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Story of Tourgenieff's
Love
for Pauline Viardot,
Her Frailty, Is to
owing
Be Published in Ten Years
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IST how far the prerogative of genius
tnoralitf is a problem for the ethically
ro without merging into open im-
ilCltl( JUit- flUW mur nitpt vyi j , : -
tolerate on thepart of a genius without re
garding his works as the product of a per
verted mind is another problem of a similar
nature. - K ' ' -
; fioth of these may suggest themselves , '
the course of tjie narrative; but there is still
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another which will appeal to every one who
loves romance better than ethics. '
To what extent may man and a woman
shatter the bonds of propriety in the name
of love? v
Tourgenieff would have said that all
things done in the name of love are sacred. He
believed that there was nothing holier no
other true inspiration, in fact than love.
And doubtless Pauline Garcia Viardot would
have voiced the same opinion. , i
It is their, opinion onjhis very subject,
their own side of their own love story, that
tha vast armyt of Tour genie fs readers are '
writing. '
Fifty years ago the Russian wrote a book;
alove story, which he gave to Mme. Viardot,
exacting at theYame time th promise that it
would not be published until ten years after
they were both dead This story is now in
the hands of its editors and all the world
believes that it is the true story of the Tour
gpfief -Viardot romance as they saw it.'
if': As a mere matter of history, it will be
tnteresting enough, for we know so little of
their strange relationship, that one of the
world? real mysteries of romance awaits solu
tion in full.
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1111.
- - a
writing with her; collaborating. with her In mualo and
paying her the attentions of a lover before all tha
literary and cultured folk that infested the plce.
And Paulina herself seemed resigned to the fact that ,
h had under one roof a 'legal husband an4
secondary mate, between whom she was to divide her
affections. ' . .
Meantime the novelist was writing tha books that
brought him wealth and fame. He said that his whole
lnspiratlon" WM love. Evidently he regarded his
Pauline as the sacred fire from, which the torch of his
genius' had to ba dailv relighted. His Ufa ran ,
smoothly enough because no one opposed him.
It eeeras Almost silly to think, that so great a
mind was so entirely dependent upon the whim and
fancy of a singer; and yet H is more than likely
that if Madame Viardot had turned him off TourgetUeff
would Have thrown down his pen and retuger to
Russia, to live the colorless life that , his family
had marked' out for, him. In his letters to Pauline,
he implores her to take up her composing again, so
that he would have the inspiration to go on with his
writing,
v LOVE DEARER THAN ART
After he had lived thirty years in the-Vlardoj
s y ' 7
1141, the handsome young fellow was one of the men
who visited her in her apartments at the theater,
aocordlng to the custom in those days, when a prima
donna's husband was forced , to tolerate a host of
admirers about his talented wife. v .
There Is a tradition that she set her company to
telling, stories in rivalry, and that Tourgenieff so fat
outshone all competitors in this field that he at once
excited her interest and won her favor. One thing
Is certain', he fell violently In love with Pauline,
however she may have regarded him, and when she
left Russia ha' followed her, never returning; to his
native land except for brief visits. ;.1-. If
ThU Was , the commencement of a most u&1qu
and peoullar relationship.' No one knows what Louis
Viardot thought of it, Pauline is never known te
have expressed herself, and the Russian always spoke
. of it In the most naive fashion as a simple friendship,
Russians are ' all more or less .reticent. . and
Tourgenieff was no exception to, the rule. For forty
. years he was a regular visitor a,t the Viardot houses
hold in Paris. In fact, he fairly lived in the company
of his beloved, and yet he Is never known ' to have
spoken more than casually t his Visits to her home.
During the .first , thirty , years, Madame rViardot's
children grew up, and the novelist displayed the same
devotion to the daughter that he had to the mother.
. His whole life : was shaped about . this family. He
left his home for them; he made Paris his residence
because it was theirs; and he would doubtless have
followed them to the ends' of the earth without
question. 1-. . . .
' There is something so childish about It We cannot
conceive of Viardot reconciling himself to these atten
tions bestowed upon his wife, and yet it Is certain
that he and the handsome Russian never quarreled.
