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MADAME DE STAEL. 365
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
« Science Tells Us That There Is No Such...
essence , so tlie most mighty ends have sometimes been accomplished In human societ"by means -which have been almost invisible . Here
it is that those y who ( with the best intentions ) have endeavored to trace the influence of mothers in forming the characters of celebrated
men , or have sought to lay bare for our scrutiny the mainsprings of thought or of feeling which have _insjDired the devotion of wives ,
have usually signally failed . And the reason of their failure is obvious : they have been dealing with the intangible , and yet
trying to reduce it to the methodical rule of a didactic system . As well we attempt to catch the lihtning and imprison it on our
may g paper earth , as or make to track counterfeit the silent ictures dew whilst of what it is nature moistenin has g involve the unseen d in
, p privacy Paradoxical . as it seem to assert that the infhienee of women
is always most important may either for good or for evil where there is least show of powerwe need not look far for a piquant illustration
, of the fact . In France , where ( in virtue of the Salic law ) men were women proud of ( towards reserving the to close their of own the sex last the century privileged especiall domain y ) exercised of politics a ,
direct and permanent influence upon events . In a recent article in dictate wittil the Revue y new on this des wars peculi Deux and ar revolutions Mondes soverei , gnty M to . de . their Women Mazade country , remarks he but admit they somewh s , rei did gned not at
, in the centre of that cultivated society where these events were prepared out which . laws They are did nothing not make ; they laws did , but not they mak made e speeches manners in , parlia with - - where
ment the everything queens , but they was of society expressed passionatel were their y surrounded discussed feelings by b freel y chosen their y in mimic their coterie salo s , courts and ? is , where , and
their wheedling parasites . This state of things would probably have been an impossibility amongst any people less inrpressionable and excitable than that of France . This empire , in which women el
were passion began all to - or powerful sway enthusiasm the , nation commenced ceased ; and such at to the be a j point urisdi the motive ction when was passion -power over and ruling whe fe n such ing the Madame
hearts of men . It was the enthusiasm and earnestness of stormy de de St Genlis ael period which , the of elegance gifted societ her y . of with Having Madam almost neither e the de mag most Condorcet the ical fascination famous influence , nor during of the Madame beaut of this her y
from times of of purpose Madame enervating : her which power Recamier sadness nothing bein , g she due could was In to the daunt her yet letters sing , and leness which to force of hav mind of e woman , been character to a collected strength free
. we for us are , and allowed recentl to y see publi this shed celebrated under the woman title of onl " Coppet y in profile et Weimar —shorn , "
of all dignity and state , and indulging in incessant lamentations
during The letters the years written of her by exile Madame . de Stael to the Grand Duchess
Madame De Stael. 365
MADAME DE STAEL . 365
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Citation
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English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), Aug. 1, 1862, page 365, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01081862/page/5/
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