The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-12


Recamier. and to whom she said: Bal
lanche pleases me by drawing out all the
good there is in me. and you please me for
just the opposite reason.
There was also 10 be seen Nine. De Stael
the Princess Caroline Bonaparte, after
wards the Queen of Naples: Alexander Won
Humboldt. David d Anglers, Eugene Della
croiX, General MOreau, etc.
This epoch of splendor. however, was not
of long duration. NJ Reeamier through un-
fortunate speculatons, lost almost the
whole of his fortune. Nine. Recamier was
obliged to sell her hotel, her lands, her
horses. even her silver. She took 4 little
apartment in the Rue Basse du ReInparI,
where. as in the past, her admirers crowded
about her 1t was at this time that she
became acquainted with the man upon
whom she eXerted the greatest influence
that is To say Chateaubriand, whom she
Mime. De Stael
Fresh tins ncial disasters having overtaken
her husband, Nine. Recamier sought refuge
IN the Abbaye aux Bots where her salon
became more celebrated than ever. The
ADoaye aux Bois was the home OF a rehg-
ious community situated in the Rue de
Savres at TIE angle of the Rue de la Chaise-
During the somber days of the revolution
this property had served as prison Under
the restoration the nuns of the community
had made 1t refuge for women OF the
world who withdrew there to taste the
pleasures of solitude without at the same
time renouncnig those of society.
IL was while paying. visit to an old
friend. the Baroness of Bourgoing, whose
husband had been ambassador to Madrid,
that Nine Recamier conceived the idea OF
taking up her residence in this peaceful
habltation. She was then in the radiance
of her beauty. When she presented herself
al the abbaye there was nothing vacant but
little apartment In the fourth story. in
conveniently situated and accessible only
by a rough staircase. She did not hesitate,
however. To take possession of it, The au-
thor of The Genius of Christianity" who
came there every day, has left the follow
ing description of It: THE bedroom was
orLamented with a bookcase, a harp and
view of Coppet by moonlight. Upon the win
dow SUI We're pots OF flowers. When, quite
out of breath after having climbed the three
nights of stairs, entered her cell towards
evening. | was enchanted
The windows looked out upon the gar
dens of the abbaye where the nuns and
their pupils wandered at pleasure The
highest branches of an acacia were on a
llne with the eye; pointed bell towers cut
the sky, and on the horizon We're seen the
hills of Seyres. The setting sun gilded the
picture and entered at the open windows
Silence and solitude reigned in the distance
above the noise and tpmillt of great city"
The Abbaye aux Bois was little known at
that time. As soon as Nine. Recamier was
installed there, however the way to her
retreat was quickly learned. Upon the
death of the Marquise of Montmairail. who
occupied the large apartment of the first
story. the latter was taken possession of
by Mime. Recamier: The nuns of the alb
baye ceded to her for life the right to this
apartment. There she was more commodi-
ouSly lodged. and it was possible for her to
surround herself with objects that would
The friends of former times rushed to see
her. and others joined them. All the most
noted Parisans defiled through the salons of
the Abbaye aux Bots. There were to be
seen Sainte Beuve, Jules Ampere. Merimee
Lamartine, Victor Hugo, the Due de Mo-
allies. the poet Lebrun, etc. It was there
that Lamartine read before publishing
them. his 'Meditations.' Victor Hugo who
had Just left college, was there consecrated
poet by Chateaubriand himself.
She never held such q place in the
world says Sante Beuve, las when she
lived in this humble retreat at end of
Paris. 1t was there that her gentle genius,
disengaged from too vehement cOmplica-
tions, made itself more and more felt 1t
may be said that she perfected the art of
friendship and caused it to take on new
charms. This lovely woman was gracious
and captivating. even in her old age The
day she comprehended that her beauty was
waning. because the little chimney sweeps
no longer turned to look upon her when
she passed. she determined to consecrate
the remaining years of her life to the du-
ties of religion and to the cultivation Of
friendship"