The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-12-25 00:00:00

THE LATE MADAME THIERS.

Writing of the late Madame Thiers, the correspondent ol
the Lancet in Paris, says :
- -

"Since her husband's death, in September, 1877,
Madame Thiers had devoted herself entirely to the
glorification of his memory. Besides an almost daily
pilgrimage to his tomb, when in Paris, and the
promotion of statues to him in the provinces, at the
inauguration of which she always played the prom-
inent part, Madame Thiers was engaged in the
publication of his speeches, 10 volumes of which are
already issued. In their preparation for the press
she displayed an amount of literary acumen which
astonighed those who were entrusted with the work. The
deodorised lady was a good Latin scholar. During the
progress of this publication, Madame Thiers was care-
less of her health, working hard all day long, some-
times breaking her fast only at five p.m., eating any-
thing that happened to be at hand, and refusing to
leave her occupation in Paris for necessary change of
air. A week before death, when apparently mori-
bund, oxygen was administered, and caused a tem-
porary improvement. Two days before death vomit-
ing ceased, and the stomach ,as able to tolerate light
foods and stimulants—an ominous symptom, showing
gastric ancesthesia, from nervous prostration. Finally,
after remaining pulseless for 24 hours, the illustrious
patient expired."

In the Italian Senate on Saturday, Signor Cairoli,
the Premier, expressed his gratitude to Mr. Gladstone for
the great energy he had displayed in maintining the concert
of Europe, and for the naval demonstration, which he said
had attained its object. He, however, entertained no illu-
sions with regard to the Eastern. Question, and perceived the
possibility of complications, while hoping that the European-,
concert would be maintained. Referring to the Greek ;
Question, Signor Cairoli said that Italy would never forger,
her traditional sympathy for Greece.

The LATE MDLLE. DE MONTGOLFIER.

Mdlle. de Montgolfier, whose death took plate on
the 16th inst., at the age of 91, was the daughter of
Etienne de Montgolfier, the inventor of the balloon.
The father, who was the scion of an opulent com-
mercial family of Lyons, was ennobled by Louis
XVI. for his scientific inventions, of which the balloon
is but one; and the daughter, Who survived him for
81 years, lived to see the communication maintained
by balloons during the siege of Paris. In 1870
Mdlle. de Montgolfier resisted all persuasion to quit
Paris on the approach of the Prussians. She lived
on the south side of the city—the side exposed
to the Prussian batteries; and she remained with
her maid and a youth in her service, the only tenants
of a large, old house of many flats whence every
other had fled. Old as she was, even then she went
incessantly to visit the wounded in the ambulances,
and was found at the end of the siege to have given
away all her house linen and every article useful for
the sick. Mdlle. de Montgolfier lived in the summer
at La Celle, St. Cloud. In her house is a fine
medallion, by Houdin, of her father and her uncle,
Joseph de Montgolfier. The medallion was unbroken,
during the occupation of the house by the Germans,
but the names of the two famous Frenchmen were
carefully obliterated.

Aidlle. de Montgolfier was the patroness of
134 ranger, published a volume of songs, and leaves a
fine collection of autographs, including letters, written
by Silvio Pellico with his blood.