Sophie Arnould.

Otago Witness, Issue 1915, 3 August 1888, Page 37

Sophie Arnould.

The witty sayings of Sophie Arnould are legion, and have furnished matter for more than one volume of " ana." Many of those attributed to her are of doubtful authenticity ; the following, however, are generally allowed to be genuine :—: —

The Marquis de Letorie, immortalised in our own day by Dejazet, was considered the handsomest man of bis time. Being smitten with the charms of a fair actress, whose rapacity was equal to her beauty, he presented her with his portrait, first showing it, however, to Sophie.

"You are as handsome as Cupid," said Mademoiselle Arnould, but "your Danae would rather have the King's picture than yours !"

Bedaine happening to pay her visit after the failure of one of his pieces, this disaster was alluded to in the course of conversation. The dramatist blamed himself for having chosen an unlucky moment for its prodnction, and concluded by saying, figuratively, that " the pear was not ripe." " That has not hindered it from falling," replied Sophie. One day, while walking in the Bois de Boulogne, she met a physician of her acquaintance carrying a gun. " Which way are you going, yon and your gun ?" she asked. 11 To see a patient at Longchamps," he replied. " That looks," said Sophie, " as if you were afraid of missing him."

A certain marquis having received a sound caning, and not appearing disposed to resent the insult:

"Mow can he allow the matter to rest; there?" asked some one.

"Bah I" said Sophie, " don't you see that he had sense enough not to care about what passes behind his back?*'

A very pretty woman, but withont tfce slightest pretension to wit, or even common sense, was once complaining of the importunity of her numerous admirers.

" Nothing is easier," remarked Mademoiselle Arnquld, "than to get rid of them altogether; you have only to Bpeak to them." ;-. The Abbe Terray, who was made"con-troleur-general dcs finances "in 1769, did not* scruple to sacrifice the interests of private* individuals to those of the .State. This jro-

cared him many enemies, one of the most violent of whom was Sophie. On the Abbe's appearing in public in the depth of winter-, carrying a magnificent muff, she exelalnied 1

" What does he want with a muff ? His hands are always in our pockets." — " All the Yes-v Bound."