Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-24
George Sands Passionate APP
peal to Her Stupid Lover.
PROSE IN FORM, POEM IN SPIRIT
Is Worthy of Being Kept as a
Work of Art.
Was Addressed to Pietro Pageilo, an Itai-
ian Doctor, Now a Hearty Old Man of
Ninety-The Writer full OF Dubious FAM
cies and Her Idol Seemingly Tottering.

poem in spirit; though apparently mere
impassioned love letter, it is, in its way, "a
work of art, and as such may well he
placed in the same category with the Won
derful letters of Heloise and Abelard.
George Sand is this nineteenth-century
Helose, and the Abelard to whom her
fiery words are addressed is Pietro rag
clio, an Italian doctor. The great author
sss was passionately in love with this
,onderous Italian, and some curious
stories have been published in regard TO
her intimacy with him. How he attracted
her is rather mystery. Some writers
claim that the magic lay in his broad
shoulders and general physical robustness.
But can any one account for n womans
tastes? Can any one explain why Mary
of Scotland fell in love with the brutal
Boutwell,?
DIR. Pagello is still living-90 years old
he Island from him DIR. Cabanes obtained
a copy of the fine letter.
A hearty old man Pagello is, and great
ly fiattered he seems to be on account of
the attention which is being paid to him
at present. Among his treasures are
few porcelain cups out of which George
Sand used to drink, and these he always
shows to visitors, Talking of the women
who has made his name famous, he says
that she was fond of Turkish tobacco and
used to make her own cigarettes. that she
was always sweet-tempered and content
with her lot, that fish was her fayorite
food, that she excelled in making sauces
and that she drank a good deal of tea as
stimulant to work.
Young Pagello, his son, adds further de-
tails. ''fhis was q mere episode in my
fathers life," he says; nothing more.
George Sand, wearied with Alfred dc
Musset's caprices, fell in love with my
father who was fine, handsome, broad
shouldered young fellow. My father
loved the handsome Frenchwoman for her
genius, her kindncss-indecd, to tell the
truth, he was captivated with her. But
this little incident was soon forgotten 10y
him."
How cold, nay, heartless, these words
seem as we read George Sands outhurst
of passionate alteration! Would she have
written thus if she had foreseen that this
idyl in her life would in time be regarded
as ''little incident" in her lovers life?
HER DAUGHTER PROTESTS
She would, perhaps, be as much opposed
to the publication of this love letter MS
some members of her family are now 10
the publication of her private documents.
Her daughter, Nine. Clesinger, was very
angry when she heard that this letter had
been published and she at once asked the
courts to interfere in her behalf. Law
yers, however, are of the opinion that she
has no case. A letter, they say, belongs
partly to the anthor and partly to the per-
son to whom it is addressed and, under
ordinary circumstances, no third party
has any claim to it. Moreover, George
Sand bequeathed all the letters relating
to herself and De Musset t. IL. Emile
Ancante with full instructions to puDfisf
them whenever he might see fit. Nj. An
cante says that he will carry out her desire
and that her letters to De Musset will b,
published shortly, Nine. Clesinger and til,
other members of George Sands family
he claims, have not Il shadow of title t.
her letters. He will publish them and thu
originals will then be deposited in the Ma
tional or some other great French library
Even admitting. however, that the mem
hers OF the family have some rights IA
regards the letters to De Musset, it i
difficult to see what claim they can have oil
the letters written to PagellO. and whicl
J, are, apparently, in his possession.
Now for the famous letter itself:,t4
PASSIONATE LOVE SONG.
''Since we were born under differen
skies, we have neither the same thought
nor the same language, but have we moi
at least, the same hearts;
''The warm and foggy climate of III
native land has left in me sweet and me
ancholy impressions; what passions ito 70
owe TO the generous sun which has bronze
your brow. | know how to love and t
sutherland you, how do you love?
Il do not know if you really love me.
shall never know. You are only able
speak a few words in my tongue and d
not know your mother tongue sufficient
to enable me to frame questions so sui
tie. Perhaps even if | knew your lal
guage thoroughly it would be impOssib
for me to make myself understood.
''The places in which we have lived I'll
persons who have instructed us, are doub
less the cause why we cannot eXplail
each to the other, our ideas, our sent
ments, our needs. My weak nature an
your fiery temperament must ncccssari
give birth to thoughts that are widely di
ferent. OF surety you either ignore
despise the thousand pangs that assail IN
of surety you laugh at that which brin.
tears to my eyes.
Perhaps you do not know what tea
are?
will you he for me n helpmate or
master? Will you console me for all Il
ills which | suffered before | met yol
Will you understand why am sad?
''Do you know what compassion, p
thence, friendship mean? Perhaps yOu ha'
been nurtured in the conviction that W
men have no soul? Do you know that tn,
have one? Are You neither Christian III
Mussulman? Neither civilized nor ba
barian? Are you a man? What is the
within his manly breast, this leoninc ey
this superb browI Is there in you
thought noble and pure, sentiment fir
tcrnal and pous? When you sleep do y,
dream that You are winging your way
ward heaven? When men do you wrol
do you put your trust in God?
do you know what am, and are "
trembling yourself because you do IL
know it? Am l in your eyes somethil
unknown, which fills you with longing al
possesses your thoughts? Do you knO
what the souls desire is-that desi
which time cannot satiate and which
human caresses can weary or lull to sleel
"Oh, when find your countenance cal
shall learn whether you are thinking
simply reposing? When your eyes gro
languishing will it be through tenderne
or WEAKNESS?
perhaps you think that you do n
know that l do not know va
] know neither your past life nor yo
character nor how you are esteemed
those men who do know you. Perha
you are the first, perhaps the last. amoi
them. | love you without knowing if
will he able to esteem you. ] love you h