Frederic Chopin, Vol. 2 of 2: His Life, Letters, and Works (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from Frederic Chopin, Vol. 2 of 2: His Life, Letters, and Works

Soon after the taking of Warsaw the Polish army dispersed into Prussia and Austria, and many of the fugitives found their way to Paris. All who whether in politics or on the field, had been foremost in the revolution - the members of the diet, officers, poets, and writers, who by pat riotic songs or newspaper articles had incited the people to insurrection - were in dread of the vengeance of Russia, and took refuge in France, hoping that. Sooner or later, her sympathy with the wrongs suffered by Poland would move her to their redress. Miserable delusion! Terrible were its consequences! Thousands of intelligent men left the country, carrying with them the light they had shed on science and art, while their loss, as Russia saw with satisfaction, was irreparable, for none were found worthy to take their place. Years of sad experience were needed to convince the Poles that their expectations were foolish, their efforts for freedom useless, and their hopes for aid from France futile.

Chopin, of course, soon became the centre of the Polish emigrants in Paris. Assured about the safety of his relatives in Warsaw, his spirits improved, and he would often ask himself, What shall my future be? The plans of his tour, which he had formed at home, having been utterly thwarted, he was obliged to start afresh.

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