the women of the french salons-第59节

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e　of　the　most　famous　salons。　　She　had　tact；　grace；　intelligence；　appreciation；　and　the　gift　of　inspiring　others。　　The　cleverest　men　and　women　of　the　age　were　to　be　met　in　her　drawing　room。　　One　found　there　genius；　beauty；　esprit；　elegance；　courtesy；　and　the　brilliant　conversation　which　is　the　Gallic　heritage。　　But　not　even　her　surpassing　fascination　added　to　all　these　attractions　could　revive　the　old　power　of　the　salon。　　Her　coterie　was　charming；　as　a　choice　circle　gathered　about　a　beautiful；　refined；　accomplished　woman；　and　illuminated　by　the　wit　and　intelligence　of　thoughtful　men；　will　always　be；　but　its　influence　was　limited　and　largely　personal；　and　it　has　left　no　perceptible　traces。　　Nor　has　it　had　any　noted　successor。　　It　is　no　longer　coteries　presided　over　by　clever　women　that　guide　the　age　and　mold　its　tastes　or　its　political　destinies。　　The　old　conditions　have　ceased　to　exist；　and　the　prestige　of　the　salon　is　gone。

The　causes　that　led　to　its　decline　have　been　already　more　or　less　indicated。　　Among　them；　the　decay　of　aristocratic　institutions　played　only　a　small　part。　　The　salons　were　au　fond　democratic　in　the　sense　that　all　forms　of　distinction　were　recognized　so　far　as　they　were　amenable　to　the　laws　of　taste；　which　form　the　ultimate　tribunal　of　social　fitness　in　France。　　But　it　cannot　be　denied　that　the　code　of　etiquette　which　ruled　them　had　its　foundation　in　the　traditions　of　the　noblesse。　　The　genteel　manners；　the　absence　of　egotism　and　self…assertion；　as　of　disturbing　passions；　the　fine　and　uniform　courtesy　which　is　the　poetry　of　life；　are　the　product　of　ease　and　assured　conditions。　　It　is　struggle　that　destroys　harmony　and　repose；　whatever　stronger　qualities　it　may　develop；　and　the　greater　mingling　of　classes　which　inevitably　resulted　in　this　took　something　from　the　exquisite　flavor　of　the　old　society。　　The　increase　of　wealth；　too；　created　new　standards　that　were　fatal　to　a　life　in　which　the　resources　of　wit；　learning；　and　education　in　its　highest　sense　were　the　chief　attractions。　　The　greater　perfection　of　all　forms　of　public　amusement　was　not　without　its　influence。　　Men　drifted；　also；　more　and　more　into　the　one…sided　life　of　the　club。　　Considered　as　a　social　phase；　no　single　thing　has　been　more　disastrous　to　the　unity　of　modern　society　than　this。　　But　the　most　formidable　enemy　of　the　salon　has　been　the　press。　　Intelligence　has　become　too　universal　to　be　focused　in　a　few　drawing　rooms。　　Genius　and　ambition　have　found　a　broader　arena。　　When　interest　no　longer　led　men　to　seek　the　stimulus　and　approval　of　a　powerful　coterie；　it　ceased　to　be　more　than　an　elegant　form　of　recreation；　a　theater　of　small　talents；　the　diversion　of　an　idle　hour。　　When　the　press　assumed　the　sovereignty；　the　salon　was　dethroned。




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