the ways of men(人们的手段)-第26章
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People like the French nobles； engaged in sulking and attempting to
overthrow or boycott each succeeding regime； must naturally lose their
influence。 They have held aloof so long … fearing to compromise
themselves by any advances to the powers that be； and restrained by
countless traditions from taking an active part in either the social or
political strife … that little by little they have been passed by and ignored；
which is a pity； for amid the ruin of many hopes and ambitions they have
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remained true to their caste and handed down from generation to
generation the secret of that gracious urbanity and tact which distinguished
the Gallic noblewoman in the last century from the rest of her kind and
made her so deft in the difficult art of pleasing … and being pleased。
Within the last few years there have； however； been signs of a change。
Young members of historic houses show an amusing inclination to escape
from their austere surroundings and resume the place their grandparents
abdicated。 If it is impossible to rule as formerly； they at any rate intend to
get some fun out of existence。
This joyous movement to the front is being made by the young
matrons enlisted under the 〃Seven little duchesses'〃 banner。 Oddly enough；
a baker's half…dozen of ducal coronets are worn at this moment； in France；
by small and sprightly women； who have shaken the dust of centuries
from those ornaments and sport them with a decidedly modern air！
It is the members of this clique who； in Paris during the spring； at their
chateaux in the summer and autumn； and on the Riviera after Christmas；
lead the amusements and strike the key for the modern French world。
No one of these light…hearted ladies takes any particular precedence
over the others。 All are young； and some are wonderfully nice to look at。
The Duchesse d'Uzes is； perhaps； the handsomest； good looks being an
inheritance from her mother； the beautiful and wayward Duchesse de
Chaulme。
There is a vivid grace about the daughter； an intense vitality that
suggests some beautiful being of the forest。 As she moves and speaks one
almost expects to hear the quick breath coming and going through her
quivering nostrils； and see foam on her full lips。 Her mother's tragic death
has thrown a glamor of romance around the daughter's life that heightens
the witchery of her beauty。
Next in good looks comes an American； the Duchesse de la
Rochefoucauld； although marriage （which； as de Maupassant remarked； is
rarely becoming） has not been propitious to that gentle lady。 By rights she
should have been mentioned first； as her husband outranks； not only all the
men of his age； but also his cousin； the old Duc de la Rochefoucauld…
Doudeauville； to whom； however； a sort of brevet rank is accorded on
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account of his years； his wealth； and the high rank of his two wives。 It
might almost be asserted that our fair compatriot wears the oldest coronet
in France。 She certainly is mistress of three of the finest chateaux in that
country； among which is Miromail； where the family live； and Liancourt； a
superb Renaissance structure； a delight to the artist's soul。
The young Duchesse de Brissac runs her two comrades close as
regards looks。 Brissac is the son of Mme。 de Tredern； whom Newporters
will remember two years ago； when she enjoyed some weeks of our
summer season。 Their chateau was built by the Brissac of Henri IV。's time
and is one of the few that escaped uninjured through the Revolution； its
vast stone corridors and massive oak ceilings； its moat and battlements；
standing to… day unimpaired amid a group of chateaux including
Chaumont； Rochecotte； Azay…le…Rideau； Usse； Chenonceau； within
〃dining〃 distance of each other； that form a centre of gayety next in
importance to Paris and Cannes。 In the autumn these spacious castles are
filled with joyous bands and their ample stables with horses。 A couple of
years ago； when the king of Portugal and his suite were entertained at
Chaumont for a week of stag… hunting； over three hundred people； servants；
and guests； slept under its roof； and two hundred horses were housed in its
stables。
The Duc de Luynes and his wife； who was Mlle。 de Crussol （daughter
of the brilliant Duchesse d'Uzes of Boulanger fame）； live at Dampierre；
another interesting pile filled with rare pictures； bric…a…brac； and statuary；
first among which is Jean Goujon's life…sized statue （in silver） of Louis
XIII。； presented by that monarch to his favorite； the founder of the house。
