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We cannot dismiss this woman； whom Cousin regards as the most accomplished type of the society she adorned； without a word more。 Though her ambition was gratified by the honors that fell upon her husband； who after holding many high positions was finally entrusted with the education of the Dauphin； and though her own appointment of dame d'honneur to the Queen gave her an envied place at court； we trace with regret the close of her brilliant career。 As has been already indicated； she added to much esprit a character of great sweetness； and manners facile； gracious； even caressing。 With less elevation； less independence； and less firmness than her mother； she had more of the sympathetic quality； the frank unreserve； that wins the heart。 No one had so many adorers； no one scattered so many hopeless passions； no one so gently tempered these into friendships。 She knew always how to say the fitting word； to charm away the clouds of ill humor； to conciliate opposing interests。 But this spirit of complaisance which； however charming it may be； is never many degrees removed from the spirit of the courtier； proved to be the misfortune of her later life。 Too amiable； perhaps too diplomatic； to frown openly upon the King's irregularities； she was accused； whether justly or otherwise； of tacitly favoring his relations with Mme。 De Montespan。 The husband of this lady took his wife's infidelity very much to heart； and； failing to find any redress； forced himself one day into the presence of Madam de Montausier； and made a violent scene which so affected her that she fell into a profound melancholy and an illness from which she never rallied。 There is always an air of mystery thrown about this affair； and it is difficult to fathom the exact truth； but the results were sufficiently tragical to the woman who was quoted by her age as a model of virtue and decorum。
In 1648； the troubles of the Fronde； which divided friends and added fuel to petty social rivalries； scattered the most noted guests of the Hotel de Rambouillet。 Voiture was dead； Angelique Paulet died two years later。 The young Marquis de Pisani； the only son and the hope of his family； had fallen with many brave comrades on the field of Nordlingen。 Of the five daughters； three were abbesses of convents。 The health of the Marquise； which had always been delicate； was still further enfeebled by the successive griefs which darkened her closing years。 Her husband； of whom we know little save that he was sent on various foreign missions； and 〃loved his wife always as a lover；〃 died in 1652。 She survived him thirteen years； living to see the death of her youngest daughter； Angelique； wife of the Comte de Grignan who was afterwards the son…in…law of Mme。 de Sevigne。 She witnessed the elevation of her favorite Julie； but was spared the grief of her death which occurred five or six years after her own。 The aged Marquise； true to her early tastes； continued to receive her friends in her ruelle； and her salon had a brief revival when the Duchesse de Montausier returned from the provinces； after the second Fronde； but its freshness had faded with its draperies of blue and gold。 The brilliant company that made it so famous was dispersed； and the glory of the Salon Bleu was gone。
There is something infinitely pathetic in the epitaph this much… loved and successful woman wrote for herself when she felt that the end was near：
Ici git Arthenice； exempte des rigueurs Don't la rigueur du sort l'a touours poursuivie。 Et si tu veux； passant； compter tous ses malheurs； Tu n'aura qu'a； compter les moments de sa vie。
The spirit of unrest is there beneath the calm exterior。 It may be some hidden wound； it may be only the old； old weariness； the inevitable burden of the race。 〃Mon Dieu！〃 wrote Mme。 de Maintenon； in the height of her worldly success； 〃how sad life is！ I pass my days without other consolation than the thought that death will end it all。〃
Mme。 de Rambouillet had worked unconsciously toward a very important end。 She found a language crude and inelegant； manners coarse and licentious； morals dissolute and vicious。 Her influence was at its height in the age of Corneille and Descartes； and she lived almost to the culmination of the era of Racine and Moliere； of Boileau and La Bruyere； of Bossuet and Fenelon； the era of simple and purified language； of refined and stately manners； and of at least outward respect for morality。 To these results she largely contributed。 Her salon was the social and literary power of the first half of the century。 In an age of political espionage； it maintained its position and its dignity。 It sustained Corneille against the persecutions of Richelieu； and numbered among its habitues the founders of the Academie Francaise； who continued the critical reforms begun there。
As a school of politeness； it has left permanent traces。 This woman of fine ideals and exalted standards exacted of others the purity of character； delicacy of thought； and urbanity of manner； which she possessed in so eminent a degree herself。 Her code was founded upon the best instincts of humanity； and whatever modifications of form time has wrought its essential spirit remains unchanged。 〃Politeness does not always inspire goodness； equity； complaisance； gratitude；〃 says La Bruyere； 〃but it gives at least the appearance of these qualities； and makes man seem externally what he ought to be internally。〃
It was in this salon； too； that the modern art of conversation； which has played so conspicuous a part in French life； may be said to have had its birth。 Men and women met on a footing of equality； with similar tastes and similar interests。 Different ranks and conditions were represented； giving a certain cosmopolitan character to a society which had hitherto been narrow in its scope and limited in its aims。 Naturally conversation assumed a new importance； and was subject to new laws。 To quote again from LaBruyere； who has so profoundly penetrated the secrets of human nature： 〃The esprit of conversation consists much less in displaying itself than in drawing out the wit of others 。 。 。 Men do not like to admire you； they wish to please； they seek less to be instructed or even to be entertained； than to be appreciated and applauded； and the most delicate pleasure is to make that of others。〃 〃To please others；〃 says La Rochefoucauld； 〃one must speak of the things they love and which concern them； avoid disputes upon indifferent maters； ask questions rarely； and never let them think that one is more in the right than themselves。〃
Many among the great writers of the age touch in the same tone upon the philosophy underlying the various rules of manners and conversation which were first discussed at the Hotel de Rambouillet； and which have passed into permanent though unwritten lawsunfortunately a little out of fashion in the present generation。
It is difficult to estimate the impulse given to intelligence and literary taste by this breaking up of old social crystallizations。 What the savant had learned in his closet passed more or less into current coin。 Conversation gave point to thought； clearness to expression； simplicity to language。 Women of