New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-09-29
BOSTON LITERARY NOTES.

JFKoN REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE 1hibINf~l
BosroN, Sept. 21.-Now and then Roberts
Brothers publish book Of such striking literary interest
rs TO be OF wide audience This was the case with
the Memoirs Of Mrs. Mary ..mcrve, with The French
Hinorsts," the life OF ihorwaldsen, and many an
other could mention. work OF similarly striking
character is Madame Recamier end Her Friends, now
nearly ready Some years since the same brn puhsheo
"Madamc R6canicr's Memoirs" editedby Madsme Lenor-
mant and translated into English by Miss Luyster The
book was received with general interest and equally with
general disappointment Not that was not exceedingly
entertaining; but it &ft much untold which one
wanted 70 know II was very external book We sa"
the loveest of her time, sitting in her salon.
welrcsscd autcss in tact and manner, receiving the
Aoages distinguished guests but we wanted
70 know more aboutthe real Did her neart acne
sometimes under those good cothesf Was tAere secret
pain under sofness OF mannerf DID she VINO
lent SO ready all mems woes have Ter own &C.
cret sins aud AS tho translator says, III her
nrefsce TO the present volume, how much greater the
interest such life Madame Reesmer's would excite
n we could get the whole truth concerning so strange
and even{ful career know the true story OF the men
who loved her. the who suffered by her; how snc
really felt toward Prince Augustus and what were her
own pancs and heart trials Did Chateaubriand aud Bal
Ianche really like each otheri And Ampere dld nc 40
more than simply tolerate the egostica author OF the
"Genus of Christianity {" How was it that Madame dc
Stall who could hardly bear even to near OF inc 'u'r-
riagc Of any mae friends cordially welcomed 20 ser
heart and home formidable a rivalf DID she never
feel Jealous pang seeing her whom admirers at the
feet Of this lovely Julictei And Monsieur Reca'aer was
he ALWAYS content 10 known the nominal nus
band Of the most beautiful woman in EuTopei
The present volume pretend to solve all these
questions but il let's in much more hght upon tIe .
dd the Memoirs" II it does not lay bare the inner
most secrets OF Madame Recaers life it helps us better
u understand her character II gives 40 OF her
own notes and letters. and yet larger number written
60 her by her ntatcs, among whom were some OF 'he
nobles souls OF her any time. The BOOK s more
over, better arranged than were the Memoirs. we
ore able to trace from It the growth and development OF
this wOmany character, rs noble az 1t was charming.
We see her successfully surrounded by the friends OF her
early life and Of her rper years We noie now inc
couetry Of her youth gradually and gracefully gives
place the sympathies aud more serious occup
ton Of her generous age We iearn TO thnk OF her not
as the queen society alone but the tender unsesh
woman; dsnteresed, capable of great se1saeriiice;
ardent and yet faithful
Before she 10 sec her adopting her husbands
mothcrlcss ittc niece Amele-the Madame LenorInant
WHO compiled alike the Memoirs and this present vol
umeani devotng herself TO the chids training as few
mothers would have done. For years this adopted
daughter slept in the room with Madame ReeanieT
Her little desk stood in OF the salon where so
many brilliant guests and went and the mother
run herself superinended the chds lessons and formed
her tastes. Madame Lenorniant says
Her constant atm, she often expressed 70 me- was
this WISH" she would say, that you should nave
all that has been wanngi in ana nat youi may D more
dame R6camier accomplished so tar as it was in her
she c.nd not sEe NE e h sI n sea
lavish upon her. but she gave me the domestic happ,s
that accorded to her: aud IN uniting me TO INC
man whom loved and by whom was beloved, snc reai
love in marriage which had been the cream ana the re-
greet OF her own lie.
In this last Madame Lenorinant touches the
keynote of that passionate melancholy which unceray
Madame Recalniers life, and added TO all her other
-@.r.,-. 30 -at1tNc tn hpr n m
true women, "love in marriage seemed the best gift
possible TO this short human life; and lacking that,
prosperous admired though She was, she seemed TO
herself well nigh bankrupt. When Madame Lenonnant
was torn by loneliness and anxiety during a temporary
absence Of her husband find her aunt writing TO her
% mat not talk you Of happiness. my poor enid.
when your heart is torn bat your griefs are passing
ones, ana your lot so sweet to me that would
willingly give the brightest days OF life for your
saddes ones" Was anything more pathetic than
this admission from the ad0red and the most adora-
bic woman of her time
What was the secret of Madame R6camier's matches
charni sGrcy her beauty for though we are con-
stantly told beautiful she dwcls ON the
Of her loneliness ard no doubt there was mary
another whose face just fair 1t not her w.t.
for Judging from her letters she not witty. She had
much grace OF styewithout bong sentimental she had
much sentiment-bu the magic must after all have been
her marvellous tact and the true and tender heart which
made her tact net artificial but sincere Madame de
BOgne-heTsef of the wittiest women or her day,
and the lifelong friend of Madame Recamier-wrote TO
Ycu are the last person TO be forgotten and it is not
because you are aua0e, lovely; chai1ning ana mat
every one remembers with pleasure ia way that
Hatcrs his seiscem and his heart too, If he happen to
have because your gentle natural, ana capt.
waiting kindness Of heart has discovered the secret OF
making every believe thai his fate h not matter OF
Indifference 10 you. You know that am in love with
goodness Of heart charm which have tond III no
thought thousand, that what makes You so seductive
is your kindieart eness. Perhaps am the only one
aiafa1 In till
praise the good heart OF the most beautiful woman in
EurOiei Well! am c0nvinced-f 1t were possible TO
define the influence you eXetthat this same goodness
Di heart greater power than all your other more Dr
liant advantages and gives them an additional force
turned 80 many heads and reduced TO despair many
moor wIeches they do not suspect 1t, but it is true
nevertheless
II was Madame Recamer's grace and tact which were
her genius; by means deficient in literary
ability fty-two she writes: 81 have been looking
up historical facts for NJ. de Chaeaubrand, which has
given me quite taste for history. have read Theirs
and Mignet, and | reading Tacitus." And, when
she had reached OF 20 she assisted AmIere to
prepare extracts from the works of Banche
Camille Jordan TO her Of the high value he at
tached to her opinion the moss sc1Ous SUBJECTS
and Camille Jordan was not man to pay unneanlng
compliments. No finer example Of lifelong and Eobe
friendship between and exists than the
friendship between Madame RGcamer and Jordan. I'm
Ike most Of her friends he at any time aspired to
play tho role Of lover yet that he loved her dearly and
constantly his letters 20 her in this volume clearly prove
He was happily married to wife whom he adored
and tired Of praisng 1t easy TO see that
wife aud children always nearest TO his heart but
his friendship for his "dear Julette" las ali Madame
Recaniers early friends in the habit Of calling herr
was tenderer and sweeter than the love OF most
j. j. AInyere "a the central figure Of Madame Ienor-
mante second volume OF "reminiscences, us ~ dc Chateau
brand was Of the first. The two men arc In striking
contrast Chatcaubrand always and everywhere
q f-f.O,