The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-10-27

quenlly oeen asked 0y her countrymen an(
my own, IN what the fascination of Mad
anne Recamier consisted-how it was tina
alter the loss oil fortune, youth, and beau
~, she still retained an unquestioned ane
unequalied empire over mems minds-ths
l venture to attempt some explanation O
the problem. For society, and above al
the female part Of It, has no slight interes
in the matter.
My first impression and my latest con
viction with regard to Nine. Recamier were
the same; they furnished me with one in
variable answer 10 all the questions have
been asked about her. 1t was the atmos.
Phere Of benignity which seemed to exhale
like delicate perfume from her whole per.
son, that prolonged the fascination of her
beauty. 1t was her heart rather than her
head, that inspired her with the faculty OF
animating, guiding, hsrmonizing, the socie.
ty over which she presided, with quiet
resistless power, the secret Of which was
with herself. Nine. Recamier was by no
means talker, nor was ever struck by
her talents or requirements. She seldom
said much; and 1t was only on an attentive
study that one perceived how much Of the
charm and value Of the conversation was
due to her gentle influence, never asserted
yet always felt. Ii would be a mistake
nay, dIsParagement, to imagine that she
attracted round her such a circle Of distin.
guished men by the brilliancy Of her con-
versation. Ii was the ineffable charm Of
the sweetest and kindliest of tempers the
strongest desire to give pleasure, to avert
pain, to avoid offence, to render her society
agreeable and soothing to all its members,
10 enable everybody TO present himself in
the most favorable light;-it was the suavi.
~, the refined humanity of her nature, that
gave grace to all her acts and gestures;
that rendered her beauty irresistible in
youth, and the charm OF her manner scarce
ly less.powerful in age.
Ii is not therefore, the sermon 50 often
preached over the grave of beauty-that it
Is transient and probabIe-that we would
fain pour into fair and youthful ears
Those who cannot see that most obvious
and salient Of truths, and upon whom the
sight does not force some serious reflections,
are far beyond the reach Of words. Mel
Their are we at all inclined to assert the
well-wom falsehood, so often told by the
very men whose whole life bellies it, that
beauty is Of no value. Beauty, like any
other power, is one Of the great gifts OF
God, who has so constituted man that he
is, and ever must be, its subject, often its
slave. Ii is the highest and the most in
toxicating Of all powers, for il is at its re-
NTH when the reason is yet unripe; it is
attained without toll or sacrifice, and held
without responsibility. II is, then, not by
decrying or depressing so mighty q gift
that any good can DO done. The conscious
ness Of her triumphs, unknown. perhaps,
to any but herself) will speak louder to
the possessor Of beauty, than any attempts
Of ours to depreciate their value.
But what may perhaps be done, at least
where beauty is combined with tolerable |
understanding, is to show its high vocation.
and its sweet influences on social life; TO |
point TO the withered. heartless, and spiteful |
cocuette, whose beauty survives only in her |
own memory. and to her own torment, and |
then TO Nine. Recamier, old and blind, |
surrounded with such respectful admiration,
such afectionate and almost enthusiastic
devotion, as few indeed Of the young and
brilliant can command.
Such then as hers, we would say, fair
creatures. is the scePtre which He who
made you fair has placed withinyour reach.
Would you obtain il? He, too, has taught
you the means-6rst BY the law of your
womans nature, which He has written on
your hearts; secondly, by that other divine
Law which He has given you 10 His word.
fsu are. If you sw true born women, gen. u