CONTENTS

PREAMBLE

Masculinism of Anglo-Saxon countries-Feminism of Latin countries.

Pages 1-5

INTRODUCTION

Italian origin of the Renaissance feminist movement-Protests against

war, force, the materialisation of the religious spirit and the

hollowness of learning-Recourse to the affections-Quest of true

happiness-Idealism: woman chooses the method-"Love and

faith"-Crusade of love-Worship of life and hatred of death-

Women the motive-force of life-Active and tranquillising rôle of

Italian women in the 16th century-Conquest of France by the

new spirit-General sentiment of the new society. Pages 6-20

BOOK 1. FAMILY LIFE

CHAPTER I

MARRIAGE

Marriage, its realist character and its difficulties-The aim of marriage
not personal satisfaction-The girl married blindfold-The father
-Marriageable age-Interviews-Reflections of the father-Ideas
of the bridegroom elect-His physical and moral criterion
-His uneasiness-Final crisis-Ideas of Michelangelo and

Raphael-Marriage ceremonies and festivities-Weddings at

Naples, Florence, and Venice-Behind the scenes— -Weddings in

France-Brides' journeys-Moral aspects.

CHAPTER II

THE MARRIED WOMAN

Pages 21-44

The genius of motherhood-Marriage a physical science-Domestic

difficulties-Platonism in marriage-Semi-wives-Wives in name

only-Vocation of women for medicine-Women as sick-nurses-

as doctors-Enfranchisement of women as regards medicine-

Intimacies between women and doctors-Women's medical collec-

tions-Hygienic rules-Neurasthenia-Woman as home-ruler-

The châtelaine-Her management of retainers-The science of

charity-Principles of great houses.

CHAPTER III

THE CHILDREN

Pages 45-69

1. Maternity.-Tendency to small families, its various causes— - Marital

misfortunes-How new arrivals were received-Unpopularity of

feeding by the mothers-Children educated by the mother till the

age of seven-Old system of hardening-New system based on

reason. 2. The Boys.-Necessity of developing individualism among

them-Paternal education-Growing influence of the mother-

College life Greatness and decadence of tutors-Understanding

between tutors and mothers-Excessive production of young men

of fashion-Influence of the new ideas-Decline of the spirit of

toil and discipline.
Pages 70-85

CHAPTER IV

THE EDUCATION OF GIRLS

Girls brought up solely by their mothers-Old theory of early marriage
-Education, especially physical and moral-Opinion of moralists
and physicians: counsels of Anne of France-Utilitarian system
of Germany-The intensive school: Vivès; St. Theresa; the
Spanish system-The aesthetic school: Dolce; the Italian system-
Louise of Savoy-New theory of late marriage-Protests against

the realism of education-Tutors of girls-Moral freedom of girls

-Protests against what they read-The story for girls, after Anne

of France-The flirt-The hunt for a husband-Various ideas

on that matter-Coquetry, intrigue, chambermaids-Jean Raulin's

sermon-Open-air life.
Pages 86-108

CHAPTER V

THE HUSBAND, AND THE VARIOUS WAYS OF SLIPPING

HIS YOKE

The husband lord and master: his absolute authority-The stick-The

wife's insignificance-The husband's grievances against marriage

-The wife's grievances-Beware love!-Modus vivendi-Women

dowered or not: growth of women's influence on the dowry system

--Practical philosophy-Unsatisfied affections-Wives separated

or divorced-Widows-Sentimental finery-The wife of a dead

husband-Classical widows: their spirit of order and piety-Gay

widows-Widows' virtue-Advantages and disadvantages of

widowhood-Re-marriage-Sincerity of women's praise

marriage.

of

Pages 109-135

BOOK II. SOCIAL LIFE

CHAPTER I

PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE

Individualistic and anti-philosophic spirit of France-Flourishing of

the salons-Reign of money: legitimated in Italy-The Roman

programme-French society-Proposed remedies against Christian

socialism-Anne of France-School of Cardinal d'Amboise-

Principles of sentimental sociology-Social raison d'être of platon-

ism-Its Florentine origin-Development of the doctrine--Intel-

lectual aristocracy-Platonism a fashionable craze-Discussions on

the real character of love-Cataneo-Eloquent Bembo-Petrarch-

ism-Elevation of sentiments by platonism - Michelangelo -

French opposition to platonism-Triumph of platonism through

Italianism and feminism-Anne of France-Margaret of France

and her general philosophy.
Pages 137-176

CHAPTER II

THE SCIENCE OF PLATONISM

Is platonism dangerous for women ?-Double system for catching men:

passion and sensibility-To spread love the end of life and the

secret of happiness-Platonic virtue-Criticism of this virtue in

practice-School of Anne of France-Vittoria Colonna and Michel-

angelo-Philosophic school-Multiplication and withdrawal of

favours-Love through duty-Love of princesses-The veil of

mystery-Practical recruiting of platonism-Sources of love or

second love.
Pages 177-193

CHAPTER III

THE MISSION OF BEAUTY

Science consists in extracting the element of happiness from every-

thing, first of all from oneself-Beauty a social duty-Charm

has no physical rules-Women slight or the reverse; blondes;

the skin, the eyes-Corporeal beauty-Michelangelo and Dürer-

Portraits of women as Venus-Prudence of women-Artists and

their fancies--Joan of Aragon-Margaret of France-Receptions

in the morning-The 'Innocents'-Art of retaining youth, or of

restoring youthfulness-A lady's toilette-Fashion-Spiritual

significance of colours-Luxury-Architecture-Taste for fine

furniture.
Pages 194-227

CHAPTER IV

THE EMBROIDERY OF LIFE

The science of dining-Table-talk-Balls and dancing: custom of

kissing-Protests of the Reformers-Church-Pilgrimages-

Gardens and country life-Flowers-Pugs and parrots-The

horse-Hunting, Roman and platonist-Hunting philosophised;

Budé and Blondo-Park animals-Nature-Life at watering-

places; pure water; gravity and fun.
Pages 228-260

CHAPTER V

INTELLECTUAL RESOURCES

The library-Curiosity divided and dilettante in character-Taste for

tales, jest-books, romances -The old poets - Music - Instru-

ments, the human voice-Intellectual music-Harmony-Sacred

music-Chamber music-The orchestra-Discussion on the abuse

of music-The theatre-'Phaedra,' Bibbiena-The Calandra—

Opposition to the theatre-French ideas.
Pages 261-283

CHAPTER VI

CONVERSATION

Art of conversation: its supreme rôle-Women's triumph-Tone of

conversation-Philosophical spirit-Variety of form-Subjects of

conversation-French conversation-Quips and cranks-Conver-

sational dallyings-Stories-Dissertations-Gaieties-Correspond-

ence, its revival-Family letters-Letters in the grand style-

Tone of letters-Some Italian letters.
Pages 284-310

BOOK III. THE INFLUENCE OF WOMEN

CHAPTER I

POLITICAL INFLUENCE

Women remain strangers to the keener activities: war, justice—

Women, political in spite of themselves-Isabella of Aragon—

Joan of Aragon-Anne of France-Return from ambition to

love-Restless women-Renée of France-Purely defensive

heroism of women-Ladies of Sienna and Pisa-Isabella the

Catholic-Catherine Sforza-Woman according to Michelangelo.

Pages 311-324

CHAPTER II

MORAL INFLUENCE

The good old times-Moral degeneration-Ambition, money-Evil, to
be cured homœopathically as in Italy, or allopathically as in
Germany -Virtue, must it necessarily be tiresome ?-Raphael's