist. I had arranged with him in your name for eight Louis d’or. You had authorized me to give as high as ten for Laub. Damrosch is Laub + ½. . . . Laub was a distinguished violinist living in Berlin.