The first letter, signed “Fritz,” is a most cordial welcome to a man about to marry his sister.  The third is a double letter from George Sand and Chopin to Louise, who had just visited the two lovers at Nohant in 1844.  Sand tells her that her visit has been the best tonic he has ever had, and writes to the whole family:  “Tell them all that I love them, too, and would give my life to unite them with him one day under my roof.”  Chopin refers to Sand as “My hostess,” and signs himself “Ton vieux.”  In his next he details with much amusement a scandalous escapade of Victor Hugo’s, a husband’s discovery, and Madame Hugo’s forgiving manner.  He announces (July 20, 1845) that “le telegraphe electro-magnetique entre Baltimore et Washington, donne des resultats extraordinaires.”  He revels in puns and gossip.

Karlovicz mentions the existence of a despairing letter in which Chopin called his sister Louise to Paris where he was dying; she came in 1849, with her husband and daughter, and remained till the end, giving him the last tendernesses in her power.

This is all I have gleaned from Karlovicz.  More immediate help has come from a new biography published in Warsaw in 1903 by Ferdinand Hoesick, and, according to Alfred Nossig, destined to upset the supremacy of Nieck’s biography.  This latest work is really the carrying out of the plans of Chopin’s friend and fellow student, Julian Fontana, who shared joy and sorrow with him in Paris, and collected letters and data for a biography.  On Chopin’s death Liszt sprang into print with a rhapsody which led Fontana to defer his work.  At his death in 1869 he left it unfinished, bequeathing his documents to his son, who permitted Hoesick the use of them.

Hoesick blames Chopin’s notable melancholy to early experiences of love requited, indeed, but not united in marriage.  His love was as rathe as his music.

Alfred Nossig, reviewing the biography, says of Chopin:  “As his talent, so did his heart mature early.”  It was at Warsaw, in his early youth, that he found his first ideal.  Although his father, a Frenchman who had married a Polish woman, did not occupy a foremost position in society, Frederic moved in the highest circles.  In addition to his genius he had always the princely way with him.

One of his admirers was the Duchess Ludvika Czetvertynska, whose majestic figure and aureole of hair reminded one of the pictures of Giorgione.  Her friend, the Governor of Poland, the Grand Duke Konstantin, through her introduction accepted Chopin as one of his most welcome guests; he was musical, and greatly admired Chopin’s music.  Whenever his violent temper carried him away, the grand duchess would send secretly for Chopin, who would seat himself at the piano, and at the first notes the grand duke would appear in the drawing-room with his temper cured.  Thus was Chopin another David to a latter-day Saul.  Chopin was an intimate friend of the grand duke’s