My Years with Ludwig von Mises.pdf - The Ludwig von Mises Institute

nomics. I did not add much to the discussion. How could I? I did
not know enough about the subjects discussed. After dinner he
stayed at my side and we talked, that is to say, he made me talk,
listened attentively, and when we left, he offered to take me home.
But on the way he proposed to go to a bar opposite my house, to
have a drink and dance. He did not dance well, so I preferred to sit
and talk with him.
The next day, when my hosts told me that he was considered to
be the greatest living mind in Austria, it gave me quite a shock. He
seemed so unpretentious and simple, so easy to talk to. That day he
sent me a wonderful assortment ofred roses, called me soon afterwards,
and asked me to have dinner with him.
From then on we met frequently, and it was not long before we
were meeting almost daily. When he had no time to meet me, he
would always call. He met my children and tried to make friends
with them. He never came without bringing them a little gift,
mostly books that were carefully chosen. And one day he brought
me a tiny flask of perfume, also very carefully chosen, but not at all
to my taste.
I soon felt he was in love with me. But within me there was no
fire burning. I was interested, I liked his company, I was flattered
by his attention, but I did not love him. It took quite a while before
I responded. And it was a special event that made me realize I
cared for him.
This was a time of political unrest in Vienna. Two socialists had
been murdered by members of the nationalistic party, and the
killers were acquitted. This led to riots in the streets. The Palace of
Justice was burned down. Ludwig von Mises called me and
warned me: "Don't let the children go out today, the streets are not
safe." (We lived in the center of the city-as he did-a few steps
away from Kaerntnerstrasse and Graben.) It was this telephone call
that made me realize I loved him: he cared for my children!
In 1926 he went for the first time to America, as a representative
of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, and as soon as he returned
he asked me to marry him. I cannot describe what it meant to me.
From then on I always called him "Lu," and this abbreviation of
his given name, which seemed to me so warm and affectionate, was
something quite new to him. He must never have been called by a
pet name. When we came to the States and made new friends, they
all very soon called him Lu. I think he liked it.
Shortly after his return from America he got very sick. He had
appendicitis and could· not be operated on, as his appendix was
already infected. It took him weeks to recover.
He often spoke about his maternal grandfather and remembered
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