the women of the french salons-第55章

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y。　　As　centers　of　serious　conversation　they　were　distinctly　stimulating。　　It　is　quite　possible　that　they　stimulated　the　intellect　to　the　exclusion　of　the　more　solid　qualities　of　character；　and　that　they　were　the　source　of　a　vast　amount　of　affectation。　　It　was　the　fashion　to　have　esprit；　and　those　who　were　deficient　in　an　article　so　essential　to　success　were　naturally　disposed　to　borrow　it；　or　to　put　on　the　semblance　of　it。　　But　no　phase　of　life　is　without　its　reverse　side；　and　the　present　generation　cannot　claim　freedom　from　pretension　of　the　same　sort。　　It　is　not　unlikely　that　in　expanding　the　intelligence　they　established　new　standards　of　distinction；　which　in　a　measure　weakened　the　old　ones。　　But　if　they　precipitated　the　downfall　of　the　court　they　began　by　rivaling；　it　was　in　the　logical　course　of　events；　which　few　were　wise　enough　to　foresee；　much　less　to　determine。

It　is　worthy　of　remark　that　this　reign　of　women；　in　which　the　manners　and　forms　of　modern　society　found　their　initiative　and　their　models；　was　not　a　reign　of　youth；　or　beauty；　though　these　qualities　are　never　likely　to　lose　their　own　peculiar　fascination。　　It　was；　before　all　things；　a　reign　of　intelligence；　and　ascendency　of　women　who　had　put　on　the　hues　of　age　without　laying　aside　the　permanent　charm　of　a　fully　developed　personality。　　It　was　intelligence　blended　with　practical　knowledge　of　the　world　and　with　the　graceful　amenities　that　heightened　while　half　disguising　its　power。　　The　women　of　the　present　have　different　aims。　　They　are　no　longer　content　with　the　role　of　inspirer。　　Their　methods　are　more　direct。　　They　depend　less　upon　finesse；　more　upon　inherent　right　and　strength。　　But　it　is　to　the　women　who　shone　so　conspicuously　in　France　for　more　than　two　hundred　years　that　we　may　trace　the　broadened　intellectual　life；　the　unfettered　activities；　the　wide　and　beneficent　influence　of　the　women　of　today。


CHAPTER　XVII。　SALONS　OF　THE　REVOLUTIONMADAME　ROLAND　Change　in　the　Character　of　the　SalonsMme。　de　CondorcetMme。　Roland's　Story　of　Her　Own　LifeA　Marriage　of　Reason　　Enthusiasm　for　the　RevolutionHer　Modest　SalonHer　Tragical　Fate

The　salons　of　the　Revolution　were　no　longer　simply　the　fountains　of　literary　and　artistic　criticism；　the　centers　of　wit；　intelligence；　knowledge；　philosophy；　and　good　manners；　but　the　rallying　points　of　parties。　　They　took　the　tone　of　the　time　and　assumed　the　character　of　political　clubs。　　The　salon　of　1790　was　not　the　salon　of　1770。　　A　new　generation　had　arisen；　with　new　ideals　and　a　new　spirit　that　made　for　itself　other　forms　or　greatly　modified　the　old　ones。　　It　was　not　led　by　philosophers　and　beaux　esprits　who　evolved　theories　and　turned　them　over　as　an　intellectual　diversion；　but　by　men　of　action；　ready　to　test　these　theories　and　force　them　to　their　logical　conclusions。　　Mirabeau；　Vergniaud；　and　Robespierre　had　succeeded　Voltaire；　Diderot；　and　d'Alembert。　　Impelled　towards　one　end；　by　vanity；　ambition；　love　of　glory；　or　genuine　conviction；　these　men　and　their　colleagues　turned　the　salon；　which　had　so　long　been　the　school　of　public　opinion；　into　an　engine　of　revolution。　　The　exquisite　flower　of　the　eighteenth　century　had　blossomed；　matured；　and　fallen。　　Perhaps　it　was　followed　by　a　plant　of　sturdier　growth；　but　the　rare　quality　of　its　beauty　was　not　repeated。　　The　time　was　past　when　the　gentle　touch　of　women　could　temper　the　violence　of　clashing　opinions；　or　subject　the　discussion　of　vital　questions　to　the　inflexible　laws　of　taste。　　No　tactful　hostess　could　hold　in　leading　strings　these　fiery　spirits。　　The　voices　that　had　charmed　the　old　generation　were　silent。　　Of　the　women　who　had　made　the　social　life　of　the　century　so　powerful　and　so　famous；　many　were　quietly　asleep　before　the　storm　broke；　many　were　languishing　in　prison　cells；　with　no　outlook　but　the　scaffold；　some　were　pining　in　the　loneliness　of　exile；　and　a　few　were　buried　in　a　seclusion　which　was　their　only　safeguard。

