Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-01-26
G:AyIBETTA'S son.
The Youth who Indirectly Caused the
Loss Of Frances Leading statesman.

Paris Correspondence OF Philadelphia Times.l
Alphonse Leon, the cause of the fatal quar-
rel between his unmarried parents whose Ic-
snt has plunged France in mourning, is a
tall, slender lad just turned sixteen, who re-
sembes his mother more than he does his
father, although he mas all the turbulence,
violence and excitability Of the latter. When
he was old enough to begin his education,
his mother placed him at the famous school
of 81. Barrie, entering him by the names of
Alphonsc Leon, the latter name being acccp-
ted AS a ratrOnymic. Very soon after this
NJ. Gambctta called on the principal of the
school, ami taking care to make clear the
motive for the interest which he took in the
future Of the young Alphonsc Leon, recon-
mendCd him to the special attention of his
masters. The same explanation was made
to Bishop Puyol, the chaplain of the school,
who, at the fathers especial request, prcpar-
ed lin for his first communion and confirm
alton.
This is fact that is somewhat curious in
the life Of Gambetta, as it is in direct contra
diction to the open and marked manner in
which in all other circumstances he has taken
care 10 manifest his indifference and hostility
to the observance of the usages and customs
of the church. Not only does he on the oc-
casion of any marriage or funeral which he
may attend decline TO enter the church, but
even the intermcnt of his mother some
months ago was a purely civil ceremony,
from which everything of religious charac-
ter was strictly excluded. Gambetta did not
therefore assist at the first Communion and
Confirmation of his son, and it must also be
said that in spite of the preparations of the
good bishop, these sacramenls did not seem
TO work any change in the character of Al
phouse.
According to the testimony of his school
| mates and teachers the lad, while extremely
bright and intelligent, is lazy, undisciplincd,
| noisy and mischievous, but not wicked, and
these are the exact terms in which all the old
schoolma,es of his father speak of the char
acter OF the latter during his schoolboy days.
As the lad grew older his father resolved 10
send him to some school where he would be
removed from the dangers of Partisan life
| and from the indulgent weakness of his
mother. He selected the Polytechnicon of
Dresden, among whose professors the Re
puJHque Trancaise had Its most able German
correspondent in the person of Herr Hesscle,
and TO Dresden accordingly he was sent in
April, 1881.
The readers may perhaps femember that
during the month of September of that same
year the deceased French statesman visited
Germany, and soon afterwards it leaked out
that his visit had been made for the express
purpose of securing private interview with
Prince Won Bismarck which the willy chan
celor saw fit to avoid. NJ. Gambetta had,
or thought he had reason to believe that ii
was through the indiscrction Of Hen
llcssclc that this fact was made public and
he not only quarrelled with llcssele and took
away from him the correspondence of his
paper, but he also took his son away from the
Polytcehnicon. This was done last April,
but since that time reconciliation between
Gimbetta and llesselc had taken place, aud
the former made up his mind to send his son
back to Dresden, which determination is be.
ieved by many to have led to the quarrel and