Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1850-05-03
THE LEARNED OUNCE.
FROM THE FRENCH.

went some time since, in company with an
intimate friend, TO S0iree held some distance from
Paris, at the house OF mutual friend, lately mar
RED When we entered, three ladies were III
the act OF executing trio The husband in
troduced lis TO his wife, pretty looking person
age, TO whom | expressed my regret that had
not been able 10 pay my respects earlier.
81 must scold your husband for keeping you
so secluded from the world" said |.
st is true, monsieur that we lead very re-
tired life; but love solitude, for the gay world
hath but little charm for me-"
looked AT my friend, who said, in low tone,
this Is woman OF genius"
at | mistake not we have missed some very
fine music"
"You have, indeed, gentlemen YOU have mis-
sed all exquisite trio OF Beethovcn's. o. what
Il genius Wa@ Beethoven! What soul How
mystical is his harmony! His modulations seem
to embody themselves with each other and to
plunge the soul into deep reveries."
My friend looked at NE with astonishment.
"Ihs woman Is indeed a genius" said in a
low tone.
mo! Germany has not produced Beethoven s
equal, continued the lady.
MADAME forgets Mozart and Weber"
"Were they German composers?"
Twas stupehed. How! she knows Beethoy-
Ell, and.
A very animated discussion carried on between
two amateur painters at this moment attracted
the attention otthe lady to another subject. They
were speaking of arabesques.
"Arab-sques or moresques" said the lady: 81
admire those ornaments of sculpture, painting,
and OF architecture formed of foage OF leaves,
figures of animals, of plants, or of imaginary be-
ings. Have you remarked, gentlemen, that in
a hnD-aG Of q Lab hn
never contain the figures Of aninals?"
But"
at is true, gentlemen for the last of Mahom-
ct expressly torbds the employment Of images
beasts, or OF animated beings in arabesques."
My surprise was extreme. My friend stared
with wonder, and it was with great difficulty that
we could disguise our thoughts: bat som3 one
asked just at the moment her opinion OF trescoes
'Frescoes! what are they? Are they the an
clients ?"
was dumb with surprise. How could this me-
Iange of education and ignorance be accented for!
Did she do it willully? Was it from some fem
mime malice, to serve some private purpose Of
her own?
The conversation then took an historical turn.
They spoke OF The ancient Greek and Ath5nians.
Some one named Aspasia.
'Few women" she said "could boast of exer-
eIsiii9 SUCH lhiuelC6 over people. COurteZdn
and philosopher, she numbered among her pu-
pills and lovers, Socrates and Alcibiades. Such
was the power she had over the heart of Pericles,
that he repudiated his wife to espouse the fair
Mi!anese.
Myself and friend again looked at each other
with astonshment
Eyes" replied !, "she was a woman with tai
ents the first order. Then her popularity, her
eloquence. All the youth OF Athens came to
the classes of Aspasia, when she delivered the
harangaes of amnsthenes"
'DsmoStheaeS! cried the lady, who was she p
Music now broke up the conversation, my
friend and not knowing what 10 think of the
accomplishments and ridiculous mistakes of our
fair hostess. What was the meaning of famil-
larty with certain names, and her entire ignor-
ance of certain others. The enigma had some
thing piquanHe about it, and reflected upon it
during the remainder of the evening.
The next day my friend entered my apartment.
and cried, The problem is solved | have inst
returned from our friends house; he has bought
pocket Cyclopeda, which his wife is commit
ing to memory, and it is extremely natural for her
10 commece atthe commenceenl; she has stud
led A, as ArabeSques ASpaSia and the others; but,
OF course, as yet she knows nothing of Dem0Sthe-
nsS, nor Mozart, nor Weber. --Tho wife of our
friend is receiving her education in alphabetical
order"
This was the truth.