The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-15

:
| most accomplished women OF tho South
wcro educated, was established In that
| city In 1912.
OF her daughter, MADAME La Generate.
rs shc was afterwards called, whose
sparkling bon mots ,nre still repeated In
Wnshington; Mrs. Gouverneur says: "Sho
was woman of grent intellectual power,
developed by generous culture. and her
personal magnetism was such that when
calling with hor ut the White House. tho
visitors leaving tho residing mistress
and receiving party would gather about
her, entrnnccd by her brilliant CONVERSE
tional ability and snlles OF wit"
In 1928 during the reign of Louis
In Paris. and from her vouminous cor
respondence with Mrs. Gouvcrneur tho
following is extracted:
II have been introduced to the good
md brave General Lafayette and his
family. On Wednesday he came with
his son to SEQ us. Tin, pictures exhibited
OF him nrc correct likrnest'ns, and his
manners arc MS benevolent as his counter.
ance. He has n soiree every Tuesday
evening, and we have gladly accepted
his pressing invitations ito attend them.
Hc lives in tho Rue d Anjou. where he
has n suite of small. neat apartments
Illuminated for the reception OF his
guests. We made our debut there ut {,
O'clock. and found them crowded
Among the ttrong were many celebrated
personages, for the distinguished OF oil
nations nre oyer ready to do homage to
the virtuous patriot OF La Grange.
At these soirees the greatest ense pre-
walls. The refreshments nrc simple and
plentiful. md in compliment to the En-
glish md Americans tea Is served.
mr. ~ oa1 \. 49,,
Wo again saw Sir CHARLES and Lady
Morgan; and Mrs. Opic, the English
autfloress.
Then there was the orator, BenjnmIn
Constant: pale thin man with light
blue eyes. and snowy hair, looking as II
he were far on the way to the other
world NJ. dc Marbois who wrote the
history OF Louisiana, and Count Philip de
Legur. considered the ablest military
historian OF the age. were also among
the guests. We were introduced, too, 10
Madame de Gcnls. the celebrated French
Louis Philippe. and this morning was
appointed for visit to her. On nrrv-
Ing at hcr residence we were conducted
upstairs by tidy femme dc Chambre.
and ushered through a small plainly
furnished bed room into an apartment,
which from variety OF contents. might
DO likened to Nnah's ark. Besides the
usual furniture Of n parlor. there was a
harp piano, guitar. n folding screen,
and several tables piled with books, pa
pers, baskets boxes etc. The venerable
authoress occupied an arm chair near
the window
VIGOROUS AT EIGHTY-TUO.
Her delicate. regular features and fair
skin. indicate forme- beauty. Her nose
is aduiline and her eyes clear blue. Az
they arc weak she Is obliged to protect
them with o shade. but although SO years
old, has never used glasses. She wore
q black silk gown and simple muslin
cap and as soon as We We're seated en-
tered into conversation with vivacty
which surprised us. We were still more
astonishcd at her vanity, in RECALLING us
with her own achievements. She told us
that she often prncticed on the harp and
composed OH the piano at the same time ,
and while reciting verses aloud with
strict attention to punctuation and en-
phasis could read passage from any
author. and tell you in regular order
every idea expressed in 1t.
cited the instance OF Charles XII, of
Sweden. who, while playing a game OF
chess. could dictate a letter She took
no notice Of this. but proceeded to praise
her novel entitled Alfred the great
which she considers her best production.
She plays on seven instruments. and
knows flfty-two. trades. such as sewing.
knitting, spinning. weaving. embroider-
ing. making baskets, weaving purses &c.
We saw on the mantel a snu1 box that
her ci-devnnt pupil. Mademoiselle dor
leans. had sent her. On the Id she had
painted harp entwined with gar
land Of flowers, while. below was the
sentence: "Cest votre ouvnge"
We have had the pleasure too of again
meeting Lady Morgan. the volumInous
Irish writer and found her very agree
able. We had been told she was ugly,
and although we did not think her so,
she certainly rouges too highly, dresses
too girlishly. and is altogether too desir-
Gus Of admiration. This cannot DO said
of Mrs. Opie, who was as plain'fn her
attire as dark gray silk and white
muslin kcrchief and cap could make her.
On Friday we awaited ourselves of Gen.
Lafayettes invitation to visit his country
seat.
Rising early and accomplishing n part
of our journey, we had breakfast OF cor-
fee, eggs, and bread and butter at VII
lage some distance from Paris. and af-
ter resting our horses went on so rapid
ly as to- reach La Grange In time for
dinner. There we met with cordial
reception, and were presented to a num-
Der OF distinguished guests, among them
being Count dc Tracy the father Of
Madame George Lafayette, the Generals
daughter-ln-law; and Monsieur Constant.
the intimate friend Of MADAME dc Stael,
and the leader OF the liberal party in the
Chamber Of Deputies.
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