GENEVA IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY 41 



the pencil rather than the brush. They excel in observing and de- 

 scribing mechanisms organic, physical, or psychological in extreme 

 detail ; they examine at length each object as through the microscope ; 

 they push patience to dullness ; they are ingenious, but lacking in 

 breadth of view.' l 



In Mme. d'Epinay Geneva found a more appreciative guest. 

 In 1758 she writes : 



' I have made myself a society of people who would be sought 

 after anywhere. I get up between five and seven, all my mornings 

 are free. At midday I come down on my terrace, and, if the weather 

 is fine, walk in the public garden. Women here can go anywhere on 

 foot, alone, without footmen or maids. Even foreigners would be 

 remarked and followed if they did otherwise. I like, and avail 

 myself of, this liberty. 



' I dine at one with M. Tronchin [the famous doctor] or at home. 

 From two to six one pays or receives visits, at six all is dead in the 

 town, and strangers find themselves in the most complete solitude, 

 since the Genevese meet in their own sets. Each member holds an 

 assembly in turn ; they take tea in the English fashion, but they do 

 not limit themselves to this beverage ; there are plenty of cakes, coffee, 

 and chocolate. The Assemblies, which are called Societies, are mixed, 

 but girls are not admitted, they have their own Societies, where men 

 and boys are only introduced when a member is married. 



' In these Societies the diversions vary with the age and tastes of 

 their members. There is a good deal of play, they occupy themselves 

 with needlework, sometimes with music. Gambling seems to be the 

 ruling passion with the women, and I am surprised, for I was told that 

 they were all as cultivated as those I have met, who are really so. 



' There are some " Societies " composed entirely of women. There 

 are also assemblies of men, to which women are not admitted, which 

 are called Cercles. But it is not true that the members smoke and 

 get tipsy. These Cercles are held in rooms which are hired by sub- 

 scription among a number of individuals of similar tastes. The 

 members meet on a fixed day of the week, there is no eating or drink- 



1 ' Regardez-y bien ; tous ces Genevois de la vieille souche ont finesse, modera- 

 tion, une certaine temperance, 1'analyse exacte, patiente, plus de savoir que 

 d'effet, plus de fond que d'etalage et quand ils se produisent ils ont du dessin 

 plutot que de la couleur, le trait de poh^on plutdt que du pinceau. Ils 

 excellent a observer, a decrire les mecanismes, organiques, physiques, psycho- 

 logiques dana un parfait detail ; ils regardent chaque piece a la loupe et longtemps, 

 ils poussent la patience jusqu'a la monotonie, ils sont ingenieux mais sans une 

 grande portee.' Souvenirs de Mme. liecamier, p. 135. 



