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ted men and women of her time； she brought into it not only rare gifts； a fine taste； and genuine literary enthusiasm； but the fresh charm of a noble character and a beautiful family life； with the instincts of duty and right conduct which she inherited from her simple Protestant ancestry。 She lacked a little； however； in the tact； the ease； the grace； the spontaneity； which were the essential charm of the French women。 Her social talents were a trifle theoretical。 〃She studied society；〃 says one of her critics； 〃as she would a literary question。〃 She had a theory of conducting a salon； as she had of life in general； and believed that study would attain everything。 But the ability to do a thing superlatively well is by no means always implied in the knowledge of how it ought to be done。 Social genius is as purely a gift of nature as poetry or music； and； of all others； it is the most subtle and indefinable。 It was a long step from the primitive simplicity in which Suzanne Curchod passed her childhood on the borders of Lake Leman to the complex life of a Parisian salon； and the provincial beauty； whose fair face； soft blue eyes； dignified but slightly coquettish manner； brilliant intellect； and sparkling though sometimes rather learned conversation had made her a local queen； was quick to see her own shortcomings。 She confessed that she had a new language to learn； and she never fully mastered it。 〃Mme。 Necker has talent； but it is in a sphere too elevated for one to communicate with her；〃 said Mme。 du Deffand； though she was glad to go once a week to her suppers at Saint…Ouen； and admitted that in spite of a certain stiffness and coldness she was better fitted for society than most of the grandes dames。 The salon of Mme。 Necker marks a transition point between two periods； and had two quite distinct phases。 One likes best to recall her in the freshness of her early enthusiasm； when she gave Friday dinners； modeled after those of Mme。 Geoffrin； to men of letters； and received a larger world in the evening； when her guests were enlivened by the satire of Diderot； the anecdotes of Marmontel； the brilliancy or learning of Grimm； d'Alembert； Thomas； Suard； Buffon； the Abbe Raynal； and other wits of the day； when they discussed the affairs of the Academy and decided the fate of candidates； when they listened to the recitations of Mlle。 Clairon； and the works of many authors known and unknown。 It is interesting to recall that 〃Paul and Virginia〃 was first read here。 But there was apt to be a shade of stiffness； and the conversation had sometimes too strong a flavor of pedantry。 〃No one knows better or feels more sensibly than you； my dear and very amiable friend；〃 wrote Mme。 Geoffrin； 〃the charm of friendship and its sweetness； no one makes others experience them more fully。 But you will never attain that facility； that ease； and that liberty which give to society its perfect enjoyment。〃 The Abbe Morellet complained of the austerity that always held the conversation within certain limits； and the gay little Abbe Galiani found fault with Mme。 Necker's coldness and reserve； though he addresses her as his 〃Divinity〃 after his return to Naples； and his racy letters give us vivid and amusing pictures of these Fridays； which in his memory are wholly charming。
In spite of her firm religious convictions； Mme。 Necker cordially welcomed the most extreme of the philosophers。 〃I have atheistic friends；〃 she said。 〃Why not？ They are unfortunate friends。〃 But her admiration for their talents by no means extended to their opinions； and she did not permit the discussion of religious questions。 It was at one of her own dinners that she started the subscription for a statue of Voltaire； for whom she entertained the warmest friendship。 One may note here； as elsewhere； a fine mental poise； a justness of spirit； and a discrimination that was superior to natural prejudices。 Sometimes her frank simplicity was misunderstood。 〃There is a Mme。 Necker here； a pretty woman and a bel esprit； who is infatuated with me； she persecutes me to have me at her house；〃 wrote Diderot to Mlle。 Volland； with an evident incapacity to comprehend the innocent appreciation of a pure…hearted woman。 When he knew her better； he expressed his regret that he had not known her sooner。 〃You would certainly have inspired me with a taste for purity and for delicacy；〃 he says； 〃which would have passed from my soul into my works。〃 He refers to her again as 〃a woman who possesses all that the purity of an angelic soul adds to an exquisite taste。〃
Among the many distinguished foreigners who found their way into this pleasant circle was her early lover； Gibbon。 The old days were far away when she presided over the literary coterie at Lausanne； speculated upon the mystery of love； talked of the possibility of tender and platonic friendships between men and women； after the fashion of the precieuses； and wept bitter tears over the faithlessness of the embryo historian。 The memory of her grief had long been lost in the fullness of subsequent happiness； and one readily pardons her natural complacency in the brilliancy of a position which took little added luster from the fame of the man who had wooed and so easily forgotten her。
This period of Mme。 Necker's career shows her character on a very engaging side。 Loving her husband with a devotion that verged upon idolatry； she was rich in the friendship of men like Thomas； Buffon； Grimm； Diderot； and Voltaire； whose respectful tone was the highest tribute to her dignity and her delicacy。 But the true nature of a woman is best seen in her relations with her own sex。 There are a thousand fine reserves in her relations with men that； in a measure； veil her personality。 They doubtless call out the most brilliant qualities of her intellect； and reveal her character； in some points； on its best and most lovable side； but the rare shades of generous and unselfish feeling are more clearly seen in the intimate friendships； free from petty vanities and jealous rivalries； rich in cordial appreciation and disinterested affection； which we often find among women of the finest type。 It is impossible that one so serious and so earnest as Mme。 Necker should have cherished such passionate friendships for her own sex； if she had been as cold or as calculating as she has been sometimes represented。 Her intimacy with Mme。 de Marchais； of which we have so many pleasant details； furnishes a case in point。
This graceful and vivacious woman； who talked so eloquently upon philosophical； political； and economic questions； was the center of a circle noted for its liberal tendencies。 A friend of Mme。 de Pompadour； at whose suppers she often sang； gifted； witty； and； in spite of a certain seriousness； retaining always the taste； the elegance； the charming manners which were her native heritage； she attracted to her salon not only a distinguished literary company； but many men and women from the great world of which she only touched the borders。 Mme。 Necker had sought the aid and advice of Mme。 de Marchais in the formation of her own salon； and had taken for her one of those ardent attachments so characteristic of earnest and suscepti