, 1869-01-10
nusICAL SKETCHES.
NO. II.


tjN, dHyen from his country By the rcvolu-
tion which had ju=l broken out, stopped in
Paris, on his way to England. He WIS tn
heraldet md unknown, but his frtt nppcar-
arce GRATED great enthusiasm. There wes
ritehcry about his plano-pIayinc that was
i.resisuhlc. No one had ever heard anything
like 1t before. His music was full Of dariuE
Innovations, but cSeu critics we're dissrmcd
By the subtle thought, the keen, penetrating
life, and the tfngu1asly graceful dcllcacy OF
e1pressiou that lent such charm 10 Ills
tssn,Iest escatiors. 4 certain romantic intcr-
est, too, WA attached TO the lonely exile, 90
| fall, 10 spiritual, SO rarely gifted, and be
| quickly wen his way to the hearts Of the sus-
| ccptlblc PoEisians. Ills journey to E gland
| was indefinitely postponed. "Jc nc suls lcl
I a. en- passant''-'.I sm here on1y Ii pAssiDg"
: be often sand long afterwards, when Paris
had become bis settled home.
The young stranger was Frederic Chopio,
aud this Incidental visit was the turning point
! in hts Life. at tlls time he WAS the ideal type
Of IN artist, both In pcrsou and character;
| b1nall, delicate and graceful, with pale,
transparent complexion, fair bafr and tlne
| eyes In which passion md melancholy were
blended. The strength OF LIS features iA5 Ia
|
curved nose Ills mouth expressed gentle
ness and scpslbi.ity. The extreme f'ueuess OF
lis organization rendered him susceptible 10
! degree that was morbid. So shrinking, 80
| sensitive was his disposition that he seldom
g4ec couccrts. II am not suited for concert
r,y1uc," he SAYS, "thc public in imfdatc mc
their looks, only stimulated BY curiosity,
| para}yze nc, their strange faces orprcss me,
their breath kt&lcs mel 1t was only IN
small circles, surrounded by . few apptcela-
tive IL. eness, .h%t bc felt atA1oue. aud there
h,s talent appeared to thc best savantass. ls :,
bli:y sclI-co1trcl that is rtty rare among
nltista. Whatever be felt, no word e!ef es'
caped him to tnaicAteft. 4 sudden aud Ev1d
ratcness, slight aud moncn' azy eonpses-
sion q. the lip, were the ouly signs by which
| even Ills most intimate friends could detect
his inward struggles. Apparently he was al.
ways the coldty reserved, polished man ot
the world, He chuec literally 10 " hide hls
iite-" ....-
i: was this Intense and sternly selfrepress
Cd nature that made hin 20 in,SfSs,loE stad 10!
ba.llcd alske the sympathy Of friends and ~
: curio.i!y al strnngeTs-eomc.hisR mys1etl
ops. underncd. Ibis same chasaclenstt'
appears everywhere in his music y Is rs ,
!, be threw hsli Transparent, impalrao.e va
over his most sAc1ed iesliegs. ue leaves on'
! to imagine tar more than he cycr disclos.s.
But that which rendered him ~ attract
ive, which creates 70 melancholy an intctes
I, in bis fate, and AIDES so distinct faver I
E .hs lfiltlAne5 Of his .32.nes; Esn,as' COZ o
s0sxe sis lie. judging @ from IN prseiieal stand
a point, as the world judges, ile had ~ unu
i | snail SHIRE ot misfortune. He seems to nav
= been one of thoze gen.le retiring natures u
y psss through the world quietly. eafEJ1n, Jt,
pithithcm always certain fragrance os pot'
Of
- struggled with greater material troubles
\ many have been more Isolated. many hns
r been less appreciated. How dep Ms rt1Eas
i griefs may havr been II Is imPo ssiois
ii know. But, until near me e!ose o. .ts nis ~
save his LON, e1ile from home kSca "a
w.s voluntary for many years before I
d,sd. ts be could never bear to look n1en u
ur deso,ation Of bis country. II Is true that
u ~aa compelled 10 adopt the p:ofealon
y. teacher. which must have bteu entirely Vi
conEtbfAl, md this lack OF harmony hesffr
yx ones tnstes and necessities has great dc
more 10 do With human harplnc*a tnan 1no
PEOPLE imagine. It Is Proba5le, too, th
Inv petted as be was In The cultivated circles
2yc faris, hls Eecius nestE rece!scd t4e rr!3eI m
Il Acknowledgement he ft!t 10 be .ts due. II
be had no domestic ties. but 1t Is qucsti
r,s they would hare made him nny h.0pi
md BE wAs constitustonal1y avessc to rcspor
asy ti.itT Of all klnds. and disllkca % deal v
aud | 4EAAt5. QlU@EHhE1t LIZ - sA-sAAAi~N7s|
~ acting. 1t Is related OF him that al one u
ou, be had the intention Of marrying ayar
Pastsim lady. HappenssK to call upou
ord | wt.h celebrated musician. she gave the I
.o'ns ceesnee to his friend In asking them te
seatsd. liz ne1er called sgaln. For nat
Fucn. y ~ Impractical. 50 eHtily wounded, 1t IL b.
= eS ~ ~ % Predict great domestic happfn
COL as 1hateTer may have been drc to {
mess St c,sunstanecs, IL H certain that
mat Is,, TeH " Wa profoundly url2nch
A1d tha. he wrote. Th... {.
~ Of underlying sadne1. ~,
go dance music 1t Turks IN thn ]o,,*, ut,
luts r,as.sces or bis wAt1xet and uss -! ~
3,eas ihs ..stIll small vcsce OF 1oruc .cc-s.
- neu NV that viii not ec hnehed csca ia o1r
He est honens: s:.ara:s,h;v. 1non.na.9 9nd
,na where l. there anything 70 .hd, - h
!, urr ~ 1,rtaktug ~ bis F,ue'as Marco! pic
" req. tue everlasting strrggle With ta1e. Ine
hnnt. Of hopc running through the middle
auav mikes il s7ddcf. "0nly Poie conc
hcard mourned like that" sssd one o. ms CO.
q h,d. urn on hraringsit. In this comment
g.olst; sps. = pas'i7, solu'i9s o. ,rans,c. M ~
N viii eeuesrS h.d sunk deep anto bis tcazt.
fnhented the pride, tho s.dness ana tat
Violet r. Of bis sfee. He had been cskdleo
afr,osphtr- That wns heavy With ho
fcrrcd+ II was but natural thtt those
n the hhaeld have MAde deep i
hiou upou nature like
l Thg1 the Ib.taE1ng up OF early tx