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sm。 Living from 1697 to 1780； she saw the train laid for the Revolution； and died in time to escape its horrors。 She traversed the whole experience of the women of her world with the independence and abandon of a nature that was moderate in nothing。 It is true she felt the emptiness of this arid existence； and had an intellectual perception of its errors； but she saw nothing better。 〃All conditions appear to me equally unhappy； from the angel to the oyster；〃 is the burden of her hopeless refrain。
She reveals herself to us as two distinct characters。 The one best known is hard； bitter； coldly analytic； and mocks at everything bordering upon sentiment or feeling。 The other； which underlies this； and of which we have rare glimpses； is frank； tender； loving even to weakness； and forever at war with the barrenness of a period whose worst faults she seems to have embodied； and whose keenest penalties she certainly suffered。
Voltaire； the lifelong friend whom she loved； but critically measured； was three years old when she was born； Mme。 de Sevigne had been dead nearly a year。 Of a noble family in Burgundy； Marie de Vichy…Chamroud was brought to Paris at six years of age and placed in the convent of St。 Madeleine de Traisnel； where she was educated after the superficial fashion which she so much regrets in later years。 She speaks of herself as a romantic； imaginative child； but she began very early to shock the pious sisters by her dawning skepticism。 One of the nuns had a wax figure of the infant Jesus； which she discovered to have been a doll formerly dressed to represent the Spanish fashions to Anne of Austria。 This was the first blow to her illusions； and had a very perceptible influence upon her life。 She pronounced it a deception。 Eight days of solitude with a diet of bread and water failed to restore her reverence。 〃It does not depend upon me to believe or disbelieve；〃 she said。 The eloquent and insinuating Massillon was called in to talk with her。 〃She is charming；〃 was his remark； as he left her after two hours of conversation； adding thoughtfully； 〃Give her a five…cent catechism。〃
Skeptical by nature and saturated with the free…thinking spirit of the time； she reasoned that all religion was au fond； only paganism disguised。 In later years； when her isolated soul longed for some tangible support； she spoke regretfully of the philosophic age which destroyed beliefs by explaining and analyzing everything。
But a beautiful； clever； high…spirited girl of sixteen is apt to feel her youth all suffering。 It is certain that she had no inclination towards the life of a religieuse； and the country quickly became insupportable after her return to its provincial society。 Ennui took possession of her。 She was glad even to go to confessional； for the sake of telling her thoughts to some one。 She complained bitterly that the life of women compelled dependence upon the conduct of others； submission to all ills and all consequences。 Long afterwards she said that she would have married the devil if he had been clothed as a gentleman and assured her a moderate life。 But a husband was at last found for her； and merely to escape the monotony of her secluded existence； she was glad； at twenty…one； to become the wife of the Marquis du Deffanda good but uninteresting man； much older than herself。
Brilliant； fascinating； restless； eager to see and to learn； she felt herself in her element in the gay world of Paris。 She confessed that； for the moment； she almost loved her husband for bringing her there。 But the moment was a short one。 They did not even settle down to what a witty Frenchman calls the 〃politeness of two indifferences。〃 It is a curious commentary upon the times； that the beautiful but notorious Mme。 de Parabere； who introduced her at once into her own unscrupulous world and the petits soupers of the Regent； condoled with the young bride upon her marriage； regretting that she had not taken the easy vows of a chanoinesse； as Mme。 de Tencin had done。 〃In that case；〃 she said； 〃you would have been free； well placed everywhere； with the stability of a married woman； a revenue which permits one to live and accept aid from others； the independence of a widow； without the ties which a family imposes； unquestioned rank； which you would owe to no one； indulgence； and impunity。 For these advantages there is only the trouble of wearing a cross； which is becoming； black or gray habits； which can be made as magnificent as one likes； a little imperceptible veil； and a knitting sheath。〃
Under such teaching she was not long in taking her own free and independent course； which was reckless even in that age of laxity。 At her first supper at the Palais Royal she met Voltaire and fascinated the Regent； though her reign lasted but a few days。 The counsels of her aunt； the dignified Duchesse de Luynes； availed nothing。 Her husband was speedily sent off on some mission to the provinces and she plunged into the current。 Once afterwards； in a fit of ennui； she recalled him； frankly stating her position。 But she quickly wearied of him again； grew dull； silent； lost her vivacity； and fell into a profound melancholy。 Her friend Mme。 de Parabere took it upon herself to explain to him the facts； and he kindly relieved her forever of his presence； leaving a touching and pathetic letter which gave her a moment of remorse in spite of her lightened heart。 This sin against good taste the Parisian world could not forgive； and even her friends turned against her for a time。 But the Duchesse due Maine came to her aid with an all…powerful influence； and restored her finally to her old position。 For some years she passed the greater part of her time at Sceaux； and was a favorite at this lively little court。
It is needless to trace here the details of a career which gives us little to admire and much to condemn。 It was about 1740 when her salon became noted as a center for the fashionable and literary world of Paris。 Montesquieu and d'Alembert were then among her intimate friends。 Of the latter she says： 〃The simplicity of his manners； the purity of his morals； the air of youth； the frankness of character； joined to all his talents； astonished at first those who saw him。〃 It is said to have been through her zeal that he was admitted to the Academy so young。 Among others who formed her familiar circle were her devoted friend Pont de Veyle； the Chevalier d'Aydie； Formont； the 〃spirituel idler and amiable egotist；〃 who was one of the three whom she confesses really to have loved； and President Henault； who brought always a fund of lively anecdote and agreeable conversation。 This world of fashion and letters； slightly seasoned with philosophy； is also the world of Mme。 de Luxembourg； of the brilliant Mme。 de Mirepoix； of the Prince and Princesse de Beauvau； and of the lovely Duchesse de Choiseul； a femme d'esprit and 〃mistress of all the elegances；〃 whose gentle virtues fall like a ray of sunlight across the dark pages of this period。 It is the world of elegant forms； the world in which a sin against taste is worse than a sin against morals； the world which hedges itself in by a thousand unwritten laws that save it from bor