tailieunhanh - WOMAN In all ages and in all countries WOMEN OF MODERN FRANCE

Among the Latin races, the French race differs essentially in one characteristic which has been the key to the success of French women—namely, the social instinct. The whole French nation has always lived for the present time, in actuality, deriving from life more of what may be called social pleasure than any other nation. It has been a universal characteristic among French people since the sixteenth century to love to please, to make themselves agreeable, to bring joy and happiness to others, and to be loved and admired as well. . | WOMAN In all ages and in all countries WOMEN OF MODERN FRANCE by HUGO P. THIEME . Of the University of Michigan THE RITTENHOUSE PRESS PHILADELPHIA Copyrighted at Washington and entered at Stationer s Hall London 1907-1908 and printed by arrangement with George Barrie s Sons. PRINTED IN . Contents PREFACE vii Chapter I. Woman in politics 1 Chapter II. Woman in Family Life Education and Letters 31 Chapter III. The Seventeenth Century Woman at Her Best 69 Chapter IV. Woman in Society and Literature 97 Chapter V. Mistresses and Wives of Louis XIV 131 Chapter VI. Mme. de Sévigné Mme. de La Fayette Mme. Dacier Mme. de Caylus 165 Chapter VII. Woman in Religion 197 Chapter VIII. Salon Leaders Mme. de Tencin Mme. Geoffrin Mme. du Deffand Mlle. de Lespinasse Mme. du Châtelet 221 Chapter IX. Salon Leaders Continued Mme. Necker Mme. d Epinay Mme. de Genlis Minor Salons 249 Chapter X. Social Classes 277 Chapter XI. Royal Mistresses 305 Chapter XII. Marie Antoinette and the Revolution 329 Chapter XIII. Women of the Revolution and the Empire 355 Chapter XIV. Women of the Nineteenth Century 381 pg vii PREFACE Among the Latin races the French race differs essentially in one characteristic which has been the key to the success of French women namely the social instinct. The whole French nation has always lived for the present time in actuality deriving from life more of what may be called social pleasure than any other nation. It has been a universal characteristic among French people since the sixteenth century to love to please to make themselves agreeable to bring joy and happiness to others and to be loved and admired as well. With this instinctive trait French women have always been bountifully endowed. Highly emotional they love to charm and this has become an art with them balancing this emotional nature is the mathematical quality. These two combined have made French women the great leaders in their own country and among women of all races. They have developed the .