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grace and witchery a woman can lend to the simplest surroundings。 She
need not be beautiful or brilliant to hold him in lifelong allegiance； if she
but possess this magnetism。
Madame Recamier was a beautiful； but not a brilliant woman； yet she
held men her slaves for years。 To know her was to fall under her charm；
and to feel it once was to remain her adorer for life。 She will go down to
history as the type of a fascinating woman。 Being asked once by an
acquaintance what spell she worked on mankind that enabled her to hold
them for ever at her feet； she laughingly answered：
〃I have always found two words sufficient。 When a visitor comes into
my salon； I say； 'ENFIN！' and when he gets up to go away； I say； 'DEJA！' 〃
〃What is this wonderful 'charm' he is writing about？〃 I hear some
sprightly maiden inquire as she reads these lines。 My dear young lady； if
you ask the question； you have judged yourself and been found wanting。
But to satisfy you as far as I can； I will try and define it … not by telling you
what it is； that is beyond my power … but by negatives； the only way in
which subtle subjects can be approached。
A woman of charm is never flustered and never DISTRAITE。 She
talks little； and rarely of herself； remembering that bores are persons who
insist on talking about themselves。 She does not break the thread of a
conversation by irrelevant questions or confabulate in an undertone with
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the servants。 No one of her guests receives more of her attention than
another and none are neglected。 She offers to each one who speaks the
homage of her entire attention。 She never makes an effort to be brilliant or
entertain with her wit。 She is far too clever for that。 Neither does she
volunteer information nor converse about her troubles or her ailments； nor
wander off into details about people you do not know。
She is all things … to each man she likes； in the best sense of that phrase；
appreciating his qualities； stimulating him to better things。
… for his gayer hours She has a voice of gladness and a smile and
eloquence of beauty； and she glides Into his darker musings with a mild
and healing sympathy that steals away Their sharpness ere he is aware。
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CHAPTER 2 … The Moth and the
Star
THE truth of the saying that 〃it is always the unexpected that
happens；〃 receives in this country a confirmation from an unlooked… for
quarter； as does the fact of human nature being always； discouragingly； the
same in spite of varied surroundings。 This sounds like a paradox； but is an
exceedingly simple statement easily proved。
That the great mass of Americans； drawn as they are from such varied
sources； should take any interest in the comings and goings or social
doings of a small set of wealthy and fashionable people； is certainly an
unexpected development。 That to read of the amusements and home life of
a clique of people with whom they have little in common； whose whole
education and point of view are different from their own； and whom they
have rarely seen and never expect to meet； should afford the average
citizen any amusement seems little short of impossible。
One accepts as a natural sequence that abroad （where an hereditary
nobility have ruled for centuries； and accustomed the people to look up to
them as the visible embodiment of all that is splendid and unattainable in
life） such interest should exist。 That the home…coming of an English or
French nobleman to his estates should excite the enthusiasm of hundreds
more or less dependent upon him for their amusement or more material
advantages； that his marriage to an heiress … meaning to them the re…
opening of a long…closed CHATEAU and the beginning of a period of
prosperity for the district … should excite his neighbors is not to be
wondered at。
It is well known that whole regions have been made prosperous by the
residence of a court； witness the wealth and trade brought into Scotland by
the Queen's preference for 〃the Land of Cakes；〃 and the discontent and
poverty in Ireland from absenteeism and persistent avoidance of that
country by the court。 But in this land； where every reason for interesting
one class in another seems lacking； that thousands of well…to…do people
（half the time not born in this hemisphere）； should delightedly devour
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columns of incorrect information about New York dances and Lenox
house…parties； winter cruises； or Newport coaching parades； strikes the
observer as the 〃unexpected〃 in its purest form。
That this interest exists is absolutely certain。 During a trip in the West；
some seasons ago； I was dumbfounded to find that the members of a
certain New York set were familiarly spoken of by their first names； and
was assailed with all sorts of eager questions when it was discovered that I
knew them。 A certain young lady； at that time a belle in New York； was
currently called SALLY； and a well…known sportsman FRED； by
thousands of people who had never seen either of them。 It seems
impossible； does it not？ Let us look a little closer into the reason of this
interest； and we shall find how simple is the apparent paradox。
Perhaps in no country； in all the world； do the immense middle classes
lead such uninteresting lives； and have such limited resources at their
disposal for amusement or the passing of leisure hours。 Abroad the
military bands play constantly in the public parks； the museums and
palaces are always open wherein to pass rainy Sunday afternoons； every
village has its religious FETES and local fair； attended with dancing and
games。 All these mental relaxations are lacking in our newer civilization；
life is stripped of everything that is not distinctly practical； the dull round
of weekly toil is