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

ready undermined her heslih, and opened
the way 10 the destroyer. She died at The
house Of her beloved niece, rejoicing in the
in the intervals of her terrible agonies, that
she was permitted to die surrounded BY her
family.
There can hardly be greater proof OF
the preoccupation of all minds in Paris,
than the small attention this event excited;
an event which las a man distinguished in
politics as well as in letters, and not one OF
her friends, remarked to me,) would, in
less stormy times, have formed the sole
subject of conversation. But the memory
OF this gracious woman will outlive those
of hundred noisy tribunes and ambitious
schemers.
To be beloved (says Madame de Haut-
feuille in her aflectionate lamenD was tho
history OF Madame Recanlier. Beloved
by all in her youth, for astonishing beauty;
beloved for her gentleness, her inexhansti-
bic kindness, for the charm Of character
which was reflected in her sweet face; be-
loved for the tender and synlpathizing friend
ship which she awarded with an exquisite
tact and discrimination OF heart; beloved
by young and old, small and great; by wo-
men; even women, so fastidious where other
women are concerned-beloved always and
by all from her cradle to her grave-such
was the lot, such will be the renown, OF
this charming woman What other glory
is so enviable!
Mime. Recamier had quality which,
perhaps, more even than her winning kind
ness, attracted and attached men to her.-
"Elle etoit le genie de la confanee, said
one OF the noblest and most eminent OF her
living countrymen. All who were admit
ted to her intimacy FASTENED to her with
their Joys and their sorrows, their projects
and ideas; certain not only OF secrecy and
discretion, but Of the warmest and readies'
sympathy. IL man had the ebauche OF a
book, speech, picture, an enterprise in
his head, it was to her that he unfolded hi;
hslf-formed plan, sure Of an attentive and
sympathizing listener. This is one OF the
peculiar functions Of women. Ii is meal
culable VIVA. comfort and encouragement
kind and wise woman may give to timic
merit, what support to uncertain virtue
what wings to noble aspirations.
/ cannot conclude this long outpourins
Of recollections without some mention o
another Frenchwoman, the sublime type o.
wholly different nature, with whom Nine
Recamler was brought into contact near the
close of her life. 1t was, ] think, in the
summer Of lS45 that Nine. Recamier visit
ed her niece, then staying at Bellevue
where M. Guizot's family had house.
There she saw his most noble, venerable
and sanity mother, whose commanding in
telligence, fervent piety, and devotion tc
her son and his family, evidently left &
strong impression on her mind. She knew
that | enjoyed the singular happiness Zone
Of the greatest Of my life) Of frequent in
tercourse with a family, the least distinc
ton of which was the station and power o.
it; and she never failed to ask me with pc
culiar interest for Madame GUizot. new
er think Of The meeting Of these two re
markable women without intense interest
How different their youth how widely sew
cred their paths through life With VIVA
feelings did the once adored beauty, the
darling Of society, contemplate the sanity
1nvr xuhn
the husband OF her youth had fallen on the
revolutionary scaffold, cut off her long anC
beautiful hair, and put on the small close
cap which she never laid aside, sought ref
uge with her two boys in Geneva, and, &c
the hour Of her death, lived devoted to God
and her children!
But the same path is not marked out loI
all. Nine. Recamier's was one Of diffusve
benevolence, and she walked in il faithfully
to the end. She was not called to the ex.
ercise of maternal affections and maternal
duties. The tenderness and heroism OF her
nature found a vent in universal kindness
and devoted friendship.
Ii was at the same time and place that
M. de Chateaubriand and Mime. Guizot
met for the first and only time in their lives.
tie called upon the venerable lady, for
whom he always afterwards expressed the
greatest admiration and reverence. What
singular meeting Like that OF two
mariners shipwrecked by the same storm,
whom fate has led, after long wanderings,
to the same resting-place.