The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-07-02
The Brilliant
Madame De SfaeF.

dame de Stael was written by Mrs Sam
uel VIII John, one of Birmingham most
gifted literary women and close student
of French history:
Anne Marie Louise Necker was born at
Paris in 1866 at the beginning of the
most important era In the history of civil
lied Europe. Her parents were remark
able persons. Her father, James Necker,
plain citizen of Geneva, began life as
a clerk in bankers office at Paris, be-
coming a partner by industry and integ-
rity, coptrived to amass large fortune
and acquired a lofty reputation.
Standing high both In popular and
courtly estimation, he was appointed
comptroller general of finance after the
accession Of Louis XVI. History tells of
greater statesmen but few better men
than Necker.
Madame Necker daughter OF a Swiss
Protestant minister of high repute for
piety and talent, was distinguished both
for her beauty and intellectual powers.
Springing from such parentage, 1t Is no
wonder that Madame de Stael was the
incarnation OF genius and impulse. She
seemed to have entered life with a feel
ing of confidence, and bade defiance to
fate.
The very mention of her name is assoc
clated with host of brilliant images
and ideals which group themselves
around, with herself as the central fig
ure. The profound Glbbon, Louis de
Narbonne Talleyrand, the subtlest, deep
est intellect Of his time; Constant. her
attached ally, these formed the circle of
which she was center.
The times In which she lived saw the
great social earthquake which overthrow
the oldest dynasty in Europe. Her life,
though only prolonged a half century,
was coeval with that series of great
events which for magnitude and meaning
have no parallel in human history in
some of which she took a prominent part
and by which she was more or less af-
fected. She being born while the house
of Bourbon was at the height of its
splendor, lived to see It's return after Its
tragic downfall; saw the rise and fall of
Napoleons meteor-star She reached the
pinnacle of her fame while he was laying
the foundation of his. She, shattered and
wayworn, was beginning to look forward
to her final rest when his career was
closed In defeat and exile.
1t was In the first bright dawn of the
| revolution when new impulse was given
to thought. new ideas agltating the most
earnest minds, that Madame de Stael
seemed to be the genius OF the times,
born of and for them
Her literary reputation rising rapidly.
she attained a dangerous one as a VIII
and prodigy.
Passionately fond of brilliant society in
which she moved, she set at naught all
| OF It's conventionalities and restraints,
which men forgave In consideration of
genius, and women of her ugliness
Her intellect was preternaturally devel-
oped, but her heart was never touched
In her marriage with Eric Baron de
Stael, handsome man of noble birth
and good character. The three years
which followed her marriage were prob
ably the happiest of her life. She lived In
Paris the center of a varied and brilliant
society, where she could give free scope
to her conversational powers, her great
distinction
AT this period the frivolty of French
society was fast wearing away under the
influence Of the great events which were
casting their shadows before them The
times were pregnant with tina. st .anga
excitement which gives to social inter-
course its most vivid charm.
The grandest events were struggling
for birth, the greatest lntellects were
braclng themselves for a struggle such
as the world had not before seen.
Everything was hurrying onward to
that grand issue of which Paris was to
be the theatre, and the father of Ma
dame de Stael the guiding and presiding
genius. These days soon passed then
followed the Reign of Terror. Now the
sterling qualities of her character came
forth; all was lost; her father discarded;
her monarch slain: her society scattered,
and Paris lost its charm. Stir she re-
manned, as Necker's daughted was SIN
loved by the people; and as an ambassa-
doris wife she was inviolable as any one
could be In those dreadful days. Situated
In the very center of action and elevated
by her understanding to the height of
the principles of liberty. her excitement
and suffering were only equaled by her
exertons to rectfy, sustain and amelio-
rate. With an indomltable energy, I'M
firing zeal and true feminine devotion,
she made use of both of her titles and in
fiuence to save her friends. She Joined
friends In England and soon gathered
around her an agreeable society.
When something like regular govern
ment was re-esta blished In France In IT9S
permitted the Swedish ambassador to re-
sumo his functions, she returned 10 Paris
and lived happily till the establishment
of Napoleonic rule. II Napoleon was the
greatest man of his time. she was no less
the most eminent woman. Both loved in
fiuence, and neither would succumb to
the influence of the other. All of the en-
peror's prestige and power could not ex-
tort from her submission and applause
Their hatred was instructive and almost
physical Bonaparte feared, prosecuted