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of the eighteenth century was cradled。 Here sat the arbiters of manners； the makers of social success。 To these high tribunals came； at last； every aspirant for fame。
It was to the refinement； critical taste； and oral force of a rare woman； half French and half Italian； that the first literary salons owed their origin and their distinctive character。 In judging of the work of Mme。 De Rambouillet； we have to consider that in the early days of the seventeenth century knowledge was not diffused as it is today。 A new light was just dawning upon the world； but learning was still locked in the brains of savants； or in the dusty tomes of languages that were practically obsolete。 Men of letters were dependent upon the favors of noble but often ignorant patrons； whom they never met on a footing of equality。 The position of women was as inferior as their education； and the incredible depravity of morals was a sufficient answer to the oft…repeated fallacy that the purity of the family is best maintained by feminine seclusion。 It is true there were exceptions to this reign of illiteracy。 With the natural disposition to glorify the past； the writers of the next generation liked to refer to the golden era of the Valois and the brilliancy of its voluptuous court。 Very likely they exaggerated a little the learning of Marguerite de Navarre； who was said to understand Latin； Italian； Spanish； even Greek and Hebrew。 But she had rare gifts； wrote religious poems； besides the very secular 〃Heptameron〃 which was not eminently creditable to her refinement； held independent opinions； and surrounded herself with men of letters。 This little oasis of intellectual light； shadowed as it was with vices； had its influence； and there were many women in the solitude of remote chateaux who began to cultivate a love for literature。 〃The very women and maidens aspired to this praise and celestial manna of good learning；〃 said Rabelais。 But their reading was mainly limited to his own unsavory satires； to Spanish pastorals； licentious poems； and their books of devotion。 It was on such a foundation that Mme。 De Rambouillet began to rear the social structure upon which her reputation rests。 She was eminently fitted for this role by her pure character and fine intelligence； but she added to these the advantages of rank and fortune； which gave her ample facilities for creating a social center of sufficient attraction to focus the best intellectual life of the age； and sufficient power to radiate its light。 Still it was the tact and discrimination to select from the wealth of material about her； and quietly to reconcile old traditions with the freshness of new ideas； that especially characterized Mme。 De Rambouillet。
It was this richness of material； the remarkable variety and originality of the women who clustered round and succeeded their graceful leader； that gave so commanding an influence to the salons of the seventeenth century。 No social life has been so carefully studied； no women have been so minutely portrayed。 The annals of the time are full of them。 They painted one another； and they painted themselves； with realistic fidelity。 The lights and shadows are alike defined。 We know their joys and their sorrows； their passions and their follies； their tastes and their antipathies。 Their inmost life has been revealed。 They animate； as living figures； a whole class of literature which they were largely instrumental in creating； and upon which they have left the stamp of their own vivid personality。 They appear later in the pages of Cousin and Sainte…Beuve； with their radiant features softened and spiritualized by the touch of time。 We rise from a perusal of these chronicles of a society long passed away； with the feeling that we have left a company of old friends。 We like to recall their pleasant talk of themselves； of their companions； of the lighter happenings； as well as the more serious side of the age which they have illuminated。 We seem to see their faces； not their manner； watch the play of intellect and feeling； while they speak。 The variety is infinite and full of charm。
Mme。 de Sevigne talks upon paper； of the trifling affairs of every…day life； adding here and there a sparkling anecdote； a bit of gossip； a delicate characterization； a trenchant criticism； a dash of wit； a touch of feeling； or a profound thought。 All this is lighted up by her passionate love of her daughter； and in this light we read the many…sided life of her time for twenty…five years。 Mme。 de La Fayette takes the world more seriously； and replaces the playful fancy of her friend by a richer vein of imagination and sentiment。 She sketches for us the court of which Madame （title given to the wife of the king's brother） is the central figurethe unfortunate Princes Henrietta whom she loved so tenderly； and who died so tragically in her arms。 She writes novels too； not profound studies of life； but fine and exquisite pictures of that side of the century which appealed most to her poetic sensibility。 We follow the leading characters of the age through the ten…volume romances of Mlle。 de Scudery； which have mostly long since fallen into oblivion。 Doubtless the portraits are a trifle rose…colored； but they accord； in the main； with more veracious history。 The Grande Mademoiselle describes herself and her friends； with the curious naivete of a spoiled child who thinks its smallest experiences of interest to all the world。 Mme。 de Maintenon gives us another picture； more serious； more thoughtful； but illuminated with flashes of wonderful insight。
Most of these women wrote simply to amuse themselves and their friends。 It was only another mode of their versatile expression。 With rare exceptions； they were not authors consciously or by intention。 They wrote spontaneously； and often with reckless disregard of grammar and orthography。 But the people who move across their gossiping pages are alive。 The century passes in review before us as we read。 The men and women who made its literature so brilliant and its salons so famous； become vivid realities。 Prominent among the fair faces that look out upon us at every turn； from court and salon； is that of the Duchesse de Longueville； sister of the Grand Conde； and heroine of the Fronde。 Her lovely blue eyes； with their dreamy languor and 〃luminous awakenings；〃 turn the heads alike of men and women； of poet and critic； of statesman and priest。 We trace her brief career through her pure and ardent youth； her loveless marriage； her fatal passion for La Rochefoucauld； the final shattering of all her illusions； and when at last； tired of the world； she bows her beautiful head in penitent prayer； we too love and forgive her； as others have done。 Were not twenty…five years of suffering and penance an ample expiation？ She was one of the three women of whom Cardinal Mazarin said that they were 〃capable of governing and overturning three kingdoms。〃 The others were the intriguing Duchesse de Chevreuse； who dazzled the age by her beauty and her daring escapades； and the fascinating Anne de Gonzague； better known as the Princesse Palatine； of whose winning manners； conversational charm； penetrating intellect； and