Roland's Story of her Own Life--A Marriage of Reason--Enthusiasm
for the Revolution--Her Modest Salon--Her Tragical Fate

CHAPTER XVIII. MADAM DE STAEL
Supremacy of Her Genius--Her Early Training--Her Sensibility--A
Mariage de Convenance--Her Salon--Anecdote of Benjamin Constant--
Her Exile--Life at Coppet--Secret Marriage--Close of a Stormy Life

CHAPTER XIX. SALONS OF THE EMPIRE AND RESTORATION--MADAME RECAMIER
A Transition period--Mme. De Montesson--Mme. De Genus--Revival
of the Literary Spirit--Mme. De Beaumont--Mme. De Remusat--Mme. De
Souza--Mme. De Duras--Mme. De Krudener--Fascination of
Mme. Recamier--Her Friends--Her Convent Salon--Chateaubriand
Decline of the Salon



CHAPTER I. SALONS OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY
Characteristics of French Woman--Gallic Genius for Conversation
--Social Conditions--Origin of the Salons--Their Power--Their
Composition--Their Records.

"Inspire, but do not write," said LeBrun to women. Whatever we
may think today of this rather superfluous advice, we can readily
pardon a man living in the atmosphere of the old French salons,
for falling somewhat under the special charm of their leaders.
It was a charm full of subtle flattery. These women were usually
clever and brilliant, but their cleverness and brilliancy were
exercised to bring into stronger relief the talents of their
friends. It is true that many of them wrote, as they talked, out