One would think, too, that Madame Viardot would
have done, one ot two' things in the, matter: Either
she would have gone wit the Russian, if she loved
him sufficiency to fairly take him Into the family,
where his presence was a constant rebuke te her? or
she ( would have turned him off and refused to ses
him.
. -,
Strange mortals 'are - these men and women ef
genius. Do they not have the same emotions as other
mortalst Are they not Impelled to action by ths
same motives of love, Jealousy and the like.
Tourgenieff was satisfied to.llve In the vlclnity,of
his love and see her the wife of another man In all
respects, he writing for his living as a mer elds
Issue, his whole existence bound up in the dally' life
of the slnger.; Viardot was content to have this
huge, magnificent Russian in his house day after day,
openly In love, with hie wife, avowedly her- slave,
worse than the La zvDug'? fcGroucfifera
PAULINE GARCIA VIARDOT started on her career
almost as soon as she was able to walk and"
lisp, and her education may 'even be said to
have begun before her birth, for her family
weref . amous musicians for generations. Turgenlelt,
on the other hand, came before the world when he
had seen and loved Viardot, in the full bloom of his
magnificent manhood, and not before. . "
Miguel Garcia the eleventh was her father, and
a distinguished musician, Miguel Garcia the twelfth,
was her brother, known the world over as a musician.
Her elster, Mme. Mallbran, was, no less famous, and
even her mother had won some little favor on the
etfige before the time of Pauline's advent into the
: world.. ,rA:jy:vf -"?:. f ' .
Pauline was born In Paris in 1821, and while still
e child was taken on a tour of England, the United
Kiates and Mexico. She Is said to have appeared
In a child's part before she was 7 years of age. Upon
their , return ' to Paris her musical education was
I pgun at the piano, and subsequently continued under
no less a master than Liszt himself. When she was
II years old ber father died, and she was taken to
Brussels by her mother. About this time she appeared
at her sister's concerts, and very shortly after made
a tour of Get many with the violinist Berlot.
G
FIRST MARRIAGE. THEN ROMANCE
At the age of It she sang in the London rauslo
halls and 'immediately leaped into public favor. She
was no unaffected, so naive and had such promise
In her voice withal, that she was "a most captivating
little star. Desdemona was hsf f.rst part, Then came
Ceiierentola and a whole host of dinicuk roles, eung
In half the big capitals of Kurope. In 1840 the Was
married to her . manager, Louis Viardot a purely
business arrangement and shortly afterward was
taken by him on a tour- which embraced Vienna.
Ttcrlin, Madrid, London,' Dublin; Edinburgh, i Moscow
Bd 8t Petersburg. Here enters TourgenleiT. -
Th young RviBslan was juat being Introduced Into
a social career by his mother, and It was generally
lojxui that he would take up some civic or diplomatlo
""' v '"r""t LJ"j'rcft, j.tuaaia.01. a. mpiomet.i
, - . . v vnij uiio vi nm Krtttieni moairn novelists.
Vheo the singei appeared in 6t Petersburg, in
ROUCII ii a word jh&t is in the dictionary,
but, though the word has not been in ex
istence long enough to work itself out of
the "slane" class! they have already dis
covered a grouch germ. . Vv
. This ia certainly an era of germs. No one is
appalled when he is told nowadays that this or
-that disease is due. to bacteria in his system; but
when it comes down to regulating temperaments
by these infinitesimal vermin, one is inclined to be
lieve that there ig no use combating, fatewLet's
-blame it on the germs' ifVv."'"
y If there is a germ for the grouch there is per
haps a joy germ, a laughing germ, a , happy germ,
and who, knows! there may even be a booze germ,
which would forever exonerate the devotees of
Bacchus from their personal responsibilities. It is
truly a pleasant theory. '
When a grand opera star cuffs her maid, breaks
the china, unhats the impresario and kicks the
electric light bulbs on the plea of temperament, she
will be free to protest that the temper germ has
got into - her system all unawares and that the
'manager , is cruel Und heartless to scold or -even
restrain one so afflicted "
So much for germs in general. ,
T
IERE are nearly as many kinds of grouches as
there are germs. There is the born grouch, the
affected grouch," the disgruntled grouch, the
grouch dyspeptic and the grouch per se.
