The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-31

1t goes without saying that even good society
breaks out into sects. In the Paris of tho An
Glen Regime. there was n restricted circle
which was omnipotent. Within its magic ring
1t claimed TO include all those who deserved to
be considered as of bonnie cdnpdpnie. 1t was a
judicial power and the final court of appeals In
matters OF good feeling and taste. as well as in
those OF rropriety; it banished dishonorable
people no less vigorously than tho ill.bred.
Here, too, however, there wns a division. The
elder fox were, by comparison, austere
in manners and conservative in tradition;
the younger admitted innovations. sharp
speeches, and epigrams. but, like their elders.
scorncd my baseness In word or deed. The
ruler OF this cotcrie and tho tyrant OF good tone
WAS tho famous MARKETABLE de Luxembourg, who,
in spite OF Il naughty youth. became, in
her old age. a martinez about behavior.
To offend her was to be tabooed by all the peo-
pie worth knowing. and the uso of a word that
was out Of place was enough to effect this. She
hated bad feeling; she loved convention. Once
she overheard somebody remark that God was
no rcspecter Of persons. and would take no note
OF good or bad tone. "You are much mistaken,
madame" was al she replied. moro in sorrow
than in anger. Her viceroy of manners was the
sodn'e. large-tempcred Nine. de Beauveau.
mother OF the Princesse do Polk, the friend of
the <~1ail!cs family; md In this close circle
wu r'.o lind another intimate. the Princesse
d'Hcnin, Lnfayctte's constant correspondent.
who kept her good talk for tttesde.tttes. Into
this high society, which they did not always fro
puCnt. were horne tho exceptional people who
are deal, with In these pages. tho people who
tr.Cn:J LGl over tho spiritual chaos Of their
day. and tried to faco tho truth. Tho
princCsaO d'Icnin may DO snid TO have belonged
10 , la, ri naa tl t,nI tho mon n IlNt~ 40
tho more sanity among them. In many there
was a mixture OF both elements. though the
ii, lOsophical generally prevailed. To such as tho
latter belonged he purc.mindcd, libcrty-ioving
Duke de Ia ltnchcfoucauld, who, together with
thr Prince do Bcauven, and he Duke do Niver.
ngis, gtyO ~ new and higher tone to CONVERSE
tiuD. There were also his. companions. tho
Gramnonts, tho ,Durforls, tho poudeanvillcs.
The pnhiic.spiritcd Choisculs, the Brcteuils and
young apostles of liberty. the Count dc. S6gur,
The two billions, the eloquent Clermont, after.
ward II delegate to the Stalcs.Gcncral, ana tho
untiring Lafny cite, al! mcnof clear lights and set
purruse, who worked for tho good Of their fol
c,tim, hi4Tnuinoens, ardent, set cold. by Els sidc
100 Ihe more fnllibIc; more innaliGnl; moro
OF women also there were many The beautiful
A!mn. d'Euvillc. the k~ccn.mindc0 Nine, dc, Rey
Mere and her inscparablc fri nd. Nine. do Tesse.
1t Is easy 10 lind out and rcirace the story OF tho
philOsophic members OF the aristocraCy many
Of them belong to history md cmbonich their
DIil'lUISS III measures OF III htllOH' inc DONNT
of the nobility. however had to bc sought among
the religious people. To revive their lives Is a
harder task, for these nrc hidden beneath dusty
papers and pilcd-up wears. Some. however, our
aulho has managed 10 recall.
There, for instance, WAS old Mile. de Montea-
son. aristOcratic and rich, who gave up her car
riagc and horses, went into apartments In Paris,
reduced her expenses TO $4,000 u year, and
Of u sedan chair. in order that she, might min
istor 10 the poor. and, more especially. visit the
prisons, TIL her time the poor had been utterly
able convent life because it would have prevent
od her from pursuing this work. Her couh-
lcrpart In. sweet ~sanCtity, though OF "a
different kind. was Nine. dc. Cuisines,
who denounced the. world without leav,
ing II. She attended no .Hayoties, but
she made q point OF dressing her friends for their
balls with her own hands. and preferred accom-