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ming in tears；〃 but he adds； 〃I well perceived the cold and feeble passages； which they passed over in silence； as well as those where I had mistaken the word； the tone of nature； or the just shade of truth。〃 He refers to the beautiful； witty； but erring and unfortunate Mme。 de la Popeliniere； to whom he read his tragedy； as the best of all his critics。 〃Her corrections；〃 he said； 〃struck me as so many rays of light。〃 〃A point of morals will be no better discussed in a society of philosophers than in that of a pretty woman of Paris；〃 said Rousseau。 This constant habit of reducing thoughts to a clear and salient form was the best school for aptness and ready expression。 To talk wittily and well； or to lead others to talk wittily and well； was the crowning gift of these women。 This evanescent art was the life and soul of the salons； the magnet which attracted the most brilliant of the French men of letters； who were glad to discuss safely and at their ease many subjects which the public censorship made it impossible to write about。 They found companions and advisers in women； consulted their tastes； sought their criticism； courted their patronage； and established a sort of intellectual comradeship that exists to the same extent in no country outside of France。 Its model may be found in the limited circle that gathered about Aspasia in the old Athenian days。
It is perhaps this habit of intellectual companionship that； more than any other single thing； accounts for the practical cleverness of the Frenchwomen and the conspicuous part they have played in the political as well as social life of France。 Nowhere else are women linked to the same degree with the success of men。 There are few distinguished Frenchmen with whose fame some more or less gifted woman is not closely allied。 Montaigne and Mlle。 de Gournay； La Rochefoucauld and Mme。 de La Fayette； d'Alembert and Mlle。 de Lespinasse； Chateaubriand and Mme。 Recamier； Joubert and Mme。 de Beaumontthese are only a few of the well…known and unsullied friendships that suggest themselves out of a list that might be extended indefinitely。 The social instincts of the French； and the fact that men and women met on a common plane of intellectual life； made these friendships natural； that they excited little comment and less criticism made them possible。
The result was that from the quiet and thoughtful Marquise de Lambert； who was admitted to have made half of the Academicians； to the clever but less scrupulous Mme。 de Pompadour； who had to be reckoned with in every political change in Europe； women were everywhere the power behind the throne。 No movement was carried through without them。 〃They form a kind of republic；〃 said Montesquieu； 〃whose members； always active； aid and serve one another。 It is a new state within a state； and whoever observes the action of those in power； if he does not know the women who govern them； is like a man who sees the action of a machine but does not know its secret springs。〃 Mme。 de Tenein advised Marmontel； before all things； to cultivate the society of women； if he wished to succeed。 It is said that both Diderot and Thomas； two of the most brilliant thinkers of their time； failed of the fame they merited； through their neglect to court the favor of women。 Bolingbroke； then an exile in Paris； with a few others； formed a club of men for the discussion of literary and political questions。 While it lasted it was never mentioned by women。 It was quietly ignored。 Cardinal Fleury considered it dangerous to the State； and suppressed it。 At the same time； in the salon of Mme。 de Tenein； the leaders of French thought were safely maturing the theories which Montesquieu set forth in his 〃Esprit des Lois；〃 the first open attack on absolute monarchy； the forerunner of Rousseau； and the germ of the Revolution。
But the salons were far from being centers of 〃plain living and high thinking。〃 〃Supper is one of the four ends of man；〃 said Mme。 du Deffand； and it must be admitted that the great doctrine of human equality was rather luxuriously cradled。 The supreme science of the Frenchwomen was a knowledge of men。 Understanding their tastes； their ambitions； their interests； their vanities； and their weaknesses； they played upon this complicated human instrument with the skill of an artist who knows how to touch the lightest note； to give the finest shade of expression； to bring out the fullest harmony。 In their efforts to raise social life to the most perfect and symmetrical proportions； the pleasures of sense and the delicate illusions of color were not forgotten。 They were as noted for their good cheer； for their attention to the elegances that strike the eye； the accessories that charm the taste； as for their intelligence； their tact； and their conversation。
But one must look for the power and the fascination of the French salons in their essential spirit and the characteristics of the Gallic race； rather than in any definite and tangible form。 The word simply suggests habitual and informal gatherings of men and women of intelligence and good breeding in the drawing…room； for conversation and amusement。 The hostess who opened her house for these assemblies selected her guests with discrimination； and those who had once gained an entree were always welcome。 In studying the character of the noted salons； one is struck with a certain unity that could result only from natural growth about a nucleus of people bound together by many ties of congeniality and friendship。 Society； in its best sense； does not signify a multitude； nor can a salon be created on commercial principles。 This spirit of commercialism； so fatal to modern social life； was here conspicuously absent。 It was not at all a question of debit and credit； of formal invitations to be given and returned。 Personal values were regarded。 The distinctions of wealth were ignored and talent； combined with the requisite tact； was； to a certain point； the equivalent of rank。 If rivalries existed； they were based upon the quality of the guests rather than upon material display。 But the modes of entertainment were as varied as the tastes and abilities of the women who presided。 Many of the well…known salons were open daily。 Sometimes there were suppers； which came very much into vogue after the petits soupers of the regent。 The Duchesse de Choiseul； during the ministry of her husband； gave a supper every evening excepting on Friday and Sunday。 At a quarter before ten the steward glanced through the crowded rooms； and prepared the table for all who were present。 The Monday suppers at the Temple were thronged。 On other days a more intimate circle gathered round the tables； and the ladies served tea after the English fashion。 A few women of rank and fortune imitated these princely hospitalities； but it was the smaller coteries which presented the most charming and distinctive side of French society。 It was not the luxurious salon of the Duchesse du Maine； with its whirl of festivities and passion for esprit； nor that of the Temple； with its brilliant and courtly； but more or less intellectual； atmosphere； nor that of the clever and critical Marechale de Lux