Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-04-02

or an idea when the occasion for my best eXer-
else of both was so near at hand and when both
might prove inadequate to the demand about to be
made on them, had lately made the tour OF lta-
ly with Corinne; but, though our frequent ana ae-
liehtful communings had establis he'd us familiar
friends in print, had misgivings OF myself and
of her when we should meet in person.
We were not precisely in revery, but rather
permitting our powers to repose preparatoryto to the
employment in reserve for them; or indulging in
such imaginings as were natural to the occasion,
until the carriage stopped, at noon, In time tor
breakfast the gates of the chateau, and we were
ushered into the withdrawing room, where we
found large company assembled, awaiting its an
nouncement Among these were Schegel; Nor
osini author of work on the Pennsular war, IN
which he had been engaged and from which he
had brought many token, in sabre cuts, that dis
6cured his fine face and person: MIR. Brougham
0Sow Lord b.: Monsieur Auguste de Stal, son
to Madame; her lovely piquant, and sp"uwl
daughter the Duchess de Brogile; Monster lie Due,
her Iege lord; and Monsieur de Rocco, y ami de
| Ia fataiRe. .,
In this bright galaxy appeared the genius of the
place, Madame La Baronne, redolent OF intellect
animated voluble agreeable, charming;a Connne
if Won closed your eyes and received your impress
sions of her through your ears. If you opened
them the illusion was gone, for the individual who
cave utterance to sounds and sentiments so delight
full. was insignificant III person, commonplace IN
feature, and tawdry in apparel; below medlocnty
in all the external requisites Of female attraction
though it was evident her sex's foible had taught
her to think otherwise.
She received us with great cordially, and began
Immediately to express her regard for Americans !;
her gratitude for the favour her writings had re-
ceiyed from them; and above all, her delight with
a recent letter she read to us, from Mr.. Jefferson.
$50 full" she remarked, "ofgood sense and agree
able compliment, that she was determined to have
it printed on white satin, and framed to be hung
in her boudoir But" she added, 81 have just had
the most lattering tribute to my eXertons ever yet
conferred on them. My bust is to be placed IN one
of your academies-the only representative OF
purely literary merit deemed worthy to occupy
niche among the scavans of the age-a compliment
that cannot he enhanced.
s'Yes, Madame la Baronne," | replied, 81 can
add to it,
s'Monsieur," she exclaimed with vehemence,
"c'est impossible
then mentioned, what was really the fact that
had seen. at Bartolnis, in Florence her bust in
marble. preparing for this purpose, and that she
was to be commemorated in stone while science
and philosophy surrounded her in plaster; asking
her to determine whether this was to be attributed
to the gal,antry ofmy countrymen, as evincmg
their admiration oil the woman, to their good Judg-
ment which prompted 1t as homage to talent.
''If YOU refer the answer to me- Madame, con-
tinued 81 shall certainly give my countrymen cred
il for boh in perfect confidence offarly represen-
ing their intentions"
1t is needless to describe the effect of this tortu-
nate hit upon one to whom the devotion OF the heart
and eyes was quite precious as the applause OF
the taste and understanding and the myrtle wreath
10 yba n
was ever after welcome guest at Copet.
Breakfast being announced, we proceeded to DO
Justice to the good things set before us, while such
general conversation prevailed as keen appettes
would permit us to engage IN. AS the meal drew 10
close, observed aservant bring, on small salver
of silver, twig Of poplar, with few ofits leaves
remaining on the extremity Oft which he deposit
ed on the table at the right hand of the baroness.
To my inquiry of the Due de Broglie, who sat next
to me, to the object Of this, he replied that it was
her wand, and as essential to her conversation as
her tongue. ''When she takes it up, he said, and
begins to twirl it in her fingers it is signal that
she is possessed of her subject, and prepared to
body It forth" And so it was. In very few min
utes the twig was in motion, as an accompaniment
to the organ of speech and indicating, by the ac-
tivity languor of its gyraons the part the spea-
ker's feelings had in her discourse
cave turn to the conversation, by asking Mad
anne de Stae who had been talking Of Napoleon,
sswhat she would have wished to have been his
fate -
''Te have gained the battle of Waterloo, was her
reply, ''and to have died there. Such consumma-
E ton of his brilliant career was essential to the page
of history, while his death secured the repose OF
Europe"
She then launched forth in his praise, for his
downfall had carried her animosties with it, "and
she could not !" she said, ''deny him the OF title
greatness beyond that to which any mortal had
attained Of genius, far surprising that OF other
men, that his the only head ie Sfas' te',m ms
empire, though, Of necessity he employed the hmos
others to execute his magnificent designs.
She became enthusiastic in his praise, and turn
ing to a gentleman present lately arrived rom
Paris, she asked "Why he had not united the white
to the red riband of the Legion Of Honour he wore
at his button hole, in compliance with a recent
requisition Of the existing government
IL have them 10th about me, Madame ne re-
Piled for wear the one, and my servant the other.
This she told me was Monsieur de - pre-
feet of Napoleons, and, therefore, homme de merste
sfor he" she edded, never gave office to one that
was otherwise He had an intuitve perception Of
talent"
The subject of the revolutions then agtatlng
South America was next introduced, and on this
she descanted for an hour two without Interrupt
ton for all seemed satisfied to be listeners though
her views of the matter were little in accordance
with fact, and her predictions are far from being
realized But who would have had it otherwise or
have preferred the realities that country Afforded
its meagre incident of political or military achlev-
ment to the utopia Of republicanism and renoWn
her magic words conjured up before us VINO
would have exchanged the fiction OF genus, OF
all parlar che nell! anma 81 senle,'
of that morning, for truth unadorned, or language
that only appeals to reason? 1t was an ingenious
romance that could convert the Spamard TO
republican his leaders to patriots, and aiiafchy
20 lrn,.nrrrn,.nt The most fnYOnred nations might