The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-03-29


were brilliant and influential, and under
the Second Empire they led, with the
Empress Eugene at their head, in the
world OF fashion. Nor are the women of
the Third Republic inferior, as whole.
to their sisters Of the past.
1t is true that one cannot point today
60 a MarchOness de Rambouillet, to a
Nine. Roland, to Nine. de Stael, to a
Nine dc RemlIsat, to Nine. de Girardin
or TO n George Sand, but / think your
readers will agree with me that, if the
leaders be not so great today as were the
leaders of the past, the rank and file of
French womanhood is now immeasurably
superior, in almost every respect, to the
general body of women in years gone
by. With the advent of modern democ-
racy 1.-THE masses" have usurped the
places once occupied exclusively by ''the
classes.
Probably the most widely known lit
erary and political lady of the France Of
today is Nine. Juliette Adam. She may
not be the most intellectual and solid,
but she surely is the most active and en-
terprising. She was born with taste
for letters and began writing in her
teens. But it was from her marriage
3 with Senator Adam and the advent of
the Third Republic that dates the noto-
riety of Nine Juliette Adam. Her sec.
ond husband-M Adam-was rich and
Republican politician. She was hand
some, fine conversational and ambi-
tious to shine in state affairs. So, dur
ing the stormy days of MacMahon's
presidency. it was in Nine. Adams salon
that Gambetta and the chief Republican
leaders used to meet argue, plan and
grid for battle.
Then it was that Nine. Adam founded
The Nouvelle Revue, which was to be
the republican rival of the old fogy, con-
servative Revue des Deux Mondes, and
ever since she has remained at its head
Although this periodical cannot be- said
20 be a very brilliant success either finan-
cially, politically or from literary point
of view, it is unquestionably the best re-
view in France after the famous crea-
ton of NJ. Buloz. the Revue DIES Deux
Mondes.
But if Nine. Adams role is not quite
so important or brilliant today as it was
ten or fifteen years ago, the reason is not
to be found in any falling off in herself,
but rather in the changes that have taken
place in French politics. The republic
is now leading Il humdrum existence,
and political salon has become, if not
archaic at least unnhuential. SO Nine.
Adam has been forced to fall back on
letters, art and society for the elements
of her circle; and, on the whole, one
must admit that her surroundings are
not less interesting today than in the
heroic days" Of the Third Republic. In
Nine. Adams drawing room the polti
clans lave been supplanted by the au-
thors; you hear less about the chamber
of deputies and more about the salon;
Gounod, or Daudet, or Bouguereau are
the exposures of all eyes and not some
senator, OF deputy, or ex-minister.
Mime. Adams soirees used to be given
in suite of spacious apartments far
down the bouIevards. But now she re-
sides in a house or hotel, as they say in
French, at the end Of the Boulevard
Malesherbcs, literally within stones
throw of the Notifications and on
street that bears her own name, the Rue
Juliette Lamber, LANDER being one of
Nine. Adams mons de plume and also
her maiden name. The house is hand
somely furnished, coZv and artistic.
Nine. Adam herself, though now over
30, is still a handsome woman, dressing
with great taste and possessing the easy
elegant manners of true lady of the
world. She converses glibly on art, let