CLEVER. WOMEN OF FRANCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2433, 31 October 1900, Page 68

CLEVER. WOMEN OF FRANCE.

(Canadian Magazine.)

France stands in the forefront of nations which have produced striking examples of clever and brilliant women ; ond few among them was more remarkable than Mo dame de Sevigne, bom in Paris some 270 years ogo. In her youth she had ever}'- educational advantage, and she made the best use of her opportunities — studied hard, read much, was carefully taught in the language and literature of her own country, and soon became proficient in the Latin, Italian, and Spanish languages. At the early age of 17 she married the Marquis de Sevigne, the marriage proving an unhappy one. Only seven years afterwards the Marquis Avas killed in a duel, leaving his widow and a family of two, a son and daughter, to mourn his loss. This daughter became the celebrated Madame de Grignan. The beaxifcy of the widow de Sevigne, added to ter many accomplishments, won her hosts of friends and admirers ; it is said her " lovers were legion," and that her hand was sought by noblemen of the best blood of France. ' She, however, spurned all offers of marriage ; devoted all her care, attention, and affections to her only daughter, one who was, like herself, beautiful, graceful, and accomplished. Madame de Sevigne' s fame rests on her published 'Xetters," addressed chiefly to her daughter. While hers was not a genius whose re-suits are seen in voluminous work, she established an enduring reputation by these " Letters," which are still widely read and admired. They reflect lustre on herself, her country, and her countiy's literature, and they still retain their place as a French classic.

There is no more convincing proof of women's mastery over some of the profoundest intellects of Europe than that furnished by the women of the French salons. It might, indeed, be said of some of them who presided over these famous gatherings that they wielded the destinies, of France ; it is at any rate no exaggei'ation to say that they exercised an abiding and farreaching influence upon its society, politics, and literature. Many of them far from represented an ideal type of womanhood, but others maintained a reputation for social decorum and uprightness which commanded respect and admiration. Tliey cultivated the art of conversation to a degree never before attempted ; and never since their days have there been known sud? coteries of brilliant talkers. Around these salons rallied the cleverest minds — the foremost citizens of France, and not infrequently those of England, Italy, and other countries. The ladies who comjiosed them fostered the spirit of learning and literature, were themselves possessed of no mean intellects, and capable of discussing questions of state and -scholarship with the ablest and keenest men off letters. "It was really Voltaire," remarked Goethe, " who excited such minds as Diderot, D'Alcmberfc, and Beaumarchais, for to be somewhat near bim a man needed to be much, and could take no holidays." And yet at least one gifted Frenchwoman (the Marquise dv Chatelefc) was regarded as his equal in scientific acumen and discussion, a foeman worthy of his steel in the arena of debate — one who was " deep in mathematics, and had mastered the mysteries of Newton's ' PrUici^k-i' - But %_ MMh. greater naiae

than hers, and a woman of a far different' * stamp, was Madame de Stael, the daughter of Necker, the famous .Minister of Finance under Louis XVI. Hers is a familiar name, not^only in .Fiance, but -fa readers of French literature in every hand ; as familiar, indeed, as George Eliot is to the English reader. She wrote much — wrote wisely and well, and her best books achieved a reputation which does not diminish. Her attractions and qualities as a woman, apart from her literary work and worth, were such as to distinguish her far above the generality of accomplished women. For many years she wrote incessantly ; volume aftsr volume followed each other in rapid succession on a variety of subjects ; and among them some novels of such high rank as to procure for their author a European reputation. She was a bitter opponent of the first Napoleon, and gave him more uneasiness than half the crowned heads of Europe. It was concerning her the remark was made that " Napoleon, with a million armed men under his command, and half Europe at his feet, sat down in rage and affront to urge Fouche to send a little woman over the frontiers lest she should say something about" him for the drawing rooms at Paris ~to laugh at." Her opposition to Napoleon finally culminated_-in her .banishment from • the French capital. During her exile she .travelled extensively in Europe, and for a • time took up her residence in the English, metropolis. There she produced some of her best works. It is now some, 80 years ■ since she died, and since that event fewcareers have been more conspicuous than hers in the world of letters — there is certainly no greater name among women in the literature of France.