the women of the french salons-第43章
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sick of that house whither all the pretended beaux esprits and false savants go； and where they are very impertinent and dogmatic。〃
The real power of this woman may be difficult to define； but a glance at her society reveals； at least partly； its secret。 Nowhere has the glamour of a great name more influence than at Paris。 A few celebrities form a nucleus of sufficient attraction to draw all the world； if they are selected with taste and discrimination。 After the death of Fontenelle； d'Alembert； always witty； vivacious； and original； in spite of the serious and exact nature of his scientific studies； was perhaps the leading spirit of this salon。 Among its constant habitues were Helvetius； who put his selfishness into his books； reserving for his friends the most amiable and generous of tempers； Marivaux； the novelist and dramatist； whose vanity rivaled his genius； but who represented only the literary spirit； and did not hesitate to ridicule his companions the philosophers； the caustic but brilliant and accomplished Abbe Morellet； who had 〃his heart in his head and his head in his heart；〃 the severe and cheerful Mairan； mathematician； astronomer； physician； musical amateur； and member of two academies； whose versatile gifts and courtly manners gave him as cordial a welcome in the exclusive salon at the Temple as among his philosophical friends； the gay young Marmontel； who has left so clear and simple a picture of this famous circle and its gentle hostess； Grimm； who combined the SAVANT and the courtier； Saint…Lambert； the delicate and scholarly poet； Thomas； grave and thoughtful； shining by his character and intellect； but forgetting the graces which were at that time so essential to brilliant success； the eloquent Abbe Raynal； and the Chevalier de Chastellux； so genial； so sympathetic； and so animated。 To these we may add Galiani； the smallest； the wittiest； and the most delightful of abbes； whose piercing insight and Machiavellian subtlety lent a piquant charm to the stories with which for hours he used to enliven this choice company； Caraccioli； gay； simple； ingenuous； full of Neapolitan humor； rich in knowledge and observation； luminous with intelligence and sparkling with wit； and the Comte de Crentz； the learned and versatile Swedish minister； to whom nature had 〃granted the gift of expressing and painting in touches of fire all that had struck his imagination or vividly seized his soul。〃 Hume； Gibbon； Walpole； indeed every foreigner of distinction who visited Paris； lent to this salon the eclat of their fame； the charm of their wit； or the prestige of their rank。 It was such men as these who gave it so rare a fascination and so lasting a fame。
A strong vein of philosophy was inevitable； though in this circle of diplomats and litterateurs there were many counter…currents of opinion。 It was her consummate skill in blending these diverse but powerful elements； and holding them within harmonious limits； that made the reputation of the autocratic hostess。 The friend of savants and philosophers； she had neither read nor studied books； but she had studied life to good purpose。 Though superficial herself； she had the delicate art of putting every one in the most advantageous light by a few simple questions or words。 It was one of her maxims that 〃the way not to get tired of people is to talk to them of themselves； at the same time； it is the best way to prevent them from getting tired of you。〃 Perhaps Mme。 Necker was thinking of her when she compared certain women in conversation to 〃light layers of cotton wool in a box packed with porcelain； we do not pay much attention to them； but if they were taken away everything would be broken。〃
Mme。 Geoffrin was always at home in the evening； and there were simple little suppers to which a few women were invited。 The fare was usually little more than 〃a chicken； some spinach； and omelet。〃 Among the most frequent guests were the charming； witty； and spirituelle Comtesse d'Egmont； daughter of the Duc de Richelieu； who added to the vivacious and elegant manners of her father an indefinable grace of her own； and a vein of sentiment that was doubtless deepened by her sad little romance； the Marquise de Duras； more dignified and discreet； and the beautiful Comtesse de Brionne； 〃a Venus who resembled Minerva。〃 These women； with others who came there； were intellectual complements of the men； some of them gay and not without serious faults； but adding beauty； rank； elegance； and the delicate tone of esprit which made this circle so famous that it was thought worth while to have its sayings and doings chronicled at Berlin and St。 Petersburg。 Perhaps its influence was the more insidious and far reaching because of its polished moderation。 The 〃let us be agreeable〃 of Mme。 Geoffrin was a potent talisman。
Among the guests at one time was Stanislas Poniatowski； afterwards King of Poland。 Hearing that he was about to be imprisoned by his creditors； Mme。 Geoffrin came forward and paid his debts。 〃When I make a statue of friendship； I shall give it your features；〃 he said to her； 〃this divinity is the mother of charity。〃 On his elevation to the throne he wrote to her； 〃Maman； your son is king。 Come and see him。〃 This led to her famous journey when nearly seventy years of age。 It was a series of triumphs at which no one was more surprised than herself； and they were all due； she modestly says； 〃to a few mediocre dinners and some petits soupers。〃 One can readily pardon her for feeling flattered； when the emperor alights from his carriage on the public promenade at Vienna and pays her some pretty compliments； 〃just as if he had been at one of our little Wednesday suppers。〃 There is a charm in the simple naivete with which she tells her friends how cordially Maria Theresa receives her at Schonbrunn； and she does not forget to add that the empress said she had the most beautiful complexion in the world。 She repeats quite naturally； and with a slight touch of vanity perhaps； the fine speeches made to her by the 〃adorable Prince Galitzin〃 and Prince Kaunitz； 〃the first minister in Europe；〃 both of whom entertained her。 But she would have been more than a woman to have met all this honor with indifference。 No wonder she believes herself to be dreaming。 〃I am known here much better than in the Rue St。 Honore；〃 she writes； 〃and in a fashion the most flattering。 My journey has made an incredible sensation for the last fifteen days。〃 To be sure； she spells badly for a woman who poses as the friend of litterateurs and savants； and says very little about anything that does not concern her own fame and glory。 But she does not cease to remember her friends； whom she 〃loves； if possible； better than ever。〃 Nor does she forget to send a thousand caresses to her kitten。
A messenger from Warsaw meets her with everything imaginable that can add to the comfort and luxury of her journey； and on reaching there she finds a room fitted up for her like her own boudoir in the Rue St。 Honore。 She accepts all this consideration with great modesty and admirable good sense。 〃This tour finished；〃 she writes to d'Alembert； 〃I feel that I shall have seen enough of men and things to be convinced that they are everywhere about the same。 I have my storehouse of reflections and comparisons well furnished for the rest of my life。 All that I have seen since leaving my Penates makes me thank God for having been born French and a private person。〃
The peculiar charm which attracted such rare and marked attentions to a woman not received at her own court； and at a time when social distinctions were very sharply defined； eludes analysis； but it seems to have lain largely in her exquisite sense of fitness； her excellent judgment； her administrative talent； the fine tact and penetration which enabled her to avoid antagonism； an instinctive knowledge of the art of pleasing； and a kind but not too sensitive heart。 These qualities are not those which appeal to the imagination or inspire enthusiasm。 We find in her no spark of that celestial flame which gives intellectual distinction。 In her amiability there seems to be a certain languor of the heart。 Her kindness has a trace of calculation； and her fri
