New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-16

part In the government Of unhappy
France 1t is possible that she was
more or less handicapped by a deter
mination TO paint one who on the can
vas might be called FRANCHISE, Fine
Creature. For as such she consistently
represents the lady.
Some excellent inheritances did Agrippa
d'Aubigne, stout Protestant soldier. his
torian and satirist leave to his grand
daughter. What she had Of intellectual
strength and force OF character might
well have come from him, for his only
son, her father, was a vicious wretch
A childhood OF poverty and humiliation
was that Of Francoise, tempered on oc-
casion by the kindness or the charity OF
feminine relatives. When at sixteen she
was married to the helpless cripple and
brilliant playwright, Paul Scarron, and
took the role Of patient nurse, fate might
hardly be thought kind. Yet in this
marriage was the foundation Of all that
was 10 give her a place in the great
world The man on his couch Of relent-
less pain taught the girl to think, taught
her his own accomplishments, gave her
something Of the rich culture that was
his and brought her into the cleverest
society in France. All that was sweetest
in her came 10 the surface for the com
torting of her invalid. She worked Tor
him and. after the fashion of the time
begged money for him from the state
gentle and gay and tactful, she presided
over a household whose straits FOR lack
81 funds were sometimes severe NOT
ions heCore his death Scarron gave
srat"tr. testimony 10 his wife's merits;
in record Of their eight years together
s. one which discounts the scandal
,nongerjng of those who hated and IN
! later days enyied FRANCHISE. We may
4 concede TO Lady Blennerhassett that IN
her sad and difficult youth the wife OF
Scarron was a fine creature. 1t is much
IN her favor that Nine. de Sevlgne was
her faithful friend and admirer, and III
her letters had nothing sharp to say OF
her as Of others.
The snecial effect Of FRANCHISE. the
Young widow. living-mostly In conVeh's
on a moderate pension from the court
was one Of simplicity, dignity and re-
eneroent She turned 10 religion, and
reached middle life pious, PRACTICAL
udicious woman, making no display OF
her moderate brains and undoupted
beautv. Her confessor thought ne per
ceived some pardonable feminine CO
ouetry under her dignified guise. My
very honored lady" he said. you wear
nothing but wool; but when you kneei
before me these stuffs fall in such grace
full folds over your feet that somehow
think It too perfect" She took his ad-
vice to cease shining in conversation ana
became more and more devoted 10 her
religious duties She had no particular
occupation, and seemed fitting ana
convenient person 10 act as eoverness OF
the children OF the King and Nine. de
Montespan. In this character the Fine
Creature distinguished herself by calm
pood sense-a quality not too prevalent
In the Sun Kings court. Louis once
praised the little Due du Maine for being
reasonable. How could it be other
wise" said the seven ear-old, my gov
erness being Reason herseli| OF the
health and manners Of her charges she
took excellent care. That they had no
particular requirements and mental dis
tinction when they grew up was prob
. bly, not entirely her fault. The King
disliked FRANCHISE at first, IL is said, but
lie was a fond father. and after while
gave genuine friendship. an estate and
title 10 the woman who was so truly
devoted 10 his children. Presently he
began 10 rely upon her judgment and TO
find content in her presence. She became
more than any other human being the
guide Of his conscience, such as il was
This is the FRANCHISE in the middle
period Of her life as our admiring author
sees her she was not without her
crafty and polite traits. but these Lady
Blennerhasset hastily and lightly skips
over. The widow was comey person on