, 1877-12-23

almost all Of which has snce been spent in meeting
The heavy expense OF tho otphanase already Ill
uded to, and in outlay OF all sorts resulting from
their connection with Gouuod. This orphanaye is
Mrs. Wes:nn's hobby-1nd 4 verv good hobby too.
most will admit; though. I au1 told tia: all
the fourteen children supported are lodged under
'as q aInc
drcn of her own, she devoted herself al.
t"sethcr to these poor little waits ~ nd
taught Music py ssar sha OF se
dcvisiny. At the aye OF sss the idea occurred to
her that she might turn her magnificent voice 10
snc bsgan to sing IN pnhtie:. tionnod, who was
then In England with his wiic aud family, heard
her one day in u rehearsal.
He WAS TRANSFORMED,
as much, pcEfaps. hY the personal charms Of tho
singer as by her voice. An lntnsacy snran. up be-
tween tho two families. which appears have been
enthusiastic shout the tafcut OF Il 'tec .tnsla'sc.
sue WIS no less J worshipcr Of the con, poser's
Genius. Nine, Gounod grew Jealous and returned
to France. Her husband, who represented linn
self ~ without resources, went 10 live with Sir.
and Mrs: Weldon. lie was extremely i'll at the
time. TIL he was perfectly cured his hosts uursed
brought him his f0oA with her own hand, and IN
fact looked alter hn-sccor1ing to her account,
which reattl; belicve-likc n sister OF i mother.
When he got we'll again, the composer and hs
hostess cnne to the Conclusion that they ought viii
mutual profit. enter Into
4 SORT or ARTISTIC PARrNENsu1r.
ht French publishers. *'Fuust.' ~ we know, =.
only fetched II. O0G francs. Now. trashy. work
like ''Cina Mars" brings him in 100, oon francs.
Matlaue Weldon assures INC this strange alteration
is altogether t. be Inscribed to herself. anI tho
care with which she managed all Gouuot's busi-
ness for him when III England. Wll1ic he vas in
England he wrote number OF smaitv:orks, chiefly
those sweet, iangoasoqs sonss that have chasme!
The strange co'ahofatior: size. for her
part, effected all arrangements for tho sale ot
these compositions with the publishers. and sang
them herself at series Ut concerts which she gave
ut Tavlstock Honse in aid ut her ufph1nlse-
!iounod was oil this time receiving upllr aiding
letters from France. in which hts friends did their
best to persuade him to Ieave En.tand and return
70 his wiie- The composer piled Il hare seen
his lettere) that man .*as not told to leave ul
leave ali II cleavc TO her husbaua-an'! conteuted
himself by sendnS money TO Mnc. Gonnod.
Mrs.. Weldon declares that C'ouno.i wrotc the
and by wortl of mouth ,.lae her present Ut te
orcra. The 1rst part Of tue statement is evidently
true. as i, is confirmed by the corresnonueucs
Weldon has ~ her possession pi:ano:forte rednc-
tiun Of the Pauline music, written IN the COM
poscra own hand (which. BY :hc by. has a sinyn-
lar resemblance to hers,. It WAS arranged thai
she shond play the part on the ,proauctton
Of the work III Paris, aud GonFa told 81.
Malnnzer xeycnaI times that he had discovered
slightest warning Ut any change III the sentiments
which bonl,:: him to hts host. Gounod left Lon
don. and declined to have anything more IT, TO
with them. His MSS. rema,nc1 with Mrs.
Weldon.
asked my fair informant how it happened that,
il SHE felt confident OF her cause. she had re-
turned the music. Her reply gave the more in
sight tntn her character than anything had yc:
'tOh," SAID she, IN the most matter OF
fac. tone in the world,
~ WAS DIRECTED TO IN VISION"
''Gnunod," snc continued presently, ''is
musical medium. They say he sees me still in
Visions md has never been able to compose well
since he lost the Inspiration he got from ME:
trh,s is certainly borne out by 'sClnq Mars. -
.ad hardly any need after this OF the information
that the lady is q spirituast. She is 30 Clearly.
and Of tho most mystic sort This. coupled with
tmrn Of mind. are more rhan sufficient to make her
relations With uounod another mystic, quite in
telligible without recourse to the shameful
bx the aFs and ober poas
ously vtnal prints. md to account for any
further steps. however e1trayagaut, she may tako
in defense Of her real Or imaginary rights. have
spoken OF,
THE CORRESPONDENCE
which passed between tue two singular partners.
1t has been collected and printed. and certainly
Gounod always addresses his hostess in the second
person Mural. Sotwlthsia andiny this, the tone Ut
his letters Is Of nature to cgltimately excite any
nmount Of jealousy in tue bosom OF his wife. lie
. Mon cher petii Lafon" l':My dear
little moussy''). - -Aon ehere pstn." anil
o.1sF fancita' terms while he ssns .,,,1! stii
'aaiaat" or, :rotrs r.<ur 0ro. ehat u, etere,"
and generally Winds up by say;ns that he ..em-
braces you and Hurry tMr. " } tten yort!" NINE.
cause in the courts. Ipointed our to her that tho
fact Of her having returned the MSS. was likely
to be accounted equivalent to The abandonment OF
air. .. don't mind much, If can only get Gounoc
into the witness uox!'
"Ay, there's the rub.'' HARRY ST. MICHEL.