Library of the world's best literature, ancient and modern . r wont; butLa Bruyere knew how to be amiable whilepreserving his own respect and winningtheirs. When his pupil left him, to marrythe daughter of Louis XIV. and Madame de Montespan, he was askedto stay on as gentleman-in-waiting; and did so until his death of apo-plexy at the Hotel Conde, when only fifty-one. With the Condes the witty bourgeois had every opportunity togather material for his famous Characters. He was a keen observer,with the clear impartial vision possessed only by an unconcernedspectator. Though he knew the King and
Library of the world's best literature, ancient and modern . r wont; butLa Bruyere knew how to be amiable whilepreserving his own respect and winningtheirs. When his pupil left him, to marrythe daughter of Louis XIV. and Madame de Montespan, he was askedto stay on as gentleman-in-waiting; and did so until his death of apo-plexy at the Hotel Conde, when only fifty-one. With the Condes the witty bourgeois had every opportunity togather material for his famous Characters. He was a keen observer,with the clear impartial vision possessed only by an unconcernedspectator. Though he knew the King and all the powerful noblemenof France, though he was familiar with every court intrigue, he mustoften have been made to feel that he was a recognized was quiet malice in his outward respect for these men andwomen, and in the merciless analysis with which he exposed theirmisplaced pride and ridiculous foibles. The *? Characters ^ (Les Caracteres), suggested as its name indicatesby the work of Theophrastus, and partly modeled after it, appeared. Jean de La Bruyere JEAN DE LA BRUYERE 8761 in 1687; and La Bniyere found his literary pastime, his solace towounded vanity, winning an immediate st:ccess. It is said that hehad offered to give the manuscript to a bookseller friend, the possibleprofits to become a dowry for his child. The hesitating booksellerfinally printed it, and thus made a large fortune. La Bruyere has definitely stated the purpose of his work: Of thesixteen chapters which compose it, there are fifteen wholly employedin detecting the fallacy and absurdity to be found in the objects ofhuman passions and inclinations, and in demolishing such obstaclesas at first weaken, and afterwards extinguish, any knowledge of Godin mankind: therefore these chapters are merely preparatory to thesixteenth and last, wherein atheism is attacked, and perhaps routed;wherein the proofs of a God, such at least as weak man is capable ofreceiving, are produced; wherein the provide
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