Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-02-25

Reference has been made to Cho-
pins liking of the favor of the nobil-
ity, weakness suggested in that SO
much of his work is dedicated to
countesses and harnesses, a couple OF
princesses in the list of titled person
ages. Never robust, very susceptible
to the influence of surroundings, 1t
may be he found an atmosphere OF
ease and luxury very restful, restoring.
When i'll able to afford il he made
strenuous effort to keep up appear
ances before the people Of wealth with
whom he associated, was very fastidi-
Gus about his personal belongings. al
ways approved OF the delicate and re-
fined rather than the SNOWY and or
nate.
Friends to serve and obey appear
not to have been wanting, and we
now come to that mysterious. famous
friendship, tachment-historians not
able to agree on the right name-be-
tween Chopin and George Sand
Mime. Dudevant). the novelist. The
two met at the instigation OF List,
some time early in 1897. The woman
of masculine brain. the man effemin-
ate in his refinements. found each the
other strangely congenial. Unlike in
their tastes, of widely differing mental
caliber they entered into companion
ship, a union, that lasted several years,
continued until shortly before Chopin's
death. At the time OF the meeting
and more frail an affection OF the
lungs making Roadway Plans were
prepared for q sojourn on the island
of Majorca i'm search of health, Nine.
Sand to accompany the invalid, and
late in 1893 Chopin with Nine. Sand,
her two children and n servant set
forth for the island. taking up resi-
dence in Palma. At first all was
rose-hued, delightful. but the COM
monplace accomplishments of illness
soon banished romance. Chopin be-
came so miserably i'll his landlord re-
fused to have one 60 much an invalid
in his house, and there were strenu-
Gus days for both i'll and well.
On return TO France Chopin and
Nine Sand spent their summers at
the latter's country place in Nohant.
their winters in Paris. Devoted nurs-
ing was rewarded by partial return to
health of the invalid. and Chopin in
| this period labored assiduously at
composition. taught. and occasionally
| played. But at last nursing and com
partnership ceased, the union came to
a disastrous end. In 1S47, after a VIC
| lent quarrel, the couple separated. In
| the history of her life and in sketch
| of the days in Majorca. George Sand
| gives very different picture OF her
companion than is presented in work
| published the year OF the separation,
wherein Chopin Is drawn as a fiighty
and exaspcrating invalid. He never
recovered from the effects of the quar-
| REL the excitement and distress at.
| tending the rupture arc thought to
have fastened his death. Disappoint
ment and poverty as well as ill-health
marked his later days In February,
1S4S, he played for the last time in
Paris, then fleeing from the revolution
went over to London. He was not at all
| strong, but persisted in trying TO
! work, played when he had TO be car.
ried upstairs to the concert room. lie
engaged in a tour in Scotland. and
made some visits there, but finally had
to surrender to the fact that the end
was not far off. that work and play
must be laid aside. Shortly after re.
turn to Paris, he died, on the morning
OF October II. 1Si9. At the impress.
sive funeral services held in honor OF
the great musician. Mozarts Requiem
was sung. A resting place for him was
chosen beside the graves Of Chcru5ini
| and Belllni.
KATHERINE POPE.