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education methodically； strictly； and with tenderness。 As to the
girls； they were placed in convents； relieved from this care； their
parents only enjoy the greater freedom。 Even when they retain charge
of them they are scarcely more of a burden to them。 Little Fé1icité de
Saint…Aubin＇36＇ sees her parents 〃only on their waking up and at meal
times。〃 Their day is wholly taken up； the mother is making or
receiving visits； the father is in his laboratory or engaged in
hunting。 Up to seven years of age the child passes her time with
chambermaids who teach her only a little catechism； 〃with an infinite
number of ghost stories。〃 About this time she is taken care of； but in
a way which well portrays the epoch。 The Marquise； her mother； the
author of mythological and pastoral operas； has a theater built in the
chateau； a great crowd of company resorts to it from Bourbon…Lancy and
Moulins； after rehearsing twelve weeks the little girl； with a quiver
of arrows and blue wings； plays the part of Cupid； and the costume is
so becoming she is allowed to wear it in common during the entire day
for nine months。 To finish the business they send for a dancing…
fencing master； and； still wearing the Cupid costume； she takes
lessons in fencing and in deportment。 〃The entire winter is devoted to
playing comedy and tragedy。〃 Sent out of the room after dinner； she is
brought in again only to play on the harpsichord or to declaim the
monologue of Alzire before a numerous assembly。 Undoubtedly such
extravagances are not customary； but the spirit of education is
everywhere the same； that is to say； in the eyes of parents there is
but one intelligible and rational existence； that of society； even for
children； and the attentions bestowed on these are solely with a view
to introduce them into it or to prepare them for it。 Even in the last
years of the ancient régime＇37＇ little boys have their hair powdered；
〃a pomatumed chignon （bourse）； ringlets； and curls〃； they wear the
sword； the chapeau under the arm； a frill； and a coat with gilded
cuffs； they kiss young ladies' hands with the air of little dandies。 A
lass of six years is bound up in a whalebone waist； her large hoop…
petticoat supports a skirt covered with wreaths； she wears on her head
a skillful combination of false curls； puffs； and knots； fastened with
pins； and crowned with plumes； and so high that frequently 〃the chin
is half way down to her feet〃； sometimes they put rouge on her face。
She is a miniature lady； and she knows it； she is fully up in her
part； without effort or inconvenience； by force of habit； the unique；
the perpetual instruction she gets is that on her deportment； it may
be said with truth that the fulcrum of education in this country is
the dancing…master。＇38＇ They could get along with him without any
others； without him the others were of no use。 For； without him； how
could people go through easily； suitably； and gracefully the thousand
and one actions of daily life； walking； sitting down； standing up；
offering the arm； using the fan； listening and smiling； before eyes so
experienced and before such a refined public？ This is to be the great
thing for them when they become men and women； and for this reason it
is the thing of chief importance for them as children。 Along with
graces of attitude and of gesture； they already have those of the mind
and of expression。 Scarcely is their tongue loosened when they speak
the polished language of their parents。 The latter amuse themselves
with them and use them as pretty dolls； the preaching of Rousseau；
which； during the last third of the last century； brought children
into fashion； produces no other effect。 They are made to recite their
lessons in public； to perform in proverbs； to take parts in pastorals。
Their sallies are encouraged。 They know how to turn a compliment； to
invent a clever or affecting repartee； to be gallant； sensitive； and
even spirituelle。 The little Duc d'Angoulême； holding a book in his
hand； receives Suffren； whom he addresses thus： 〃I was reading
Plutarch and his illustrious men。 You could not have entered more
apropos。〃＇39＇ The children of M。 de Sabran； a boy and a girl； one
eight and the other nine； having taken lessons from the comedians
Sainval and Larive； come to Versailles to play before the king and
queen in Voltaire's 〃Oreste；〃 and on the little fellow being
interrogated about the classic authors； he replies to a lady； the
mother of three charming girls； 〃Madame； Anacreon is the only poet I
can think of here！〃 Another； of the same age； replies to a question of
Prince Henry of Prussia with an agreeable impromptu in verse。＇40＇ To
cause witticisms； trivialities； and mediocre verse to germinate in a
brain eight years old； what a triumph for the culture of the day！ It
is the last characteristic of the régime which； after having stolen
man away from public affairs； from his own affairs； from marriage；
from the family； hands him over； with all his sentiments and all his
faculties； to social worldliness； him and all that belong to him。
Below him fine ways and forced politeness prevail； even with his
servants and tradesmen。 A Frontin has a gallant unconstrained air； and
he turns a compliment。＇41＇ An Abigail needs only to be a kept mistress
to become a lady。 A shoemaker is a 〃monsieur in black；〃 who says to a
mother on saluting the daughter； 〃Madame； a charming young person； and
I am more sensible than ever of the value of your kindness；〃 on which
the young girl； just out of a convent； takes him for a suitor and
blushes scarlet。 Undoubtedly less unsophisticated eyes would
distinguish the difference between this pinchbeck louis d'or and a
genuine one； but their resemblance suffices to show the universal
action of the central mint…machinery which stamps both with the same
effigy； the base metal and the refined gold。
IV。 ENJOYMENT。
The charm of this life。 … Etiquette in the 18th Century。 … Its
perfection and its resources。 …Taught and prescribed under feminine
authority。
A society which obtains such ascendancy must possess some charm； in
no country； indeed； and in no age has so perfect a social art rendered
life so agreeable。 Paris is the school…house of Europe； a school of
urbanity to which the youth of Russia； Germany； and England resort to
become civilized。 Lord Chesterfield in his letters never tires of
reminding his son of this； and of urging him into these drawing…rooms；
which will remove 〃his Cambridge rust。〃 Once familiar with them they
are never abandoned； or if one is obliged to leave them； one always
sighs for them。 〃Nothing is comparable；〃 says Voltaire；＇42＇ 〃to the
genial life one leads there in the bosom of the arts and of a calm and
refined voluptuousness； strangers and monarchs have preferred this
repose； so agreeably occupied in it and so enchanting to their own
countries and thrones。 The heart there softens and melts away like
aromatics slowly dissolv