New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-10-15


which she began not very long ago n Inc To
nance OF nv Childhood and Youth" She no"
tells us how she came TO Paris In the COS ana
gradually made literary career for hersel
carving the record down 90 the establishment
20 her noted salon. She writes OF her profess
r,onal experiences and OF the friends she mace
among celebrated people. allowing US to per-
csive. beneath the surface OF her narrative the
domestic infelicity she owed 70 an uncongenia4
husband. NJ. Larnessine appears TO have been.
indeed a Positivist Of decidedly difficult traits
re vvorshipped Auguste comte, and bored MS
wife 10 death with laudation OF that oracle when
he was not Irritating her in other ways on which
NE need not dwell. But the lady had an m
dornitable spirit; her sorrows could not com
pletely dull the edge Of the pleasures Paris heId
sor one who was young and clever ana from the
rpretly recollections filling this book It Is plain
shst the author often had good times despite
matrimonial woes
when she came ND 20 Paris the brilliant city
was ettl IN possession OF many OF its most brill
ssnt celebrities Frederic Lenaitre," she says
An recording her hrst impressions OF him. had
no longer any teeth. he could hardly speak, nut
what expression IN his face, what gestures.
The sentence is souvenir Of one out OF many
Delightful evenings spent by Nine. Adam at the
theatre IN the best days OF the modern French
stage. She saw Rachel on the eve Of her depart
public Privately she began TO feel her way
as a writer. not only 20 put work Of her own INTO
,,rsrs hut 70 meet men OF letters The occasion
OF her debut as a Partisan Journalist was oroIA'
60 say the least. AlphOnse KarT hao saio IA tns
.ss,Aele" thst there was not In France single
Young or pretty woman who did not wear crlno-
fine He reckcned without the author OF THESE
"reminiscences EYES, MONSIEUR, she wrote 10
Karr, IN a note accompanying some Teflecuons
TnVTnCW
~ years old, who does not wear. and who has
never worn. crinoIine. There is one in France
IN the provinces, and e IS myseH-Juliette.
Her communication was promptly printed IN
full and as an author she was Launched phe
exuects 10 hear that the line she took was one
OF q light amusing nature, but as n1atpeF Oh
fact her hrst appearance between the covers
Of a book was made with the publication OF a
controversial essay, 'IdesS Anti-Prouohon-
iSnneS" IN which she took Up the eudgels
for George sand and Nine. d'Agoult against one
OF the hercest polemists OF the time. II II sur
prtses US Il certainly surprised her contempt
rarles. When she wrote Hetzel, whom she did
not know, about publishing the work. he replied
from Brussels, Either your book is very poor
or else you use checked handkerchiefs and prob
ably take snuff. I do not think that woman
doubtless ugly and very old. has any right TO
take ND arms regarding George Sand ana Daniel
Etern's youth or their present position against
Proudhon'' She petorted. when the book was
printed. by sending Hatzel a copy with these
words "A pretty woman TO a coarse boar"
in this episode and in the picture Nine. Adam
draws OF herself. writing "hattering dedica-
tions" In fifty copies Of her book and sending
them TO as many important writer's and Journal
iHts, we catch an amusing glimpse OF an author
on the threshold OF a career IN the Paris OF nifty
years ago. With the 'Idees' we have, however,
no concern to-day save in so far as the book
links the name OF its author with that OF one OF
the most conspicuous women Of her epoch.
Nine. dAgoult. perhaps better remembered BY
American readers as Daniel Stern" was a re-
markabls creature. Her friend does not pre-
cisely excuse but she cannot altogether resist
the glamour OF. her intrigue with Liszt Per-
haps she thinks. with one whom she quotes on
the subject. that the musician was more than
ordinarily responsible. when you know the
Comtessa d'Agoult," Ronchaud once said 10 her
s'when you win have been able to Judge Of her
serious, thoughtful. intelligent mind. so much
given 20 analysis and criticism you viii under
stand the fascination Liszt must exercise over
women for her, holding the social position she
owned. 20 have run away with him one night
from ball Just think! She broke with her
family, her society; she sacrificed honor. her
child, respected husband, for a mad impulse Of
passion! Have you never heard how a great.
noble Russian lady always had the floor OF her
drawing room strewn with flowers whenever she
expected a visit from Liszt?" Yet the woman
who surrendered Teekessly 10 the virtuoso
was, when Nine Adam knew her, a person Of
ElnguIarly dignihed character. "I have attained
the age OF manhood she used 70 say, and she
carried herself with a kind Of masculine serious
ness. The talk in her drawing room ran mostly
on politics. art and music, little on novels and
the theatre. She was not fond Of light. jocular
conversation. and would often throw cold water
on IL by feigning not TO understand IT," All
sorts OF people came together under her roof
Once she asked Paul de ST Victor to luncheon
with On operetta singeri Talent. without a
title. for which she cared no longer. seemed TO
her. under no matter what form, to possess its
own intrinsic value" The bitterness between
her and George Sand, Of course receives due at
tention from Nine. Adam. who seems to have
haa dreams OF reconciling these two tempest
tossed souls. She recalls one curious converse
ton with MHe. 6'AgOult IN which the latter
gave free rein 20 her contempt for her foe. It
does not make pretty reading. but II has a GER
tain interest as illustrating phase OF Partisan
life which has become historic
Il was at Nine. ~d'Agoults that the author OF
this book often met Bulow. then married to
CosiTns, her daughter and LISTS. and heard the
FIRST rumblings OF the battle which was soon to
so forward with such energy around the works
OF Wagner She saw the two together now and
then and gives this account of one OF their meet
ings:
II was interesting 20 watch him listening "a Wag-
ner one would have thought he was hearing for
Eas nIst time the piece composed by his favOrite
Wagner having just finished playing the prelude
% "LohengTtn' with orchestral power that was
ssi1.nPiy hnsEge!ions hans Won BuloW approached
Never has anything been written before 70 com.