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e than the wit and intelligence that could not。
As the social elements readjusted themselves on a more natural basis； there were a few salons out of the main drift of the time in which the literary spirit flourished once more； blended with the refined tastes； the elegant manners； and the amiable courtesy that had distinguished the old regime。 But the interval in which history was made so rapidly； and the startling events of a century were condensed into a decade； had wrought many vital changes。 It was no longer the spirit of the eighteenth century that reappeared under its revived and attractive forms。 We note a tone of seriousness that had no permanent place in that world of esprit and skepticism； of fine manners and lax morals； which divided its allegiance between fashion and philosophy。 The survivors of so many heart…breaking tragedies； with their weary weight of dead hopes and sad memories； found no healing balm in the cold speculation and scathing wit of Diderot or Voltaire。 Even the devotees of philosophy gave it but a half…hearted reverence。 It was at this moment that Chateaubriand； saturated with the sorrows of his age； and penetrated with the hopelessness of its philosophy； offered anew the truths that had sustained the suffering and broken…hearted for eighteen centuries； in a form so sympathetic； so fascinating； that it thrilled the sensitive spirits of his time； and passed like an inspiration into the literature of the next fifty years。 The melancholy of 〃Rene〃 found its divine consolation in the 〃Genius of Christianity。〃 It was this spirit that lent a new and softer coloring to the intimate social life that blended in some degree the tastes and manners of the old noblesse with a refined and tempered form of modern thought。 It recalls； in many points； the best spirit of the seventeenth century。 There is a flavor of the same seriousness； the same sentiment。 It is the sentiment that sent so many beautiful women to the solitude of the cloister； when youth had faded and the air of approaching age began to grow chilly。 But it is not to the cloister that these women turn。 They weave romantic tales out of the texture of their own lives； they repeat their experiences； their illusions； their triumphs； and their disenchantments。 As the day grows more somber and the evening shadows begin to fall； they meditate； they moralize； they substitute prayers for dreams。 But they think also。 The drama of the late years had left no thoughtful soul without earnest convictions。 There were numerous shades of opinion； many finely drawn issues。 In a few salons these elements were delicately blended； and if they did not repeat the brilliant triumphs of the past； if they focused with less power the intellectual light which was dispersed in many new channels； they have left behind them many fragrant memories。 One is tempted to linger in these temples of a goddess half…dethroned。 One would like to study these women who added to the social gifts of their race a character that had risen superior to many storms； hearts that were mellowed and purified by premature sorrow； and intellects that had taken a deeper and more serious tone from long brooding over the great problems of their time。 But only a glance is permitted us here。 Most of them have been drawn in living colors by Saint…Beuve； from whom I gather here and there a salient trait。
Who that is familiar with the fine and exquisite thought of Joubert can fail to be interested in the delicate and fragile woman whom he met in her supreme hour of suffering； to find in her a rare and permanent friend； a literary confidante； and an inspiration？ Mme。 de Beaumontthe daughter of Montmorin； who had been a colleague of Necker in the ministryhad been forsaken by a worthless husband； had seen father； mother； brother； perish by the guillotine； and her sister escape it only by losing her reason； and then her life； before the fatal day。 She； too； had been arrested with the others； but was so ill and weak that she was left to die by the roadside en route to Paris a fate from which she was saved by the kindness of a peasant。 It was at this moment that Joubert befriended her。 These numerous and crushing sorrows had shattered her health； which was never strong； but during the few brief years that remained to her she was the center of a coterie more distinguished for quality than numbers。 Joubert and Chateaubriand were its leading spirits； but it included also Fontanes； Pasquier； Mme。 de Vintimille； Mme。 de Pastoret； and other friends who had survived the days in which she presided with such youthful dignity over her father's salon。 The fascination of her fine and elevated intellect； her gentle sympathy； her keen appreciation of talent； and her graces of manner lent a singular charm to her presence。 Her character was aptly expressed by this device which Rulhiere had suggested for her seal： 〃Un souffle m'agite et rien ne m'ebrante。〃 Chateaubriand was enchanted with a nature so pure； so poetic； and so ardent。 He visited her daily； read to her 〃Atala〃 and 〃Rene；〃 and finished the 〃Genius of Christianity〃 under her influence。 He was young then； and that she loved him is hardly doubtful； though the friendship of Joubert was far truer and more loyal than the passing devotion of this capricious man of genius； who seems to have cared only for his own reflection in another soul。 But this sheltered nook of thoughtful repose； this conversational oasis in a chaotic period had a short duration。 Mme。 de Beaumont died at Rome； where she had gone in the faint hope of reviving her drooping health； in 1803。 Chateaubriand was there； watched over her last hours with Bertin； and wrote eloquently of her death。 Joubert mourned deeply and silently over the light that had gone out of his life。
We have pleasant reminiscences of the amiable； thoughtful； and spirituelle Mme。 de Remusat； who has left us such vivid records of the social and intimate life of the imperial court。 A studious and secluded childhood； prematurely saddened by the untimely fate of her father in the terrible days of 1794； an early and congenial marriage； together with her own wise penetration and clear intellect； enabled her to traverse this period without losing her delicate tone or serious tastes。 She had her quiet retreat into which the noise and glare did not intrude； where a few men of letters and thoughtful men of the world revived the old conversational spirit。 She amused her idle hours by writing graceful tales； and； after the close of her court life and the weakening of her health； she turned her thoughts towards the education and improvement of her sex。 Blended with her wide knowledge of the world； there is always a note of earnestness； a tender coloring of sentiment； which culminates towards the end in a lofty Christian resignation。
We meet again at this time a woman known to an earlier generation as Mme。 de Flahaut； and made familiar to us through the pens of Talleyrand and Gouverneur Morris。 She saw her husband fall by the guillotine； and； after wandering over Europe for years as an exile； became the wife of M。 de Souza； and； returning to Paris； took her place in a quiet corner of the unaccustomed world； writ