The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-11-27

A. Il
very much as she pleased. Tall. rather tnih'
bony and brunette. she was not hanosomo'
Int ber eyos were beautiful. her face was In
telligent and expressive. aud hcr forehead was
spncious. She was fond OF dress and dissipa-
ton and her lidison with Voltaire was oS NJ
means the first In her matrimonial career' ~
him for long time she was passiona.ev
attached and he was strongly attracted 70 "el
as n woman Of cultivated intellect devoteo' IN
tba intervals OF pleasure, to literature and
science.
Tho appearance OF the Letters on the ENG
fish" exposed Voltairs to the censure OF tne
authorities. The book was condemned oy inc
Parliament OF Paris and was burned W t"o
pupljc executionsr. and an order was issued lor
the arrest Of the author. Before IT couid %
executed tho bird had flown. and aiter .
months wandering Voltaire found nimso'l
permitted to remain unmolested at GREY
domice which was destined to he MS henu-
quarters for many years. This was a tump,o-
down chateau in Champagne belonging 10 ''o
MARQUIS du Chhtelct.- miles from .
lemon. as Voltaire phrased II. Noltaire su-
vanced to the Marquis $4,000 for repairs ioI
which he was to receive an annuity tha.
ho never got Madame and no iurnishou
sumptuously suites OF apartments LOT '"ou
selves. The husband. when not with MS reni
msnt, lounged at Grey. whore Noltaire wac
the real lord and master. The lie leo at
the chateau was monotonousy regular. aio'e
OF the day was passed by Voltaire and Maoame
at the desk. Tho great meal was supper ~
nine. The Marquis. when not eating won, 10
sleep. and amiably withdrew after tho table
vas cleared. Then II voltaire was not absorbed
in thought, and was in good humor he poursd
forth a train Of sparkling talk. But N"taire
was not always in good humor Madame IN
sisted on having her own way with MIN IN pti-
vate. and Voltaire often sulked underline ihii'c-
tion. Sometimes there were alterations con.
Quoted In English. which Voltaire had taush'
the lady: occasionally there were scenes more
or less violent Jealousy Of her own sex IN
decd. Noltaire does not seem to hnVe at
any time provok ed But she coulu not Dear
him to be from her side for any length OF tlme'
invented unreasonable reproaches H. when
absent on tour or trip. he WIS not constantly
writing to her. He became little weary at
last OF her exacting ways. but for years re-
manned strongly attached to her by ties OF au-
miration. gratitude and affection.
At Grey. as in all places. Voltaire was la,th.
full to his first love. the drama. A!zire.
"LEnfant Provigue." "Mahomet" and Me-
rope" were written during tho first ten years
OF his stay Mt the chateau. Great progress
was made too. with the most Disgrace
full OF all his writings the scandalous iu-
cello" lie was busy also on better employ.
mcnt. namely his Steele de Louis ViatorZe'
and with tho tho foundation ofhis historical
"Essai sur les MTurs ct l'Esprit des Nations
This last work was begun ostensibly lot the
benefit Of Nine. du Chatelet, who cared little
| for poetry or tho drama and was devoted to
science. mathematical and physical. 10
! please hor lie composed his Elements OF New
| toms Philosophy" which. as the French author
| tiles would not authorize the publication. mad
| to be printed in Holland. General physics
| and chemistry also occupied much OF VOL
| taires time. Some scientific experts pear
| testimony to his patient industry in this d.
| rcction and assert that, had he persevcred
| lie might have been scientific discoverer.
| voltaire's stay at Grey was made memo
| rable by the formation OF his intimacy with
| Frederick. afterward the Great. The Crown
| Prince of Prussia was then living not so far
away. ut RcinsberG. His culture was almost
entirely French. and above all other French
authors he priced Noltairc. He was skeptic
too AMI his admiration for Votaire was far
from being purely literary. By and by he
gained courage to send specimens If his own
| French verse. which were duly euoCizcd: and
whom. in the spring OF 1889. Noltaire and Nine
| du Chatelet migrated to Brussels to carry on
a lawsuit. he commissioned the French au-
thor to superintend the publication of his first
book. THE Anti Marhiavel." tcenins with
the most admirable sentiments on the pater-
nal duties Of kings. and with regard to
tho iniluity of conquest. In May. 1870.
however Frederick found himself King of
Prussia and ndjurod Noltaire Tor Gods
sake t. buy M the whole edition OF the Anti
Machiavrl." At this stage OF the intimacy Of
| 10. 10
for many years between Frederick and Nine
du Chatelct for the possession of Noitaire.
Voltaire woull have settled at Berlin il
Madame had been allowed to 60 there with
him but Frederick. who. although a husband.
led q bachelors life. did not caro- to have
women about his court and would have Vol
taire by himself or not at all. still Noltaire
did pay him short visit in 17il. when he
WAS much fi.ed and carosscd. though he did
not obtain an inkling Of Frcierck's Intentions
which were disclosed some weeks atterwarl
bv the descent o! his army upon Sesia.
In April. l7ij. NoltHire wns unanimously
elected u member Of tho French Academy. II
result apparently Of his composition Of the
"Prncesse dc Navarro which he called farce
OF the Fair. A few months afterward a slip Of
the tongue brought him into difficulty One
evening in the spring of l747. when Noltaire
aud Nine. du Chateet wore Mt Fontaincolcau.
there was high play Mt the Queens table.
Nine. du Chatcet continued TO lose un:il she
owed q sum no less than $l6.SuO. In his in
dignatlon Nol.nire told her u!ouh that only her
excitement prevented her from seeing that
she was playing with knavcs. Forcseeing n
storm about to Hurst Oh them. E0l'aire and
Madame withdrew and that very might were
driven TO place OF refuge with the Duchrsse de
Maine at her chateau OF Sccaux. After n while