The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-02
MONSIEUR LEON GAMBETTA.
EARLY CHIPTERS IN 4 REMARKABLE
CAREER NOT YET ENDED
The Crockery Dealers hoy who Wouldn't be
Priest-A Lucky Accident-Advoeatea and
Orntor-A Great Speech-Mme. Bazaine.


Orator-A Great speech-Mme. Haz,ine.
FSorn me Lonios Tu0.
Gambctta had tho good fortune TO be APP
precated rs n genius from the very outset OF
his school life. Careers like his do much to de-
one Of the vices Of our time they fiii the ranks
OF " misunderstood geniuses' who reylle the
social system and the ignorant preiudices OF
to the front row OF notorety Gambetta was
born at Cahors. aud is the son. OF a crockery
mary. intending that no should become priest.
The Able Massabie. his uncle on the mother's
side-,an excellent man who still liyes-had
religion and was pleased with the lads i'm
petuosity in mastering Scripture history which
he mistook for holy zeal; but young Icon
had not been two years at the seminary before
he was expelled for repeated acts of nsubordi-
nation. and the Superior doefully wrote to his
parents: You will never make priest OF him.
II is worth remarking that the four Frenchmen
the clerical party all began life under ecclesias.
tica auspices Ernest hennn was the pet pupil
Of Dupanloup Mt the Seminaire ST. Sulpice;
Victor Hugo was educated by aJesut. and com
posed his first ode In u deeply religious vein In
honor OF Charles x; Henri Rochefort earned
his first academical ,aurels for sonnet to the
Virgin Mary.
Gambetta. on leaving the seminary OF Cahors.
proceeded TO the Lyc6e OF that town. and he was
still there whom he met with tho accident which
deprived him OF an eve. He was playing In tho
shop OF a carpenter. his fathor's neighb0r. one
whom he was teasing made lunge at him with
a pointed stick. and inadvertently poked the
eye out OF Us socket. This cruel mish9p indi-
tanned the sight Of both his eyes no would have
studied for the medical profession. whereas now
Il became necessary to prepare him for pro-
fession whore he would only have to use his
tongue. Thus partial blindness converted Gam
BETA into 2 barrister Just as total blindness.
formed Mr.. Fnwcet into a politician. Gam
beta went 10 study law in Paris; he took his
bar tho same year became secretary to tho
ugliest man In France" Isaac Cremieux. tho
jew advocate, who had been member OF tho
Provisional Government in 1913. NJ. Cremieux
had not chosen the young man at haphazard:
for NJ Gambetta had already acquired a
name IN the, student world. both for his
fervid Republicanism and for the ascend
ancy which he exercised over his companions,
In those oratorical iousts which AFRO held
occasionally in the presence OF leaders OF the
bar TO train young barristers in forensic co-
quopce, he always shono by fiery style which
was given him in 1869. when he acted Ms junior
TO Cremieux in the defence OF Greppo, who was
prosecuted with ltty-three accomplces. for
conspiracy against the Emperor lie spoke so
well in this affair that Chalk d'Est Ange, the
Public Prosecutor privately congratulated him.
OF the empire. for a" said he. the;days are past
when barrister could make his way by truck
Is So6 1e SS 81 SSa no SrP more
liking then than no has now for impractical
fanatics Of the areppo school. but he wished
theless, and threw himself heart and soul into
the agitation for the general election OF 1868.
when Paris chose all its nine members from tho
Opposition and thereby sounded the first knell
OF Imperialism. In tho following year no was
nearly implicated in the so-oalled trial OF the
Thirteen" which was n prosecution trumped
up against some very steady going Liberals.
who met together once a week to chat and sup.
but not TO consptre. as the indictment absurdly
alleged. In the upshot. Gambetta helped to de-
fend his friends. instead Of being obliged to
~ "A dRplaimp1 az y
this time his name began to appear regularly
as counsel for journalists. conspira.ors. riot
ers. and others whom the Government 80 indie
fatigably prosecuted. But the hour OF his fame
had not yet come. At the time when l saw him
known as rising man. awaiting his oppor.
tunity-a ioviRl. leather lunged. brazen voiced
fellow. who would tread in the steps Of Danton
II occasion served, and yet never let b himself DO
guilotined by new Robespierre. Everybody
even then rendered justice to his Italian astute-
ness. derived from Genoese blood.
He became famous and popular nil at once In
December 1865. when speaking as counsel for
the Rspeit. which had been prosecuted for or
ganizing subscription to raise monument to
tho representative Baudin. who was slain Mt
the coup d'etat OF 1851. He delivered an
and scathing philippe against Napoleon Ill
Most people wondered that the Judges OF the
sixth Chamber should have allowed him 10 pro-
coed to the end Of this denunciation unchecked I:
but one must have heard Gamhetta speak 10
understand the enthraling charm OF his
orat9ry.l witnessed a proof OF this in
April, 1870. when he uttered his memorable
speech about the irreconcilables " plainly tell
ers only accepted the liberal concessions OF tho
empire H. a bridge toward the republic In
the ardor OF his peroration he swept his hand
over the ledge Of the tribune, AMI Knocked a
bowl Of beef broth which had been brought for
his refreshmcnt on TO the heads Of two ushers
beneath. In the case OF ordinary speakers this
mishap would have raised ineNilnguishable
laughter, but IA II waa, no one even smiled. and
tho two ushers wiped their hair. ears, and coats
IA the mutest resignation. Gambeua came TO
demolish Napoeon's throne. Just at the time
when man OF his sort was wanted The gen
GRAFTON which had seen the butcheries Of De-
cember. 1851. had half passed away. and the
new generation was inclined TO nudge Of tho
material prosperity IL mad conferred on tho
land. Gambetta reused the conscience OF the
nation by reminding II OF tho crimes which 1t
had no business TO bury In oblivion.
All Paris felt that great events were impend-
ing but Gamhetta himself had an idea that lie
Cayenne, | met him few days after the bat
ties OF Worth and Forhach. when the Empress
Regent had put Paris in a state Of siege, and at
parting | said; Au reVoir nu Capu0l" He
shook his head and answered that he thought
Paik S9; the Prime Minister, would try e kid;
he. and my poor aunt advises me TO carry
q revolver about with me. But that wound
do u" good Tho apprehension Of being
teriere with his spirits. He had not taken to
doing Banting in those days. and alter every
one OF those cppious rcpasts in which he de-
lighted. and where burgundy was his staple
wine. he would Jest in "A truly RabelAsian style
about his Imperial enemies Ono OF the mis-
takes he made nt this time The himself calls II
the capital blunder OF his lifel WIS 90 trust in
Bazaine. He worked with all his might TO
get that traitor appointed COMMANDMENT =
Chief. and he succeeded. II tho truth must
he told. he was fairly carried away by
the seductive eloquence OF Mime. Bazane There
was no resisting that dark eyed little Mexican
beauty. who chartered like n humming bird.
and amid weeping wringing OF hands, and
ecstatic designations OF patriotism, vowed her
husbands willingness to die for his country.
Can't you understand what soldier like my
husband must feel at seeing the army com
manded by an oat like this third Napoleon p
exclaimed Nine, BaZaine. passionately. Within
an hour after she had kissed the hand Of the
Emperor, and protested her allegiance TO the
throne.