Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1856-12-24
3ftagIktlrQllg.
TalIeYrand end De stael

!
| " was not IL any way creditable. But, in
extenuation, it may we'll be borne in mind
that she possessed an excess Of that suscep-
tibilIty which made her overyalUe her
cess. and never cease bringing her services
TO the memory of the person obliged He
had never the same high opinion of her which
the world profassed. He thought her style
pedantic and affected, and would &C inplain,
when ang Of her compositions were read to
him. of their total want OF nature and Of true
coloring lie was accustomed to say that
those who read the writings might fairly boast
of knowing the writer fsr that nothing could
more resemble Madame de Stael herself than
the false. exaggerated sentiments and super
fetal eruditon of her compositions Of her
mother, Madame Necker, lac once remarked,
9. She has every virtue, and but one fault
/ and that is, she is iusupportable" !" The good
! lady never forgave his comparing her . to
frigate riding at anchor, and receiving Il sal
ute from friendly power when she stood
upon her own heart-rue at the Hotel Necker.
upon the occasion of her weekly receptions
her ample proportions obscuring the light Of
the fire, as, with pinched-up- features and
prudish smile, she listened to the compliments
of the academicians. whom she assembled but
for the delight of her own vanity.
He related to his friends an amusing ad-
venture Of Madame de Stael herself IN which
he was Il party. 1t occurred upon her first
entrance into Partisan society, before the Rev
olution, at a rural tete. given by Madame
Hclyetius in the garden of her chateGU. His
account is thus repeated by oneof these friends:
g On her first appearance at the reunion,
/ Madame Helvetius had, of course, with we'll
/ bred courtesy, paid her most particular atten-
/ ton, but having other guests to welcome, had
! loff tla
/ tribution Of the amusement al out 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 Ialleyraud to
to keep her company. But Talleyrand had
tact enough to know that, being himself 20
( literary lion, he was no company for Madame
! de Stael aud so Immediately went in quest of
society more cougenial to her taste. He soon
returned in company with the Able Monti.
whose poems were at that time the range all
over Europe, and whose coming put the fair
, authoress in the best Of hum0rs. Tallevrand
sat down on the bench beside them in silence
feeling himselfQuite cxtinguishcd By SO much
talent. and remained a passive listener, anxi-
! Gus for improvement The conversation was
overwhelming with erudition, and then the
compliments were poured forth like rain from
an 4 priI sky. The a5be had never reckon
tA t'yti - N'iU StpA do t.ta u ti1tttIilG
the first writer Of the qge:' Madame little
dreamed when she rose that morning, that
the day would be marked by so auspicious an
event as the meeting with the abbe'
'''L have devoured every word that has
escaped from Sappho's pon,' said the able
- cannot sleep until I read the charm
ing odes from the Italian Tyrtnus said the
lady.
Have you seen my last endeayor ? said
the abbo
Alas not yet sighed ;be LADY al
though report speaks oE It uore highly than
Of any Inch have preceded it,
I have it here" exclaimed the able.
eagerly drawing a small volume from bis pock-
ct. Allow me to present it 70 you madame
poor homage, indeed to so much genius.
but it may prove interesting to one who has
had so much success in heroic poetry
Thanks, thanks, cried Madame de Sta
el, seizing the little volume with every de-
monstratlon of oyerpoWerirg 2 gratitude. This
is indeed treasure, and will be priced by
me fa1 beyond gold or jewels
g She turned over the leaves slowly. while
the delighted able watched her with charm
ing self-eomplaceucy suddenly drop
ping it into her lap. she exclaimed. turning
On the abbc q langujd glance, You were
''tli>i-'S- u 'LNtt'I JS''-tt 'itf~I dbDC nave
You seen my last attempt-a dramatic scene.
''PE.ejie'-a slight and poor imitation Of
some Of your own!'
''' have not been 50 blessed as to obtain
u copy replied tho ahbo-
How fortunate that should have one in
my reticulcp said madame hurriedIy Selling
the strings of the bag suspended from her
arm, and drawing forth thip volume in
boards The abbe bent low over it as she
presented it, and kissing it with reverence,
placed it by his side, and the conversation
that is to say, the compIimenting was CON
tinucd with redoubled vigor
= Talleyrand then departed, and did not
return till the company broke up, when he
found that they had both left the bench where
on they had been seated so long together
leaving, however, the precious treasures.
which they had received from each other with
so much gratitude, behind them, Talleyrand
seized upon them with inexpressible delight,
thinking that they would furnish matter foi
innocent jeering, when the loss came to be
remembered by either party But the thing
was complete-thcy 7cere aeoer sought ana
necer asked for. and he has them now in hi:
library. and loves to show them as he tell,
the story # their coming into lrs possession ;
; gx- One reason why the world is not re-
formed, is because every man would have