The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-03-27
The French President.
Complied from the iLondon News.


M. Grevy is a President who has
never worn any other costume but the
robes OF the advocate and the modest
black coat which modern civilization is
alleged to have borrowed from the
Quakers.
NJ. Grevy is not only the enemy Of
tinsel on mems coats; he is man Of
Republican simplicity in all his ways.
In his everyday attire, even in Paris,
he has always donned wide awake in
stead Of silk hat. and in Summer time
he may generally be seen sauntering
about the Boulevards, clad in all gray,
and crowned with panama. Though q
man of considerable lanoed property, a.
estates 60 in France, he never set up a
brougham till he became President of
the Chamber, and he has always kept
this modest one-horse vehicle with q
ooachman out Of livery at Versailles.
In Paris he uses cabs and omnibusses,
but it must be very muddy day which
compels him to ride at all. The state
which hedges President will probably
seem irksome to him, and one may ex.
pect to see him cut much Of it down.
Marshal MacMahon put all the servants
Of his palaces in the gray and scarlet
liveries Of his private household. N.
Grevy, whose domestics have mover worn
livery, will, no doubt, clothe his estab-
lishment in plain black suits, rAmeri-
caine.
His salary will DO G24,O00, with an
addition of $4,000 table money, and
1000 for office expenses.
When acting as Ccmmissaire or Pre-
feet of the Republic Of 1648 in the Jura
he would Eave been entitled to wear an
embroidered coat and a plumed hat, but
he modestly confined himself to a tri-
color sash girt around the waist. AS
President Of the National Assembly, and
afterward Of the Chamber Of Deputies,
he always discharged his functions in
evening dress, including the white tie.
He is not decorated. At present, by
virtue OF his Office as Chief of the State,
he becomes Grand Master Of the Legion
of Honor, and must consequently wear
the star and broad red ribbon of Grand
Cross; but hitherto that little strip of
scarlet ribbon which grlces the buttons
of so many Frenchman has not adorned
his. Nay, M. Grevy was among the
members of the Constituante who voted
for the abolition of the Legion of Honor,
and more recently he voted for the bill
which prohibited members of the Legis-
lature from accepting decorations from
the government.
AS Speaker of the Lower House he
broke with the tradition of all his pre-
decessors 10y giving no balls, but only
occasional dinner parties, which mem
bers of right and left attended. He
will probably give concerts as he delights
in music; but his favorite pastime of ali
is to play billiards, and to smoke cigars
while making caroms may surprise
the world by saying that one Of his fire.
quent opponents with the cue is NJ. Paul
de Cassagnac. A private friend of NJ.
Grevy. NJ. de Cassagnac, used to leave
his opinions at the door when he went
to call on M. Grevy; and the pair felt
mutual esteem for each other which
had nothing to do with politics, but
came from their respective powers with
the balls. They are two of tho best
billiard players going.
M. Grevy is also keen sportsman
and an able agriculturist. In his
native Jura he climbs the hills for
game, and strolls about the valleys ad-
miring his vines, his cattle and his fields
of maize. Part Of large tobacco plan
tation used to belong to him until the
government bought it, and this may &C
count for his fondness for the weed. He
smokes much, and is of somewhat tact
turn mood, though very genial and so
ciable when he sees that conversation is
expected of him. There is no difficulty
whatever in DRAWING him out. When
men rise to high station in France it is
usual to attribute all kinds Of witticisms
to them, and this will probably done to
M. Grevy but the saying Of smart
things is b. means his forte Few men
moro carefully weigh their thoughts be-
fore putting them into words and for
that reason the sallies which he launches
20 with a deliberate aim, and hit with
telling force. He never loses his t,m-