The Portland daily press., 1883-01-06
Ganbetta.
Gen. Meredith Reads "reminiscences Of
the French Statesman.

A reporter of the New York Herald who
called on General Meredith Read with view
of eliciting some bits of information OF per-
sonal nature regarding Gambetta, who was
warm personal friend of our townsman, found
General Read in spacious room, surrounded
with the portraits of many home and foreign
celebrities, and in the act of sending cable
gram expressive of his profound grief at the
death of M. Gambetta On one side of the Ia
BILE at which General Read was working was
large portrait of Prince Bismarck, with the
following inscription in the Princes own hand
writing: "To General Read, with the compli-
ments and thanks of Bismarck" On the other
side of the table was an equally large portrait
of Gambetta, with the following words in the
dead statesman's handwriting: ITO my dear
friend General Meredith Read, praying him to
believe that desire to be counted in the front
rank of his friends. Leon Gambetta."
General Read was asked to give some of his
personal "reminiscences of the deceased. He
assented quite willingly. 81 was welcome
guest at his little apartments in the Rue Mon
taigne," said the General, where he livedawith
his maiden aunt his mothers sister, just after
the war. Nothing could be more modest than
this residence. A narrow doorway on the sec
ond floor of the house opened into small en-
trance hall, paved with common brick tiles,
which was also the dining room. On the left
was a dim inutive room, furnished with half a
dozen rush-bottomed chairs, into which all
callers were first introduced. Beyond was a
larger room looking upon the street, where
Gay, haf+ ~ba1 l. &C.
and where he gave audience to his numerous
visitors. On one occasion I remember he
showed me great case containing his war cor
respondence, and after he had pulled out many
minute pigeon dispatches recollect that he
was greatly surprised that could read MANY of
them without the aid OF a magnifying glass, al
though he was aware had had much practic
i'd thgt line"
odd you see much of him after his retire.
ment aftor the wai?"
! "Not at first. After his retirement in Feb
ruary, 1871, he resided in Spain, and did not
return to Paris until after the close of the
Commune. then met him frequently, and
formed a still higher opinion of his character
as man and a patriot. His whole mind
seemed to be bent in the direction of the dfini-
tive establishment of the Republic. To this
all his indomitable energy and all the re-
sources of his capacious and virile BRAIN were
given. At this time again heard him speak
in public, and no one who has enjoyed this
privilege can ever forget the magnetic force of
his sonerous yet penetrating voice, nor the in
describable sense of great and inexhaustive
power which he seemed to convey without an
effort"
"How did he compare with Bismarck?n
II was just about to say that the two men
who in personal intercourse have the most inn
pressed me by their individuality and strength
are Prince Bismarck and M. Gambetta. Both
were unequalled in certain lines of effort,
which, although apparently dissimilar, con-
stantly brought them face to face as public
men. The one spoke with difficulty, but each
word seemed to fall with the force of a sledge
hammer. The burning eloquence of the 9TH
or rushed from his lips with uninterrupted
force, while his whole individuality seemed to
dominate and rule the masses before him.
There is something grand and massive in the
presence and intellect Of Prince Bismarck
There was something essentially great and es-
pecially magnetic and courageous in the per-
son and attitude of Gambetta. Both were
men worthy of the country in which they
lived. One was the guide Of great empire
the other was the voice and the right arm of q
great republic"
"Was Gambetta favorite socially?"
"a great tavorite. After my resignation of
the post of United States Minister my intimacy
with Gambetta was OF a still closer nature, and
shall never forget the memorable hours
spent with him at the Palais Bourbon when
he was residing there as President of the
Chamber. AS sat at his hospitable table
recalled the day when this sumptuous resi-
dence was the abode of the Duke de Morney
and later OF M. Schneider. The interior, with
slight exceptions, remained unchanged from
their time. His eleven o'clock breakfasts
were frequented by the leading men of his
party, and the topics of conversation were not
always confi"ed to public questions; but under
the inspiration of the host, literary, artistic
scientific and classical subjects were frequent
ly discussed. In all these various fields Gam
BETA exhibited his characteristic eloquence,
which was fortified by range and accuracy of
knowledge which often astonished even those
who knew him best. When heard of the sad
wound which brought about his death my first
grief was the thought that his inimitable right
hand was manned, for the great orator had two
organs OF speech--one of voice and one of ges-
ture. 1t is impossible to imagine more grace
fnl, more persuasive, a more expressive, a
more emphatic hand, and when at the end of
some glowing argument he brought down his
strong palm upon the tribune before him, it
seemed to enforce beyond question the fiery
words with which he had set forth his PROPOSE
tions.''
II suppose you were aware of Gambetta's
serious indisposition some time ago?"
Yes, but | thought, as many others did,
that he would recover. However the French
papers dated d. cember 81, which have re-
ceived to-day, indicate that the greatest apxie-
" was then felt with regard to Gambetta's
condition but his death ten days afterward
seems to have astounded and dismayed even
those about him. In thinking of this, how
ever, we must remember the terrific strain I'M
der which he lived for many years, and the
enormous efforts which he put forth to found
and consolidate the republic. Dying in the
prime of life he has left behind him a record
and name in some respects unrivaled in the
history of France. His friendship for Ameri-
ca was of the most ardent nature, and he often
expressed to me his intense desire to visit the
United States and to shake hands with his
friends across the sea-