yed the charm of
a declining beauty--as one might delight in the glory of a brilliant
autumn or of a setting sun. At the same time, and on the one hand, he
depicted the young girl of various types, and women of the working and
servant class. And since his own life is so reflected throughout his
work, it is of interest to become acquainted with the inner and
intimate side of his genius, which has left us some of the greatest
documents we possess concerning human nature.

Balzac knew many women, and to understand him fully one should study
his relations with them. If he has portrayed them well, it is because
he loved them tenderly, and was loved by many in return. These
feminine affections formed one of the consolations of his life; they
not only gave him courage but helped to soften the bitterness of his
trials and disappointments.

While an effort has been made in the following work to solve the
questions as to the identity of the _Sarah, Maria, Sofka,
Constance-Victoire, Louise, Caroline,_ and the _Helene_ of Balzac's
dedications, and to show the role each played, no attempt has here
been made to lift the tightly drawn veil which has so long enveloped
one side of Balzac's private life. Whoever wishes to do this may now
consult the recent publication of the late Vicomte de Spoelberch de
Lovenjoul, or the _Mariage de Balzac_ by the late Count Stanislas
Rzewuski. It is far more pleasant--even if the charges be untrue--to
think as did the late Miss K. P. Wormeley, that no supporting testimony
has been offered to prove anything detrimental to the great author's
character. Though doubtless much overdrawn, one prefers the delightful
picture of him traced by his old friend, George Sand.

WOMEN IN THE LIFE OF BALZAC

CHAPTER I

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF BALZAC

In the delightful city of Tours, the childhood of Honore de Balzac was
spent in the midst of his family. This consisted of an original and
most congenial old father, a nervous, business-like mother, two
younger sisters, Laure and Laurentia, and a younger brother, Henri.
His maternal grandmother, Madame Sallambier, joined the family after
the death of her husband.

At about the age of eight, Honore was sent to a semi-military
_college_. Here, after six years of confinement, he lost his health,
not on account of any work assigned to him by his teachers, for he was
regarded as being far