Gilpin observer., 1909-02-25

Reference has been made to Cho-
pins liking of the favor of the nobil-
ity, a weakness suggested in that so
much of his work is dedicated to
countesses and baronesses, 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 it 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, attachment-historia not
able to agree on the right name-be-
tween Chopin and George Sand"
Mime. DudevanD. 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 refnements. found each the
other strangely congenial. Unlike in
their tastes, of widely differing mental
caliber, they entered into a companion
ship, union. that lasted several years.
continued until shortly before Chopin's
death. At the time of the meeting
Chopin's health was becoming more
and more frail, an affection Of the
lungs making headway. Plans were
prepared for sojourn on the island
of Majorca in search of health. Nine.
Sand to accompany the invalid. and
late in 1888 Chopin with Nine. Sand,
her two children and a servant, set
forth for the island. taking up resi-
dence in Palma. At first all was
rose-hued. delightful. but the COM
monplace accompaniments of illness
soon banished romance. Chopin be-
came so miserably i'll his landlord re-
fused to have one so 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
panionship ceased, the union came to
n disastrous end. In 1S47. after vio-
lent quarrel. the couple separated. In
the history other life and in n 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 n flighty
and exasperating invalid. He never
recovered from the effects of the quar-
rel, the excitement and distress at.
tending the rupture are thought to
have hastoned his death. Disappoint-
ment and poverty as well as illhealth
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. He
engaged in tour in Scotland and
made some visits there. but finally had
to surrender to the fact that the end
was not far of, 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, Mozart's Requiem
was sung. A resting place for him was
chosen beside the graves of Cherubini
and Bellini