Daily national Democrat., 1861-04-07
The Oneens of Society.

belong to history, ana o! WhoHl We c'" 7i''"
with mpunity; those women who shone III
the palmy social days Of England and France
by their beauty and by their intellect, their
knowlede Of the world, their amiabiIiiy and
whatsoever qualities contribute to make np
the character Of a charming woman We're
we to 20 back to the times Of AsPa-ia, Cleo
pa'rl and the other Queens (not to gay
queaus) Of Greece and Egypt, not omltung
those of Republican and Imperial Rome we
would consume too large space ana eve"
now the field that is before Us is too broad for
a mere newspaper article
We have on our table, from the book store
of Randall d Co., j street, work by those
yerv graceful CO. writers, Grace and Philip
wharton, Of England, entitled the "Qucens
Of Society" The authors have selected
eighteen ladies' whose names have adorned
the social history of England and France, as
iilu trative of the certain periods in which
lhrv lived OF these six were as much ceie-
bra,ed for their literary talents as for their
social position. Seven were eminent polill-
cal leaders, who fascinated great men and
swayed parties by the charms Of tongue and
and manner and by the wilcs Of intrigue
| The Illustrations in the book have been exc.
cuted with especial attention to costume and
known peculiarjies OF dress, and the artists
have introduced, wherever practicable, port
rats OF the persons represented.
The biographical sketch Of Sarah, Duchess
of Marlborough, is particularly interesting.
She was beautiful beyond descriptions ,coquett'
ISL but prudent, and perfect mistress Of po-
ijieal intrigue. Her husband, the great Duke,
and General, 0s well as accomplished cou-
tier, (Ie won the lovely sarah's heart in the
first place by his exquisite dancing) was fire.
quently and for long periods absent in the
wars which made his name glorious, while
! she was the grand center Of attraction in the
could invent and the lampoons of interested
saDirists innict to stain and sully her name
failed to bring her down from the command
ing position which she occupied. She lived
to the age Of cishry-four and at sixty was
still beautiful, not having grey hair in her
head. (Itmay be interesting to the ladies TO
know that, to preserve her hair, She used
honey water) Ii would seem that this re
markabIe woman was more pleased with in
tollcct than mere manly beauty, since her
greatest layorilc was the celebrated Lord
tC,,os,,r..r r J,t,,s = Soccu1 and W illinu, Third
Sidney Godolphin, whose countenancc was
harsh and deeply marked with the small roX
! lie had, however, great soul and when his
| feelings were touched, he would weep Ike a
woman. His smhe was also peculiarly win
ning, and his eyes penetrating, A paid set
OF Infamous writers made it their business to
! blicken the character Of Lady Marlborough,
on the score of this attachment but failed to
seriously niure her. She retained the friend
ship of those whose friendship was most val
liable as well as the confidence of her hus-
band to the last. Though Queen of society,
she was no favorite with the greatest man of
| that day, TO wit: no less man than the King
Of England after James Second, the stern
and cold William, Prince of Orange. Ie ha
his taciturnity the title Of william the Silent,
speaking only when it was necessary and
then TO the putposc) and Lady Marlborough's
grand gift WIS conversation.
The sketch Of Madam Roland whose name
occupies so conspicuous page in the Reyo-
luiionary history Of France, is written III a
style most fascinating. The features of this
wonderful woman, this Queen indeed overthe
hearts Of men, were not in themselves Leau-
tiful, Her face was round rather than oval,
and her profile finer than full view. The
point of her nose was thick and the nostlil .
too much diated. The mouth was large, |
but she smiled sweetly and her expression
was that Of gentleness and kindness. Her
forehead was high, broad and calm, and her
hair fell in long luXuriant curls over her
shoulders, But for fuller description, see
the book. She married her husband, when
he was past rorty,a tall thin, yellow individual
with a bald head and stiff manner There
was nothing personally attractive about him
except his voice. which was exceedingly soft,
and that first won the fascinating Young
Marie Phlippon, for such was her name lie
was a thinking man, too, had travelled, and
could talk interestingly. He had learning and
strict principles, and these also seemed to
draw the maiden, who was herself intellect
ual She never ioped him, but married him
from esteem and regard for his mind, which
was after all, inferior to hers. As for him
sell he probably never knew what passion
was liz married for mind, too 1t was a
cold, rational and uncomfortable marriage.
but Madam Roland lived through it patient
ly and faithfully. The history Of the meet
ing- held at the unpretcnding house of Mad
am Roland and her husband 10y the schcmcrs
for Republican liberty, is thrilling They
were held four times week There came.
among the rest, Robespierre, afterwards the
King of Blood with his small, angular and
| feeble figure, ugly face, heavy brows, deep
! eyes, which glared in their sockets, sharp
nose, quilting at the nostrils with wild
""AIeuN' I"ISe lhouth Win thln Ilps, sneer-
ing, and betokerins no feeling of sympathy
or affection, Strange to say, it was this very
man who-atterwards in the mutations of
the Revolution, when the friends of constitu-
tional liberty went down before the mad
spirit which committed SO many hideous
crimes in the name of liberty-sent Madame
Roland to the sca1od. 1t was not long after
these meetings, in which MADAME Roland