Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-01-03
THE WOMEN OF THE FRNCH REvO.
LUTON.


history, which reaches from the destruction of
the Basille, in 1850, 10 the landing of Bona
parte at Frejus, in $780, were, beyond all con- |
troversy, the most extraordinary race since Cor
nelia and the Spartan mother ON the one hand,
or since the Amazons and the Eumendes on
the other. The annals of no nation, certainly
not those of any other period Of anarchy and
dsmemberment, present such picture OF female
influence, heroism and virtue, and the same time
of female excess, violence and infamy, as those
of the Revolution, Terror and Directory.
Marie Antoinelte and the Duchess de Polig-
nae had introduced and commenced the era VI
feminine ascendancy they controlled the court,
the camp and the city. Lafayette, on his re-
turn from the War Of American independence
received more enthusiastic welcome from the
ladies of Paris than from the soldiers of the
Champ de Mars. The mliners composed caps
a la Lafayette, and tuncs la 'Estaing, to oc-
cupy and satisfy this feminine revolutionary eff
fervescence Madame lIeyetus, who vas $50
happy with three acres of land" and at whose
house Franklin had been so intimate, Madame
de Genlis and the Marquise de Condorcet made
their parlors the rendezvous of the disallected
and the enthusiasts of the epoch, guiding their
speech moulding their opinions, directing their
acts. The Fete of the Federation, the prepar-
aions for which II 600 workmen could no, ac-
complish in time, was successful only through
the eager cooperation Of the women Of Paris :
darseuse and dairymald, bayadtre and benedc-
tine, labored together with wheebarrow and
spade Neckor, the Minister of Finance, was
so openly assisted by his wife that he was pop
ularly called Necker the Hermaphrcdite.
Then, year or two later, what lustre was
lent to martyrdom, what grace was shed upon
the pillory and the scalIold. what glory was de-
rived even from gnominy by the modest hero
ism of :he sublime, yet unconscious Glrondnes!
Charlotte Corday-illnmined, if not inspired
the protest and vengence of ofouiraged humanity;
Madame Roland, the sententous philosopher
and discreet lawgiyer of the Revolution Lu-
cile Desmoulins, amiable, lovely, and YET un-
daunted three women, rare, even had they
been isolated and consecutive, and trebly admi
rable in their joint and contemporaneous glo-
res From the upas and cypress which en-
compassed their death and shadowed their grave:
2 history has woven them a crown of laurel anC
a wreath of amaranth.
Thcrognc de Mercourt, acting under pog
nant sense of personal wrong, did as much Il
h exasperae and embitier the hostility Of the pie
! beians TO the aris,ocracy, as did Danion he
e eloqucnce was persuasive as ha, Of Miraheau
j. Olympic de Gouges had no rival in either Sc,
: for club oratory Of pamphlet satire.
e Then, altogether a, the other extreme, wer
It The Women of the Mountain, who, with gro
II iesque and hidcous energy. with squaid AM
ruthless turbulence, sprond monaco and conster
IS nation from Niucennes to Versailles. The
e made the Mountain French Sinai which is
!, sued its DEGREES Of eternal justice amid the thur
d dcrs of their applause, and the reverberations {
Is their roous vlvaes.
e Later still To whom does France owe tn
II fall Of Robespierre and the cessation ofthe Tei
rorl To woman, Madame Tallien, the vol
ID uptuous enchanting Andalusan. To whor
j. does history owe the first link in the chain
1t events that led to Napoleon Bonapartel To
1r woman, Josephine de Beauharnais, the gent
and seductive Creole. Upon another field, an
n in another sphere other women were at tn
u same acquiring humber fame, by courage
Se battle or devotion in the ambulance. Loc;
ne chronicle still chershes, however national hi
tory may have forgotten it, the interpidiiy
d, libert Barrean, the charity of Rose Bouillo
lie and the patriotism of Felicite and Theohi
ed Fernig.
lie A laie writer thus speaks of this singular il
er version Of society, referring in the passa!
e, quoted, to the state Of things under the Dire
2 tory, just previous 10 Napoleon "No age ca
II show more conspicuous example of the ia
Id and annihiiation of man, and of the trump
10 the publicity, and influence of woman. New
'e- did woman so occupy the pubic gaze new
TX. did she so openly mix in the conduct of the II
tiOn's affairs. Women controlled the choice
IL Generals they bespoke for them success or r
verse, and their reputation made to ORDER
les Not only was public opinion submissive to the
zee behests-Dot only was their written recomme
IT, dation virtually patent of impunity-but tn
he pillered the keyes of the treasury from the gi
die of the sleeping guardians, and they guild
n the pens of those who awarded pleihoric CO
al tracts, and who fingered sealed proposals.
lg, 1t is essential To study and understand ii
W, period, before it is possible to present an int
me ligbe view of Napoleon the reformer of
clety, and, if not the regenerator of morals,
es least the restorer Of appearances and tie re-
The yer of opinion. 1t was Napoleon's mission
m for we are not TO consider him here a sold
'an or legislator-to repress the abuses viii
W, crept or strobe into society during the interrf
'ou mum between 80 and 80. 1t is indispen
to- ble to expose, in some detail, the situation
ST, the mind and heart OF France throughout ,
Ike three episodes which sepelaie Louis XVI. tr'
he Bonlparte-the Revolution, Terror, and Dire
ee, tory. This can be attained in no better m;
TO ner, within the limits and according to the pl
pose of this volume, Than by concisely narr
m ing the experience of The most conspicuous v
cit men of the epoch, though some may have be
I'M heroines and some haIlots. The Women
ike the Revolution will thus naturally prov lke
comparison with the Women of the Empir
the the latter being as remarkable for their dep
INK walton of influence as were the former for
ay, enjoyment and exercise.
Jo- The Women of the Empire who attained
in fame were few without exception, they S
tered persecution. Madame de Stael was
re- lied for her opinions; Madame Recamer "
you banshed for her unrelening beauty and
sturdy virtue: Madame de Cheereuse, the e