The daily gazette., 1877-09-17
Leon Gambetta.
THE GREAT PoLITIC AL LEADER
WHOM PRESIDENT IMAGINATION HAS
ORDERED TO PRISON.
From the Paris Figaro. I

| WHOM PRESIDENT IMAGINATION HAS
ORDERED TO PRISON.
[From the Paris Figaro.l
Less than ten years ago 1 was present
one morning at one OF the police courts
or Paris. M. Vivien, q g3ntle-spirited
polite man, was presiding Ii he bad
been stern, he would have not listened
to the bold speech o. the then unknown
lawyer, Gambetta. When bis turn came
TO speak, Gambetta arose. was struck
by the largeness of his robe. He had
selected at the common vestiarv, for ten
| cents, the largest one he could find, in
order that he might have the freest ac-
ton possib BILE for gesJuring. His long
black hair, which had not then begun
TO turn gray, hung in disorder about his
broad shoulders. 1t WAS evident that
no barber had touched his head that
morning His powerful neck rose out of
a shirt collar winch fitted so loosely that
bis breast was partly discovered His
head was thrown forward. His blind eye
was not discernible, but his profile stood
out clearly marked in strong lines. When
| be spoke it was like the roll of thunder.
His southern accent was Marked but not
| disagreeable. His manner was emphatic,
and he held ones attention. [ bave for
gotten what he said, but there remains
| the impression of an orator filled with
| outhful vehemence, too verbose, but
| sonOrous, and possessed of passionate
earnestness. On taking his seat those
who would not admit it to-day gave HIM
q congratulatory shake of the hand. He
did not appear aStonished at his recep-
| tion It was az If IL fortuna-teller had
| furetold his success. -He tett the Court
room proudly conscious that he had
made an impression. He took cab,
doubtless his first, and drove away.
When Gambetta entered the Assembly
| in 1869 he created great deal OF curiosi-
| ty. People went to see IN as they
would to sae lion tanner, thinking he
would be eaten up. But they were dis
| )pointed; Gambetta held his gr, un
| When the empire had fallen and Parl
| was blockaded by the PruSsians, Gam
| betta, as Minister of War, escaped from
| the city by balloon. He landed at Tours.
Shortly afterward l called upon him
He was putting up at large buildi ag
| which had been used as college before
the war. 1t was about midnight when
| called. After waiting an hour iii the
ante-chamber / was admitted into the
presence of the dictator. He was seated
| in a large easy chair before fire, with
both of his feet on the table. He -ecei-
we'd me kiadly, but the only part of the
| conversation that | now remember was
this parting remark OF Gambetta: 81 &c
tomorrow for the army of the Loire.
| will meet you at Berlin" l saw him
next Iay at the depot. He had on a large
grea' coat His hat wss poor affair, not
| at all in ac ,ord with his offices, though il
bespoke his humble origin. He stood
| waiting for the train. One of his secre
taries was with him, carrying his port
| folio, while servant was near by with
/ F.al aNAl Aaa hn nd n ha
train moved off. have knownpersoR "a
to become glddy by being suddenly ele
vated to power, but Gambetta seems tC
grow cooler in proportion as he rises. A
| this period of Gambettas first elevation
he did not forget his frien, s. Every one
who ever took bottle of wine or glass
of soda with him in the Latin Quarter
when he was a small lawyer, got AT
office. The father of one of Gambetta',
frienGs told me one day this aneGdote
| The dictator invited his sou to sup will
him. After the soup had been removed
Gambetta remarked: ~ have only &
little sub-perfect's position in the Souit
to offer you" After the second COURSE
he continued: "No, you shall be sub
prefect at Toulon" During the dessert
he said: "My friend, you shall be pre-
feet"
To-day NJ. Gambetta rolls along rather
than walks. He has become fat Hl
hair is getting gray. He still wears d
rusty hat. the only thing that remains the
same aztec so many viclssitudes. Ht
lives in the aristocratic quarter, near the
Champs Elysees, at So Rue de la Lhauset
ld'Antin. He never goes out unless ac
companied by two friends, like the Ro
man consuls of old. In the sUreets per
lsons often turn to look at him, and il
one bows Gambetta returns the salute
with an air prouder than q king, for he
does not smile.
| Gambetta was cut ont to be the leader
OF his party. he has an influence ovel
his followers derived from the prestige
power always gives; anu If they threaten
revolt he has the weight of his Journal
La Republique Franchise, and the con
s,ant popr larity of his liame to crush
them with. NJ GambetLa appears II
three roles, al of which oontributs TO his
success. He is man of the people,
democratic Caesar, aud the chief of {
great political party. In the Assembly
there are two Gambetvas. The one
swayed by his former habits of life, in
ter .upts the speakers, questions them
and shows fearless and rouSh spirit OF
oppositjoD The other appears III the
tribune when he rises to address the De
puties. This tribune, which unnerves
excltes, and overawes so many speakers
Gains, cools, and qutets Gambetta. Ther'
he stands, with his head thrown forward
as usual His is not the most refined ma
ture. His voice is more heavy thar
strong. When he is pathetic it seem
forced. His grating invecdves irritat'
rather than destroy. Sometimes he seem:
to lose himself in kind of sonorou
language aud in a curious balancing o.
his sentences. He is not a master o
irony, but is perhaps the first contem
oorary orator in the Assembly. His voic,
resounds sometimes as if it came through
a mask of the ancient Roman Stage. He
becomes vehement, and then the tribun,
holds a great orator. Yet he says onl,
what he wishes TO say. There are TIVE
. natures in this speaker-one that OF tn,
co ID politician; another that of the tier.
orator. The last Is the ooedlent slave o
the first. When NJ. Gambetta descend
from the tribune, rest assured that tn
politician does not regret one OF the pre-
meditated transports of the orator
| A Pittsburg woman saVeu the lie o
herself aud children during lire early
wednesday morning by her remarkable
nresence of mind. Awakened by th
smoke she a.tempted to escape, but foun,