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personages of Laclos are derived from these originals。＇6＇ … Monsters
of this kind are； undoubtedly； rare； but there is no need of reverting
to them to ascertain how much egotism is harbored in the gallantry of
society。 The women who erected it into an obligation are the first to
realize its deceptiveness； and； amidst so much homage without heat； to
pine for the communicative warmth of a powerful sentiment。 … The
character of the century obtains its last trait and 〃the man of
feeling comes on the stage。
II。RETURN TO NATURE AND SENTIMENT。
Final trait of the century； an increased sensitivity in the best
circles。 … Date of its advent。 … Its symptoms in art and in
literature。 … Its dominion in private。 … Its affectations。 … Its
sincerity。 … Its delicacy。
It is not that the groundwork of habits becomes different； for
these remain equally worldly and dissipated up the last。 But fashion
authorizes a new affectation； consisting of effusions； reveries； and
sensibilities as yet unknown。 The point is to return to nature； to
admire the country； to delight in the simplicity of rustic manners； to
be interested in village people； to be human； to have a heart； to find
pleasure in the sweetness and tenderness of natural affections； to be
a husband and a father； and still more； to possess a soul； virtues；
and religious emotions； to believe in Providence and immortality； to
be capable of enthusiasm。 One wants to be all this； or at least show
an inclination that way。 In any event； if the desire does exist it is
one the implied condition； that one shall not be too much disturbed in
his ordinary pursuits； and that the sensations belonging to the new
order of life shall in no respect interfere with the enjoyments of the
old one。 Accordingly the exaltation which arises is little more than
cerebral fermentation； and the idyll is to be almost entirely
performed in the drawing…rooms。 Behold； then； literature； the drama；
painting and all the arts pursuing the same sentimental road to supply
heated imaginations with factitious nourishment。＇7＇ Rousseau； in
labored periods； preaches the charms of an uncivilized existence；
while other masters； between two madrigals； fancy the delight of
sleeping naked in the primeval forest。 The lovers in 〃La Nouvelle
Héloise〃 interchange passages of fine style through four volumes；
whereupon a person 〃not merely methodical but prudent；〃 the Comtesse
de Blot； exclaims； at a social gathering at the Duchesse de
Chartres'； 〃a woman truly sensitive； unless of extraordinary virtue；
could refuse nothing to the passion of Rousseau。〃＇8＇ People collect in
a dense crowd in the Exhibition around 〃L'Accordée de Village；〃 〃La
Cruche Cassée；〃 and the 〃Retour de nourrice；〃 with other rural and
domestic idylls by Greuze； the voluptuous element； the tempting
undercurrent of sensuality made perceptible in the fragile simplicity
of his artless maidens； is a dainty bit for the libertine tastes which
are kept alive beneath moral aspirations。＇9＇ After these； Ducis；
Thomas； Parny； Colardeau； Boucher； Delille； Bernardin de St。 Pierre；
Marmontel； Florian； the mass of orators； authors and politicians； the
misanthrope Champfort； the logician La Harpe； the minister Necker； the
versifiers and the imitators of Gessner and Young； the Berquins； the
Bitaubés； nicely combed and bedizened； holding embroidered
handkerchiefs to wipe away tears； are to marshal forth the universal
eclogue down to the acme of the Revolution。 Marmontel's 〃Moral Tales〃
appear in the columns of the 〃Mercure〃 for 1791 and 1792；＇10＇ while
the number following the massacres of September opens with verses 〃to
the manes of my canary…bird。 〃
Consequently； in all the details of private life； sensibility
displays its magniloquence。 A small temple to Friendship is erected in
a park。 A little altar to Benevolence is set up in a private closet。
Dresses à la Jean…Jacques…Rousseau are worn 〃analogous to the
principles of that author。〃 Head…dresses are selected with 〃puffs au
sentiment〃 in which one may place the portrait of one's daughter；
mother； canary or dog； the whole 〃garnished with the hair of one's
father or intimate friend。〃＇11＇ People keep intimate friends for whom
〃they experience something so warm and so tender that it nearly
amounts to a passion〃 and whom they cannot go three hours a day
without seeing。 〃Every time female companions interchange tender ideas
the voice suddenly changes into a pure and languishing tone； each
fondly regarding the other with approaching heads and frequently
embracing；〃 and suppressing a yawn a quarter of an hour after； with a
nap in concert； because they have no more to say。 Enthusiasm becomes
an obligation。 On the revival of 〃Le père de famille〃 there are as
many handkerchiefs counted as spectators； and ladies faint away。 〃It
is customary； especially for young women； to be excited； to turn pale；
to melt into tears and； generally； to be seriously affected on
encountering M。 de Voltaire； they rush into his arms； stammer and
weep； their agitation resembling that of the most passionate
love。〃＇12＇ … When a society…author reads his work in a drawing…room；
fashion requires that the company should utter exclamations and sob；
and that some pretty fainting subject should be unlaced。 Mme。 de
Genlis； who laughs at these affectations； is no less affected than the
rest。 Suddenly some one in the company is heard to say to the young
orphan whom she is exhibiting： 〃Pamela； show us Héloise；〃 whereupon
Pamela； loosening her hair； falls on her knees and turns her eyes up
to heaven with an air of inspiration； to the great applause of the
assembly。＇13＇ Sensibility becomes an institution。 The same Madame de
Genlis founds an order of Perseverance which soon includes 〃as many as
ninety chevaliers in the very best society。〃 To become a member it is
necessary to solve some riddle； to answer a moral question and
pronounce a discourse on virtue。 Every lady or chevalier who discovers
and publishes 〃three well…verified virtuous actions〃 obtains a gold
medal。 Each chevalier has his 〃brother in arms；〃 each lady has her
bosom friend and each member has a device； and each device； framed in
a little picture； figures in the 〃Temple of Honor；〃 a sort of tent
gallantly decorated； and which M。 de Lauzun causes to be erected in
the middle of a garden。＇14＇ … The sentimental parade is complete； a
drawing room masquerade being visible even in this revival of
chivalry。
The froth of enthusiasm and of fine words nevertheless leaves in
the heart a residuum of active benevolence； trustfulness； and even
happiness； or； at least； expansiveness and freedom。 Wives； for the
first time； are seen accompanying their husbands into garrison；
mothers desire to nurse their infants； and fathers begin to interest
themselves in the education of their children。 Simplicity again forms
an element of manners。 Hair…powder is no longer put on little boys'
head