Just how the grouch germ gets into the systems of
somo people at such an early age is hard to determine',
especially eince the rascally bacillus has not yet been
very thoroughly studied, though bis manifestations are
patent to all. v
We are familiar with the sullen small boy who
screams when others smile, and kicks his fond parents
vu iu Bum wneu uiey attempt to coax htm. You have
cenami reit tnat jjuxnln.
9b6duy manUeattttion ol
on a score of occasions, end would hnvn dnn n . it
nflt been for the parental extenuation of the little dear.
; little sympathy. The man who thinks for any reason
that he is more impressive, more a man for an assumed
air of cynicism pessimism and all the other unfortu-
EK?..lsJ?n' inat- t0 Hae P the grpuch, could be
nobbled and set to feed on culpa at a safe distance
""S?0"1 ocety to prevent further contagion.
. The dyspeptic, groucn is truly a victim of mis-
imi iune, ana
ramW,ooTd Russian friends they were such im
portant factors in hla life that, if any power were to
offer him the choice between being the greatest
writer of all ages and the friendship of the great
Singer, he would certainly , accept the latter without
hesitation or , thought
The peculiar situation in which Pauline allowed
the public. to find her was not altogether uncommon
among the women of the French stage. Ttjey had
husbands and lovers as well, but in the career of
most there f were storms and . viclssltudea Lovers
and husbands nursed Jealousies: There were violent
tragedies .galore. j -
For Tourgenieff,. however, the placid flow of this
three-oornered existence nver seemed to strike upon'
the rdtks, and when Madame Viardot died a few
weeks ago, at the age of eighty-nine, the world was
till as ignorant of the theories that had maintained ,
the balance in the minds of tUe so strange people as
they were when Tourgenieff first left Russia with the
object of his infatuation. : r
Mademoiselle Raucourt, who flourished In the latter
part of the eighteenth centufy, was more openly and
frankly scandalised for her amours than ever was
Pauline Viardot She was a beautiful woman of the
common people whose talent brought her in contact
with the nobles of France and princes of royal blood.
Her reputation, finally became so besmirched that her
most powerful friends were unable to shield her from
publlo ignominy. She continued to act under ,
Napoleon's patronage, and to a certain extent regained .
her - prestige with the public before her death. . .
Mademoiselle Dugaxon was another public favorite,
In vogue in the time of the elder Garcias, who was
engaged in innumerable scandals and Intrigues.; But
Dugaxon, her husband, was a bitter assailant of all
of hif wife's favorites, and her career was marked
with as many family turmoils as escapades.
AN EARLIER ANALOGY
A very pretty woman, queen' of the French stage
a hundred years before Viardot's time, had a liaison
with a lltetary man quite unlike Pauline's in some
' respects, and yet very like it in others,, The parties
1 were Sophie Arnould and Lauraguals, chiefly famous
for his conceit In this case he was the married one
and she the' single; but they were happy' in each
ther,'B company for, many long years, and the writer
. malntalned-hls family in all affluence and respect at
the same tlmeS '",,'
It is not often that we know enough of these
. peculiar affinities to wholly condemn or excuse them.
That is one reason why the public Is waiting so
eagerly to see Just' what is in this secret writing
' of Tourgenieff's.-They want to . know Just what the
relationship was tn the first place,. and then Just what
the romantic parties concerned thought of It them-
,ni.:-:::r:':,;-.'r'f::
v Jn all of Tourgenieff's works there is no reference
which may be said to refer to his own affair, it Is
only fitting that the romance, which he avowed was
of all the grouches Is most deserving of ; the bapls of all his Inspiration, should have some more '
How mysterious are the ways of parenthood, and
how Just! They know that h poor little fellow is not
.' responsible ; that. It is only the frightful germ . that
has crept Into his system. Some say it Is due to his
having pie when he should have had corned beet and
cabbage; others blame it upon the ministrations of an
indulgent grandma. -And there are authorities who
irw that A nV,.4 nl,n. n 1itn1rn.4r ... knll n ImmW In
oiameter appneq,ai..tna igm..apefcin.eimet 'wihiimk 1,1 ""TTr f u, mcj v,v..,.Vvm.
