The sun., 1893-11-05

portspce OF the female sex. The society OF wo-
| men was also sought By authors and scientific
| men. because there was no freedom anywhere
| except In q lady's drawing room. Opin. .ons
| which. IL pu blished openly. would have drawn
| down persecution on the men who expressed
them. could be uttered without fear In n salon.
| To this motive for courtinR female society
may be added the knowledge that the women
| who then presided over literary circles not
only named whom they liked to the Academy.
but dispensed as they chose influence and
reputation. So It csmo to pass that the indo-
lenco OF the uprer classes the general want
| OF liberty. and the vanity and ambition Of
authors laid the basis Of the power Of women,
power then carried to IN extent which can
| now scarcely be conceived.
Tho political inslgnifcance OF the men
placing the women on q level with them rem
dered the intercourse OF tho two sexes moro
polished and agreeable. They could speak on
the same subjects. since there were no polti-
cal discussions, from which tho women were
| to DO excluded. Conversation was soon carried
to the height OF an art, although 1t was always
mark cd by the most elegant simplicity. 1t not
only acquired style but also became remarka-
BILE for It's porsplcuity and conciseness. The
necessity which m en- experienced OF explaining
to the women with whom they conversed
matters which their ignorance hindered them
ment OF q clearness and facility which
were often transferred to literary compost
tlons The excessive polish which Is at once
the beauty and the defect OF the Fronch Ian
Ruage is to be attributed to female influence.
The assemblies over which women presided
produced refln ement and elegance. but. at the
same time. they were not free from certain dis
advantages. One OF their most serious draw
backs was that for the calm and mature medi-
tation OF former writer's was substituted the
habit Of the quick and light decisions peculiar
TO conversation. Mingled presumption and
frivolousness thus became one OF the charac-
teristics OF the time.
The three typical bureaux d'esprit OF the
eighteenth century were themselves distin-
tinguished from one another by strongly
marked characteristics. Tho polite. proll-
gate. and skeptical noblesse gathered around
Nine. du Defand. an arlstocratic and witty
woman. Mile. Lespinasse q social outcast by
her illegitimate BIRTH and gifted with an ardent
and enthusiastic mind. attracted the political
reformers Of the day: the worldly wise and
moderate members Of the philosophical party
met at the house OF Mme Geoffrin. quiet and
prudent bourGeoise. who endeavored to rec
oncile her religious feeling with the PATRONAGE
Of professed Rkeptics. The society OF Nine.
du Deffand 10 the first that deserves attention.
".
Marie vichy do Chamrond was born toward
the close OF the seventeenth century. In the
convent where she was brought ur, and where
she received an excellent education. she early
distinguished herself for tone Of raillery on
religious matters which alarmed tho nuns.
They called in Massllon to talk to her. but the
amiable Bishop was too much delighted with
the grace and frankness Of the young girl to
be very severe. Ellie est charmante." was
his only reproof. At the age OF 30. Mile. de
Nichy was married to the Marquis du DcfIand.
from whom her intrlgues soon caused her to
separate. Eyes remarkable for their brillianoy
and beauty a pleasant smile. and q counte-
nance full OF piquancy and expression were
the chief personal attractions OF the young
Marchioness. She is described as frank with
out candor. and impetuous without either pas
sions feelings: as full of wit and sound
judgment In her mode OF thinking. but extrsv-
sEant and often ridiculous in her conduct; in
fne as openly selfish. and yet capable OF
friendship ConstancY in love was not ons OF
her virtues. During her youth. she was
noted for her vivacity and equivocal be-
havior. As age drew on. her charms
vanished. and she became blind. ill-tempered.
and ennuye She sought for time
refuge In religion. but having natural
ly little turn that way. she opened a
bureau d'esprt for the philosophers. Neither
their society. however. nor her own wit-which
after that Of Voltaire and Piron Is said to have
been the keenest OF the time-could preserve
her from tho incessant ennui which consumed
her declining years. Give me a secret to
ward off ennui" she observes In one OF her
letters to DAlembert, and you will lay me
under greater obligation than II you had be-
slowed on me the philosophers stoDe' This
feeling was by no means peculiar to Nine.
du Defrand. The published correspondence Of
the circle over which she presided shows that
with all their wit and boasted philosophy her
friends found tho burden OF life intolerably
heavy. In her case ennui was increased by a
singular degree OF heartlessness. She had in
tellectual predictions. but she could not
love. The gayety and vivacity Of D'Alembert
were acceptable to her: so were the original
ity and naivete OF MontesQuieu. the polished
wit OF President Henault. or the satire OF Vol
tare: but she had little affection for them
individuals. This did not prevent her from be-
ing in many cases sincere and Jealous friend
though friendship was with her divested
OF all its charms. OF her deficiency In this re-
spect Nine du Deffand was we'll aware: when.
in the latter years OF her life. she became ac-
auainted with Nine. de Genlis. who was then
bringing up with her own children and those
OF the Duo d'Ortans. Il young English girl
named Pamela tafterward the wife OF the un-
happy Lord Edward Fitzgerald). she asked her.
with evident surprise. Are you SO fond OF that
child2" II am very fond OF her. indeed" was
the natural reply. All. you are very fortn-
nate" sighed Nine du DefTand: "1never could
love anything" According indeed. to the tes-
tlmony OF one who knew her well. 1t was dffl-
cult to have less feeling and more selflshness.
II. however. she was selfish and heart!ess she
had. at least. tho merit OF being perfectly
frank about It. When the celebrated work OF
Hevctius appeared several persons blamed
him. because following Hobbies. he had made
selashness the great motive OF human actions.
Bah" said she. he has only revealed
secret that everybody knows
The total lack of sensibllity not being ac-
companled by the affectaton OF the contrary
feeling. did not prevent the society OF Nine.
du Deffand from being emnently attractive.
1t WAS. indeed. impossible to resist the fasci-
nation Of that brilliant. active intellect. which
yielded to every impression. and passed from
one subject to another with ever new freshness