en ever the same； intense and sad；〃 were among her last words。 〃I have loved God； my father； and liberty。〃 But she was a victim to the contradictory elements in her own nature； and walked always among storms。 This nature； so complex； so rich； so ardent； so passionate； could it ever have found permanent repose？
CHAPTER XIX。 THE SALONS OF THE EMPIRE AND RESTORATIONMADAME RECAMIER A Transition PeriodMme。 de MontessonMme。 de Genlis Revival of the Literary SpiritMme。 de BeaumontMme。 de RemusatMme。 de SouzaMme。 de DurasMme。 de Krudener Fascination of Mme。 RecamierHer FriendsHer Convent Salon ChateaubriandDecline of the Salon
In the best sense； society is born； not made。 A crowd of well… dressed people is not necessarily a society。 They may meet and disperse with no other bond of union than a fine house and lavish hospitality can give。 It may be an assembly without unity； flavor； or influence。 In the social chaos that followed the Revolution； this truth found a practical illustration。 The old circles were scattered。 The old distinctions were virtually destroyed； so far as edicts can destroy that which lies in the essence of things。 A few who held honored names were left； or had returned from a long exile； to find themselves bereft of rank； fortune； and friends； but these had small disposition to form new associations； and few points of contact with the parvenus who had mounted upon the ruins of their order。 The new society was composed largely of these parvenus； who were ambitious for a position and a life of which they had neither the spirit； the taste； the habits； nor the mellowing traditions。 Naturally they mistook the gilded frame for the picture。 Unfamiliar with the gentle manners； the delicate sense of honor； and the chivalrous instincts which underlie the best social life； though not always illustrated by its individual members； they were absorbed in matters of etiquette of which they were uncertain； and exacting of non…essentials。 They regarded society upon its commercial side； contended over questions of precedence； and； as one of the most observing of their contemporaries has expressed it； 〃bargained for a courtesy and counted visits。〃 〃I have seen quarrels in the imperial court；〃 she adds； 〃over a visit more or less long； more or less deferred。〃 Perhaps it is to be considered that in a new order which has many aggressive elements； this balancing of courtesies is not without a certain raison d'etre as a protection against serious inroads upon time and hospitality； but the fault lies behind all this； in the lack of that subtle social sense which makes the discussion of these things superfluous； not to say impossible。
It was the wish of Napoleon to reconstruct a society that should rival in brilliancy the old courts。 With this view he called to his aid a few women whose names； position； education； and reputation for esprit and fine manners he thought a sufficient guarantee of success。 But he soon learned that it could not be commanded at will。 The reply of the Duchesse d'Brantes； who has left us so many pleasant reminiscences of this period； in which she was an actor as well as an observer； was very apt。
〃You can do all that I wish；〃 he said to her； 〃you are all young； and almost all pretty； ah； well！ A young and pretty woman can do anything she likes。〃
〃Sire； what your Majesty says may be true；〃 she replied； 〃but only to a certain point。 If the Emperor； instead of his guard and his good soldiers； had only conscripts who would recoil under fire； he could not win great battles like that of Austerlitz。 Nevertheless； he is the first general in the world。〃
But this social life was to serve a personal end。 It was to furnish an added instrument of power to the autocrat who ruled； to reflect always and everywhere the glory of Napoleon。 The period which saw its cleverest woman in hopeless exile； and its most beautiful one under a similar ban for the crime of being her friend； was not one which favored intellectual supremacy。 The empire did not encourage literature； it silenced philosophy； and oppressed the talent that did not glorify itself。 Its blighting touch rested upon the whole social fabric。 The finer elements which； to some extent； entered into it were lost in the glitter of display and pretension。 The true spirit of conversation was limited to private coteries that kept themselves in the shade； and were too small to be noted。
The salon which represented the best side of the new regime was that of Mme。 de Montesson； wife of the Duc d'Orleans； a woman of brilliant talents； finished manners； great knowledge of the world； fine gifts of conversation； and； what was equally essential； great discrimination and perfect tact。 If her niece； Mme。 de Genlis； is to be trusted； she had more ambition that originality； her reputation was superior to her abilities； and her beauty covered many imperfections。 But she had experience； finesse； and prestige。 Napoleon was quick to see the value of such a woman in reorganizing a court； and treated her with the greatest consideration； even asking her to instruct Josephine in the old customs and usages。 Her salon； however； united many elements which it was impossible to fuse。 There were people of all parties and all conditions； a few of the nobles and returned emigres； the numerous members of the Bonaparte family； the new military circle； together with many people of influence 〃not to the manner born。〃 Mme。 de Montesson revived the old amusements； wrote plays for the entertainment of her guests gave grand dinners and brilliant fetes。 But the accustomed links were wanting。 Her salon simply illustrates a social life in a state of transition。
