The Indianapolis journal., 1902-08-31
in THE LITERARY FIELD
MRS. HUMPHREY WARD BORROWs
HER LATEST PLOT FROM HISTORY.
Editors Tell Why Magazines Are No
Bctter-New Writers in the
background.

Mrs. Humphry Ward has put literary
France under an obligation 10 her by her
sympathetic and adequate translations of
some OF the subtlest literature Of that coun-
try. says writer in the Chicago Evening
Post. Frenchmen wishing a larger audi
ence for admired author may still trem-
bic at the awful risk of being misunder-
stood which he runs in the hands OF an
ordinary translator. But Mrs. Ward is no
ordinary translator. and the glory of
French letters is safe in her hands 1t is
pleasant to pay a debt, and if the French
feel now-as well they may-that Mrs.
Ward went to French history for the plot
Of her latest story it is no more than right
Lady Roses Daughter" now running as
a serial in Harpers Monthly is thought by
many to be Mrs Wards most successful
book. Those of US who are reading it. and
our name is legion, count the days until
the next installment. distressingly short, is
due
1t is, perhaps, early to draw a parallel
between this story and the history of Nine
Du Deffand and Mile. De Lespinasse, but
there are at least many interesting coin
cidences in the two tales.
whose salon in Paris was famous during
Mime. Du Deffand was a French woman
many years of the first half of the eight
eenth century. She was a great friend of
Horace Walpole, and, although he did not
hesitate 10 repeat in his gossiping way
some most unpleasant stories about her, he
greatly admired her wit and depended on
her for news Of French life from the inside.
''She can tell you great deal if she will"
he wrote a friend, "by which if 1 mean if
she will take the trouble. She loves me
better than all France. but she hates poll
tics"
For nearly sixty years she and Voltaire
were familiar correspondents, although the
King of Prussia is authority for the state
ment that she never wished to see Voltaire
when she could help it; because she said,
Il buy his mind for forms and thus enjoy
his works without exposing myself to his
malice" She was a strong minded woman
and singularly fearless about expressing
her mind. Il do not like TO pray in the
words of the Lords prayer" she said, mot
to be led into temptation. for 1 find that
temptation Is so very pleasant Another
70 be made good for fear that she might be
taken at her word. This was the woman
who, nearly sixty years old and almost
blind. invited Mile. De Lespinasse to share
her home.
Mile. Julie De Lespinasse, like Mrs
Wards Mile. Julie lie Breton, had a sad
childhood. shadowed by the same cloud,
though they both gained their early train
ing from their mothers. Here are the de-
scriptions of the two girls. Mrs. Ward
says: 1T was an effect as of something
oVerliving, overbrilliant an animation an
intensity so strong that at first beholding
a byStander could hardly tell whether il
pleased him or not" Mile. De LeSpinasse'S 5
biographers say of her; Her soul was in
tensely alive, ardent and active as fire"
THE abundance of her vitality radiated
from her like magnetic waves that cleo
trihed the coldest hearts. Both women
possess exquisite tact and the art of saying
the right thing to the right people, the gift
Of subtle fiattery and the power of making
their own personality more effective by
sinking it in that OF the person TO whom
they are talking. Neither one has beauty,
birth or fortune. The patrOness OF each
Ia an elderly lady famous for her social
gifts and the quality Of the persons who
frequent her drawing room. They, the pa
trOnesses are both nearly blind. and the
| quarrel in both cases is the result OF rival
ry-the jealousy of the elder woman of the
growing social popularity Of the younger.
In both cases does mademOiselle receive
some OF madame'S choicest friends an hour
| before the regular reception, when madame
| Is asleep and unsuSpecting OF such treason.
| The fondness Of Mile. lie Breton for wire
pulling is equaled by that Of Mile. De Les
| pinasss, who was accused Of using her in
| fluence with D'Alembert to the admittance
/ or exclusion OF certain men into the ACad-
! emy. OF which d D'Alembert was permanent
| secretary. DOrat, whom she did not like,
| attributed TO her various checks which he
/ met with in his academic ambitions and
| put the accusation into form in two COM
| edies Les Proneurs" and Merlin Bel
/ Esprit"
Nine. Du Deffand wrote to Mile De Les
| pinasse just before she joined her: There
/ is thing that YOU must understand. and
/ that is that any artifice or deceit, however
Il slight. in your conduct toward me would
| be insupportable. You must ma ke
| up your mind 10 live with me in all truth
| and sincerity: never resort 10 insinuatiou
| intrigue were two things that no one could
! accuse Mile De Lespinasse of. and Julie
| lie Breton's surreptitious visits TO the
| duchess and the various deceptions which
| she practices on Lady Henry are English
| manifestations Of similar nature. Those
| who choose to compare the friendship OF
/ Julie lie Breton and Delafield 10 that OF
| Julie De Lespinasse and D'Alembert car
| find resemblanCes, and IL is interesting &C
notice that neither of these young WOmeT
| hesitated 70 profit by the devotion of heI
| admirer, each one meantime being deeply
| IN love with another man. Ii is too soon tC
| compare WarkwOrth 10 De Mora or De
| GUibert
When Nine. Du Deffand found how hel
| companion was deceiving her she turned
her out OF doors as promptly as does LADY
! Henry under similar circumstances I'm the
| September installment OF Mrs. Ward
| story She would no longer ''nourish thi!
| viper I'm her bosom" The Duchesse De
| Luxembourg furnished apartment
| for Mile. De Lespinasse and sOm'
OF her friends secured pension