New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-03
JULIE DE LESPINASSE.
Comtesse 6Albon's ("Lady Roses"
Daughter.

and away, the most popular place in French lit
erature. Paris publishers unanimously affirm
that the books that sell best are those in which
are narrated the sayings, doings and peccadil-
loes Of the women of quality OF esprit and
of the men of brilliancy of that picturesque pc
riod. Protagonists, such as Voltaire, Mar
montel, Diderot, Comtesse de BoufIlers lime.
Gu Chateet, dAlembert. Horace Walpole, the
Marquse du Derand, Nine. Recamier. Princesse
de Lieven. Nine. de Genlis and the Due de
Lewis have in their letters memoirs supplied
abundant facts and data which, copously and
discerningly edited by writers such as Comte
d'Haussonvile. NJ. de Nohac and the Vicom-
tesse de Noailles. present portraits as charming
from literary standpoint from an artistic
one pictures by Vatican. Boucher or Frag-
onard. Indeed, the writers who have directed
their efforts to the eighteenth century pride
themselves upon their successful rendering Of
graceful outline and of delicacy of color. But the
Marquis de Segur. whose remarkable book, Julie
de Lespinasse," recently published by Calmann-
Levy is substantiated by masses Of hitherto IN
published letters and documents, has accom-
plished his task with a thoroughness Of re-
search, suggestive. not OF the painters brush
but rather Of the diagnosis Of a relentless
pathologist Mile. de Lespinasse, the "grande
amoureuse' Of the eighteenth century. whose
extraordinary career furnished Mrs. Humphry
Ward with all the essential features Of her novel
Lady Roses Daughter" expressed the dying
wish that her letters should be burned. Her
desire was disregarded. All the notes and let
tiers brought to light during eight years search
bearing upon the origin and personality OF Julie
de Iespinasse have been arranged and sifted by
the Marquis de Segur. These documents set
forth in minute detail the sentimental attach
ments and liaisons of this bewitching, although
not beautiful. woman with d'Alembert, the pro-
found philosopher; with William Petty, Loro
Shelburne Minister under Pitt, who afterward
bore the title OF Marquis Of Lansdowne; win
the MARQUIS de Mora, the brilliant Spanish
colIrtier; with the Comte de GIibert, the young
soldier and writer. whose extraordinary Predic-
ton of the French Revolution was described
by Voltaire as a work of genius" and who was
In 177O the idol OF the Partisan salons june
de I,espinasse seems 10 have been the EVlAg
symbol of love. as we'll Of friendship, as &C.
veloped in the second half Of the eighteenth cen
fury by the writings OF J. j. Rousseau anu OF
Richardson. She was victim or TINS roiNA'I'c
oontagion Surely Julie de Lespinasse and her
woman friends, whom Horace NalpoIe met 30
frequently in Paris, must have been in thai keen
observers mind when. in reply to the question
.vho were the really agreeable persons whom
he had known" he replied: "a great many
French women, several Englishmen. a few Eng
fish women and a very few Frenchmen.
The MARQUIS de segur has infinitely traversed
the evidence bearing on Mile de Lespl-
masses birth. Her mother was the CoIntesSe
d,Albon. belonging TO one Of the Oldest 1alhlles
of the Ivonnais and separated from her nus
hand. The countess had formed halson WIN
her cousin, Comte Gaspard de Vichy' VINO was
1,,Iie's father II is a most extraordinary anu
revolving fact that seven years AFTER the DIi II
90 JuIie the Comte Gaspard de Vichy Cner
,r1E of
married Marie Camille Diane d'Albon, legiti-
$50 daughter of the Contesse d'Albon dulles
,,o,tar, Marie Camille Diane dAlbon, when
she thus became Comtesse Gaspard de Vichy'
,-ae +yventv-four years old. Co;nte G3spard de
vicnv was consequently not Only jules I2'Eer'
hut also her brothe--in-law. The domestic heart
,,,,~nngs caused by these conflicting coI-lpIiia-
,ions may well be imagined. When june at
tanned her sixteenth year her mother dled' ieaF-
inc her daughter small annuity. For the next
fo,,r -ears Julie lived at the austere' lonely
chateau Of ChaTnprond, near Macon In Ihe ram
il,- of the Conte and Comtesse Gaspard de
1richv. and acted as q sort Of governess to their
,hrae children. Brighter days dawned when
-,,ia left Champrond in April, 1914, to take up
~ residence with her fathers sister, the cele-
5-a+ed AIarouise du Defand, the former mistress
70 the regent friend of Voltaire, Of Diderot' OF
=, AIernbert of the President Henault and OF 4ur-
- md the woman who later on, when in her
-. aiobtb wear and almost blind, fell madly IN
love with Horace Walpoe. then forty-elght Who'
oddly enough, seemed for while TO nave re-
o;,rocated the evergreen marchioness's passion
,rba Gallon Of Mime. du Deffand was one, or
- ,-,os, brilliant in Paris Nile. de Lespinasse
80 - her most intimate friend and COM
tor T,Iie was not a beauty, but she was
IN a.,d pra cefuL Her features, without peins
.1or formed an agreeable ensemble. hcF
halr was dark brown. Her eyes were biack anu
-aud,relv intelligent. Her nose was turned
: - ,ba end Her mouth was rather large.
. da,neanor and her gestures were dlgnlhed
- s,,rressiye But her great charms were III
a.. .ranscendeIt intelligence and moplIiV OF
- 1aatures which, according to descriptions OF
49,, ,,e-iod reflected like mirror all the move
r,ar.s Of her mind and all the Ihpfessio'iS "a
rsr sopl" II have SEEM wrote GuIper'' CUM
,epances animated by Intellect by passion oy
,ov nv sorrow; but those subtle shaoes Oh
faction were unknown TO me until met Mile
= r .srirs sse - She was by turns gay grave
,-,ceI passionate; now exquisite In her ten
bs-ness and the next instant rep!ete' peheath
her fratl exterior. with magnetic force ana en-
orgy. always animated and artless' she ri'eIeu
| the attention of the most Indifferent ana De-
80 ,,,co,scioIsly the centre OF every gather
ing and the unique preoccupauoh Oh aii Who
| o,,,roached her. II have SEEN" continues Gull
- ..anatbetio hearts that she electrified and
inferior fntelIects that she elevated once SAID
! 10 her. You render marble sehsiu'o' anu you
make matter think"
| The arrival Of this remarkable young woman
| IN the salon of the Marouise du Defrand caused
| a couarnotion. She was Immediately surrounded
by aduirers Her first sentimental attachment