The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-02-27
Friendships Of Women.

The fourth lecture of Rev. DR.. Alger'
course, upon the Friendships of Women
was given at Boston, upon the topic o
Historic Examples of Pure Friendshi,
between Men and Women" The first ex
ample that the speaker presented of re
markable friendship between man and wo
man was that existing between Micbae
Angelo and Vittoria Colona. The lad,
Vlttoria was the wife of an Italian noble
man, with whom she lived on a beautiful
isle of the Mediterranean, near the bay O
Naples. While her husband lived nothins
could be more noble than the fidelity anff
loving attachment for him. After the
death of her husband, and twelve years o.
widoWhood had passed, she first became
acquainted with Michael Angelo. The,
could not fail even at first sight but to re-
gard each other with ardent esteem, which
gradually grew to be most cherished friend
ship. He dictated many of the works Of
his chisel and pencil to her. Their attach
ment affords fine example Of the senti
ments of Platonic love. Mr.. Alger next
turned to the many examples presented in
French history of these attachments be.
tween men and woman outside the ties Of
marriage or consanguinity. He first in
stadced the noted French author Poisson
and a talented authoress who was MANY
years his senior. The celebrated Condo
and many other great men of tho times
took delight in the gifted conversation and
pleasant companionship Of this lady. But
forming an intimacy with Pe1isson, which
abated not during his imprisonment in the
Bastile, she was for this offence denied her
pension from the Crown, and reduced to
labor with her pen for bread. A similar
attachment existed in Madam Sevigne for
on italian gentleman who came to reside
in Paris during the period Of her renown.
This gentleman had talent equal to the
greatest achievements, but he was INDECENT
and uninclined to exert it. lie paid reyer-
ent court to her genius and accomplish.
ments, and she in turn made him the conf
dant other Utmost secrets. so that he be.
came an echo Of her mind, soul, and very
existence. Madam de Stael formed MANY
warm attachments, and the public opinion
of her as O disagreeable and ascetic woman
was very unjust to her character One
writer has spoken of her as "going through
Europe a #hirlwind in petticoats," and
even Goethe was very Unfair toward her in
his writings. She was woman of great
noblenees Of soul. and every exalted senti-
ment struck powerful chord in her heart.
One of her strongest attachments was for
an officer who accompanied Lafayette to
America, and whom occasional unkindness
and petnlance did not destroy. William
Won Humboldt in his early years passed
three days in the company Of a young lady,
and each became suddenly interested in the
other, though With no knowledge at the
time that the feelings were reciprocated.
After twenty years of unbroken absence,
and after the lady had married, become a
widow, and lost her property, she wrote to
Humboldt, who had then risen to power,
for him to use his influence in enabling her
to get back some of her lost fortune. This
renewed the early affection, and for twenty
years correspondence was keptup between
them, and up to the time of his death.
She always had an intense desire to have a
friend in the truest sense, and this fond
dream had many fond realizations, but was
most completely fulfilled in William Won
Humboldt. The speaker then touched upon
the friendships Of Goethe and Brettena,
and mentioned many instances of friend
ships between ladies Of royalty and of high
laak for their tutors, men of genius, and
others of inferior social rank. Examples
Of this kind are found in Isabel of Spain,
and Columbus, Queen Elizabeth and Roger
Lucy, the Countess Of Bedford,
and Ben. johnson, the Duchess of Devon
shire and Charles James Fox. OF the last
it is related that no one occa-
sion the Duchess, the handsomest woman
Of her time, allowed herself to be publicly
kissed at a hustings by butcher, in order
TO obtain his vote for Mr., Foz. The affec-<
lion of the poet Cowper for Mrs. Irwin and
Lady Austin. and of Wadsworth for Isabel
Fingal, are the tender poetical tributes
each have left of these attachments.