The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-01-28
OUR FRENCH LETTER.
Especial correspondence of the HraAID.)
PARIS, January 8, 1888.

In 1868 Gambetta, till then a youth
to fortune and to fame unknown,
wakened up one morning and found
himself celebrated-like Byron. In
defending the subscribers to the
Baudin testimonial, organized by
Delescluze-the sole bravest of the
brave under the Commune, Gam
BETA gave the first shake to the
foundations-though built on sand,
of the second empire, and whose
tottering was accelerated by Roche
fort, in 1870, till the imperial edi6ce
tumbled by the arrest of Napoleon
III. at Sedan; the fight of the
Prince Imperial into Belgium, and
the compulsory withdrawal of the
Empress from France, under the
@gis of an American dentist. Many
ladies then fell in love with the
talented, briefiless barrister, with
features burned by the sun of
southern France; he was slim and
fiery; had bushy black whiskers
his best coat had not more than two
buttons left on the breast; he was
anything but Tennyson's curPd AS
syrian bull, smelling of musk and
insolence. He was "devil" to the
old, worthy, but ugly Israelitish bar
rister, CremieuX, or rather to the
latter's assistant, the popular Glenn
ent Laurier; but instead OF
replacing Laurier al pleadings,
Laurier had oftener to replace
his substitute, who had a weakness
for stumping politics in beer sa-
looms. Besides, this strange young
barrister was the Paris correspond
ent for Europe, a journal published
at Frankfort, and wrote legal bi.
ographies for three sous line. He
was not missed from the Office, as
Cremieux said he was good fol-
nothing but addressing envelopes
and might be entrusted with copy.
ing an ordinary title deed.
At a bound Gambetta became the
incarnation of opposition under the
empire; was standing counsel fol
all political offenders, and chief lieu,
tenant under Theirs in the corps
LegiSlGtif. A very young, elegant
and fashionable lady, the widow Of
a public prosecutor in the region OF
Bordeaux, fell in love with Gam.
beta at this tanning of his bril-
liant career. She did not conceal
her passion, and since Gambetts
assured her he had resolved never
to marry, she, like Heloise, i'm.
plored to be made the mistress Of
the man she loved. FGiteS. This
elegant and accomplished lady with
an excellent fortune of her own, be
came henceforward known as Mad
anne Leonie-Leon, and boasts now
of 35 summers. There was born o.
this iaison one child, boy, AL
phonse Leonie-Leon Massabie-the
latter being a name in Gambetta'E
family-and who is now some l.
years old and studying at Dresden
Madame Leonie-Leon had ardently
set her heart on having her SOL
legitimated. Gambetta never
objected, only pleaded postpone
ment, as to expose that incident OF
his private life to publicity, would
only be so much scandal for his ad
versaries to revel over. a month
ago Madame" came to breakfast
with Gambetta at his country
residence, Vile d'Avray, neal
Versailles, the mansion where
BalZac died, and wrote, but did no
complete. his Human Comedy
The thorny subject Of legally re
cognizing Alphonse, was agar
preached, and the mistress meeting
with a stern "no," drew from hel
pocket revolver-French ladies o.
late of equiYocal standing, are ever
armed with pistols, or phials Of
corroding acids, and was going tt
shoot herself, when Gambetta seizeG
the weapon; one ball penetrated hi;
hand and ran along the arm, and 6
second ball lodged in his abdomen
Every attempt was made to husf
up the misadyenture. Curiously
Worded accounts were sent to the
journals. Even the doctors proved
convenient. No mention was made
of the ball in the abdomen; the doc
tors concluded it would be lost in the
peculiarly fatty regions of that por
ton of Gambetta's system. Blu
they ignored the patients genera
health. He was diabetic, asth
matte and anemeic. An abscesI
formed internally, and when TIT
moment came to operate, Gambettt
was Frustrated from fever and irri
tation. The abscess burst; cold fit
suddenly ensued, with glacia
transpirations-proof that the puI
had entered the blood; atrociou'
sufferings followed; a "clot" ar
rived at the heart, and life instantly
ceased.
That Madame" did not intend tt
assassinate her lover, is proved b,
the fact that she never left thu
house, but nursed Gambetta thirty
five days and nights uninterrupt
edly, and when the denoument al
rived, she shrieked and swooneC
like all ladies who lose their lord
and masters. The doctors are t,
hold post morte1n examination tt
set the question of the internal bal
at rest, but after stating at the out
set no such thing existed, few vii
credit any bulletin they may nov
issue. More faith is attached t.
their assertion, that they did no
exactly comprehend Gambettas
malady. Others say, warned by thu
surgical blunders about poor Gar
field, the profession here hesltateC
over the probing process.