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shading； but with the cardinal doctrine of freedom and equality pervading it all； had found a rapidly growing audience。 It no longer needed careful nursing； in the second half of the century。 It had invaded the salons of the haute noblesse； and was discussed even in the anterooms of the court。 Mme。 de Pompadour herself stole away from her tiresome lover…king to the freethinking coterie that met in her physician's apartments in the Entresol at Versailles； and included the greatest iconoclasts of the age。 If she had any misgivings as to the outcome of these discussions； they were fearlessly cast aside with 〃Apres Nous le Deluge。〃 〃In the depth of her heart she was with us；〃 said Voltaire when she died。
There were clairvoyant spirits who traced the new theories to their logical results。 Mme。 du Deffand speaks with prophetic vision of the reasoners and beaux esprits 〃who direct the age and lead it to its ruin。〃 There were conservative women； too； who used their powerful influence against them。 It was in the salon of the delicate but ardent young Princesse de Robecq that Palissot was inspired to write the satirical comedy of 〃The Philosophers；〃 in which Rousseau was represented as entering on all fours； browsing a lettuce； and the Encyclopedists were so mercilessly ridiculed。 This spirited and heroic daughter…in…law of the Duchesse de Luxembourg； the powerful patroness of Rousseau； was hopelessly ill at the time； and； in a caustic reply to the clever satire； the abbe Morellet did not spare the beautiful invalid who desired for her final consolation only to see its first performance and be able to say； 〃Now； Lord； thou lettest thy servant depart in peace； for mine eyes have seen vengeance。〃 The cruel attack was thought to have hastened her death； and the witty abbe was sent to the Bastille； but he came out in two months； went away for a time； and returned a greater hero than ever。 There is a picture； full of pathetic significance； which represents the dying princess on her pillow； crowned with a halo of sanctity； as she devotes her last hours to the defense of the faith she loves。 One is reminded of the sweet and earnest souls of Port Royal； but her vigorous protest； which furnished only a momentary target for the wit of the philosophers； was lost in the oncoming wave of skepticism。
The vogue of these men received its final stamp in the admiring patronage of the greatest sovereigns in Europe。 Voltaire had his well…known day of power at the court of Frederick the Great。 Grimm and Diderot； too； were honored guests of that most liberal of despots； and discussed their novel theories in familiar fashion with Catherine II； at St。 Petersburg。 The reply of this astute and clear…sighted empress to the eloquent plea of Diderot may be commended for its wisdom to the dreamers and theorists of today。
〃I have heard； with the greatest pleasure； all that your brilliant intellect has inspired you to say； but with all your grand principles； which I comprehend very well； one makes fine books and bad business。 You forget in all your plans of reform the difference of our two positions。 You work only on paper； which permits everything； it is quite smooth and pliant； and opposes no obstacles to your imagination nor to your pen； while I； poor empress； I work upon the human cuticle； which is quite sensitive and irritable。〃
It is needless to say that the men so honored by sovereigns were petted in the salons； in spite of their disfavor with the Government。 They dined； talked； posed as lions or as martyrs； and calmly bided their time。 The persecution of the Encyclopedists availed little more than satire had done； in stemming the slowly rising tide of public opinion。 Utopian theories took form in the ultra circles； were insidiously disseminated in the moderate ones； and were lightly discussed in the fashionable ones。 Men who talked； and women who added enthusiasm； were alike unconscious of the dynamic force of the material with which they were playing。
Of the salons which at this period had a European reputation； the most noted were those of Mme。 du Deffand； Mlle。 de Lespinasse； and Mme。 Geoffrin。 The first was the resort of the more intellectual of the noblesse； as well as the more famous of the men of letters。 The two worlds mingled here； the tone was spiced with wit and animated with thought； but it was essentially aristocratic。 The second was the rallying point of the Encyclopedists and much frequented by political reformers； but the rare gifts of its hostess attracted many from the great world。 The last was moderate in tone； though philosophical and thoroughly cosmopolitan。 Sainte…Beuve pronounced it 〃the most complete； the best organized； and best conducted of its time； the best established since the foundation of the salons； that is； since the Hotel de Rambouillet。〃
〃Do you know why La Geoffrin comes here？ It is to see what she can gather from my inventory；〃 remarked Mme。 de Tencin on her death bed。 She understood thoroughly her world； and knew that her friend wished to capture the celebrities who were in the habit of meeting in her salon。 But she does not seem to have borne her any ill will for her rather premature schemes； as she gave her a characteristic piece of advice： 〃Never refuse any advance of friendship；〃 she said； 〃for； if nine out of ten bring you nothing； one alone may repay you。 Everything is of service in a menage if one knows how to use his tools。〃 Mme。 Geoffrin was an apt pupil in the arts of diplomacy； and the key to her remarkable social success may be found in her ready assimilation of the worldly wisdom of her sage counselor。 But to this she added a far kinder heart and a more estimable character。
Of all the women who presided over famous salons； Mme。 Geoffrin had perhaps the least claim to intellectual preeminence。 The secret of her power must have lain in some intangible quality that has failed to be perpetuated in any of her sayings or doings。 A few commonplace and ill…spelled letters； a few wise or witty words； are all the direct record she has left of herself。 Without rank； beauty； youth； education； or remarkable mental gifts of a sort that leave permanent traces； she was the best representative of the women of her time who held their place in the world solely through their skill in organizing and conducting a salon。 She was in no sense a luminary； and conscious that she could not shine by her own light； she was bent upon shining by that of others。 But； in a social era so brilliant； even this implied talent of a high order。 A letter to the Empress of Russia； in reply to a question concerning her early education； throws a ray of light upon her youth and her peculiar training。
〃I lost my father and mother；〃 she writes； 〃in the cradle。 I was brought up by an aged grandmother； who had much intelligence and a well…balanced head。 She had very little education； but her mind was so clear； so ready； so active； that it never failed her； it served always in the place of knowledge。 She spoke so agreeably of the things she did not know that no one wished her to understand them better； and when her ignorance was too visible； she got out of it by pleasantries which baffled the peda