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what tranquillity！ nothing pretentious； but nothing transitory； all
seems eternal there！
The ground…floor is devoted wholly to the reception…rooms。 The old；
unchangeable provincial spirit pervades them。 The great square salon
has four windows； modestly cased in woodwork painted gray。 A single
oblong mirror is placed above the fireplace； the top of its frame
represented the Dawn led by the Hours； and painted in camaieu （two
shades of one color）。 This style of painting infested the decorative
art of the day； especially above door…frames； where the artist
displayed his eternal Seasons； and made you； in most houses in the
centre of France； abhor the odious Cupids； endlessly employed in
skating； gleaning； twirling； or garlanding one another with flowers。
Each window was draped in green damask curtains； looped up by heavy
cords； which made them resemble a vast dais。 The furniture； covered
with tapestry； the woodwork； painted and varnished； and remarkable for
the twisted forms so much the fashion in the last century； bore scenes
from the fables of La Fontaine on the chair…backs； some of this
tapestry had been mended。 The ceiling was divided at the centre of the
room by a huge beam； from which depended an old chandelier of rock…
crystal swathed in green gauze。 On the fireplace were two vases in
Sevres blue； and two old girandoles attached to the frame of the
mirror； and a clock； the subject of which； taken from the last scene
of the 〃Deserteur；〃 proved the enormous popularity of Sedaine's work。
This clock； of bronze…gilt； bore eleven personages upon it； each about
four inches tall。 At the back the Deserter was seen issuing from
prison between the soldiers； in the foreground the young woman lay
fainting； and pointing to his pardon。 On the walls of this salon were
several of the more recent portraits of the family；one or two by
Rigaud； and three pastels by Latour。 Four card tables； a backgammon
board； and a piquet table occupied the vast room； the only one in the
house； by the bye； which was ceiled。
The dining…room； paved in black and white stone； not ceiled； and its
beams painted； was furnished with one of those enormous sideboards
with marble tops； required by the war waged in the provinces against
the human stomach。 The walls； painted in fresco； represented a flowery
trellis。 The seats were of varnished cane； and the doors of natural
wood。 All things about the place carried out the patriarchal air which
emanated from the inside as well as the outside of the house。 The
genius of the provinces preserved everything； nothing was new or old；
neither young nor decrepit。 A cold precision made itself felt
throughout。
Tourists in Normandy； Brittany； Maine； and Anjou must all have seen in
the capitals of those provinces many houses which resemble more or
less that of the Cormons； for it is； in its way； an archetype of the
burgher houses in that region of France； and it deserves a place in
this history because it serves to explain manners and customs； and
represents ideas。 Who does not already feel that life must have been
calm and monotonously regular in this old edifice？ It contained a
library； but that was placed below the level of the river。 The books
were well bound and shelved； and the dust； far from injuring them；
only made them valuable。 They were preserved with the care given in
these provinces deprived of vineyards to other native products；
desirable for their antique perfume； and issued by the presses of
Bourgogne； Touraine； Gascogne； and the South。 The cost of
transportation was too great to allow any but the best products to be
imported。
The basis of Mademoiselle Cormon's society consisted of about one
hundred and fifty persons； some went at times to the country； others
were occasionally ill； a few travelled about the department on
business； but certain of the faithful came every night （unless invited
elsewhere）； and so did certain others compelled by duties or by habit
to live permanently in the town。 All the personages were of ripe age；
few among them had ever travelled； nearly all had spent their lives in
the provinces； and some had taken part in the chouannerie。 The latter
were beginning to speak fearlessly of that war； now that rewards were
being showered on the defenders of the good cause。 Monsieur de Valois；
one of the movers in the last uprising （during which the Marquis de
Montauran； betrayed by his mistress； perished in spite of the devotion
of Marche…a…Terre； now tranquilly raising cattle for the market near
Mayenne）；Monsieur de Valois had； during the last six months； given
the key to several choice stratagems practised upon an old republican
named Hulot； the commander of a demi…brigade stationed at Alencon from
1798 to 1800； who had left many memories in the place。 ＇See 〃The
Chouans。〃＇
The women of this society took little pains with their dress； except
on Wednesdays； when Mademoiselle Cormon gave a dinner； on which
occasion the guests invited on the previous Wednesday paid their
〃visit of digestion。〃 Wednesdays were gala days： the assembly was
numerous； guests and visitors appeared in fiocchi； some women brought
their sewing； knitting； or worsted work； the young girls were not
ashamed to make patterns for the Alencon point lace； with the proceeds
of which they paid for their personal expenses。 Certain husbands
brought their wives out of policy； for young men were few in that
house； not a word could be whispered in any ear without attracting the
attention of all； there was therefore no danger； either for young
girls or wives； of love…making。
Every evening； at six o'clock； the long antechamber received its
furniture。 Each habitue brought his cane； his cloak； his lantern。 All
these persons knew each other so well； and their habits and ways were
so familiarly patriarchal； that if by chance the old Abbe de Sponde
was lying down； or Mademoiselle Cormon was in her chamber； neither
Josette； the maid； nor Jacquelin； the man…servant； nor Mariette； the
cook； informed them。 The first comer received the second； then； when
the company were sufficiently numerous for whist； piquet； or boston；
they began the game without awaiting either the Abbe de Sponde or
mademoiselle。 If it was dark； Josette or Jacquelin would hasten to
light the candles as soon as the first bell rang。 Seeing the salon
lighted up； the abbe would slowly hurry to come down。 Every evening
the backgammon and the piquet tables； the three boston tables； and the
whist table were filled；which gave occupation to twenty…five or
thirty persons； but as many as forty were usually present。 Jacquelin
would then light the candles in the other rooms。
Between eight and nine o'clock the servants began to arrive in the
antechamber to accompany their masters home； and； short of a
revolution； no one remained in the salon at ten o'clock。 At that hour
the guests were departing in groups along the street； discoursing on
the game； or continuing conversations on the land they were covetous
of buying； on the terms of some one's will； on quarrels among heirs；
on the haughty assumption of the aristocratic portion of the
community。 It was like Paris when the audience of a theatre disperses。
Certain persons who talk much of poesy and know nothing about it；
declaim against the habits of life in the provinces。 But put your
forehead in your left hand； rest one foot on the fender； and your
elbow on your knee； then； if you compass the idea of this quiet and
uniform scene； this house and its interior； this company and its
interests； heightened by the pettiness of its intellect like goldleaf
beaten between sheets of parchment； ask yourself； What is human life？
Try to decide between him who scribbles jokes on Egyptian obelisks；
and him who has 〃bostoned〃 for twenty years with Du Bousquier；
Monsieur de Valois； Mademoiselle Cormon； the judge of the court； the
king's attorney； the Abbe de Sponde； Madame Granson； and tutti quanti。
If the daily and punctual return of the same steps to the same path is
not happiness； it imitates happiness so well that men driven by the
storms of an agitated life to reflect upon the blessings of
tranquillity would say that here was happiness ENOUGH。
To reckon the importance of Mademoiselle Cormon's salon at its true
value； it will suffice to say that the born statistician of the
society； du Bousquier； had estimated that the persons who frequented
it controlled one hundred and thirty…one votes in the electoral
college； and mustered among themselves eighteen hundred thousand
francs a year from landed estate in the neighborhood。
The town of Alencon； however； was not entirely represented by this
salon。 The higher aristocracy had a salon of their own； moreover； that
of the receiver…general was like an administration inn kept by the
government； where society danced； plotted； fluttered； loved； and
supped。 These two salons communicated by means of certain mix