Peanuts by Charles Schulz for December 14, 1959
December 13, 1959
December 15, 1959
Transcript:
Lucy approaches Schroeder who is sitting at his piano. She exclaims, "Schroeder, you'll be proud of the publicity job I've done!"<br> <br>She continues, "I've told everyone I know about Beethoven's birthday being this Wednesday.."<br> <br> They both look at the reader and Schroeder smiles. Lucy says, "Just think all over the country people will be gathered to raise toasts, and sing their best wishes.."<br> <br> She yells out, "Happy Birthday, Karl Beethoven!!" Schroeder puts his head on the piano and softly exclaims, "Oh, No!"<br> <br>
Karl Beethoven, or more fully Kaspar Anton Karl van Beethoven (1774-1815) was Ludwig van Beethoven’s younger brother. His son, also named Karl (1806-1858), was Ludwig’s nephew and ward. The elder Karl passed away from tuberculosis in 1815. He chose Ludwig to be his son’s sole guardian shortly before his death, and there was a bitter custody battle between the composer and his sister-in-law Johanna van Beethoven, and the poor boy was badly traumatised by this, enough that in 1826 he tried to kill himself.