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girl〃； the young Duchesse； tender and sensible； is 〃her grandmamma。〃
As for 〃grandpapa；〃 M。 de Choiseul； 〃a slight cold keeping him in bed
he has fairy stories read to him all day long； a species of reading to
which we are all given； we find them as probable as modern history。 Do
not imagine that he is unoccupied。 He has had a tapestry frame put up
in the drawing room at which he works； I cannot say with the greatest
skill； but at least with the greatest assiduity。 。 。 。 Now； our
delight is in flying a kite； grandpapa has never seen this sight and
he is enraptured with it。〃 The pastime； in itself； is nothing； it is
resorted to according to opportunity or the taste of the hour； now
taken up and now let alone； and the abbé soon writes： 〃I do not speak
about our races because we race no more； nor of our readings because
we do not read； nor of our promenades because we do not go out。 What；
then； do we do？ Some play billiards； others dominoes； and others
backgammon。 We weave； we ravel and we unravel。 Time pushes us on and
we pay him back。〃
Other circles present the same spectacle。 Every occupation being an
amusement； a caprice or an impulse of fashion brings one into favor。
At present； it is unraveling； every white hand at Paris； and in the
chateaux； being busy in undoing trimmings； epaulettes and old stuffs；
to pick out the gold and silver threads。 They find in this employment
the semblance of economy； an appearance of occupation； in any event
something to keep them in countenance。 On a circle of ladies being
formed； a big unraveling bag in green taffeta is placed on the table；
which belongs to the lady of the house； immediately all the ladies
call for their bags and 〃voilà les laquais en l'air〃＇54＇ It is all the
rage。 They unravel every day and several hours in the day； some
derive from it a hundred louis d'or per annum。 The gentlemen are
expected to provide the materials for the work； the Duc de Lauzun；
accordingly； gives to Madame de V … a harp of natural size covered
with gold thread； an enormous golden fleece； brought as a present from
the Comte de Lowenthal； and which cost 2 or 3；000 francs； brings；
picked to pieces； 5 or 600 francs。 But they do not look into matters
so closely。 Some employment is essential for idle hands； some manual
outlet for nervous activity； a humorous petulance breaks out in the
middle of the pretended work。 One day； when about going out； Madame de
R … observes that the gold fringe on her dress would be capital for
unraveling； whereupon； with a dash； she cuts one of the fringes off。
Ten women suddenly surround a man wearing fringes； pull off his coat
and put his fringes and laces into their bags； just as if a bold flock
of tomtits； fluttering and chattering in the air； should suddenly dart
on a jay to pluck out its feathers； thenceforth a man who enters a
circle of women stands in danger of being stripped alive。 All this
pretty world has the same pastimes； the men as well as the women。
Scarcely a man can be found without some drawing room accomplishment；
some trifling way of keeping his mind and hands busy； and of filling
up the vacant hour； almost all make rhymes； or act in private
theatricals； many of them are musicians and painters of still…life
subjects。 M。 de Choiseul； as we have just seen； works at tapestry；
others embroider or make sword…knots。 M。 de Francueil is a good
violinist and makes violins himself； and besides this he is
〃watchmaker； architect； turner； painter； locksmith； decorator； cook；
poet； music…composer and he embroiders remarkably well。〃＇55＇ In this
general state of inactivity it is essential 〃to know how to be
pleasantly occupied in behalf of others as well as in one's own
behalf。〃 Madame de Pompadour is a musician； an actress； a painter and
an engraver。 Madame Adelaide learns watchmaking and plays on all
instruments from a horn to the jew's…harp； not very well； it is true；
but as well as a queen can sing； whose fine voice is ever only half in
tune。 But they make no pretensions。 The thing is to amuse oneself and
nothing more； high spirits and the amenities of the hour cover all。
Rather read this capital fact of Madame de Lauzun at Chanteloup： 〃Do
you know；〃 writes the abbé； 〃that nobody possesses in a higher degree
one quality you would never suspect of her； that of preparing
scrambled eggs？ This talent has been buried in the ground； she cannot
recall the time she acquired it； I believe that she had it at her
birth。 Accident made it known； and immediately it was put to test。
Yesterday morning； an hour for ever memorable in the history of eggs；
the implements necessary for this great operation were all brought
out； a heater； some gravy； some pepper and eggs。 Behold Madame de
Lauzun； at first blushing and in a tremor； soon with intrepid courage；
breaking the eggs； beating them up in the pan； turning them over； now
to the right； now to the left； now up and now down； with unexampled
precision and success！ Never was a more excellent dish eaten。〃 What
laughter and gaiety in the group comprised in this little scene。 And；
not long after； what madrigals and allusions！ Gaiety here resembles a
dancing ray of sunlight； it flickers over all things and reflects its
grace on every object。
VI。 GAIETY。
Gaiety in the 18th Century。 … Its causes and effects。 … Toleration
and license。 … Balls； fêtes； hunts； banquets； pleasures。 … Freedom of
the magistrates and prelates。
The Frenchman's characteristic；〃 says an English traveler in 1785；
〃is to be always gay；〃＇56＇ and he remarks that he must be so because；
in France； such is the tone of society and the only mode of pleasing
the ladies； the sovereigns of society and the arbiters of good taste。
Add to this the absence of the causes which produce modern dreariness；
and which convert the sky above our heads into one of leaden gloom。
There was no laborious； forced work in those days； no furious
competition； no uncertain careers； no infinite perspectives。 Ranks
were clearly defined； ambitions limited； there was less envy。 Man was
not habitually dissatisfied； soured and preoccupied as he is nowadays。
Few free passes were allowed where there was no right to pass； we
think of nothing but advancement； they thought only of amusing
themselves。 An officer； instead of raging and storming over the army
lists； busies himself in inventing some new disguise for a masked
ball； a magistrate； instead of counting the convictions he has
secured； provides a magnificent supper。 At Paris； every afternoon in
the left avenue of the Palais…Royal； 〃fine company； very richly
dressed； gather under the large trees；〃 and in the evening 〃on leaving
the opera at half…past eight； they go back there and remain until two
o'clock in the morning。〃 They have music in the open air by moonlight；
Gavat singing； and the chevalier de Saint…George playing on the
violin。＇57＇ At Moffontaine； 〃the Comte de Vaudreuil； Lebrun the poet；
the che