The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-05-06
ROMANCE.
Tho Truth at Last-A Story OF Love,
Politics, and Fidelity.

y Paris correspondent Of the World
writes: While Gambetta was alive the
Figaro did everything in its power 90 ac-
creditthe absurd stories which were forever
floating about concerning his private life.
A libel entitled (likc The De Musset rO-
mance) Ellie ct LUZ published after the
accident ut Les JardicS, a long and graphic
account was given OF how the great
statesman was shot by n woman, the
description OF whom was rs fantastic
IS the tale Itself was fabulous. Now that
poor Gambctta can no longer be hurt by
attacks upon what he held dearest in the
world. the Figaro has decided to tell the
truth and shame the devil. 1t has at last
put an end TO the contradictory rnmors in
an article called lie Roman de Gam
beta The points were given by VI.
htlenne, nm intimate friend OF the Belle
vie Deputy 50 they win probably be &C.
Veptcd rs the last word OF this rather deli
Va.' analr. Here are the simple facts
OUT oil ana upon which so many mvstc-
rlouN complications have been woven and
s~lanroiuercd. During the war OF 1870
Nue. Leone Leon, then twenty wears n,
age. caine 10 live in Paris with her mother
tee WIDOW oil a colonel in the French army
Mile. Leon took the greatest interest in
Gamhetta's career, believing him destined
to an the highest positions. At the end Of
/ the war she wrote letter after letter TO her
idol. begging Tor an interview. under the
pretcxt that she had important commune
cations 60 make.
Gamhctta was so puzzled by The girls
persistence, and 80 struck by the remarka-
BILE personal and political observation. MN
glcd with the admiration expressed by her
Tor the future dictator. that he entered into
I a continued correspondence with his clever
disciple. The letters were followed 10y in
toryiews, which gradually ripened into
friendship. and that again into q love which
lasted unintcrrUptedly up to the moment
OF his premature death.
For Il long while Gambctta had been
anxious 20 marry Leon, and several times
proposed 10 do so. but each time she re-
fused, on the ground that it would be q
drawback 10 his career. But Gambettl re-
manned firm IN his determination 20 rival
her generosity. Last year. while on q visit
70 the Chateau de Crete, be told his father
he was 10 be married the following April.
For those who knew the two men this an
nouncemeut meant that nothing on earth
could change Leon Gambctta's decision.
Nile. Leon is q tall, slight brunette OF
distinguished bearing and manner. She
talks well, read, 4 great deal. and is ex-
tremcly well educated. At present she is
living with her mother in badly-furniShed
apartment on the fourth floor OF No. If
Rue S0uilot. Gambcttl. as everybody
knows. died intc>tate, the doctors havins
kept HIM in ignorance OF his true condi-
ton for fear Of giving him what they
termed 4 "soriOuS shock" His entire
] f.vtar..n a-Ffp4ns,1 % ,T.ns ..sns-. a
! francs. therefore went TO his LEGAL family.
Nine. Leon and her daughter have no.
thing beyond the small pension which the
Government allows the widows 81 officers.
I Mile. Leon is uncertain as to her future
movements, ut She will probably be guided
by the advice OF G1mbctta's old friends.
among whom MN. Spuller, B4nc, proust,
and Etiennc. are determined never 10 aban-
don one whom they consider rs the de-
ceased patriots widow.
Until after his death the following fact
was kept a secret even from G~ambetta's
most intimate companions:
At the beginning Of the friendship be-
tween Mile. Leon and himself they agreed
/ TO write each other daily. Every night
during a period OF ten years Gambetta
| regularly wrote a long letter, giving Leonie
! HIS OIllAtNH ilfFn Ait' DVlAthNth' lAA itNiitNAlN
I ary. and foreign events OF the day. In
fact, he wrote for her his memoirs from
day to day. On her side Mile. Leon sent
daily answers, in which she discussed the
smallest political details and gave him adj
vice, which was often asked and followed.
In a letter written before the formation OF
what was called the Great Ministry" she
p~rOphCsicd the short duration of the Cabi-
net and implored Gambcttl not to fall into
the trap which his enemies had laid for him.
The whole correspondence is in the
hands If this modern Eseria, who may some
DAY make il public; though. according 10
the accepted fashion in matters OF this
kind, not. perhaps. until the people who
met with harsh treatment at Gambetta's
hands are beyond either resentment or
Self-dcfencc. During Gambetta's lifetime
MIle. Leon took great interest in the Ger
man question. She read Bismarck's
speeches with the minutest care. often
pointing ont important passages. which IN
The press OF business her friend and teacher
sometimes overlooked.
Besides rectifyiug the mistakes about
Nile. Leon. the FigQrO Ia: also put an end
TO the popular belief that Gambetta had a
son, or sons, rs there were two boys con-
ncctcd with this legend. Leon JouznOt,
who walked Immediately behind the hearse
on the day OF the funeral. was the son OF
Gambctta's sister. Nine. Lcris. by q iormef
marriage. The second boy, who was often
seen nj Les Jardics. and whom Gambctia
visited in Germany. was the son OF a sister
Of Mile. Leon.