Perhaps tuberculosis, which would kill him at age 39, made him maudlin. Crybaby.
Chopin's father was a French emigre living in Poland by the way.
Word has reached me of the Wine board's ambitious project to answer the age old question "Does Merlot really suck?" with a tasting of an 2003 Ecco Domani (translation: Burp Tomorrow).
Although that would seem to be the equivalent of answering "Does comedy really suck??" by watching Ishtar, I am certain it will be a grand event.