Du Deffand

(Marie), Marchione , witty literary French woman, b. 1697. Chamfort relates that when young and in a convent she preached irreligion to her young comrades. The abbe called in Ma ill on, to whom the little sceptic gave her reasons. He went away saying “She is charming.” Her house in Paris was for fifty years the resort of eminent authors and statesmen. She corresponded for many years with Horace Walpole, D’Alembert and Voltaire. Many anecdotes are told of her; thus, to the Cardinal de Polignac, who spoke of the miracle of St. Denis walking when beheaded, she said “ Il n’y a que le premier pas qui coûte. ” Died 24 Sept. 1780. To the curé of Saint Sulpice, who came to her death-bed, she said “ Ni questions, ni raisons, ni sermons. ” Larou e calls her “ Belle, instruite, spirituelle mais sceptique et material i ste. ”