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    226 MADAME RECAMIER.

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    «¦ The Father Of Madame Recamier Was Jea...

    Saints Peres ; lie was from . Lyons , the son of an opulent tradesman who had realized a considerable independence and held a hiii

    posi-• tion in the commercial world of Paris . g Amiable , accomplishedand rich , there were many reasons why

    , M . and Madame Bernard should willingly accept him as their sonin-law . But the disparity of age made them hesitate when he

    asked for the hand of their daughter . He was forty-two years of age , and she not yet fifteen . But he was kindand had for years

    , been especially good-natured to Juliette—had given her her prettiest dolls , and now paid her the compliment of offering her his nanieo

    It was Juliette therefore who assured her parents that she was willing to overlook his agein consideration of the kindness of his

    , manners and the goodness of his heart , and on the 24 th of April , 1793 , they were married .

    M . Kecamier ' s character was indeed remarkable for an exaggerated amiability . Polite to all , he was popular in society ; and

    extravagantly generous , he was imposed upon on all hands ; and yet , however ill his benefits were repaidhe was neither surprised nor ruffled .

    , To lead an easy and pleasant life was his aim ; and adored by his family , sought after by agreeable companions , and without any

    depth of feeling , he was able to pass so lightly through life as to taste all except its deepest pleasuresand to experience scarcely

    , any of its pains . He would enjoy helping his friends in their necessities , though

    he did not sympathize with them enough to make him suffer ; and if they died , the space was filled up with hardly a regretalthough

    during their life he would fail in no office of friendship which , his time or thought or money enabled him to fulfil . He was good-looking and

    accomplished , with very polished manners , and a reckless confidence in others , by which it is needless to say they did not fail to profit .

    With all this he was hardly a man to inspire much respect ; and he does not seem to have wished to create any affection in the heart

    of his young wife . He was invariably kind to her , ready to counsel and advise as a fatherand to give her the benefit of his worldly

    , experience ; and he trusted implicitly , as indeed he well might , in the rectitude and dignity which carried her through the peculiar

    dangers which surrounded her . During the first four years of their marriage the life of Madame Hecamier was singularly calm and

    uneventful . The very horrors which were passing round her put a stop to the ordinary habits of social life , while M . Recamier solaced

    himself in attending the daily executions , and witnessed the tragical end of the King , the Queen , and many of his old friends and

    associates , with his usual amiable equanimity . v "We do not even know whether the risk which at one time existed

    of himself and his wife ' s family being included among the victims , excited him to any strong emotion . Through the protection of

    Barrere , however , the danger passed by . _:, It was not till calm was restored in Parisand the national ,

    226 Madame Recamier.

    226 MADAME RECAMIER .

• Citation
  • English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), Dec. 1, 1860, page 226, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01121860/page/10/