Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1902-03-13

Regent street, and she the guest Of
such distinguished men as Lords
Landsdowne, Grey Holland, Erskine
and Jersey. She was ''the lion OF the
season and her drawing room the rem
devious Of all the rank and fashion OF
the town." 1t is interesting to read
Byron's and MackintoSh's estimate of
her at this time. The latter perhaps
was the only man who ever equaled
her in conversational talent, and he
only because of his better use Of the
English language. She says of her.
self: "In English | have only ideas,
not words" Through all her years of
exile Napoleon tried In vain to crush
her spirit and force her to give her ad-
herence to his absoluteism. All this
while she was not only using her elo-
quent tongue, but her ready pen in
the interest of freedom and human
ity, and it is the brilliant productions
Of her pen that have given her immor-
tality. AS we follow her through all
the exciting scenes OF her eventful life
it is difficult for us to see when she
had time to write the many volumes
of her prolific pen, for she gave to the
world as many as 10 or IL volumes Of
printed matter. The published let
ters of some of her distinguished WIS.,
itors throw light upon this point and
reveal to us her literary habits. They
all testify to the fact that she was the
most brilliant talker Of all the lumina-
rles gathered about her and that her
oral discussions Of the most difficult
and abstruse topics surpassed the
products of her pen. They also reveal
to US the process by which her literary
works were brought to life. The sub
jects upon which she wrote were in
geniously woven into the discussions Of
her salons, and thoroughly talked over
before committed to paper. While
she was the leader in every literary
circle and all hung entranced upon
her word, she was at the same time a
good listener, and questioner, and all
unsuspected, gathered the best
thoughts of her illustrious attendants,
as she politely listened to them. Thus
it was at Coppet, when entertaining a
score Of distinguished guests, day by
day, in her Chateau, the best Of her
works were written. The subject of
the chapter next to engage her atten-
tion woull be introduced in the dis
cussions the evening before, and the
next morning the best results of the
discussions would be reproduced by
her pen and incorporated in the book
upon which she was engaged. Thus
doubtless some Of the most brilliant
chapters Of Corinne, Allemagn, and
Considerations on the French Revolu-
tion were written. After the first
downfall Of Napoleon she reestablish-
ed her home and salon In Paris, and
from her throne Of intellectual power,
with tongue and pen, exerted an in
fluenee mightier than the sword. In
all history we have no better illustra-
tion OF the triumph Of truth over
error, and the superiority Of tongue
and pen over the sword than in this
long contest between Madam de Stael
and Napoleon Bonaparte. Her words,
spoken and written, were In the inter-
est Of human liberty, and true relig-
ion, and for the good Of the-race. His
sword, and the hecatombs, piled up
by his legions all over Europe, were
the results OF his profound selfishness
and insatible ambition. Next to the
crime against Josephine, his treat
ment OF NJ. de Stael was the meanest
actof his life. Lamertine truly says:
'sThis woman was the last OF the
Romans under this Ceasar, who dared
not destroy her and could not abase
her,"