Mme。 de Genlis had lived much in the world before the Revolution； and her position in the family of the Duc d'Orleans； together with her great versatility of talent； had given her a certain vogue。 Author； musician； teacher； moralist； critic； poser； egotist； femme d'esprit； and friend of princes； her romantic life would fill a volume and cannot be even touched upon in a few lines。 After ten years of exile she returned to Paris； and her salon at the Arsenal was a center for a few celebrities。 Many of these names have small significance today。 A few men like Talleyrand； LaHarpe； Fontanes； and Cardinal Maury were among her friends；； and she was neutral enough； or diplomatic enough； not to give offense to the new government。 But she was a woman of many affectations； and in spite of her numerous accomplishments； her cleverness； and her literary fame； the circle she gathered about her was never noted for its brilliancy or its influence。 As a historic figure； she is more remarkable for the variety of her voluminous work； her educational theories； and her observations upon the world in which she lived； than for talents of a purely social order。
One is little inclined to dwell upon the ruling society of this period。 It had neither the dignity of past traditions nor freedom of intellectual expression。 Its finer shades were drowned in loud and glaring colors。 The luxury that could be commanded counted for more than the wit and intelligence that could not。
As the social elements readjusted themselves on a more natural basis； there were a few salons out of the main drift of the time in which the literary spirit flourished once more； blended with the refined tastes； the elegant manners； and the amiable courtesy that had distinguished the old regime。 But the interval in which history was made so rapidly； and the startling events of a century were condensed into a decade； had wrought many vital changes。 It was no longer the spirit of the eighteenth century that reappeared under its revived and attractive forms。 We note a tone of seriousness that had no permanent place in that world of esprit and skepticism； of fine manners and lax morals； which divided its allegiance between fashion and philosophy。 The survivors of so many heart…breaking tragedies； with their weary weight of dead hopes and sad memories； found no healing balm in the cold speculation and scathing wit of Diderot or Voltaire。 Even the devotees of philosophy gave it but a half…hearted reverence。 It was at this moment that Chateaubriand； saturated with the sorrows of his age； and penetrated with the hopelessness of its philosophy； offered anew the truths that had sustained the suffering and broken…hearted for eighteen centuries； in a form so sympathetic； so fascinating； that it thrilled the sensitive spirits of his time； and passed like an inspiration into the literature of the next fifty years。 The melancholy of 〃Rene〃 found its divine consolation in the 〃Genius of Christianity。〃 It was this spirit that lent a new and softer coloring to the intimate social life that blended in some degree the tastes and manners of the old noblesse with a refined and tempered form of modern thought。 It recalls； in many points； the best spirit of the seventeenth century。 There is a flavor of the same seriousness； the same sentiment。 It is the sentiment that sent so many beautiful women to the solitude of the cloister； when youth had faded and the air of approaching age began to grow chilly。 But it is not to the cloister that these women turn。 They weave romantic tales out of the texture of their own lives； they repeat their experiences； their illusions； their triumphs； and their disenchantments。 As the day grows more somber and the evening shadows begin to fall； they meditate； they moralize； they substitute prayers for dreams。 But they think also。 The drama of the late years had left no thoughtful soul without earnest convictions。 There were numerous shades of opinion； many finely drawn issues。 In a few salons these elements were delicately blended； and if they did not repeat the brilliant triumphs of the past； if they focused with less power the intellectual light which was dispersed in many new channels； they have left behind them many fragrant memories。 One is tempted to linger in these temples of a goddess half…dethroned。 One would like to study these women who added to the social gifts of their race a character that had risen superior to many storms； hearts that were mellowed and purified by premature sorrow； and intellects that had taken a deeper and m