The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-08-23
GAMBETTA AT HOME.


GAMBETTA AT HOME.
AND THE OLD MAID AUNT WHO SEES TO HIM.
From the London Daily News
Gambetta travelled much ut an age when
young Frenchmen are locked up in monastic
schools. An uncle, who was engaged in the
Levantine trade, took him often in his voy-
ages to Greece, Turkey and the Black Sea
under Cavour's leadership, that country was
rising to active political life, keeping company
with the leading men of the Ligurian towns.
His home education was directed by maiden
aunt, who followed him to Paris on his being
sent here to the bar, and who has ever since
been his housekeeper and monitoress. There
is no household in Paris cOnducte! with more
genuine simplicity and order. The excellent
lady exercising authority therein does nearly
everything; lays hold on Gambetta's purse
whenever the dividends Of t e Republique
Franchise swell it.; invests the money she
economies for him; takes notes of bales Of
letters-letters from constituents, from pa
triots, male and female, from foes, from
political friends from spies, from false
brethren, from lunatics, which are to be
thrown into the fire or answered. Her most
arduOus task is acting buffer between
her nephew and visitors innumerable, she
making herself as agreeable as one SO per-
petually numbered can be to those OF whose
common sense and sincerity she feels certain,
and showing herself dry and curt to importu
nate ion-hunters. Nile. Massabie sticks to
her plain provincial ways, dressing on week
days, no matter what high political fliers she
has to usher in, in black stuff skirt, loose
jacket, and starched muslin cap ; and Oh Sun
days in plain black silk, guiltless Of founce or
%,,l1 1aIx, Gop,hatfa 10
read and write. His earliest literature was
essentially substantial, his letters being learn
ed on chocolate tablets, which were given him
to eat when he knew the words stamped on
these nutritious sweets. Mile. Massabie is
proud of her pupil; but in pursuance of her
old disciplinary habits, she only praises him
when his back is turned. She takes his hand
writing to be her greatest educational achieve
ment. Gambetta writes small, neat, flowing
hand, without much flourish in the letter
tails and signature. He would, if ''the worst,
some day, came to the worst If law. poll
tics, and journalism broke down be very
competent to discharge the duty Of copying
clerk in q pigeon dispatch Office.
For the most of the time he has been at the
bar Gambetta has occupied lodging in the
Rue Montaigne. According to the rule OF the
Paris benchers, that every advocate must be
dtns ses ,aeubles, the furniture is his own. Two
wears ago the whole of it would not have
fetched GO, at the auction mart. Since, it
has been enriched by valuable patriotic gifts
most of them works Of art and articles of ver-
tu-and a cheap carpet, with some comfortable
study chairs and a settee to keep the hand
some things in countenance. This lodging is
on the second floor. The entrance passage,
scarcely wider than berth, is lined with
books looking as if picked up on the Quai
Voltaire. The door is opened by the cousin,
. private Secretary of Gambetta, young III II
aunt, already at the Palais de Justice noted
for his ability in dealing with crochety law
cases.
The visitor passes from the narrow passage
into small, unexpected, meagerly furnished,
but very neat dining room, where he finds the
lady of the house on gcard She ushers him,
according to the decree of confidence he in
spires or the intimacy he enjoys, into the study.
which is the showroom of the establishment.
a drawing room, the glories of which are
fower-stand, the gift Of Strasburg, and car
pet worked by the Alsatian ladies or into
Gambetta's bedroom. This apartment is
heavily curt aimed with cheap reps, and the
bed being in an aicove, it can be turned at
will into sitting-room. About the fireplace
the easy chairs are well brushed, bat thread
with photograph cartes. A table beside the
above is laden with books Books burst out
of wall-presses and invade the dre,sing table
Those lying Just now at the bedside are the
speeches Of great foreign sta esmen. Bis
marck's are scored in blue pencil and annota-
ted in black. On the margin OF speech OF
Cobden's is written quotation from Monies
uuieu, to the effect that whenever England
shall cease to exercise a direct influence on
continental politics, militarism will prevail in
Europe. and then. ''Cest gu est orice.
L. G."
Gambetta receives in a brown cloth dress
ing gown, which gives him the appearance Of
. Capuchin. When conversation crows brisk,
which it nearly always does when he is not
busy and is with persons to whom he can talk
freely, he unconsciously takes cigar out Of
his pocket and puffs away. Political clients
from every part of France, belonging to every
pro. ession, including the army and navy, pour
in. Americans visiting Paris are sure to call
upon Gambetta but to see him it is necessary
to be well introduced. The receptions take
place early in the forenoon. Very intimate
friends, or persons with whom he wants to
chat unreservedly, are sometimes asked to
stop for dejeuner. This repast, the only one
1t which Gambetta offers hospitality, is
served ut IL o'clock, on round table, covered,
in Old-fashloned bourgeois style, with PLAIN
brown oil-cloth. Nothing can be more I'M
pretentious. The service is done by members
Of the family, the single domestic keeping out
of e.rshot all the while that Gambe'ta is at
home. On an occasion Of this kind Gambetta
appears to greater advantage than in the
tribune He does not speak in we'll
balanced, ample periods. His ideas
come rapidly. They are vigorously
and given in short. pithy
sentences, we'll pointed. and often strik-
ing for the picturesque originality Of the die
ton. Somebody argued with him against
universal suffrage, alleging that until the
young generation has arisen France will not
be r,pe for it. s.And what will the Bamblno
be doing in the interval 2" asked Gambetta.
= You know very little about the poor, if you