New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-06-17
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
SOUVENIRS OF MADAME LIE BRUN.


Paris IN 1912 at the age of 81, the PIC
tnres Of society in France and in the principal
European capitals, especially Rome Naples, Vienna
st. Petersburg and London, will attract attention
BY their lively colorng and natural delneauons,
although they relate TO period which has aitorueu
favorite theme TO the writers of memoirs ana
which is too familiar TO the majority OF lntellgeht
readers to present any temptation on the score Vi
original narrative or novel information. Inc WORK
of which the present volume is an English trahSla-
ton was first published in Paris in three volumes
1S35-37 and has since held respectable rank
among the personal memoirs which to many reaueIs
form so fascinating portion of French literature
Madame lie Brun was born in Paris in 1888, and
inherited from her father. who was painter oS
profession. the talent for art which was the most
conspicuous element IN her character, ana which
gave her brilliant distinction in the highest intel
lectua circles Of her day Before she was fourteen
wears old her progress in painting was so remarka-
BILE as 10 attract the notice of the public and intro
duce her TO the acquaintance of several eminent
artists Six years afterward she accepted pro
posal of marriage from NJ. lie BTun, man OF
letters and an amateur of art, and at the age OIL
twenty she became his wife. The marriage did not
prove a happy one and at an early stage OF the
promised cOnnubial bliss, Madame lie Brun was
thrown upon her own resources for livelihood
Her husband, she declares, was not a bad man III
grain his disposition was a rare compound OF
sweetness and vivacity but be had taste for low
company and passion for gambling which not
only destroyed his own fortune but wasted the
large earnings Of his wife. Among other portraits
which she painted at this time was that OF Queen
Marie Autoinette. who was then in all the bril-
iiancy of her youth and beauty The sketch
Of the Queen here given by Madame
lie Brun is a lively specimen of pen-painting;
"Mare Antoinette was tail, admirably proper
TONED, plump, without being too much SO, her arms
were lovely she had small and perfectly shaped hands
and charming little feet. She walked better than
any woman in France holding her head very up
right, with a majesty which denoted the Sovereign
tn the midst of her court, without this majestic
hearing detractng in the least from the sweetness
md grace Of her whole aspect In short, 1t Is very
difficult to give any idea to those VINO have not
seen the Queen, how very elegant ana beautiful she
WAS Her features were not at all regular she IN
herited the long narrow oval peculiar TO the Aus
tr1an nation. Her eyes were not large, and were
almost blue in color her expression was clear and
very soft, her nose was thin and pretty, and her
mouth was not large, although her lips were rather
thick. The most remarkable thing about her face
was the brliancy OF her complexion. l never saw
ANYTHING like It, and brilliant is the only word to
express what il was; for her skin was so
transparent that it allowed of no shadow. never
could obtain the effect wished paints failed to
depict the freshness the delicate tnts Of that charm
ing face which never beheld in any other woman"
The description of the authors household arrange
ments and social habits soon after her marriage
present an agreeable view of Pausian life among
the middle classes of the metropolis prior TO the
Revolution. The new-married couple occupied n
large suite of rooms, very richly furnished in which
NJ. lie Brun kepthis collection of paintings by the
great masters. Madame lie Bruins private apart
ment was only little ante-roOm, and bedroom
which served also as a sitting-roOm The furniture
was extremely simple. The room hung with
the same material as the bed-curtains. In this
modest apartment the author received the most
distinguished guests Every evening found it
crowded with courtiers and townsolk. great LADIES'
noblemen and men of mark in letters and art, and
often the marshals Of France had TO sit the floor
The best music which was 10 be had in Paris lent
its charm to the reunions. Some of the most cele-
brated composers often performed portions of their
works before the first representation. Madame
lie Bruu's little suppeTs present an attractive type
Of the "petits soupers" which formed so peculiar
social institution in Paris during the eighteenth
century -
selected the most amiabla amongst these invite to
NY supper parties, which were tas most amusing IN
l. Brun Cievalier ie Bou1eis Vicomte de S6gur and
many othcrs who were amongst my most favored
gue.is No one can imagine what society was like I'm
France in those days when business being over twelve
on fifteen PEOPLE would visit AT different friends houses
and there finish the evening The mrth ana laughter
which presided at these entertainments gave them
Charm when mere dinners can never haye-a friendl
and sociabilty amongst ne guests restraint
was laid aside aud it at the uppcrs that Partisan
society showed It's superiority over That of all Europe
Al my house Tor instance people DySah 20 arrive at
o'clock Politics were never alluded 70, but literature
ana OF the day were the chief subjects of CON
versation sometimes We amused ourselves Win actng
charadcs sometimes the Abh6 Deise or lie Brun-Pm-
down TO table nv supper was most simple repast. 1t
was always composed of fowl fish, dish of vegeta-
hles and a salad that II happened TO have too
many guests there was aways enough for all to eat
il was not OF much ccnse4uenrf, we Were gay good
midnight ali took their departure.
The mutternqs Of the storm in 1889 which fore
boded the breaking out of the Revolution COM
PEELED Madame lie Brun to make her escape from
France and seek refuge in foreign countries.
After a short stay IN Turin and other Italian cities,
she arrived IN Rome in the month of December,
where she seems to have experienced more than the
usual misores of foreign residents in her at
tempt at housekeeping in the Eternal City,
HIRED near the Piazza ii spagua, in tranquil srccr,
cbarm,nr he droon, drapcd win creen an advantage
fully appreciated. had visited all tho mouse from top
bottom, aud had even examined the yards of neigh
fancied I should hear no oJlor sound than that Of
a snail fountain IN the court. and I'm my delight
hastcucd u pay the ten or twelve CONS fer the first
month in advance. Joyfuily went 10 bed Ia perfect
peace al the morning heard an internal noise
precisely behind NY head; II was 50 violent that my
DAUGHTERS gOvcrness, who slept Two rooms on, was
awakened. As ] WAS up asked my hostess the
cause Of Tins fearful dlsturDance Wa hIgllnei tha
was the Of the pump attached 10 the wall near
bed washerwODen could not whitcn the linen Ii
the day. ow ne TO the great heat SO thty oS came 10
this pump night. A may be Imagined haStened 10
leave this charming little house.
After having sought trutessly 10 find suitable
abode was told "a small place IN which l could hire
an apartmeut having found nothing suitable In
stalled my SELF there, nau more space than required
for comfort, but all tue rooms were hhy. AT eustl
after having cleaned some of them settled down from
the first night able % judge OF the delights oil this
habitation. chilliness, dreadful damp could have
sept through but army OF enormous rats, which ran
o, my and the WOOD OIk prevented my do
Ing so. When / asked the guardian the next day why