Rémy de Gonzalès

Research Status: Basic Last Updated: 2025-07-06 Diary Coverage: Up to 1874-05-03

Identity

Young man from Baden-Baden who attempted romantic advances with Marie three years earlier (1871) when she was 12.

Diary References

1874

• May 3: Marie recalls Baden incident from 3 years ago: "une espèce de bêtise avec Rémy de Gonzalès." During hide-and-seek when candle went out, he held her hand. When he tried to kiss her cheek "avec un grand soupir," she maneuvered so he kissed her hand instead. He "devinait ma pensée" (divined her thoughts). At train station departure to Stuttgart, asked for her flower as souvenir "les larmes aux yeux." She gave it dismissively: "Quelle bêtise."

Context

• Spanish/French surname suggests noble background
• Part of Baden-Baden youth society
• Mutual but unspoken attraction
• Marie's first romantic experience
• Left for Stuttgart (education?)

Character Details

• Called "téméraire" (reckless)
• Also "cette canaille" (that scoundrel)
• Emotional at departure
• Persistent in advances
• Understood Marie's feelings

Related Entries

• #Baden_Baden - Where they met
• #Stuttgart - His destination
• #Stephan - Also kissed Marie's hand

Research Notes

• Baden-Baden international youth
• Aristocratic education patterns
• French-Spanish noble families

Research Status: Moderate Last Updated: 2025-12-07 Diary Coverage: Book 00 (1884 retrospective)

Identity

Rémy de Gonzalès Moreno was a 13-year-old boy Marie encountered in Baden-Baden around 1870. He was the son of an Argentine diplomat or official and represented the international children's society at European spa resorts.

Basic Information

• Age in Baden-Baden (c. 1870): 13 years old
• Nationality: Argentine (father was Argentine)
• Family: Son of Monsieur de Gonzalès (called "le père Gonzalès" by Marie)
• Social Context: Part of the aristocratic children's group in Baden-Baden
• Primary Romantic Interest: Berthe Boyd (12 years old)
• Secondary Interest: Flirted with Marie ("me faire de l'œil")

The Gonzalès Family in Baden-Baden

The Father (Monsieur de Gonzalès)

Marie describes him as an "Argentine Republican" ("République-argentinais Gonzalès"), suggesting he was either a diplomat or political figure from Argentina. Key characteristics:

• Attracted to Marie's Mother: "Le père Gonzalès devint amoureux de maman"
• Character: Initially rather vain about his perceived romantic success, but eventually came to understand Marie's mother's genuine innocence
• Long-term Friend: Despite the misunderstandings, he "became our friend" after "harsh surprises" taught him to understand Marie's mother

The Mother (Madame de Gonzalès)

• Jealous Wife: Became jealous of her husband's attention to Marie's mother
• Cold Demeanor: Showed marked coldness ("très froide") to Marie's mother
• Sharp Responses: Made pointed remarks that Marie recognized as hostile, though her mother didn't

The Triangle of Misunderstanding

Marie recounts an "almost incredible trait of naïveté" involving her mother and the Gonzalès couple:

1. Marie's mother, "free in her manner," had inspired confidence in Monsieur de Gonzalès 2. Madame de Gonzalès became jealous 3. Marie's mother befriended Madame de Gonzalès "in a frank, easy manner" 4. Madame de Gonzalès showed coldness, but Marie's mother "redoubled her amiability" 5. Marie's mother assumed the wife must be as charming as the husband (who was so nice to her) 6. Even at the train station farewell, Madame de Gonzalès made cutting remarks that Marie understood but her mother missed

Marie observes: "When I think of it now, remembering the expressions and intonations, it's astounding."

Rémy's Romantic Entanglements

Young Rémy was caught between two interests:

• Primary: Berthe Boyd, his official "amoureux" (sweetheart)
• Secondary: Marie, to whom he would "steal a few moments from Berthe to make eyes at me"

This childhood love triangle mirrors the adult romantic complications happening between their parents.

Social Class and Gambling

Marie makes a sharp class distinction in her retrospective:

"She [Berthe] was connected with all the children of aristocratic families who knew her family. Mine knew no one and wallowed in roulette and trente-et-quarante."

The contrast between the socially-connected Gonzalès-Boyd children's group and Marie's gambling-obsessed family underscores Marie's painful awareness of social hierarchy.

Historical Context

Argentine Elite in Europe (1870s)

During the 1870s, wealthy Argentine families and diplomats frequented European spa resorts as part of the international circuit. Argentina's elite often had European heritage and maintained strong cultural and social ties to the continent.

Baden-Baden as Meeting Place

Baden-Baden attracted an international mix of aristocracy, diplomats, and wealthy families. The Gonzalès family's presence there was typical of Argentine elite participating in European high society.

Children's Society Mirroring Adults

The romantic entanglements among Rémy, Berthe, and Marie parallel the adult complications between their parents, showing how children in this milieu already practiced the social behaviors they would need as adults.

Significance in Marie's Development

The Gonzalès family episode teaches young Marie several lessons: 1. Social naïveté can be dangerous: Her mother's innocence led to misunderstanding 2. Gender politics: Even children engage in romantic competition 3. Class consciousness: Family connections matter more than individual charm 4. Observation skills: Marie could read social cues her mother missed

Research Questions

• What was Monsieur de Gonzalès's official position in Argentina?
• Did the Gonzalès family maintain long-term friendship with the Bashkirtseffs?
• What became of young Rémy de Gonzalès Moreno?
• Was the family related to other notable Gonzalès families in Argentine history?

Related Entries

• #Gonzales_Family - The full family
• #BOYD - Berthe's family
• #Berthe - Rémy's primary romantic interest
• #Baden_Baden - Where this all took place
• #Maman - Marie's naïve mother

Research Status: Basic Last Updated: 2025-07-05 Diary Coverage: Up to 1874-01-08

Overview

Marie's first admirer, listed as #1 in her list of suitors.

Relationship to Marie

Her first recorded admirer, mentioned January 8, 1874 when she lists her three admirers at age "almost fifteen."

Name Analysis

Spanish or Hispanic name suggesting aristocratic background - "de Gonzalès" indicates nobility.

Research Needed

• Full background and family
• When they met
• Current status in 1874
• Connection to Georges (same surname Gonzalès?)
• Age and occupation