d fortune which had been auspicious to him from his very birth. In
1845, while still in the service of the Austrian emperor, though he did
not intermit his musical tours through the principal European cities,
Thalberg married the charming widow, whom he had known and admired
before her marriage, the daughter of the great singer Lablache, Mme.
Bouchot, whose first husband had been the distinguished French painter
of that name. The marriage was a happy one, though scandal, which loves
to busy itself about the affairs of musical celebrities, did not fail
to associate Thalberg's name with several of the most beautiful women of
his time. Mile. Thalberg, a daughter of this marriage, made her _debut_
with considerable success in London, in 1874.

Thalberg's first visit to America was in 1853, and he came again in
1857, to more than repeat the enthusiastic reception with which he was
greeted by music-loving Americans. Musical culture at that time had not
attained the refinement and knowledge which now make an audience in
one of our greater cities as fastidious and intelligent as can be found
anywhere in the world. But Thalberg's wonderful playing, though lacking
in the fire, glow, and impetuosity which would naturally most arouse the
less cultivated musical sense, created a _furore_, which has never been
matched since, among those who specially prided themselves on being good
judges. He extended both tours to Cuba, Mexico, and South America, and
it is said took away with him larger gains than he had ever made during
the same period in Europe.

During the latter years of Thalberg's life he spent much of his time
in elegant ease at his fine country estate near Naples, only giving
concerts at some few of the largest European capitals, like London and
Paris. He became an enthusiastic wine-grower, and wine from his estate
gained a medal at the Exposition Universelle of 1867. Many of his best
piano-forte compositions date from the period when he had given up the
active pursuit of virtuosoism. His works comprise a concerto, three
sonatas, many nocturnes, rondos, and etudes, about thirty fantasias, two
operas, and an instruction series, which latter has been adopted by many
of the best teachers, and has been the means of forming a number of able
pupils. This fine artist died at his Neapolitan estate, April 27, 1871.

II.

Thalberg had but little sympathy with the dreamy romanticism which
found such splendid exponents, while he was