Die auf den 23.9.1886 anzusetzende Anekdote wird in The San Francisco Examiner Nr. 177 auf S. 61[??] (= S. 8 des Kulturteils) auf die Zeit nach dem Umzug ins Belvedere [4.7.1895] bezogen:

"            Bruckner Asks Boon of Kaiser

MAURICE HALPERSON, the well known writer, tells the following stoty in "Musical America":

     A little anecdote, in which  the central figure is Anton Bruckner, the Austrian composer, touches me whenever I am reminded of it by the simplicity of mind displayed by the celebrated musician, who never was either able or willing to conceal his origin in simple peasant stock. Bruckner, in whom the business instinct was totally lacking, appeared one day at the Viennese "Hoffburg" [sic] (the old Imperial palace of the Hapsburgs [sic]) in order to thank Francis Joseph I for having allowed the then aged composer to occupy a little apartment in the "Belvedere," one of the splendid historical castles in Vienna.

     The sovereign was delighted at Bruckner's candid and straightforward way of expressing himself and assured him that he would be only too glad to do something more for him. "Is that so, your majesty?" the composer burst forth eagerly. "Oh, please, couldn't you tell Hanslick (the influential Vienna music critic, called the 'Music Pope') not to roast my symphonies so mercilesly?"

     The merriment of the old emperor is said to have been boundless. Finally he shook the composer's hand and told him in his kind way: "You will have to think of something else, meine lieber meister; I am afraid my influence would not reach so high." ".

[Eine tschechische Version wurde am 7.6.1916 veröffentlicht.]