f share of sympathy and a large allowance of coaxing.
uui ut ciBpruntiea grouch, the man who .pouta ana .
shows the same symptome as the born grouch in his
, earliest stages, could be' remedied with a full and
vigorous allowance of the same medicine, the atout
hickory only let It be a club. : ,
- We hear so much about the blessed sunshine, and
there are so many dear little books published in holi
day season to gather dust on the tables of one's inof
fensive fejends which, have that sweet, optimlstio
. tone, that if there is any virtue in them, the mother of
a grouchy household should have no difficulty in allay
ing the family complaint. She could buy them by the
gross about Christmas and serve them with the meals
for a full year at a trifling "cost. , .'..
' THE GROUCH GERM'S TRAITS "
The grouch germ itself was discovered In Kansas'
City by-an enterprising man. Dr. EJ. L. Mathlai. . The
dot-tor has observed that the germ is fond of torrid
weather. More than this, he Is fully persuaded that
the germ attacks none but man. Beyond thi the diet,
appearance, habits and mannerisms of the germ are
unknown and offer a wide and profitable field ol'
research to the enterprising investigator. In this matter
a little advice might not be considered impertinent,
Inasmuch as no one has adopted the germ for hie prl
vate property, as yet. , .-'..-,! ,-. s. ';
First catch a grouch. They are' mimerous In all
latitudes, and It matters little which species you begirt
, with; only,, as a matter of mercy spare the dyspeptie
grouch, because he Is least responsible. Having secured
the grouch fairly in a recumbent position, face down,
elevate a broad, stout stick above his person and pro
ceed as instinct dictates. As the germs escape, bottle
- them for future" investigation If they do not come,
keep on with the treatment for a grouch the less -in
, the interests-of science Is a small loss. '.;::
,It might be well to add that there are psychls
treatments which are-lust e effective In ridding a
I
WlBil lsjieW 13 Ml'fc 11,1 Ihn-rAwl ft tU. o. ,,I1,1 o. .h,,!.! .
"?.m "erlP lnt0 nflntty , The born rrouch is to be nltled. The srerm has such
a hold upon him that It is practically Incurable; but
for the effanted crouch, germ or no germ, there can be
Qualities in the otierator as patience, forbearance, tact ,
and no little determination. After all, if one can afford
to dispense with dignity, the- physical -treatment Is
quickest and most certain of lasting result- '
Immortal monument than a flitting rumor to mark
' It. When two great souls, or at least a great mind
' and a great genius, come together, we have a right
to expect some result from the mere contact of un
usual forces.- ' ...
This book, now In the hands of two members of
the French Academy, win be at the same time the
'only acknowledged offspring and the Immortal monu
ment to a historic love affair, if it Is what all ths
,:world expects. : . ., , . ,
A Fly-Eating Plant
N ENGLAND there grows a little reddish-leaved
odd-looking plant known as sundew. It Is but
- an inconspicuous weed, and yet literary . and
scientific honors have been heaped upon it
-The leaf Is, round and flat, and is covered by a
number of small red glands, which act as the
attractive advertisement to the misguided inseota
Their .knobby ends are covered ' with a glutinous
secretion, 'Which glistens like honey in the sunlight,
and 10 gains tor the plant Its common English name.
But the moment a hapless fly, attracted by hopes of
meat or nectar, settles quietly in its- midst on hos
pitable thoughts intent the viscid liquid holds him
tight Immediately, and clogs his legs and wlfigs, so
that he Is snared exactly as a sparrow Is snared with
birdlime. . ; - :'
, Then the, leaf closes over him slowly but surely,
and crushes him by folding its edges inward gradu-
ally toward the c;nterjJTJieJJy-
v. un -lneiinctual struggles, while the cruel, crawung
'flf pours forth a digestive fluid-a vegetable gastrin
Juice, as it were and dissolves him alive piecemeal
la tta hundred clntohlas; auckera -J . v ' I