New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-03

dark den by the philosopher "' 'n''0'
he spurns the name Of philosopher tie was III
a dirty reddish nightgown and very dirty night
c,n hound round the forehead with superla-
,,,o,,, dirty cbocolate-colored ribbon. Nine. Re-
cs,nier the beautiful. the elegant. robed IN wh'te
sa,,, trimmed with white fur. seated herself on
tho elbow Of his armenian and besouEht him 10
rs,eat his verses" while around this snuffy poet
sat an adn,iring circle II women OF title poth
French and English. 1t is an early study Tor
Bunthcrne
In 2 still dirtier house and more squad quar-
tor the Edgeworths found Madame de Genlis.
once "a woman of the first talents in Europe
who had lived and shone In the gay court OF the
gayest nation in the world. now deserted ana
for,orn without society. without single
friend adm:red-and dcspised." Even the roof
above her head the treacherous woman OF the
court owed to the scanty charity OF Bonaparte
Miss Edgeworth describes her az thin and mel
ancholy. the owner Of a pair Of dark eyes, long.
ga How checks. compressed thin lips two or
three black ringlets on a high forehead-aito-
gether an appearance Of fallen fortunes. worn
out health and excessive but guarded irritable
ity ITO me there was nothing Of that engaging.
captivating manner which I had been taught
to expect by many even OF her enemies; she
seemed to me to he alive only TO literary quar-
she spoke or as my father spoke to her, quickly
and too easily expressed hatred and anger when
ever any not Of her own party were mentioned.
She seems to have been so much used to be
attacked that she has defences and apologies
ready prepared suited to all possible occasions.
She spoke Of Madame de Stairs Delphire' with
detestaton, Of another new and fashionable
novel. 'Ameie.' with adherence, and kissed my
forehead twice because had not read It, 'Vous
autres Anglaises. vous etes modestes" Where
was Madame de Genliss sense OF delicacy when
she penned and published Les Chevaliers du
Cygne?"
II was during this visit to Paris that Maria
received what was apparently her first and only
PROPOSAL OF marriage. Her sutton was NJ. Edel-
crantz a gallant and accomplished gentleman
who was high In the service Of the King OF
Sweden. Her own letters concerning this pro-
posal are cool and kind: II have never felt
anything for him but esteem and gratitude
she says. But the stepmother declares that
Maria was exceedingly In love with him; that
she could never hear his name mentioned In
after life without agitation. and that her re-
fusa was due to her realization Of the suffering
she would cause her family. and especially her
father II she left them to live In Sweden. Civ
ing however. all due consideration to Mrs Edge
worth's convictions we are inclined to believe
that that good ladys sentmentality ran away
with her. and that MarIa's placid way OF re-
garding the Swedc's admiration was quite as
real as il WAS apparent Would the reader
know what NJ Edelcrantz saw in the Maria
Edgeworth OF that day? She was slight little
lady with the alertness OF "A sprite In all her
moyeme ats and daIntiy neat IN her person. she
had clustering locks of brown hair. bright blue
eyes and most expressive face. She was not
pretty. but bright. so truthful. 50 gentle ana
sweet was that face no one could resist her.
Her manners were charming. modest frank ana
dignaei--in a word perfectly well-bred. Her
voice was wonderfully pleasant. and her talk
Was eloquent full OF wiz. Of epgram OF re-
nartee and sparkling with genuine enjoyment
In the exchange OF ideas.
During a later VI nit In France. the novelist re-
corded various interesting anecdotes Of Napoleon.
Both cuvicr and PROXY" she says. agreed that
Buonapa-te never could bear to have any answer
not decided answer
"One day" said Cuvier. Il nearly ruined my,
self by considering before answered. He asked
France 'Dabord. Sire. IL faut songer 81 vos
colonies - 'Fau,-n avor lie sucre de betraye
en- France? 'Mals Sire. n faut examiner -
Bah, je 10 dema nderat Bertholet
This despoiic iacon.c mode Of insisting IN
learning everything In two words had It's incon-
veniences one day he asked the master OF the
here Th. master honest man stopped TO
recollect Bah" and the UNDERWATER came
forward and said any number that came Into MS
head Buonapsrte Immediately took the master
ship from the first and CAV" i L. the second
'Qu'arriyait-ily" continued PROXY; the rogue
who gave the guess answer was soon found cut
ting down and selling quantities. q; the trees ana
Huonaparte had 10 take the rangershlp from MN
and reinstste the honest hestater.
Prony says that Buonaparte was not obstinate
in his opinion with men OF science ABOUT
= Ia h.
would hear no contradiction In tactics or ponies
There are some pleasant glimpses Of Mrs. Sid
dons I'm one ~ the London letters. she gave Us
the history OF her frs, acting Of Lady Macbeth"
Miss Edgeworth writes and Of her resolving in
the sleep scene 10 lay down the candlestlck con-
traiy TO the precedent of Mrs. Pritchard and all
the traditions before she began TO wash her
hands and say. "Out. vile spot
Sheridan knocked violently at her door during
the five minutes she had desired 10 have entirely
10 herself to compose her spirits before the play
began. He burst in and prophesied that she
would ruin herself forever II she persevered in
this resolution to lay down the candlestick' She
persisted. however In her determination. sue
cccded was appIauded. and Sheridan begged her
ia rdon. She described we'll the awe she felt and
the power of the excitement given 10 her by the
sight Of Burke. Fox. Sheridan and Sir Joshua
REYNOLDS In the pit. She invited us to n private
readlng-party at her own house: present only her
ds lighter a very pretty young lady; Mrs. VII
knson Mr. Burncy, DR. Holland Lydia white,
Mr. Harness and ourselves. She read one Of her
finest parts and that best suited to a private room
Queen Katherine. She was dressed TO do
well for the two paris she was 10 perform this
night o! genticwcuan and pueen-back velvet
with black velvet cap and fea hers. She sat the
whole time. and with a large Shakespeare before
her: as she knew the part Of Katherine by heart
she seldom required the use Of glasses and she
cited II incomparably we'll The changes of her
countenancc were striking. From her first burst
~ indignat ton. when she objects 10 the Cardinal
nj 10 IN har llct mir
50 perfectly natural and touching could
give applause but tears Mrs. Siadons t.
beautiful even AZ this moment. Some who had
seen her on the stage in this part assured that
II had much greater effect upon them In a prl-
vatc room. because they were near enough to Bee
the changes Of her countenance and to hear the