The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-07-29
MADAME DE POMPADOUR.
H.om London Society.

frank is her glance as she looks up from the
frame over which her delicate fingers are play
Ing, all unconscious of the admiration she is
exciting What.naiUete, ingenuousness, inno-
cence in her oountenance; what native simpli-
city in the attitude, what artless elegance in
the dress
She has the face of an angel, the form Of
Venus, the skill of Apelles, and the wisdom OF
Minerva. Glove saw her sleeping and took
her for Psyche; she awoke, and he went away
inconsolable," said or sang an admiring abbs
and incipient cardinal. "She is demon in
disguise, prohigate, rapacious selfish, cold
hearted-the evil genius of her country"
wrote stern, perhaps disappointed politi-
clan.
The name of the artist and of the sitter will
explain the charm of the picture, aud in
measure account for these contradictory est-
mates of the character. The painter is Greuze,
the lady represented the Marquise de Pompa-
dour. The original painting is at Hampton
Court, No 776 in the catalogue, No. 9S6 on
the register; you will do well to examine it
next time you visit the old palace.
The prominent part which ladies-not al
ways ofimmaculate morals, but almost always
of distinguished beauty, accomplishments, or
wit-haYe played in the highest circles Of
French society has often been instanced as a
proof of the gallantry of our lively neighbor5.
It is at least distinctive feature of the ma
tional character. We have had limitations OF
those exquisite salons and presiding d<esses, bu.
the limitations have been tame, the imitator5
inadequate, their influence confined aud evan
escent. In other European capitals there have
hardly been even limitations. The institution
is essentially national, and likely to remain
so; and even in France it may be considered
almost thing of the past, a tradition of the
Gncien regime. What there is of it now looks
very much of a ira veste.
Long as is the list of remarkable women to
whom has been ceded the role of giving the
tone to court and society in France, none has
Teigned with frmer power, and none has had
wider or more lasting influence than the
Marquise de Pompadour, nGe Jeanne -Antoinette
Poisson.
1t is curious and not uninstructive history,
that of the Pompadour.
Her father was an army contractor, dis
graced, rehabilitated; as would seem, not rich
vulgar, uneducated, altogether insignificant
Her mother-well, scandal, when it wished to
wound the daughter, spoke i'll Of the mother
in various ways; but whether truly or not it
is perhaps too late to ascertain, and is hardly
worth while to inquire. But for her daughter
she would not have been spoken of at all, and
her memory may be allowed to rest in its nat
ural obseurity. 1t is pretty certain, however,
that whether educated or, as is more likely,
comparatively illiterate, she was clever and
Clear-headed, without being over-scrupulous;
saw her daughters capabilities, and employed
all her skill and shrewdness in training la
belle Poisson to make more conspicuous
figure in the world than she made herself.
Jeanne -Antoinette was born at Paris in 1920
say the earlier accounts, in 1928 insists her
latest and most devoted biograpker: and it is
only fair to give lady, and especially
French lady, the benefit of doubt in so i'm
portant matter as three years in the date of
her birth. Beauty, cleverness, and industry
were early developed in her. When a mere
child she charmed all who saw her by the
grace of her movements, her skill in drawing
and song, her lively and intelligent talk. Her
mother, acting under the advice and assisted
by the purse, of NJ. Lenormand de Turneheim
"a wealthy fermier-general, family friend
whom we shall meet again - determined
to give her the education of an artist,
without as yet deciding whether she
should follow art as a profession. She
was little more than twelve when she
began to paint and to engrave on copper,
and somewhat later she even learnt the diff
cult and tedious process of gem engraving.
At the same time she studied singing, the
Lutte, and the harpsichord. In music her
master was the famous G6liotte; in design she
had the counsel of the equally famous Wen.
These varied and, as might be supposed,
conflicting studies led neither to disgust with
all or neglect of any. Though credited with
brilliant talents, the young AntOinette was
docile, industrious, and persevering, and had
then, as ever after, her feelings and inclina-
lions under strict control. In each of her
studies she met with equal sue
cess and applause. Her own predi-
lection was for engraving, and she
soon acquired so much facility in the use Of
the etching needle as to give promise of a
respectable If not an eminent career if en-
CRAVING were selected as her profession.
But Madame Poisson was now brooding
over new schemes. AAtoinette's beauty,
talents, and fascinating manners we're attract
ing so much notice that she felt sure a more
rapid and brilliant road to fortune lay open to
her than the burin would supply. 'C'est un
moroccan de Roi,' said the sage matron, and
her training must be adapted to her noble
ambition. Engraving would eudanger the
beauty OF her hands, and must be abandoned.
the chief aim at present must be to cultivate
the personal graces. For while dancing was
made the principal pursuit; acting in the little
operas and comedies, which it was the fashion
to perform in the salons, was the chief relaxa-
tion. In the grand salons OF Paris the leading
actors and actresses-and Grandval and
Mad'lle Clairon were Of the number-took
share In these performances. Yet the play
was but part OF the entertainment, the host
ess prldlng herself as much on the spirit and
Intelligence OF the conversation as on the suc-
cess of the comedy or the music, and taking
as much pains to secure the presence OF the
Voltaires and MarmOntels, and other
famous oonversatiOnalists, as she did to
secure the popular actors dancers and
singers. Mad'll. Poisson's beauty, viVacity,
and accomplishments opened to her the doors
of the most distinguished salons, and she was
not slow to benefit by the opportunities they
afforded her. 1t was a maxim with mamms
that the mind must be trained to make the
right use of beauty, and the daughter was