The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-04

fore, demonstrative. While oonoeding that
amenity was no doubt her best policy and
department part Of her creed, our author
thinks that there must have been real
social amiability about her, and that
visitor at her court was probably truthful
when he records that she had a most beau
tiful manner, and that both in her words
and her gestures she sought to please
everybody" This need Of pleasing
brought her plenty Of work. The innumer-
able letters which she wrote to plead for
proteges or to get them suitable posts
were q work, II not Of kindness, at least OF
benevolenoe.
1t also Ia to be noted as for her time and
position q very rare achievement that
Catherine de Medici should have kept her
reputation intact living as she did In an
age Of signal immortality, when illegitimate
love affairs constituted part Of the normal
life Of almost every great lady For
Princess to 60 entirely unscathed by
malicious tongues would, indeed, have
been impossible, but the few scandals
breathed against Catherine obtained scant
credence, even at the time, and mani
testify were inventions OF her enemies.
In word. she Is here pronounced the most
respectable bad woman on record; but her
responsibility is attributed to want OF
inclination, Of temperament, not to any
standard Of conduct That she had no
moral principle is evident from her deal
ings with other women. as with her flying
squadron" Of attendants. for whom she
deliberately planned liaisons do conre-
nance for political purposes. Her severity
was reserved not for the crime, but for
the criminal who allowed it to be found
out. Before q breach Of decorum or any
moral clumsiness she was implacable.
and the ladies who could not keep their
faults to themselves were vigorously ex-
PEELED from her court. Her own immunity
from blame shows that she was not at any
rate the slave Of low impulses, but it proves
no sort OF moral scruple. To say that
she was free from prejudice is to say little;
she was incapable Of forming any judg-
ments save those dictated by personal
convenience. This freedom from prejudice
produces the effect, to some extent real,
OF a large mind. But the largeness that
proceeds from fine proportions Is one thing.
that which comes from emptiness an
other and GATHERINGS mind had the width
OF an unfurnished room in a marble palace
vast, mysterious, unlived in and peril
ously cold"
It is true enough, as our author admits,
that Catherine de Medici would be almost
intolerable to read about had she not been
unhappy. Unhappy. In truth she was, in
public as in private life Her tears were
too often warranted. and the want Of some
al Hv,,c OF trio 70 hnr
She was very lonely woman. Il know
wrote one who saw her often, that she
has many times been found in her closet
weeping; but of sudden she hath dried
her eyes, dissembled her sorrow, and, to
the end that she might deceive those who
would Judge OF the true state OF affairs
by the expression Of her countenance. she
hath shown herself to the world with a
calm and joyous mien." One day, however,
the Spanish envoy saw her break down.
As she was coming from the Council Cham
Der she took him by the hand. why do
you smile?" said she. will your Majesty
allow me to tell your Speak she re-
piled sharply. We'll, your Majesty's eyes
are swollen with sleep, one would think
you were waking from dream" 1T is
but too true" she answered. as the tears
rushed to her eyes, Il have every reason
to appear dreamy. for alone and single
handed bear the burden Of affairs. You
would be amazed she continued. III you
understood what has just happened. no
longer know in whom trust Through
veal and wo, nevertheless. her dauntless
spirit wore its regal armor-polished and
curiously inlaid, like the Renaissance corse-
let's in museums, -She it is writes
Correr, one OF the Amb assadors from
Venice, who has preserved at court the
only vestige OF royal majesty which is still
to be found there. That Is the reason why
have ever rather pitied than blamed her. .
Here, again, says our author, one feels
how thoroughly the Queen-Mother was q
woman.
1t is we'll known that Catherine de Medic
had abundant and abiding cause for grief.
One feeling she had. apart from ambition
and self-interest, one feeling that slumbered
deep, like some subterranean current In her
enigmatic nature, prompting deeds and pro-
ducine results that the world has ascribed
to other causes. This feeling was her
love for her husband. love that was never
reauited The fact has been too much
| overlooked in the general interest that
surrounds his specifically romantic attach
ment to Diane de Poitiers. Catherine,
SLOW to complain" kept her secret with
| dignity.
1t is. in truth. impossible not to admire
the dignity with which she bore this trial
"She never reproaohed him. and she served
him faithfully with a wistfui and thankless
devotion. Perhaps the primitive woman
in her came out most clearly in this-that
she kept her love for the one being who
spurned her. Henri even reused fear in
her, and this caused certain shyness.
which made her awkward in his presence
and probably prevented her from pleasing
the naturally taciturn King. But her
sentiment influenced her life in ways that
| have hardly been recognized. II kept her
from rebelling against his wishes. even
when for her they meant indignity; and
had 1t not been for this attachment, she
would not have waited for his death to Dust
Diane de Poitiers." It was not till she was
q widow that she told her trouble. to the one
oonhdante she had In the world, the only