, 1874-01-11
Napoleon Honnparte and n1nc. Dc
stael.

Napoleon fsonnparte and 1mc. De
stnel.
From their first introduction, Nine. Do Stael
| never liked Bonaparte. He inspired her with an
instructive dread-ts feeling which WIS not
unique in her. Being m earnest lover OF true
liberty, she early OWNED his ambitious prof jecte,
and fo1esaw the despotlem that he VAS working
to erect. s'That which characterizes Bona
parte'a Government" she says, ~ is q profound
man nature, virtue, dignity Of soul. religion,
enthusiasm. He would desire to reduce man to
mere force and cunning, and to designate every
thing eiae as mere folly aud silliness. Tie
they hare found the means OF comon-
ing euccess with honesty: combination which
Napo1eoa would have US consider to be impossi-
ble." The dislike WIS reciprocal. 81 She pre-
tends to speak neither OF me nor Of politics."
SAID Napoleon ':yet do not know how it hap
pens, but people love me leas who have been
with her. 6ho gives them fauciful notions and
of the opposite kind to naine.'' At another time
he sid, ''Mme. De Stael has shafts that would
hit q man wore he seated upon rainbow." In
cries. where he held sovereign court, which IN
gozqcousuess would not have shamed the dncien
regime. In that same year. French society,
though still mixed with base alloy, had resumed
around different nuclei Mme. Kecanaier was then
in all the delicate dowor Of her youth and esqui-
site grace; Mme. De- Visconti in all the blossom
OF her majestic beauty ume Josephine Bona
parte gave splendid reunions, md tho Princess
De Poix small and exclusive parties. In such
salons gathered whatever OF beauty, wit, and
birth tile guillotine had spared. But most
notable and most brilliant Of all these gatherings
we're those OF A1me De stae!, whoee genius and
celebrity attracted the finest intellects OF all
nations Brilliant as are her works, her con-
verpatioa is said to have been infinitely more
60. "You find thct she writes we'll hear her
talk, and you will find that che writes badly"
said contemporary. She lives above al By
that her genius WAS most thoroughly aroused, |
aud Was most thoroughly original. !" 1t Was il !
that, says Saiut-Deuve, tha. ahe instructed, !
aud. as it were, renewed herself INCREASINGLY, !
rather than by prolonged meditation. Con.
versation was her inspiration and her muse."
The night before benjamin Constant. her most
intimate friend, made bis speech in tho Asssn,-
big against the growing power OF the First
Consul, he drew her aside. - Il ! make this !
speech. he said, :" Tomorrow night your draw
YOU must DO what is rieAt,'' she answered in
trepidly. Their prognostieations we're correct.
4 party had been arranged for that night; BY
o'clock she had received tettcra OF excuse from
What could more eloqnently describe the s1svish
adulation of the Parlsians to their Moloch2 2 But
Fouche waited upon her and told her plainly
that Napoleon suspected herof having composed
hat, speech. 4 short time afterward khe 1sas
,ommanded to quit Paris and not to reside with
n forty leagues Of it. In vain did Joseph Bona
shotn she p.ssed tbs list few days OF her
parigi.n residence, intercede for her. The Con-
,ul was immoyable. N, greater punishment
:ould ba imposed upon her than banishnent
rom her beloved Paris, aus within the pre-
,cribcd limits. she wandered from village to vii
age, her thoughts ever turned to the one spot
f,th the sa1ne melancholy longing that Adam
night have fals whsn looking back On Paradise.
--Ie7ntls Ear. /