to her。 But traditions are strong； and people do not readily adapt themselves to new models。 Character and manners are a growth。 That which is put on； and not ingrained； is apt to lack true balance and proportion。 Hence it is not strange that this new order of things resulted in many crudities and exaggerations。
It is not worth while to criticize too severely the plumed knights who took the heroes of Corneille as models； played the harmless lover； and paid the tribute of chivalric deference to women。 The strained politeness may have been artificial； and the forms of chivalry very likely outran the feeling； but they served at least to keep it alive； while the false platonism and ultra… refined sentiment were simply moral protests against the coarse vices of the time。 The prudery which reached a satirical climax in 〃Les Precieuses Ridicules〃 was a natural reaction from the sensuality of a Marguerite and a Gabrielle。 Mme。 de Rambouillet saw and enjoyed the first performance of this celebrated play； nor does it appear that she was at all disturbed by the keen satire which was generally supposed to have been directed toward her salon。 Moliere himself disclaims all intention of attacking the true precieuse； but the world is not given to fine discrimination； and the true suffers from the blow aimed at the false。 This brilliant comedian； whose manners were not of the choicest； was more at home in the lax and epicurean world of Ninon and Mme。 de la Sablierea world which naturally did not find the decorum of the precieuses at all to its taste； the witticism of Ninon； who defined them as the 〃Jansenists of love；〃 is well known。 It is not unlikely that Moliere shared her dislike of the powerful and fastidious coterie whose very virtues might easily have furnished salient points for his scathing wit。
But whatever affectations may have grown out of the new code of manners； it had a more lasting result in the fine and stately courtesy which pervaded the later social life of the century。 We owe； too； a profound gratitude to these women who exacted and were able to command a consideration which with many shades of variation has been left as a permanent heritage to their sex。 We may smile at some of their follies； have we not our own which some nineteenth century Moliere may serve up for the delight and possible misleading of future generations？
There is a warm human side to this daily intercourse； with its sweet and gracious courtesies。 The women who discuss grave questions and make or unmake literary reputations in the salon； are capable of rare sacrifices and friendships that seem quixotic in their devotion。 Cousin； who has studied them so carefully and so sympathetically； has saved from oblivion many private letters which give us pleasant glimpses of their everyday life。 As we listen to their quiet exchange of confidences； we catch the smile that plays over the light badinage； or the tear that lurks in the tender words。
A little son of Mme。 de Rambouillet has the small pox； and his sister Julie shares the care of him with her mother； when every one else has fled。 At his death； she devotes herself to her friend Mme。 de Longueville； who soon after her marriage is attacked with the same dreaded malady。 Mme。 de Sable is afraid of contagion； and refuses to see Mlle。 de Rambouillet； who writes her a characteristic letter。 As it gives us a vivid idea of her esprit as well as of her literary style； I copy it in full； though it has been made already familiar to the English reader by George Eliot； in her admirable review of Cousin's 〃Life of Mme。 De Sable。〃
Mlle de Chalais （Dame de compagnie to the Marquise） will please read this letter to Mme。 la Marquise； out of the wind。
Madame； I cannot begin my treaty with you too early； for I am sure that between the first proposition made for me to see you； and the conclusion； you will have so many reflections to make； so many physicians to consult； and so many fears to overcome； that I shall have full leisure to air myself。 The conditions which I offer are； not to visit you until I have been three days absent from the Hotel de Conde； to change all my clothing； to choose a day when it has frozen； not to approach you within four paces； not to sit down upon more than one seat。 You might also have a great fire in your room； burn juniper in the four corners； surround yourself with imperial vinegar； rue； and wormwood。 If you can feel safe under these conditions； without my cutting off my hair； I swear to you to execute them religiously； and if you need examples to fortify you； I will tell you that the Queen saw M。 de Chaudebonne when he came from Mlle。 de Bourbon's room； and that Mme。 d'Aiguillon； who has good taste and is beyond criticism on such points； has just sent me word that if I did not go to see her； she should come after me。
Mme。 de Sable retorts in a satirical vein； that her friend is too well instructed in the needed precautions； to be quite free from the charge of timidity； adding the hope that since she understands the danger； she will take better care of herself in the future。
This calls forth another letter； in which Mlle。 de Rambouillet says； 〃One never fears to see those whom one loves。 I would have given much； for your sake； if this had not occurred。〃 She closes this spicy correspondence； however； with a very affectionate letter which calms the ruffled temper of her sensitive companion。
Mme。 de Sable has another friend； Mlle。 d'Attichy； who figures quite prominently in the social life of a later period； as the Comtesse de Maure。 〃This lady was just leaving Paris to visit her in the country； when she learned that Mme。 de Sable had written to Mme。 de Rambouillet that she could conceive of no greater happiness than to pass her life alone with Julie d'Angennes。 This touches her sensibilities so keenly that she changes her plans； and refuses to visit one who could find her pleasure away from her。 Mme。 de Sable tries in vain to appease her exacting friend； who replies to her explanations by a long letter in which she recalls their tender and inviolable friendship； and closes with these words：
Malheurteuse est l'ignorance； Et plus malheureux le savoir。
Having thus lost a confidence which alone rendered life supportable to me； I cannot dream of taking the journey so much talked of； for there would be no propriety in traveling sixty leagues at this season； in order to burden you with a person so uninteresting to you； that after years of a passion without parallel you cannot help thinking that the greatest pleasure would consist in passing life without her。 I return then into my solitude； to examine the faults which cause me so much unhappiness； and unless I can correct them； I should have less joy than confusion in seeing you。 I kiss your hands very humbly。
How this affair was adjusted does not appear； but as they remained devoted friends through life； unable to live apart； or pass a day happily without seeing each other； it evidently did not end in a serious alienation。 It suggests； however； a delicacy and an exaltation of feeling which we are apt to accord only to love； and which go far toward disproving the verdict of Mongaigne； that 〃the soul of a woman is not firm enough for so durable a tie as friendship。〃
We like to dwell upon these inner phases of a famous and powerful coterie； not only because they bring before us so vividly the living； moving； thinking； loving women who composed it； letting us into their intimate life with its quiet shadings； its fantastic humors； and its wayward caprices； but because they lead us to the fountain head of a new form of literary expression。 We have seen that the formal letters of Balzac were among the early entertainments of the Hotel de Rambouillet； and that Voiture had a witty or sentimental note for every occasion。 Mlle。 de Scudery held a ready pen； and was in the habit of noting down in her letters to absent friends the conversation； which ran over a great variety of topics； from the gossip of the moment to the gravest questions。 There was no morning journal with its columns of daily news； no magazine with its sketches of contemporary life； and these private letters were passed from one to another to be read and discussed。 The craze for clever letters spread。 Conversations literally overflowed upon paper。 A romantic adventure； a bit of scandal； a drawing room incident； or a personal pique； was a fruitful theme。 Everybody aimed to excel in an art which brought a certain prestige。 These letters； most of which had their brief day； were often gathered into little volumes。 Many have long since disappeared； or found burial in the dust of old libraries from which they are occasionally exhumed to throw fresh light upon some forgotten nook and by way of an age whose habits and manners； virtues and follies； they so faithfully record。 A few； charged with the vitality of genius； retain their freshness and live among the enduring monuments of the society that gave them birth。 The finest outcome of this prevailing taste was Mme。 de Sevigne； who still reigns as the queen of graceful letter writers。 Although her maturity belongs to a later period； she was familiar with the Rambouillet circle in her youth； an