Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-06-01
afadarne de staeI,s Life.

John Foster Kirk, the historian, and the
present editor OF LippiHc0tt's Magazine, de-
lVered a lscture on Madame de Stael re-
Gently. The lecture comprised sketch of
Madame de Stael's life, an estimate of her
character, and many anecdotes illustrative of
her gifts of conversation and eloquence. Her
contest with Bonaparte, and her influence IL
shaping the course of the French nation,
were dwelt On at some length. The eighteenth
century, sald the speaker, was the child of
history. There was then renaissance, not
of art, but of morals and manners, when sim
plicity, frugality and fraternity were adj
mlred. Such was the time Ia which Madame
de Stael lived. She was of an ardent tenn
permanent, vivacious, brilliant and sympa-
thetic. Her father, Jacques Necker, occu-
pied conspicuous position In the public eye.
Subsequently. the leaders of society, the politi-
clans of the times, and those prominent in lit
erature, met in the salon of Madame de Stael,
where her rare talents were displayed to
great advantage. She was impetuous, vehe-
ment and imaginative, yet candid and frank
to remarkable degree. With a mind strong
enough to grasp the closest reasoning, she
was of deeply sensitive nature. The watch
word OF her life was liberty. Forced to quit
Paris in the reign of terror, she fled to Cop
pet, near Geneva. On her return to Paris,
during the directory, an enmity between her
and Bonaparte arose. He made every effort
to 'annul" her, as he expressed it, and to
'Imprison her soul" as she expressed ii.
She was banished to Coppet, where her life
was an ideal one. She was surrounded by
the greatest men of the time, whom she
charmed and fascinated by her wonderful
talents. In her conversation she lost herself
in her theme, and her face became remark
ably expressive. Her large black eyes flushed
with brIlllancy one moment and were wet
with sympathetic tears the next. She was a
large woman, and yet was a model of
grace. She was always intensely in
earnest, her object being not to dazzle
but to convince her hearers. So she never
INDUCED in paradGxes. Sometimes,
though rarely, her vehemence brooked 10
opposition. Generally, however, she spoke
calmly, and closed by asking for her listen
er's opinions. To this queen the palace at
Coppet, to which every one turned, was a
prison. She applied for permission to visit
America, and at one time Ii was thought that
she would sail. But the frigate that was
promised her never was ready. In 1912 she
fled to Vienna and thence to st. Petersburg
and Stockholm, and In the spring of 1913
went to London, where she awaited the fall
OF her prosecutor. This occurred In 1915,
and then she returned to Paris and resumed
her former life with great splendor. Her
salon was trequented by the distinguished
men Of the day. In two years she died.
Madame de Stael was politician, but she
was every inca woman. She was feminine
Uy the IOrce OF primitive WOmanno0ut Dy ner
slngleness of purpose, and by the ardor of
her generosity. She was like a lioness de-
Tending her young. Her first marriage, with
Baron de StaeI Holstein was one of convent
eDce. Her second marriage, with a French
officer, De Roccs, was one of compassion and
tenderness. She had her youthful loves, and
her grand passion IN maturer years. One of
her most marked traits was her intense SYM
patty with humanity. For those in high
station she had words of warning. Her as
sailants had the hostility all to themselves.
There was 70 vitriol In her words. Her re-
proaches even of Napoleon seemed more
like hot, burning tears. Wonderful as was
Madame de Staels magnanimity, the per-
sistency with which she maintained her
friendship was greater. She passed her life
under blaze of light, courted and admired
by all; Her great genius and her contest
with NAPOLEON made her the center of in
terest. Talking as much as she did she must
at times have talked foo!ishly. But it Is
never SAID that she did an uneratefal act
Her eloquence, her social advantages were
made to be means by which she bound up
wounds and healed distress. In her last
years she laid aside her vanities and became
even freer and more candid in her talks. Her
intellect remained unimpaired. Other fig
ures in history seem to shift their positions
and change their costumes, but as we look at
Madame de Stael there is no break, no dis
cord from FIRST to last.
THERE is no better remedy than Reeds gilt
edge tonic for dyspepsia and indigestion.