New-York tribune., 1908-05-31
GirE6ood of Nine. de |fael

recognized the child's extraordinary mental powers
and, wishing make the most Of them. she
crammed the little head with lessons until she
came running it. Every hour OF the poor
little girls life was regulated. Her play -e-
strained. and she expected 10 stand, sit and
move by rule. All this she tried DO, but she
could change her nature. and when away from
her mother she always her own natural and
charming self
Her father fortunately, understood her much
better and they were always great friends. One
day. after dinner. when Nine. Necker had left the
table 20 attend to some household matter, Ger
maine who had been sitting there very properly.
suddenly threw her napkin at ". Necker's head.
Then. running round TO him. she flung her arms
about his neck and smothered him with kisses.
finally leading him into dance around the table
until the sound Of Nine Neckers returning foot
steps sent them both back their seats. They
tried to look II nothing had happened. but were
betrayed by the fact that during the frolic NJ
Necker had managed 20 get his wig turned back TO
front.
Under Nine Necker's wrong system Of educa-
tion her daughters mind developed much more
rapidly than il ought 10 have done. At ten years
OF age she used her mothers salons. sit
ting a low stool her side, and the learned
men who freQuented them loved talk to her.
At fifteen her mind is said 10 have been as ma
ture as other peoples at twenty-five.
Then came the publication of the Compile Rendu.
The excitement of this event and the intense sym
pathy she felt for her father proved too much
for Germaine's already overtaxed strength. and
she became seriously i'll. A famous physician
consulted. and he at what the mat
ter All serious studies be laid aside, he said.
The child he allowed 10 grow in body well
as mind. IN the open air. The advice
welcome 10 the patient. She was like Gagged
bird that had gained its freedom. With her cousin
she roamed through the woods Of St. Ouen from
morning till night. They dressed themselves
nyrnphs and muses.. decained verses. composed
poems and acted plays At the same time Ger
maine was able 10 Of her father than
was possible when he constantly occupied with
affairs Of state. and this The greatest OF all
measures 10 her Altogether this time Of her be
lated childhood was very beautiful and must have
been beautiful memory during the stormy scenes
Of her later life. But Nine. Necker always mourned
over her daughters unfinished education, and when
al Europe prasing Nine. de Staels books,
she said: She is nothing, absolutely nothing, 10
what could have made her
Al twenty Gerrnaine Necker married the Baron
de Stael Holstein. Swedish Ambassador to France,
and not very long after this event the French Rev
olr,tfon broke out She sympa thized with the Rev
o1ltion AT first but recoiled with horror from the
crimes afterward committed in the Of liberty,
and never lost an opportunity TO rescue the victims
of the upheaval-whether they were her friends or
her enernies-from death. from prison, or from ex-
5le These things made her very obnoxious to the
people who thought they could only preserve the
nltlfc safety by cutting OF other peoples heads,
nd sbe was often great danger herself. She was
accused of abusing her amhassadoral privileges
and Of neddling in things that did not concern
her-sirnply for the sake OF doing o; but even If