taught his pupil according to the classical German method—­ whatever that may mean—­at that time in use in Poland.  Liszt, who calls him “an enthusiastic student of Bach,” speaks likewise of “les errements d’une ecole entierement classique.”  Now imagine my astonishment when on asking the well-known pianoforte player and composer Edouard Wolff, a native of Warsaw, [Fooynote:  He died at Paris on October 16, 1880.] what kind of pianist Zywny was, I received the answer that he was a violinist and not a pianist.  That Wolff and Zywny knew each other is proved beyond doubt by the above-mentioned letter of Zywny’s, introducing the former to Chopin, then resident in Paris.  The solution of the riddle is probably this.  Zywny, whether violinist or not, was not a pianoforte virtuoso—­at least, was not heard in public in his old age.  The mention of a single name, that of Wenzel W. Wurfel, certainly shows that he was not the best pianist in Warsaw.  But against any such depreciatory remarks we have to set Chopin’s high opinion of Zywny’s teaching capability.  Zywny’s letter, already twice alluded to, is worth quoting.  It still further illustrates the relation in which master and pupil stood to each other, and by bringing us in close contact with the former makes us better acquainted with his character.  A particularly curious fact about the letter—­considering the nationality of the persons concerned—­is its being written in German.  Only a fac-simile of the original, with its clear, firm, though (owing to the writer’s old age) cramped penmanship, and its quaint spelling and capricious use of capital and small initials, could fully reveal the expressiveness of this document.  However, even in the translation there may be found some of the man’s characteristic old-fashioned formality, grave benevolence, and quiet homeliness.  The outside of the sheet on which the letter is written bears the words, “From the old music-master Adalbert Ziwny [at least this I take to be the meaning of the seven letters followed by dots], kindly to be transmitted to my best friend, Mr. Frederick Chopin, in Paris.”  The letter itself runs as follows:—­

Dearest Mr. F. Chopin,—­Wishing you perfect health I have the honour to write to you through Mr. Eduard Wolf. [Footnote:  The language of the first sentence is neither logical nor otherwise precise.  I shall keep throughout as close as possible to the original, and also retain the peculiar spelling of proper names.] I recommend him to your esteemed friendship.  Your whole family and I had also the pleasure of hearing at his concert the Adagio and Rondo from your Concerto, which called up in our minds the most agreeable remembrance of you.  May God give you every prosperity!  We are all well, and wish so much to see you again.  Meanwhile I send you through Mr. Wolf my heartiest kiss, and recommending myself to your esteemed friendship, I remain your faithful friend,

   Adalbert Ziwny.