ZZI.

(VOL. II., p. 177.)

The reader will be as grateful as I am for the following interesting
communications of Madame Peruzzi (nee Elise Eustaphieve, whose father
was Russian Consul-General to the United States of America) about her
intercourse with Chopin.

"I first met Chopin at the house of the American banker, Samuel Welles,
in Paris, where I, like every one present, was enchanted listening to
his mazurkas, waltzes, nocturnes, &c., which he played on a wretched
square piano. I lived as dame en chambre (a very convenient custom for
ladies alone), at a pension, or rather a regular boarding-school, with
rooms to let for ladies. The lady of the house was acquainted with many
of the musical people, and I had a splendid American grand piano which
was placed in the large drawing-room of the establishment, so that I
felt quite at home, and there received Chopin, Liszt, and Herz (Miss
Herz, his sister, gave lessons in the school), and often played
four-hand pieces with them.

"My intimacy with Chopin began after my marriage. He often dined with
us, was very fond of my husband, and after dinner we were not at home
if any one else came, but remained at our two pianos (Erard had sent me
one), playing together, and I used to amuse him by picking out of his
music little bits that seemed like questions for him to answer on the
other piano. He lived very near us, so we very often passed mornings at
his house, where he asked me to play with him all Weber's duets. This
was delightful to me, the more so, as he complimented me on my reading
and entering at first sight into the spirit of the music. He made me
acquainted with the beautiful duet of Moscheles, and was the first with
whom I played Hummel's splendid duet. He was a great admirer of Weber.
We frequently had morning concerts with double quartet, and Chopin would
very kindly turn the leaves for me. He was particularly fond of doing so
when I played Hummel's Septet, and was so encouraging. Even when playing
to him his own music, he would approve some little thing not indicated
and say, 'What a good idea of yours that is!' My husband begged him to
give me lessons; but he always refused, and did give them; for I studied
so many things with him, among others his two concertos. The one in E
minor I once played accompanied by himself on a second piano. We passed
many pleasant evenings at Mr. and Madame Leo's house, a very musical
one. Madame Moscheles was a niece of theirs.