The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-21
4 STORY or wOMiy's DEpOTIOM
The biography or Gambettn's Aunt-How
Gnmbetta Lost IA Rich wire.


The ex-Dictator Of Tours has just lost his
aunt. Mile. Massabie WAS n stranger 10 bril-
Liant salons. aud Unqualified 10 shine III them.
Smf OH b ssug I5V W SoscH 6r wSS III o 10
bring up and look after the children Of other
people. Her father, a chemist AT MQntauban.
other. leaving her. at the age % o. the eldest Of
hve orphans. with but small plttance TO be
Guided bdSS among EG them The y9anges, Of thg
heroism. she reared. WINS Gnmbetta's mother.
When Gambetta broke away from his fathers
Italian baz,ar. at Cahors. and emigratoi to
Paris. with a bagiu OF his mothers savings. to
study law. the aunt followed him.
He and she. for i've years, lived in an attic. in
the Rue Bonapart,. She marketed. cooked
cleaned up his rooms opened the door. made
herself pleasant 70 visitors whose friendship
nephew, aud turned away those whose look she
ga not like Gambetta already. was on me
black list OF the imperial police. Hirseh. the
tsrences MoS' ,ireported him "a DANGEROUS
young man. We're IT, allowable 10 compare a
heroine unconscious OF her untiring herosm.
to an animal. should add that Mile Massabie
also discharged the function Of watch dog in
me Rue Bopaparte, and, when the nephew had
divination into character and intent wns as
founding. She almost knew by the sound OF
the bell whether friend or enemy was at the
Not until the R6pu1uque f'.ancaiss had as.
sured Gambetta handsome competency did
the aunt abandon her habits Of close thrift and
domestic toll. She then moved to Il larger suite
OF rooms. and hired a man and woman servant /;
but, apprehensive OF poison. she refused TO let
the culinary department pass from her hands.
Her cuisine was that OF the south Of France, and
excellent in its way. Nine. Massabie WIS hos
done 10 her dishes. have pleasant recollec-
ton of n sauce for boiled beef made by her with
chocolate, mustard. VINEGAR. and sugar At
table She presided with easy dignity and bore
no marks of having been numbered with much
serving: Almost daily large party sat down
10 a d,JeWer she prepared Her. CONVERSE;
ton was that OF "A very intelligent and
superior woman, abounding in mother wit.
She had staid demennor, and thu vivacious
mind Of Languedoc. The observations which
she let fall. on no matter what subject. were
pithy and clearly cast as piece OF bronze
money. strong provincial accent gave
piquancy to the good things that she uttered.
An amiable weakness Of hers was TO enjoy be-
ing bantered on the subject OF marriage, and
rallied about her cruelty to the male sen Tho
secretaries OF Gamhetta addressed her as ma
tante," and those Beevletes whom she Ia
Nored with her friendship spoke OF her as ia
She was valuable link between the Partisan
democracy and her nephew. Jealousy was dis
armed by the useful aud unaffected tenor OF
Icons rise in the world, she took as matter
his cradle and was so little pulled up by IT, that
she would not leave on wearing muslin caps
and plain stun gowns on week days. no matter
what great body was eApectcd 10 dJem6. On
sundays she generally dlned, dressed in thick
BLACK SIX and Lyons velvet with the am.ly Of
fine southern head. she did not. III her holiday
SUIT. look out OF her sphere III the drawing
rooms Of wealthy Republican Indies. made
her acqualntance in very arlstocratic house.
the head Of which deserted Legitimacy Tor the
Republic OF VI. Theirs. and is now Minister
Plenipoientary. / was struck with her
modest assurance, the imposing cast OF her
head her honest port. excessive lameness GU
rious accent, and the tact and good Judgment
revealed in her conversation. The lady OF the
house. after Mile. Massabie and had been for
some time chatting together. saw that We got on
well, and introduced her 70 me rs VI. Gambet-
Ia aunt She subsequently advised me TO cul-
tlvate Nile. MassAbies acquaintance A certain
way 70 keep her favor WAS in calling on her,
"a draw her out about her nrphews early life.
took tho hint. and SO far got into the aunt :
confidence Us 10 be shown presses full OF house
linen. spun by her own hands. She had the
provincial Housewives passion Tor accumu-
latlng sheets and tablecloths that dehed the
scrubbng brush Of the French laundress.
Ganlbeita PAID iilial duty 10 the aunt He
now ana then made d show OF resistance to hor
Will. which was expressed with despotc au-
thori,y. but gave IN the moment ne saw that re-
slstance hurt her. Not long previous 10 the
election. two years ago OF the Chamber Of
Deputies. the relations Of n west OF France
hqlress proposed TO him a match with her,
disposal Of J, 0OO. 900 francs. aud opened TO him
the succession 10 a larger fortune Tho young
lady was pretty and accomplished, and well
pleased 10 be set on a pedestal ms GAmbetta 5
wlfe. She had. however. one condition TO make
which the suitor took as sign OF "a bad DISPOSE
ton and vulgar mind " La tants" WIS not 10
be- produced III the projected establishment.
Her style was not quite the thing for gildrd
drawing room. Gould not the old lady be- sent
TO her family NJ Nice Gambetta explained the
decency of deserving her The heiress pursed
UP her red lips and shrugged her shoulders.
"Adieu,' said the tribune, we were not made
to understand each other"