The evening times., 1898-06-09
WOMEN OF TIE
FRENCH SALONS
Potent Factors in the History
of Their Nation.
Famous French Women Who Have
Ciicle Founded by an Italian.

world of art and literature In general
can scarcely be estimated by the ordi-
nary mind. For nearly three centu-
ries, with but few Interruptions, those
salons held sway among the highest
social circles Of France. During the
first empire they somewhat declined
not because Napoleon did not favor
them, but because the women of his
court were not as highly cultured and
Intellectual as the women of the ''old
regime" OF course, no woman, moi
company Of women. would for mo-
ment be tolerated who did not favor
and laud to the skies the modern Cae-
sar. His treatment of Nine. de Stael
well illustrates his attitude toward the
Intellectual woman who held to diner
ent opinions from his own.
The originator of the French salon
was Catherine de Vivonne. an Italian
lady, who was carefully educated un-
der the superintendence Of her mother.
Marchese de Pirani. She was early be-
trothed to a French nobleman. son Of
Marquis de Ramboillet, who later sue
ceeded to the title and estates Of his
father
The Marquise de Ramboillet, with
her refined tastes and cultured man.
ners, was very much shocked at the
conversation and mannersr of the peo-
pie who were wont to assemble about
the French court. AS a result she
conceived the idea of forming a select
circle for herself which should meet a;
her own house-the famous Hotel de
Ramboillet." She is said to have been
the first to arrange rooms IN suites
where people could move about easily.
For fifty years the Ramboillet sa-
Ions were open to both the rank and
talent of that period. AS one writer
says, They were the centers of an
aristocracy of genius" Here came the
poet. the historian, the dramatist. the
theologian, the man or the woman on
whom the gift of genius had in any
way been showered. Here they met
and submitted their various produc-
tions to the criticisms of the habitues
of the place. 1t is said that here Cor
nellie read her first piece, "Melite." I"
Boilean preached sermon there, and
Moliere's "Precienses Ridicules" was
first presented at the Hotel de RAM
boillet.
The lady who so long presided over
this famous hotel was certainly very
remarkable woman. The times were
corrupt. and it was thought not at all
disgraceful for French lady of rank
and station to depart most decidedly
from the path of chastity and virtue.
But upon her character not the slight
est stain was ever cast. She was beau
tiful, graceful and gracious. free
from coquetry and all personal pre-
tensions" There Is no record that she
co.s.ributed anything to the literature
of her time or country But she GER
tainly encouraged others to do so, and
as a result her name became famous
in the literary history of her country.
OF all the women who We're wont to
assemble in the salon of the Marquise
de Ramboillet, Nine. de Sevigne is per-
haps the best known to the American
reading public. This lady, also pos
sessed of great beauty and of ample
wealth, maintained, in the midst OF
great social corruption. spotless repu-
tation. Her literary work is included,
almost exclusively. m letters to her
daughter. They were written without
any intention of their ever being made
public AS has been truly said. they
were of the world, but not for the
world
These letters were found to be SO
meritorious in a literary point Of view
that they were gathered up, first by
her daughter, and afterward by others,
until now they number several vol
umes, and are accounted among the
French classics.
Nine. Sevigne was perfectly familiar
with the court life of Louis XIV, and
some of her letters well reflect that
life. In one of them she speaks of the
appearance of the King and his fam
lily as they ride out in their state car
riage. The Kings mistress sat by his
side, while his wife and daughters were
on seats back of them.
In another letter she relates the trag-
ical death of the royal cook. who be-
cause the fish that he had ordered
failed to arrive committld suicide.
From what follows it seems that an
other cook was soon found; that the
feast followed, and the usual amount
of mirth and gayety went on as though
nothing had happened.
In still another letter. which Is oft
quoted. she gives account of a certain
archbishop who was riding through the
country in great state-archbishops in
those days lived in kingly splendor-
and who purposely ran into a poor
peasant who was jogging along in his
&c Ndit. oA hoAIASiy lht llS.
lee the peasant escaped unhurt
Life at famous watering place is
described as follows:
when one does not drink the water
it is tiresome. At 6 oclo's We go to
the fountain; we all meet there, drink
and make a wry face; for-just think
of it!-boiling hot, and with a very
Gisagreeable taste of saltpeter. We
turn away, We go and come, We take
walk, We hear mass, we compare
notes confidentially concerning the ef-
fects of the waters: that Is all we think
about till noon" Afterward came the
douche, which she describes as some-
thing as decidedly severe, but possess
ing great curative properties.
Some have claimed that Nine. Sc
literary style was perfectly nat
ural. and required neither labor nor
pains in its execution. But others have
thought differently and have decided
that much painstaking labor was be-
slowed upon her letters.
CASTOR Boisseur, one Of Mme Sc
vigne's biegraphers, says Of her:
Few people have as many friends
as Nine de Sevigne. In all the crises
of her life her correspondence shows
her to be surrounded by devoted per-
sons eager to be agreeable or useful to
her. She herself wondered at this gen.
eraI good nature. I receive a thou
sand marks Of friendship she says: I
am quite ashamed Of it. I know not
what possesses people to esteem me so
much The explanation was, however,
very near at hand-she was beloved be-
cause she loved others"
Nine. Sevigne lived to the age Of sew
enty, but she never seemed old, SO
youthful were her spirits and SO ten
der and loving was her disposition.
Hair JeweIry Again.
The times are modern. and the days Of