The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-05-11

intense Bonspartist hush their voices and
eagerly bend forward to catch his every
sonorous word.
| No one who has not heard Gambetta can
| fully comprehend the splendor, for that Is
the only adjective which can express IT, OF
his eloquence. Ellis oratory," says cool,
English observer, not given to over praise,
"has all the energy, fire ana denance OF
youth in it. He never hesitates Tor word,
speaks headlopp. every one Of his phrases
being colored with that picturesque imagery
of the south, always vivid, always new, and
soaring at times to. surprising heights in
beauty of sentiment
His voice is resonant and ringing, and by
its wonderful fiexibility lends itself to every
VARYING storm or gentle emotion, or the
slightest change of feeling. Sometimes he
filings off sneer which rouses those at whom
it is aimed to perfect fury. When he would
conciiiste, the tones become sweet and per-
suasive, with almost an imploring accent.
Then, rising with the indignation Of his soul
to higher planes Of eloquence, the just now
soft and mellow voice swells to sonorous and
impetuous volume.
Those who have seen Rachel or Ristori,
albeit not understanding the tongue in which
the artist spoke, have, by her vivid art, COM
pretended each varying emotion as she be-
trayed it. The universal language OF gesture
and physical expression is enough when ge-
MUS inspires it, So those who, not knowing
French, have had the rare privilege of hear
ing Gambetta in the tribune cannot have fail
ed to catch even the shades and variations Of
the great orators meaning Yet Gambetta is
by no means merely an actor.
With him, as with Gladstone, large part
Of his forensic power comes from his deep
earnestness and impressive sincerity Nature
4: 80 kho1
most powerful and the most musical that is
heard in any legislative body in Europe.
Half Frenchman and half Italian, he is at
once vivacious, passionate, clear-headed and
demonstrative. A recent French writer aptly
speaks of him as combining the shrewd eau
ton Of Machiavel with the fiery eloquence of
Mirabeau; this is the dual character and key
note of the man.
Greatness and vicissitude have, however,
little changed the Gambetta Of 1868. Then
he was poor and obscure; now he is famous,
but still poor. Perhaps he dresses little
better than in the Bohemian days when he
lived among the students, and talked noisily
among the group of loungers at the Cafe
Procope; perhaps, too, his air is little more
serious and sedate than at the time his
from hand to mouth. But he still lives
in the upper story of modest house; he
still associates rather with the Bohe- |
milan than the polite world and
although as patriot he has found it wise to
oin hands with Theirs and D'Audiffret Pas
1uier to found the conservative Republic"
his sympathies are with the people, and his
aspirations for government in which the
popular will shall be paramount
Gambetta is now in his thirty eighth year.
Strong and active of body, he is likely to have
till long public career. To-day he has
more influence with the Republican masses
# France than all the other Republican chiefs
Tut together. Four years ago he was elected
deputy by no less than nine departments.
Today he would if he chose receive the votes
4 fifty.