The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-19


 ous literary and philosophic essays at the ago of lb. She was married at the age of 20 to the Swedish ambassador 10 France, the Baron de Stael-Holstein, who died after six years of not par ticularly happy life with his talented spouse. Madame dc Stael's philosophical reflections are always striking, If not al- ways profound. and she excelled in de- scriutiye writing tCorinne" is now the best known of all her writings. When 1t apr cared 1t was received with great en- thusiasm. Napoleon. who hated "ad- vanced" women in general and Madame de Stael in particular. waited in vain for the appearance of an unfavorable critique Then he sat down and wrote one himself--a savage one-for the Monitenr This naturally completed the popularity of the book. When an emperor cr1ti- cises the multitude reads.
 O swALD. LORD NEvIL. Scot
 tish nobleman. in tho year TEA O left his native country to pass the winter in Italy. He was young. possessed of an ample fortune, a fine mind. great name and a handsone person. But ms pbvsicians feared that his lungs were affected. he was in deep sorrow for the recent death of his father whom no iooi- izsd. had managed to collect a past at s5. and at that early age was already tired of life. Judged the future by the past, npd "no longer relished the illusions of the neart" He was of course in the army, and possesscd in aA eminent degree all. of the various attributes-including coh- sumption-which pertained to the true hero of romance in tho days of Byron and Madame de stael.
 Twice or thrice on tho voyage to Elm den the ship encountered storms, and m tho hour of peril Nevil. while toiling hini- self strenuously, directed the sailors. re- assured the passengers. and for mo- ment took the captains place. There was . viror and address in all he did which cou,d not be regarded as the simple ef- fects of personal strength and activits' Cor mind peryaded 1t all What the cap tain thought of thiA Is not recorded, but under the circumstances 1t was no Won- der that when Nevil landed all the rest or the ships company and the passengers gathered around him and cried with one voice, God bless you. my lord' we "ish you better -
 Oswald then crossed Germany ieisureis and stopped for time in the Tyroi. He there met young Frenchman, count d,Erfueil,a who was without funos' put ,v.. anxious to get to Rome. where ,Avacv awaited him. Lord Nevil was oe- lighted to be of assistance to the voia'le , Er.ncbman. and took him with him 70 pome. whither he shortly journeyed. os- ua,d reached Rome at night, and when he awoke the next morning the dazzling sun light of Italy met his view. His soui was oenetrated with sensations of love ana gratitude for that heaven which seemed to shine on him in those glorious beams. tJa heard the bells of numerous churcnes ringing and discharges of cannon from various distances. as if announcing some high solemnity.
 Irnon inouiring the cause he learned that vnost celebrated woman was about to ha crowned that day in the capitol-Co- rinne. the poetess and improvisatr1ce' ono of the loveliest women of Rome as well as the most talented, who had been ao- ,udved worthy to receive the great honor r,b,cb the Romans reserved for their high est literary celebrities. Oswald mingled with the throng which filled the streets waiting tho passage of Corinne to the canitol. and from the conversations no overheard tried to gather something con- cerninr this remarkable woman. One as- serted that her voice was tho most toucn- inr in Italy, ono that in tragic acting she had no peer and a third that she danced like a nymph-all agreed that no one had ever extemporized verses 50 sweet or written poetry so musical. No one could tell where she had lived or what she nao done before she began to daszls Rome Her real name even was unknown, she calling herself simply Corinne
 At last a burst of music announced the approach of the tr1urnpnal procession. ana in a car drawn by four snow-white steeds. surrounded, preceded and followed by the noblest and most famous at- tendants that Rome could furnish, Corinne passed to her triumph, while per fumes were thrown in the air, flowers surinkled before her and . long shout of Long live Corinne! Glory to beauty and renius!' rolled along the way. Oswald beheld a woman approaching So attired like Domenichino's sibyi. an Indian shawl twined about her luxuriant black ouris. . blue drapery falling over robe of vlr- gin white. Her attitude was noble and modest. It might. indeed. be perceived that she was content to be admired, yet q timid air blended with her joy and seemed to ask pardon for her triumph. The expression of her face, her eyes. her smile made Lord Nevil her friend at once. Her arms wers transcendently beautiful, her figure tall. and. as we fro ouently sec among Greek statues, rather robust-energetical characteristic of vouth and health. There was something inspired in her air. yet the manner in which she bowed her thanks betrayed . natural disposition sweetly contrasting to the pomp of her extraordinary situ- alton. .... sf
 Upon alighting from the car at the cap itol the nobies crowded around to offer their services to lead Corinns into tho building. She took the hand of Prince Castle Forte, . nobleman of bo who was most esteemed in Rome for his talents and character. The people applauded the choice.
 The coronation of Corinne with laurel wreath was performed according to the ancient modes. sonnets composed for the occasion being recited and discourse de- livered, the latter by Prince Castle Forte. Corinns herself at ono point in the csre- monies took her Tyre, and, breaking forth