But　nature　has　always　in　reserve　fresh　types　that　come　to　the　surface　in　a　great　crisis。　　The　women　who　made　themselves　felt　and　heard　above　the　din　of　revolution；　though　by　no　means　deficient　in　the　graces；　were　mainly　distinguished　for　quite　other　qualities　than　those　which　shine　in　a　drawing　room　or　lead　a　coterie。　　They　were　either　women　of　rare　genius　and　the　courage　of　their　convictions；　or　women　trained　in　the　stern　school　of　a　bitter　experience；　who　found　their　true　milieu　in　the　midst　of　stirring　events。　　The　names　of　Mme。　de　Stael；　Mme。　Roland；　and　Mme。　de　Condorcet　readily　suggest　themselves　as　the　most　conspicuous　representatives　of　this　stormy　period。　　With　different　gifts　and　in　different　measure；　each　played　a　prominent　role　in　the　brief　drama　to　which　they　lent　the　inspiration　of　their　genius　and　their　sympathy；　until　they　were　forced　to　turn　back　with　horror　from　that　carnival　of　savage　passions　which　they　had　unconsciously　helped　to　let　loose　upon　the　world。

The　salon　of　the　young；　beautiful；　and　gifted　Mme。　de　Condorcet　had　its　roots　in　the　old　order　of　things。　　During　the　ministry　of　Necker　it　was　in　come　degree　a　rival　of　the　Salon　Helvetique；　and　included　many　of　the　same　guests；　later　it　became　a　rendezvous　for　the　revolutionary　party。　　The　Marquis　de　Condorcet　was　not　only　philosopher；　savant；　litterateur；　a　member　of　two　academies；　and　among　the　profoundest　thinkers　of　his　time；　but　a　man　of　the　world；　who　inherited　the　tastes　and　habits　of　the　old　noblesse。　　His　wife；　whom　he　had　married　late　in　life；　was　Sophie　de　Grouchy；　sister　of　the　Marechal；　and　was　noted　for　remarkable　talents；　as　well　as　for　surpassing　beauty。　　Belonging　by　birth　and　associations　to　the　aristocracy；　and　by　her　pronounced　opinions　to　the　radical　side　of　the　philosophic　party；　her　salon　was　a　center　in　which　two　worlds　met。　　In　its　palmy　days　people　were　only　speculating　upon　the　borders　of　an　abyss　which　had　not　yet　opened　visibly　before　them。　　The　revolutionary　spirit　ran　high；　but　had　not　passed　the　limits　of　reason　and　humanity。　　Mme。　de　Condorcet；　who　was　deeply　tinged　with　the　new　doctrines；　presided　with　charming　grace；　and　her　youthful　beauty　lent　an　added　fascination　to　the　brilliancy　of　her　intellect　and　the　rather　grave　eloquence　of　her　conversation。　　In　her　drawing　room　were　gathered　men　of　letters　and　women　of　talent；　nobles　and　scientists；　philosophers　and　BEAUX　espritS。　　Turgot　and　Malesherbes　represented　its　political　side；　Marmontel；　the　Abbe　Morellet；　and　Suard　lent　it　some　of　the　wit　and　vivacity　that　shone　in　the　old　salons。　　Literature；　science；　and　the　arts　were　discussed　here；　and　there　was　more　or　less　reading；　music；　or　recitation。　　But　the　tendency　was　towards　serious　conversation；　and　the　tone　was　often　controversial。

The　character　of　Condorcet　was　a　sincere　and　elevated　one。　　〃He　loved　much　and　he　loved　many　people；〃　said　Mlle。　de　Lespinasse。　　He　aimed　at　enlightening　and　regenerating　the　world；　not　at　overturning　it；　but；　like　many　others；　strong　souls　and　true；　he　was　led　from　practical　truth　in　the　pursuit　of　an　ideal　one。　　His　wife；　who　shared　his　political　opinions；　united　with　them　a　fiery　and　independent　spirit　that　was　not　content　with　theories。　　Her　philosophic　tastes　led　her　to　translate　Adam　Smith；　and　to　write　a　fine　analysis　of　the　〃Moral　Sentiments。〃　　But　the　sympathy　of　which　she　spoke　so　beautifully；　and　which　gave　so　living　a　force　to　the　philosophy　it　illuminated；　if　not　directed　by　broad　intelligence　and　impartial　judgment；　is　often　like　the　ignis　fatuus　that　plays　over　the　poisonous　marsh　and　lures　the　unwary　to　destruction。　　For　a　brief　day　the　magical　influence　of　Mme。　de　Condorcet　was　felt　more　or　less　by　all　who　came　within　her　circle。　　She　inspired　the　equable　temper　of　her　husband　with　her　own　enthusiasm；　and　urged　him　on　to　extreme　measures　from　which　his　gentler　soul　would　have　recoiled。　　When　at　last　he　turned　from　those　scenes　of　horror；　choosing　to　be　victim　rather　than　oppressor；　it　was　too　late。　　Perhaps　she　recalled　the　days　of　her　power　with　a　pang　of　regret　when　her　friends　had　fallen　one　by　one　at　the　scaffold；　and　her　husband；　hunted　and　deserted　by　those　he　tried　to　serve；　had　died　by　his　own　hand；　in　a　lonely　cell；　to　escape　a　sadder　fate；　while　she　was　left；　after　her　timely　release　fro