New Britain herald., 1915-08-24
Il JVews for 7Hea1e Goers and Women Readers

but as soon as she was no longer with him he began to die himself, in spite or the ldolatry with which the whole "orld surrounded him. Gloomy, Wltn never smile, he scarcely spoke any more, ms eyes filled with tears as ii@, looked at the empty chair of h1s olo lflend, and he sought solitude
 Even his mighty genius weakened slowly, or at least he made no more eHort to externalize his powers since they could no longer make his aosenI friend happy. It seemed that she was calling to him from the other world. And when he died, three years later' nothing had been able to beguile him from his absorption and sorrow.
 This example is far from being unique, or I should not have cited IL, but is rather typical of the French character. Another striking case IS that of the great chemist, Marcellln Eerthelot. He, too, could not surVlVe the death of her who had shared all his life.
 Died Same Day as Wife.
 When she died he passed away mys- teriouSly on the evening of the very same day, and no one could discover if he had taken some poison to follow her immediately to the tomb, or if the violence of his sorrow had been sufficient to kill him. He was sur rounded by every honor, might have enjoyed many more peaceful years, and he had two sons who were full of affection for him.
 How many other charming or terri flying love stories l could cite Of famous Frenchmen!
 One of the most tragic is that of Danton, the great tribune of the revo- lution, While he was travelling his wife, whom he adored, died suddenly. He only learned it on his return seVen- teen days after they had buried her. His grief bordered on madness. Noth- ing could lessen it's frightful parox- ysms. He decided at any cost to see again her whom he had lost. He rushed to the cemetery, forced them to open the coffin, himself as- sisting in this sad work, and tearing the flesh from his hands in his haste.
 Threw Himself on Corpse
 When the remains of his poor young wife were exposed to the light he threw himself on her distgured face, covered it with kisses and tears,
 
 thou art always my life and my soul; everything of thee is beautiful, even in the horrors of death!"
 Although less terrifying the passion of Gen. Massena, whom we called the beloved child of victory,' was not less powerful. It was Mime. Recamier, the incomparable charmer, that he loved, and never did he engage in battle r. n rjhhnn w Sh 70 had given him. On every field of battle he placed it next to his heart.
 To come to modern times you know that those of our dear soldiers at the front today who have no wives or sis ters or mothers, have been adopted by the "marraines," or fostermothers, who write to them, spoil them," and do everything possible for them, and so help them to fight with more Suc- cess if not with more courage.
 This comparable place which the French woman often holds in the heart and in the imagination of the man of her country appears to her the supreme goal of her existence, the recompense of all her virtues and her sacrifices. Almost never does she de- sire anything else, and thus she makes of love an ideal without bounds, in WnlCn the CnlHaora HdS dS I1uCH place as the reality.
 But is this conception superior 10 the American conception, or is C rather the latter which is preferable? I am unable to say and feel myself incapable of deciding the question, l believe that each conception has the merit of being adapted to the intimate genius and morals of the race which holds it.
 If there is d touching beauty in love as the French conceive it, there is a granCuer and an abnegation not less touching in the American mar riagc, which seems to prepare the way for the total emancipation of woman and to admit her to perfect l equality With man. Thus is realized the desire of Stendhal, who said that l this equality would be the surest path to civilization, that it would l double the intellectual forces of the human race and it's probabilities of 1 happiness.