This gem of the Renaissance stands in an octagonal chamber hung in dark
velvet； unique among statues。 It has been shown but once in public； at the
Loan Exhibition in 1872； when the patriotic nobility lent their treasures to
collect a fund for the Alsace…Lorraine exiles。
The Duchesse de Noailles； NEE Mlle。 de Luynes； is another of this
coterie and one of the few French noblewomen who has travelled。 Many
Americans will remember the visit she made here with her mother some
years ago； and the effect her girlish grace produced at that time。 The de
Noailles' chateau of Maintenon is an inheritance from Louis XIV。's prudish
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favorite； who founded and enriched the de Noailles family。 The Duc and
Duchesse d'Uzes live near by at Bonnelle with the old Duc de
Doudeauville； her grandfather； who is also the grandfather of Mme。 de
Noailles； these two ladies being descended each from a wife of the old
duke； the former from the Princesse de Polignac and the latter from the
Princesse de Ligne。
The Duchesse de Bisaccia； NEE Princesse Radziwill； and the
Duchesse d'Harcourt； who complete the circle of seven； also live in this
vicinity； where another group of historic residences； including Eclimont
and Rambouillet； the summer home of the president； rivals in gayety and
hospitality the chateaux of the Loire。
No coterie in England or in this country corresponds at all to this
French community。 Much as they love to amuse themselves； the idea of
meeting any but their own set has never passed through their well…dressed
heads。 They differ from their parents in that they have broken away from
many antiquated habits。 Their houses are no longer lay hermitages； and
their opera boxes are regularly filled； but no foreigner is ever received； no
ambitious parvenu accepted among them。 Ostracism here means not a ten
years' exile； but lifelong banishment。
The contrast is strong between this rigor and the enthusiasm with
which wealthy new…comers are welcomed into London society or by our
own upper crust； so full of unpalatable pieces of dough。 This
exclusiveness of the titled French reminds me … incongruously enough … of
a certain arrangement of graves in a Lenox cemetery； where the members
of an old New England family lie buried in a circle with their feet toward
its centre。 When I asked； many years ago； the reason for this arrangement；
a wit of that day … a daughter； by the bye； of Mrs。 Stowe … replied； 〃So that
when they rise at the Last Day only members of their own family may face
them！〃
One is struck by another peculiarity of these French men and women …
their astonishing proficiency in LES ARTS D'AGREMENT。 Every
Frenchwoman of any pretensions to fashion backs her beauty and grace
with some art in which she is sure to be proficient。 The dowager Duchesse
d'Uzes is a sculptor of mark； and when during the autumn Mme。 de
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Tredern gives opera at Brissac； she finds little difficulty in recruiting her
troupe from among the youths and maidens under her roof whose musical
education has been thorough enough to enable them to sing difficult music
in public。
Love of the fine arts is felt in their conversation； in the arrangement
and decoration of their homes； and in the interest that an exhibition of
pictures or old furniture will excite。 Few of these people but are
HABITUES of the Hotel Drouot and conversant with the value and
authenticity of the works of art daily sold there。 Such elements combine to
form an atmosphere that does not exist in any other country； and lends an
interest to society in France which it is far from possessing elsewhere。
There is but one way that an outsider can enter this Gallic paradise。 By
marrying into it！ Two of the seven ladies in question lack the quarterings
of the rest。 Miss Mitchell was only a charming American girl； and the
mother of the Princesse Radziwill was Mlle。 Blanc of Monte Carlo。
However； as in most religions there are ceremonies that purify； so in this
case the sacrament of marriage is supposed to have reconstructed these
wives and made them genealogically whole。
There is something incongruous to most people in the idea of a young
girl hardly out of the schoolroom bearing a ponderous title。 The pomp and
circumstance that surround historic names connect them （through our
reading） with stately matrons playing the 〃heavy female〃 roles in life's
drama； much as Lady Macbeth's name evokes the idea of a raw…boned
mother…in…law sort of person； the reverse of attractive； and quite the last
woman in the world to egg her husband on to
