Chapter X. Social Classes

Chapter XI. Royal Mistresses

Chapter XII. Marie Antoinette and the Revolution

Chapter XIII. Women of the Revolution and the Empire

Chapter XIV. Women of the Nineteenth Century




PREFACE


Among the Latin races, the French race differs essentially in one
characteristic which has been the key to the success of French
women—namely, the social instinct. The whole French nation has always
lived for the present time, in actuality, deriving from life more of
what may be called social pleasure than any other nation. It has been
a universal characteristic among French people since the sixteenth
century to love to please, to make themselves agreeable, to bring joy
and happiness to others, and to be loved and admired as well. With
this instinctive trait French women have always been bountifully
endowed. Highly emotional, they love to charm, and this has become
an art with them; balancing this emotional nature is the mathematical
quality. These two combined have made French women the great leaders