The century illustrated monthly magazine . and must talkuntil her last sigh, learns nothing which canmake her converse more agreeably, or actwith more wisdom. But she does not like &femme savante, andridicules, under the name of Damophile, acharacter which might have been the modelfor Molieres Philaminte. This woman hasfive or six masters, of whom the least learnedteaches astrology. She poses as a Muse, andis always surrounded with books, pencils, andmathematical instruments, while she uses largewords in a grave and imperious tone, althoughshe speaks only of little things. After manylong conve
The century illustrated monthly magazine . and must talkuntil her last sigh, learns nothing which canmake her converse more agreeably, or actwith more wisdom. But she does not like &femme savante, andridicules, under the name of Damophile, acharacter which might have been the modelfor Molieres Philaminte. This woman hasfive or six masters, of whom the least learnedteaches astrology. She poses as a Muse, andis always surrounded with books, pencils, andmathematical instruments, while she uses largewords in a grave and imperious tone, althoughshe speaks only of little things. After manylong conversations about her, Sappho con-cludes thus: I wish it to be said of a womanthat she knows a hundred things of which shedoes not boast, that she has a well-informedmind, is familiar with fine works, speaks well,writes correctly, and knows the world; but Ido not wish it to be said of her that she is afemme savante. The two characters have noresemblance. After some further discussion to the effect that THE WOMEN OF THE FRENCH SALONS. 91. HENRIETTE ANNE DANGLETERRE, DUCHESSE doRLEANS. (from a painting attributed to rigaud.) the wise woman will conceal superfluous learn-ing and especially avoid pedantry, she definesthe limit to which a woman may safely go inknowledge without losing her right to be re-garded as the ornament of the world, madeto be served and adored, according to theRambouillet code. Whoever should write all that was said by fif-teen or twenty women together would make theworst book in the world, even if some of them werewomen of intelligence. But if a man shouldenter, a single one, and not even a man of distinc-tion, the same conversation would suddenly becomemore spirituelle and more agreeable. The conver-sation of men is, doubtless, less sprightly whenthere are no women present; but ordinarily, al-though it may be more serious, it is still rational,and they can do without us more easily than wecan do without them. She attaches great importance to conver-sation, as
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectamerica, bookyear1882
