The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-03-26
] I

In the first volume OF this translation we find
a reference to Ninon de l'Enclos. still remem.
hered for the extraordinary duration Of her at
Effectiveness. She charmed three generations.
having proved successfully fatal to the hus-
band. the son and the grandson OF Nine. de
S6vigne. We read OF her under date OF 1908:
"Sinon. the celebrated courtesan, who. since
age had made her leave her business. was
known as Mile. de lEnclos. died about this
time, She was n fresh example of the triumph
OF vice conducted with Intelligence and re-
deemed by some virtue. The stir she made.
and, still more. the RIGHTEOUSNESS she caused
among the highest and most brilliant youth Of
the day. compelled the Queen Mother Anne Of
AUSTRIA. In spite OF the extreme indulgence
which she showed mot without private
reasons) to persons OF Rallantry and more
than galantry. to send her an order to
retire to a convent. A Police Sergeant OF
Paris carried to Ninon the lettre de cnchpt: she
read it. and. seeing that Their was no particu-
lar convent designated. Monsieur. she said to
the officer. without being Disconnected. as
the Queen has had the goodness to leave to
me the choice of the convent to which she
wishes me TO retire. ! beg you to say to her
that | choose that Of the Grands Cordeliers
OF Paris and she returned him the lpth'p dc
rochet with II fine curtsy. The officer. stupe-
fed by such unparalleled effrontery, had not n
word to say. and the Queen thought il so
amusing that she let her alone" 1t seems
that Ninon never had moro than one lover ut
"A time. but adorers in crowds. and. whom
she was tired Of tho tenant. she told
him 80 frankly and took another The
deserted one might groan and complain as
he please; the decree Ind gone forth. and
this creature had usirped such empire that
no one dared be angry with the man who sup
planted him. too happy to be still admitted a. a
friend Of the house. Occasionally she kept
faithful to her tenant. when he pleased her
much. through a whole campaign" Saint
Simon goes on to tell US that Niuon had illus
trious friends OF all kinds and 80 much wit and
cleverneSs that she retained them all and kept
them united among themselves. or. at any rate,
without the slightest disturbance. Every
thing was done In her house with respect and
an outward decency seldom maintained 10y
great rrincesses who were frail. In this way
she had as friends the highest and most noted
men at court. so that. after Il time. it became
the fashion to he received at her house: per-
sons had reason to desire It on account Of the
intimacies formed there. Never any gambling,
nor loud laughter. nor disputes. nor remarks
about religion or government; much wit and
very cultivated. anecdotes. ancient and modern,
tales OF gailantry, but always without opening
the door to malicious gossip: all was delicate.
airy and circumspect toning the conversations
which she knew well how 10 sustain by her wit
and by her knowledge ofthe facts OF the Period.
Strange as 1t may seem. the consideration she
had acquired. the number and distinction OF
her friends and acquaintance. still continued
when her charms had ceased to attract, and
when propriety and fashion forbade her 10
unite any longer the body with the soul. She
knew all the intrigues OF the old and the new
court. serious or otherwise; her conversation
was charming: diSiuterested. secret. faithful.
safe to the last degree; in fact. it might be said,
frailty apart. that she was virtuous and full Of
Integrity. She often Succored her friends with
money and influence. and entered for their
sake into very important matters. keeping
faithfully the money and secrets they intrusted
to her" Ninon lived to be much over ~. sound
andhealthy almost to the last.
Under date OF I o we find a reference to the
Comte de Grammont. whose memoirs are well
known. He died in Paris that year at the age
OF more than S6. having had. until lust before
that time. the most perfect health. Saint
Simon says OF him: He had formerly attached
himself to ii. le Prince de Condfl. whom he fol-
lowedt to Flanders; alter which he travelled In
England. where ne married Miss Hamilton,
with whom he was VIGOROUSLY in love, so that
her brothers.. who were scandalized. forced
him to. make her his wife. He was a man OF
much mind. but a mind OF the sort that spends
itself in wit. repartec. shrewdness. and ac-
curary in seeing the evil. the ahsurdity. and
the foibles OF every one, and In Painting
them with one lneffaceahle stroke of his
tongue; boldly doing this In public.
preferably before thu King than elsewhere.
without allowing either merit. grandeur.
favor or Office to protect any men or any
women whatever, In this way he amused the
King and put into his mind many cruel things
VpIi,I hn IEl n,n1l,, u..... - 10
saying to him even about his Ministers. He
was a mad dog whom nothing escaped. His
known cowardice put him beneath all conse-
quences OF his vice: withal. IA cheat and an
impudent one. cheating at cards openly. and
all his lille a heavy gambler. Crashing at
everything with both hands. no WAS always
begging: though, the gifts OF the King. from
whom he drew a great deal Of money. never
suficed to put him even a little at his ease.
No meanness cost him anything
sowasd persons whom he had previously torn