New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-10
NINE. DE POMP4DOUR.
III. de NOIhac'S Neu Collection Of
Her Letters.
Paris, March q.

dour and Louis XIV, comprising letters from
the favorite to Voltaire and the Due de Rich
ellen: the journal Of the Due de Luynes; the
diary of the Prince de Croy; some quaint cps
ties from Poisson, the favorite's father to va
rious members OF his singular family, and
manuscripts written by the Marshal de Sake
and by the Able de Montesquiou-a recently I'M
earthed by NJ. Pierre de Nolhac, guardian OF the
Palace Of Versailles-reveal new and interesting
facts concerning the. remarkable woman VINO
for twenty years governed France, reversed the
anti-Austrian policy OF Louis XIV and pre-
pared the way for the Revolution Nj &c
Nohac who publishes an this in compact
little volume recently brought out by Camann-
Ikyv under the title of "I.cus XIV ct Madame
de Pompadour." is saturated In the spirit OF
Versailles where he has lived for the last twenty
years He has written \ dozen books about the
court Of Louis XIV and has, in short, accom-
pIished for that easygung monarch and his
coUrtiers very much what NJ Frederick Mason
has done for Napoleon 1 and the BonaparteA
NJ de Nolhac has stripped the gilt edged req
heelad figures that dwelt at Versailles OF popu-
lar fantastic myths and legends, and pre-
scented them in their real light and at their true
values. In his latest book he has succeeded IN
giving sort OF cnematographic view. as IL
were. of the court of Versailles, beginning with
the brilliant fete Of February % 1745. when,
under uretence OF celebrating the marriage OF
the D1uphin with the Infanta OF Spain, tho
King presented the Pompadour. then Mime
dEtioles nee Poisson" to his astonished cour-
tiers This picturesque cinematograph runs on |
TO the year 1753 when the favorite Us an exam /
pie of her supreme power banished from France /
the Jesuits who had illuminated her to the
Queen. with the same memorable win an IN |
shown to-day by Premier Combes In his ex- |
rulsion OF the religious orders which refused to |
To he of
public.
The beautiful and accomplished Pompadour |
and her father the pere Poisson: the coarse but |
cunning mere Poisson, and all the little Pois- |
sons consisting OF brother uncles. nieces anc |
nephews. formed ambitious, scheming, plot |
ting tribe that suggests a striking parallel with
the famous Humbert family of our own time. 4
Poisson, the father, n swindler, who Dor
rowed money a tremendous scale on abso-
Iutely false pretences, and barely escaped the |
sentence OF death for his crimes by timely |
journey across the frontier. During his forced |
absence from France 'pere Poisson" was COM
placentiy aware that his charming little daugb- |
ter, already appropriately nicknamed "Reinette~
cIittIe Queen'O, was being educated by Nine |
Po!sson's lover who married her to his own |
nephew. lie Normant dEtioles. and sent her
forth in pink gown and sky blue sledge to hunt |
the King IN the forest of Senart- The young /
finding discretion more practical than heroisn,
soon learned to absent himself timely occa-
sions." A sly little Poisson" cousin named
Binet, who was employed as one Of the royal
footnen at Versailles, instrumental In CIV
ing his fair relative access to the Kings prom
enade. The adroit angling of the Poisson fam
lily with such irresistible bait as the captivating
"Renette," who was then at the height Of the
beauty of her twenty-three years, moro
successful than could ever have been expected.
"Renette" at once gave proof OF marvellous
tact. She managed 70 win the sympathy OF the
Queen. and she realized the almost impossible
task of bringing in as. In sort, silent part
ners in her ambitious schemes for her own ag-
grandzement, such men rs Voltaire and the
Marshal de SAKE.
She made Voltaire "gentilhomme de Chambre
du Roi" post that brought to the author of
la Henriade" q salary OF 10000 Iivres- There
are amusing descriptions of Votaire cour
tier that make a picturesque foil to his subse-
uuent career poet and compani. n to Frederick
the Great votaire who owed his election to
the French Academy to Nine de Pompadour fell
Into disgrace owing TO the tactless unmeasured
aattery bestowed in his verses upon Louis XIV.
who was vain but by means fool, and also
IN his crotesque, III bred ecomiums on his bene-
factress The poet annoyed and bored the King
nv his insupportable familiarity, by his habit
of monopolizing the conversation. even when the