The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-08-03
miscellaneous.
From the .Nfp York Albion.
"REMINISCENCES OF MADAME RECA-


"REMINISCENCES OF MADAME RECA-
MIER.
Desolation reigns in the old convent De rAbbaye
aux-Bols, in the Rue de Sevres the trees have pu
forth their leaves, and the birds MARBLE merrily be
meath their shade; but here, alas there is nc
sympathy with the joyousness of summer, for the
hand of death has passed over the Monastery
Madame Recamier has gone 10 her long home.
The Abbaye-aux-Bois became latery complete
asylum for poets and beautiful women here, alter
leading life of ambition, excitement, and romance,
they came to seek shelter for the remainder OF ther
days Il was in one of the quiet apartments Oh THIS
abbGye that the Duchesse d'Abrantes, VINO was
utterly ruined by the fall of The Empire, began 10
write her spirited and fascinating memoirs want
and labor killed this nobe-mlnded woman. one,
whose loss we are now mourning, died not OF mis-
ery. bun OF old age possibly the recollection and
the sight of 80 many extraordinary events may have
hurried her TO her grave; but by whatever cause
her death was occasioned, Madame Rex amier Will
ever be remembered as one of the most beautiful
and attractive women Of our time. She formed the
centre of all that good, lovely, noble and gene
rous Far happier than the Beatrx of Florence,
the Beatrx of Paris had three Dantes at her feet,
Chaieaubriand Benjamin Constant and Ballauche
Her life was like beautiful poem. She entered
upon il in revolution, and in the midst OF revo-
luton she finished its course yet she lost not a
single ray of her glory. Heaven seems to have
visited this bewitching woman most kindly; she
was not denied the atmosphere for which she was
crcated-her existence seems to have been an eter-
nal fete, everlasting youth. Wherever she
turned, homage awaited her, and misfortune APP
preached her only at respectful distance.
There were three women under the Directory
remarkable for their beauty aud elegance accord
ing TO the madrigals Of the time they were the
three Graces; they were Madame Talllen, Jose
phine de Beauharnais, and Madame Recamier.
liant IN he
the concerts where Carat sang; at the balls where
Trenitz danced-poor Trenitz! who afterwards died
mad at Charenton They appeared exactly at the
same moment on the scene, like three flowers which
had suddenly bloomed on the very edge Of an ex-
tingushed volcano. Each had her separate pohu-
cal mission; they regned and governed entirely
Though the influence of their grace and beauty.
Josephine, who was soon after to reign as empress,
ahus wrote to Madame Talien to invite her to a
torilliant tete at the Hotel Thelusson:
nBe sure TO come in your peach-blossom slip.
Our dresses must be exactly alike. ! intend to
wear crimson handkerchief fastened at the temples
a Ia Creole. This style, which is decidedly becom-
ng to you, may be rather presumptuous tor me to
assume You are young; perhaps not pretuer, bu'
infinitely fresher and more blooming We must
sndeavor to eclipse and to drive our rivals TO de-
spair. C'est un coup de partie.'
Madame Recamier was the only one OF the three
who still wore in her latter days, the handkerchief
fastened la Creole. At that time there were contnua
contests of taste and novelty; after the revolution o.
habits and manners, came revouuon III costume ,
rheesa Carbarrus restored the taste for the 0reef
fa.hons the ooif.re r.dfhSnienne, the Transparent
ana tightly-6ttine tunic Josephine was the mrs
who was ambitious TO wear the purest canoes anc
the mosst magnificent onyx stones anu asa'es ,'ese
sparked either on her dress gttered IN her mar
Madame Recamier, in her turn, Introduces ,iie vel
that chaste and elegant adornment, wE'ch mas iht
effect ofagreeably plquing imagination, anc caS''
over woman charm almost mysterious
In 1900 Madame Recamier, who was just eighteen,
lived IN the fine chdieas of Cichy la Garenne, which
was afterwards destroyed. IL would be Impossible
10 form an idea of her Hebe-ike freshness, unless
she had been SEEN Her education contributed sui
more to her charms; she was an admirable Ptanisie
and danced divnely, accompanying herself VIII
the tambourine, which was then All ,he rase
was at this chdteau of Clichy and short time at
forwards, in her magnificent salons in the Rue d.
Mont Blanc. that Madame Recamier received al
most all The princes of Europe. Her husband was
rich then. enormously rich! The architect, Der
thaut had transformed this hotel into fairy palace
il seemed as if one of the tales OF Galand had beer
realized.
The balls of Madame Recamer became the resor
Of fashion; the garottes were danced on these occa
sions, and compositions for the harpsicnord wer
performed, which were afterward destined TO
very popular. The ladies' wore all KINDS OF cos
tume-Egyptian, Spartan, Roman, and French
II was a perfect scene of enchantment of which 1
was impossible to form any conception. Madam
Hamelin, who is still alive, was the heroine OF ines
Tefs Madame Hamelin, with Cinderela's loot
is alone able TO describe one of those magic even
ings, which only required painter like Waieau
and poet like Laftaignant or VoseDon or I'M
Abbe Fusee, to give an adequate idea OF them. M
habifuSs Of her morning causerie, Inc persons VINO
were intimate with her, and visited Der every day
were Lucien Bonaparte, Fox, Madame Visconil
Matthew MontmoreDcy, General Moreau mat thiI
male. and fair Madame de Teridner, and that Joy
Gus being Ouvrard man full Of energy, and very
yariously informed; he possessed ali the statenes
OF courier as well as the cultivated mind OF III
erary man, and the money OF a man who thorough
ly understood business.
The third residence of Madame RecamIer, AM
perhaps the one which she loved best, was 81
Brce-St Brice, with its sunny landscapes, IT
ripping streams, and It's delicious shades; wher
she had the boldness and happiness of offering
shelter to Madame de Stael when she was pursued
by the Emperor. IL has been said that this nobl
action of Madame Recamier drew upon her one o
the most bitter remarks that Napoleon ever made
II is impossible TO conceive that any one could hat
Madame Recamier. She visited Madame de Stae
in her exile and willingly shared II with her; DO
on her return from Paris, she discovered that he
husbands fortune crumblIng away under IN
imperial despotism She no longer found herse
in possession Of sumptuous hotels, nor Of feudS
chdieauI: nothing but the mediocrty Of the Lau
poet was left 10 her, still gilded however, by ra
Of her glorious deauty. She was enjoying the d.
ghtfu society OF the author Of "Atala," at Diepp'
when the revolution Of July broke out. Her effor
to detain NJ. de Chaieaubrisnd were unsuccessful
and he set out for Paris. On reaching that city, !
was soon recognised, at the entrance 10 the Jourr
.es Debais, by some Of the youths Of the Polytecl
mic school, and found himself suddenly lifted
their arms and carried in triumph above the barr
cades.
Since that time Madame Recamier always live
in the Abbaye-aux- Bois, that was her Versailles
her Trianon She held her little court here, I
her hresde. There scarcely distinguish
person, whatever the nature or degree Of his merit
who was not admitted to her ooterie, from Luce q
Iancivul professor Of elocuuon at the Prytan'
FRANCHISE, down to Victor Hugo-from the Bare
Gerard, down to M Ingres, the restless end M
antbropca artist--from the author OF LA We
tale" with his venerable white hair, and his n
merous orders on his breast, down 10 the compos
of the "Prophete," wild and strange, Ike child
Germany. Stendbal was frequently there; he HI
lust written his book called "De l'Amour," al
had often unused opposite the bust Of Madame X
rlared