The New York herald., 1878-11-25

carry Georglna 10 faine. 10 Iuly appreciate what
follows it is necessary to recall some facts of NJ
Gounod's private history and the which
caused him to become refugee in England
NJ. GoUsoD's PRIVATE HISTORY.
The war with Germany had only just ended
and the revolt under the Commune had barely been
suppressed. Gounod never brave man. and he
lacked the courage Of Auber who, twenty years his
senior. served in volunteer regiment against the
enemies of France. Gounod had instead escaped to
England, where society received him with open arms.
Nor must the peculiar character OF Gounod be for
gotten. He has been thrice confined in n,dso,s de
sane as lunatic; during the time that he was
living in the house with Mrs. Weldon. OF most
erratic and changeable temperament he also
greatly prone to be under the influence of women.
1t will be recollected that in while he studying
at Rome, he actually took minor orders and donned
the soutane and brreta previous being raised
subdeaconatc. 1t woman who persuaded him to
quit the seminary and leave Rome for Paris. Again.
late in 1876. when the La Gazette Musicale had
nounced authortatively that NJ. Gounod was aboutto
take tho rrcyocable step toward the deaconate and
priesthood. NJ. Gounod but month afterward
happened to meet with the daughter Of the cele-
braed pianist, Pierre Giuseppe Guaume thinner
mann. Flushed with love he badc adieu to the
Roman Catholic priesthood and married the lady.
Such then was the ardent and impressonablc French
man who was thus thrown in the path Of this ambi-
tious and beautiful woman.
GoUNop's LOVE LIFE.
The result may lie imagined Tho "Dear Madame
OF the I'd of March. 1871 became my Dear Madame
on the 18th OF March, "Madame and Dear Friend" at
tho beginning of April. "Dear Friend" April 90.
and "My Dear Friend" on April "a. On April o5 NJ.
Gounod had far In less than two months advanced
in his friendship for Mrs. Weldon that he was able to
conclude his letter, "Adeu; je aime de tout
and also those of your husband" Matters now pro-
gressed rapidly. On April % NJ. Gounod began his
letter. "Chere vilane ame." On May % the "Amities
L votre mari" cease, but instead NJ Gounod asks
Mrs. Weldon to meet him somewhere between
three and four. awe take little walk to-
gether in the Regents Park, and afterward go to
study little in your house. and will bring
the manuscript Of 20 That We Two Were Maying.'
The destruction OF his property by the Commune
however. dulled the amiable faculties Of the
poser On the same day, but few hours later, he
writes that he felt too cut up to walk in Regents
Park "Alas my child, Paris is lost, and they have
assassnated the heart and the head Of human
Come in cab as quickly possible and will talk
it all must say with Job God has given and
God has taken away; blessed be His Holy name
But there things God does not take awaylife and
love-" Which, it must be confessed. rather strong
for married man. husband and father. after
barely seven weeks acquaintance with beautiful
woman.
AN ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE THE FASCINATION.
few more letters addressed to Mrs. Weldon in
the third person; then the correspondence becomes
infrequent, being unnecessary and superhuous,
as the two met every day. Captain Weldon, during
this time. acted in his good easy way. allowing
his wife to adopt her course with full confidence
in her success. Gounod made only one effort to
escape from the fascination but taking good care to
leave a loophole for his return. He announced his
intention to revisit France for the benefit of his
health. He received of course. due permission from
the lady, she merely imploring him to write FREE
quently On July 81 he started from London leaving
Mr.. Harry Weldon . power Of attorney to deal with
his English copyrights. During his soiourn in
Calais Paris Trouville and other places NJ Gounods
letters were numerous lengthy and warm. Directly
he arrived at Calais he wrote to tell her the made
him ''not sick but always sick-like." He says, II
kiss you and Harry q. a. Captain weldonl and he
begins his letter with the decidedly strong expression
lin Englsh) my dear little darling" When he ar
rived at Trouvle the air obviously had effect
upon him. for he criously enough signs his letter of
August II, 1871, 'Your old papa and robust friend,
Charles Gounod."
"poLrEucrE" coPYRIoEs.
From Trouville NJ. Gounod writes about ssPoly-
eucte." II conclude nothing with Scalaberini
before Polyeucte' has been played in French. it
would sort of affront to the Opera to give it
them at second hand. should also like the first inn
preston Of my work on the public to be in the
language in which it has been conceived and written
AS to Choudens the Paris publisher of NJ. Gounod's
works) the matter does not press he persists,
we can in due time advertise Polyeucte for SALE
when we shall be to find nice capitalist
who will take it," The composer also nstr1lcts Mrs.
Weldon to look after his interests with Mr.. Iitteton
(senor partner of the publishing house OF Novello
COZ In the of this letter, too. curious
item about the prices received for songs by M.
Gcunod. The composer accepted 5000 for the anthem
"Sing Praises" $500 for twelve original hymn tunes
both exclusive of royalty and average of 500 for
each song for which royalties reserved. The
composer OF Faust could therefore command sums
which were in few SO high, and in no cases
higher, than other writers of much less celebrity
would accept.
MON CHER TAvrsrocK.
M Counods letters ut this time were full Of refer
ences to "mon cher Tavistock obviously in allusion
to Tavistock House, the residence OF the wcldons),
and he thus paved the way for tho residence with the
Weldons which soon to follow. On the 9th of
September he writes to my dear good little one''
that thcy tell me you about to depart for Amer
lea. Odiousl'' He ends his letter. II embrace you as
love you. Your old papa" on the 11th of septem-
Der NJ. Gounod addresses her, "Ma cherie." On the
18th of September he, writing from Moranville near
Blangy. in Calvsdos, says that he is getting
along famously with "Polyeucte." He is also
much troubled about Georginas health, and
while she is unwell he writes to her twice.
sometimes thrice q day. On the 14th OF Sop.
tember NJ. Gounods infant child died. and he
wrtes:-"Alas! my dear little darling. all is fin-
ished. The poor child is no She resigned her
last breath this morning ut Ave o'clock. went to
the house. but had not tho courage to the corpse
as they told me il was dis1gurcd. leave mmed-
a.ey for Morainville, where IL you write Saturday
/ shall hope to have letter on Monday The very
day he writes long letter. occupying than
twenty pages Of manuscript speaking almost solely
OF his business Of selling songs.
GEoRGrNA TO PARIS.
Nfatfora th1ia won't IN fill fha and ~ thc ,coctb