The Project Gutenberg EBook of Women of Modern France (Illustrated), by
Hugo Paul Thieme (1870-1940)

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Title: Women of Modern France (Illustrated)
Woman: In all ages and in all countries Vol. 7 (of 10)

Author: Hugo Paul Thieme (1870-1940)

Release Date: June 7, 2010 [EBook #32727]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WOMEN OF MODERN FRANCE ***

Produced by Renald Levesque

WOMAN

VOLUME VII

WOMEN OF MODERN FRANCE

BY

HUGO P. THIEME, Ph.D.
Of the University of Michigan

[Illustration 1:
_MARGUERITE D'ANGOULEME, QUEEN OF NAVARRE,
READING THE_ HEPTAMERON _TO HER
BROTHER, FRANCIS I.
After the painting by Leon Olivie_
_In the_ Heptameron _we have an accurate representation of society, its
manners and style of conversation; in it we find, also remnants of the
brutality and grossness of the Middle Ages, as well as reflections of
the higher tendencies and aspirations of the later time. In having a
thorough knowledge of the tricks, deceits, and follies of the
professional lovers of the day, and of their object in courting women,
Marguerite was able to warn her contemporaries and thus guard them
against immorality and its dangers. In her works she upheld the purity
of ideal love, exposing the questionable and selfish designs of the
clever professional seducers._]

_Woman_

In all ages and in all countries

WOMEN OF MODERN FRANCE

by

HUGO P. THIEME, Ph.D.
Of the University of Michigan

_Illustrated_

PHILADELPHIA
GEORGE BARRIE & SONS, Publishers

PREFACE

Among the Latin races, the French race differs essentially in one
characteristic which has been the key to the success of French
women--namely, the social instinct. The whole French nation has always
lived for the present time, in actuality, deriving from life more of
what may be called social pleasure than any other nation. It has been
a universal characteristic among French people since the sixteenth
century to love to please, to make themselves agreeable, to bring joy
and happiness to others, and to be loved and admired as well. With
this instinctive trait French women have always been bount