The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-11-19
0ersonal gAettbes,
TALLEYRAND AND MADAME DE
STAEL.

. GEL
Talleyrand's ingratitade towards Mad
ame de Stael, may appear inexcusable
it certainly was not in any way cred
itabl4. But, in extenuation, it may
we'll be borne in mind, that she posses
ed an excess Of that susceptibility, which
made her overvalue her success, and
never cease bringing her services. to the
fmeFiary Of the person Obliged. He had,
never the same high opinion of her
which the world professed. He thought
her style pedantic and effected, and
would complain, when any of her COM
positions were read to him, Of their to-
r.r1 want of nature and of true coloring
He was accustomed to say, that those
who read the writings might fairly boast
of knowing the writer, for that nothing
could more resemble Madame de Stael
herself than the false, exaggerated SEN
| tinents and superficial erudition of her
| compositions OF her mother, Madame
Necker, he once remarked "She has
every virtue, and but one flult, and that
is, she is insupportable !" The good lady
never forgave his comparing her to
a frigate@ riding at anchor, and receiv-
ing salute from a friendly power" -
when she stood upon her own hearth
rug at the Hotel n ecker; upon the oc-
casion of her weekly receptions; her
ample proportions obseuring the light
Of the fire, as with pinched-up features
and prudish smile, she listened to the
compliments of the academiciaps, whom
| she assembled but for the delight of her
own vanity.
He related to his friends an amusing
adventure of Madame de Stael herself,
in which he was party. 1t occurred
upon her first entrance into Partisan
society, before the Revolution, at ru
raj fete, given by Madame Helvetius, in
the garden of her chateau. His ac-
count is thus repeated by one of these
friends:
On her first appearance at the re-un-
ion, Madame Helvetius had, of course,
with well-bred courtesy, paid her most
particular attention, but having other
guests to welcome, had left her after q
while, to superintend the distribution OF
the amusements about the grounds
Once or twice she had passed Madame
de Stael sitting gloomily on the bench
where she had left her, and at last sent
Talleyrani to keep her company; but
Talleyrand had tact enough to know
that, being himselfno literary lion, he
was no company for Madame dc Staelr
and SO Immediately went in quest Of So
ciety more congenial to her taste. He
soou returned, ia company with the
Able Monti, whose poems were at that
s. time the rage all over Europe, and
q whose coming put the fair authoress II
the best of humors. Talleyrand sal
down on the bench beside them, in ST
lence, feeling herselfquite extipguished
| ny SO
| passive listener, anxious for improve
. ment. The conversation was overwhel
ming with erudition, aud then the com
pIiments were poured forth like rair
from an Aprilisky-the abbe had nev
er reckoned upon so great an honor a
that of meeting the first writer of th'
E age;' Madame little dreamed when she
: arose that morning, that the day woul'
be marked by so auspicious an event
t the meeting with the abbe."
, z"e + have devoured every word tha
has escaped from Sappho's pen,' said tn
p able. a3s5asis5 a= E. e; .f;iEi3
e -"sI cannot sleep until 1 read tn
Y charming odes from the talian'Tyrteeu:
$ said the lady, or .--..s.
q j 81 Have you seen my last endeavor
q said the able. .s-=l-
"s Alas! not yet,' sighed the lady
). although report speaks oft more high
j. ly than of any which have precede
n it, e. u ..-.ssr.-. s.s
"sI have it here = exclaimed th
. abbe. eagerly drawinga small yolun
|. from his pocket. ALLOW me to preser
4 it to you, madame; poor homage, il
deed, to so much genius, but it ma
prove interesting to one who has had
e much success in heroic poetry
l. Thanks, thanks cried MADAM
l. de Stael, scizing the little volume vii
l. every demonstration of overpowerir
d gratitude. This is indeed treasur
r aud will be priced by me far beyor
,e gold or jewels.'
le "She turned over the leaves slowl
bs while the delighted abbe watched b
C. with charming self complacency-th'
m suddenly drooppiug it into her lap, 81
ir exclaimed, turning on the able a langu
glance. you were talking of heroic pc
- try, dear abbc; have you seen my Ii
attempt-a dramatic scene, i" L Exil
"a slight and poor imitation of some
in your own?
a. -t"' have not been so blessed as to {
lis tain copy replied the abbe. =.
j." "s' How fortunate that should ha
ke one in my reticulet said madame, b