The New York herald., 1878-11-25
A WOMAN'S AMBITION.
Gounod's Life, Love and Madness
in England.
A CURSE ON HIS SON.
He Breaks through the Meshes and Flies
for Life and Liberty.
THE SCORE OF "POLYEUCTE."

teao
LONDON, Nov. Q. 1878
The recent production in Paris of NJ. Gounod's
Polycucte has directed public attention to the
poser ON the one hand and to tho relations he had
with Mrs. Georgina Weldon on the other. For it
whom u. tounod was residing in the house of the
Weldons In London, and when the prematurely old
man, who was bordering sixty. was first smtten by
the smiles and batteries Of the beautiful Welsh woman
that he wrote the greater part of "Poyeuctc.'
Gounod at that time about fifty six Mrs. Weldon
about thirty. She still had the bloom of youth upon
her cheeks. and society reported her beautiful She
was blonde. with the high check bones almost PEE
cliar to the natives Of Wales. She TALL her figure
was well nigh perfect in its symmetry and her COM
plexion was of that delicate color which rouge
cannot initiate powder destroy. Always
dressed in perfect taste and in the height
of the prevailing fashion her appearance was
st once striking and attractive. Added to
this her attitude even to strangers seemed Of the
treest and frankest sort and she emphatically
one OF those clever women Of the world who gifted
with large amount of natural ability, might with
suitable partner have place the roll Of fe-
male celebrities. The celebrated painter Holman
Hunt. once, according to Mrs Weldon offered her
riage but declined. lady had indeed natural
gifts in plenty and all that remained for her to
uuu man 70 assist anu 10 satisfy her reStieSS
bition. and through him to climb up the ladder which
leads to fame. But misfortune has attended her ef
forts, and now, after years Of striving, find
the poor lady battling with the world for living
battling to prove that she is not insane.
YOUTH OF GEoRGrSA,
Mrs Weldon born q Miss Gcorgina Trehcrne,
the daughter Of old Welsh family highly esteemed
in the mountains of the Princpality. Wayward from
her childhood she showed signs alike of ambition
and restiveness Mrs. Treherne took her daughter
to Brighton. England. There, on that most entcing
lnd dangerous of promenades, the Grand Parade,
Gcorgina Trehcrne first met Harry Weldon who was at
that time in the prime Of manhood. TALL and gifted
with admirable figure and handsome face excellent
conversation and fine. manly fellow Harry Weldon
Seenied the most likely to make Georgina happy.
Rumor said he was member of Queen yictorias pri-
vate household, that he special favorite of Her
Majesty that he held the brevet rank of captain in
the English army, and that he was at Brighton for
the benefit Of his health.
GEoRaINA MARRIEs IN HASTE.
However this may be, he fell in love with
Miss Trcherne. and the couple daily
In each others society. Mrs. Treherne grew
alarmed. and. after expostulating with her daughter
absolutely forbade Georgina to speak again to the
handsome young captain. It all to no purpose.
At a ball given one night under the dome of the
Brighton Pavilion, which dedicated to the
orgies OF George w., Georgina Trcherne and Harry
Weldon again met. She urged him to elope with her.
He. intoxicated with passion. ut length consented
merely urging short delay. But to lady impatient
for matrimony delays seem dangerous and Georgina
Treherne . woman to act at once. They
must fee and immediately. in the ball costume as
they and settle all unpoetical details afterward
Captain Weldon consented. In due time the couple
arrived in London. and they were welded and settled
before any Of their friends could discover their where
sbouts.
But when the first fush OF new life wore OF Mrs.
6eorgina Weldon found her life bed Of roses
Her restless ambition would not permit her settle
down as the simple wife Of Captain Weldon.
MEMORIES CELEBRATED HOUSE.
Mr.. and Mrs. Weldon resided at Tavistock House.
In Tavistock square, once the residence of Charles
Dickens. Relying upon the celebrity Of the house.
Mrs. Weldon attempted to gather round her all the
celebrities of English literature In vain few old
men to her receptions" men who were at
trscted by the beautiful color of her delicate
kin, by the perfection Of her figure and by the liking
most men have TO chat with pretty woman. But
this all Tavistock House had its Mrs. Leo Hunter
but it lacked its Mr. Leo. For this r6c Captain We'll
don obviously untitled. He was very good
naturcd, very good looking and ve-y good fellow
but nc certainly 'lion.' But at last
chance threw into Mrs. weldons way famous man
NJ. Charles Gounod the composer of Faust Such
\ 'lon" beyond her utmost dreams, and Georgina
Weldon took immediate steps to secure him. On the
day after their first meeting Mrs. Weldon called at
NJ. Gounods house and found him not at home
Nothing daunted she called again in the of the
day and dragged poor Harry Weldon with her. deter
mined at all hazards to hook the fish. The attempt
to fascinate Gounod succeeded almost from the rst
Mime. Weldon herself says in ono OF her letters
providence put NJ Gounod in my path and gave
me the right to believe that had found the COM
panon, the associate and the support of whom had
dreamed. He seemed TO me TO be good angel whom
God had placed in my way"
LETTERS.
NJ. Gounod himself. however. impressionable
Frenchman he was. took far more prosaic view
Of matters. have before me the entire correspond
ence that passed between. the English charmcr and
the French composer from the beginning to the end
from the FIRST meeting, at Tavistock House. in May,
is7I to March, 1875. when the friendship ended The
entire correspondence originally printed by
Mrs. Weldon, but never published. In fact all
but . few copies were destroyed. The title
of tho work is, "Gounod en- Angctcrre;
Iettres de M. Gounod ct Autres Lettres
ct Documents Originaux. Imprimes ct pubies la
dcmande do amis par Nine. Gcorgina Weldon,
pour 20 justification personee.' The letters in
French. A few only of NJ Gounods are given in the
original English. Mrs. Weldon kept Mt Tavistock
House kind Of orphanagc for young girls whom
che trained in musical direction, her great idea
being to found sort of musical academy. In the
preface 70 the Letters she the publication
as already indcsted the title as necessary for her
own defencc-"C'est pour notro justification, c'cst
pour rhonneur, ccst pour assurer i.esistencc mon
Orphelinat que je soumcts CO Iivrc au Judgement din
public. Well. in these letters wo can follow up
the course OF M. Gounods acquaintance
with Mrs. Weldon. and Judge for ourselves
NJ. Gounod did not plunge into tho friendship all
al In his first letter he simply addressed Mrs
weldon Dear Madame thanked her for her visit
and letter. and calamity stating that "the au.
thor Of Faust and Romeo placed the music
Of Marguerite and Julicte' at her disposal" He