The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-06-11
CHARLES eoUNoD At HOME.
His House In Paris, where ChiIdren sus
Grandchildren Dwell with Hin.

| fAuBt" mas Deon far from well Tor some tim q
He seems to recover from temporary ailments
only to have rolapses, which leave him weaker
and more susceptible to fresh attacks: and
| those around him cannot help feeling some
| anxiety. although his indomitable spirit and
| energetic temperament affoct to make light OF
those warnings. But one must remember
that Charles Francois Gounod was born on
June IL, 1918: and when q man has made
such enormous demands on his mental pow
| ers and such constant expenditure Of vital
and physical strength, he should be more than
| usually careful to husband these resources
| when he reaches his seventy-flfth year.
The great maestro is still the most fascinat.
| ing OF companions. The Gre OF his eve 10 not
| auenched: his eloquence 10 as spontaneous
and sparkling as Of yore; and. like all enthu-
eiastc natures. he Is all the more delightful
that he has no reticenoe, timidity, or dissimu-
lation. He allows his instincts to carry him
along and as they are all genial and sympa-
thetic, no is Rraclously communicative. and
one feels inclined to apply to him one Of his
own expressions: His soul looks out from Q
crystal mirror"
There is MS wide difference bet ween the aged
and iumphant musician whom the whole
world applauds, and the child reared By his
mother and determined to win the "Prir dc
Rome" "a there is between the modest Fat OF
the Rue de rEperon-the narrow street OF old
Paris behind the ancient Abbey OF st. Ger.
main. whore he was born-and the now. sump-
tuous, broadly planned Quarter Monceau In
northwestern Paris. whore Gounod occupies
the mansion he has built.
Some forty-hve years ago the plain OF Mon
ceau could boast OF no other buildings than
few dairy firms, whore delicate, consumptive
patients were sent to drink milk fresh from
the COW, or even to sleep In COW stables. Now
the finest hotels" OF Paris have been erected
In that once rustic locality. on either side OF
stately avenues; 1t Is Justly proud OF its
boulevards. its squares, and Of the at
mosphere OF wealth and luxury that sur.
rounds it. But 1t is not fortune alone
that has sought the Quarter Monceau;
painters literary m en-. artists on whom sue
cess has smiled, migrated thither In quest Of
light. sun. and air: they brought to it their
originality and Internationally. and this
accounts for the hybrid architecture and In.
conference OF tho style Of building. Each
owner has followed his particular taste. 90
that a Gothic turret elbows an Italian facade
and Moorish dome shadows an Arabian
portico. jostling each. other in quaint but
pleasing variety. One side OF the Place Males.
herbes is almost entirely taken UP by a re-
duced replica Of the Castle OF Blois. the incon.
gruous within OF sugar reflner: opposite. but
OF less pretentous architecture. rises Gou-
mods house, three-storied building Of pure
and elegant Renaissance character. 1t was
built in 10 by Monsieur Pigny. the maestro's
brother-in-law Gounod occupies the whole
with his family. but in separate establish
ments. ReservinR the second floor for him
self. he has given the first to his sister law
and the third to his son. Jean Gounod mar.
ried to the daughter Of tho well-known
decorative painter Gallard. Jean had two
sons: the eldest. Pierre. a clever boy OF TO-
bears q striking resemblance to his grand.
father: the younger Jean, died In 1890. Gou.
mods daughter married q Baron de Lassus In
~. and occupies the ground floor OF this
patriarchal abode with her baby boy. Gounod
himself lives there for seven or eight months
Of the year. In June tho house becomes va. &.
can't the Inhabitants all emigratinR to St
Cloud. where Nine. Gounod has o country
house. left to her by her father. the pianist
Zimmerman They spend the summer months
together. but Gounod sometimes leaves them
or a few days. starting on some visit or ex.
'ursion. Invariably. however. returning to his
beloved Paris on the first Of November.
The interior OF the mansion is fully worthy
II the exterior. The staircase Of massive
carved wood has been decorated by Dubufs
he younRer-a nephew Of the maestro-wtth
graceful female figures In white and pale gold
IN an azure ground: they represent the
muses. and the heroines of Gounod's operas:
a." WV 80 Nv AoA opAhhhhk Whocis JuttcS
revofie and ssppRo serkins tho s' Chords P 81
ier Tyre: Aiew bars Of music written in gold
he composition. In medallions around the
,ornice are the names Of celebrities in iitera.
GSunod has deepsrooted DO QUESTION to to solid
wallis and heavy doors; mono are, seen in his
work screens light balconies. hanging ioOSie.
THgShs FSh and
n
IT, 4 Ths % and
Where cheerful gallery leads to the macs:
PRESTON OF refined and artistic taste. more
than mere LUXURY ts conveyed
Danished doors,
:oom rising to the height q tvs stores 1T ~
bEns TindGw shaded By stained: but not
Is os A fasS.se sn and
siSe ~ sbs
read Of Christ is framed in the CEN
pee. shs
ZION. and it is adorned with bronze medal
The centre Of the room is, occupied By a grand
piano q pieysrs: one wall is lined with book.
,hy and collection Of m as ical scores. the most
,aluable having been Inherited. By Gounod
ects OF art and Interest scattered In the biz
DOM the most remarkable. perhaps, are the
angelo on the Medici mausoleum; a fne BUST
u Gounod IN wax by Franceschi,. and copyof
n angle Of the Sixtne chapel. with the quaint
roth,er. and nd friend Herbert-from Michel
I the Academy Of France In Rome. who had
cen the maestro's comrade nifty years before.
is sent It after first hearing his Mors ct Tiia
few chairs and little tables. with the huge
esk with sliding lid at which Gounod writes,
ompleto the furniture OF the study. but It 10
DO y all pervaded by the atmosphere radat-
mailing courtesy and encouraging corda-
y meyer Keeps a visitor waiting or let's him
tall uick in his movements. and easy in his
e est ne habit1a!ly appears In a SIN oking
road chest; silk handkerchief is carelessiy
not d under the loose collar Of his wo0en
lirt; N.Y. remarkably small feet. Of which he
not o little vain r hlWaya Ahod In fhs NAT