The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-01-07
GAMBETTA'S TRAGICAL END.
fAE STORY OF HOW AND WHY NADINE
LEONXE LEON SHOT H1N

" AmAAA "A ~ A4shO1OhU CNUs
fHE STORY OF HOW AND WHY MADIME
LEONIE LEON SHOT HxN
The Truth Cs.sssisA By his PA,s,s,..s and
FrfsaAs-Ceansats In 0sraasy-THs Fury
81 BIS Eaemiss-vvala scenes n Paris-A
Tight IN the Prsssnee sf lie Bad
Ssscto. css,s Despa,eA to IN ss~
PAhD, Jan. 6.-Gambetta wAs the republic
In France all republicans felt that the hope and
integrity OF It, its strength and its genius, were
comprised within his personality. In the eyes
Of Europe he was the leader Of the nation the
man who. no matter what retirement and OBJ
sourity he might seek. could never ba Invested
OF his individual supremacy. and Of whose
shaping any supreme manifestation Of the ma
lions power must inevitably be. Factions
might war. royalists contrive. and Cabinets de-
CAY. but Gambetta filled the whole stage. and
things other than his designs comprised were
but trivial and passing. Whilo he lived he was
the man Of destiny for France; now that
hs 10 dead he 10 no longer indispen-
sable TO hor To-day all France wept at
his grave. but the grief OF the nation was
the Testimony Of is patriotism. and in tho
overwhelming outburst of'national feeling. in
the tremendous spectacle Of loyalty which
Paris has Witnessed Ill day. It was apparent
that to Gambetta succeeds tho republic. Louis
Blsnos funeral was reassurng. but GambettA's
was triumphant revolution. In England his
death produced . profound Impression. He
was held in the highest regard. His states.
mAnship was respected and admired. and It
was freely admitted that By the death OF NO
other ono man OF our time. not even By tho
death Of Bismarck. could Europe Be- % deeply
stirred. The Emperor William said he WAS the
greatest enemy to tho peace OF Europe that ex-
listed. The Chancellor said that the time had
como whom II would cause NO misfortune to
his country II he gave way 10 other mon. The
tone Of the whole German press Is one Of re-
lief. Not paper has failed TO express without
eoncealment that that feeling 10 inspired BY
his death. He was our greatest enemy. his
future was revenge" says the Gdsete. His
death 10 better security Of peace than hum
dred alliances" says the Tdoblah. and 20 runs
public opinion in Germany.
To his greatness. however. generous tribute
u paid He was not above the superstitions Of
bis family. Twice." said q fortune teller to
3ambetta's mother. will your son control tho
destinies OF France and then he will die BY the
hand OF a woman" To the effect which this had
upon her mind was ascribed.her eaGerneSs TO
give her son An education far beyond his stand
ing a. the son OF an humble grocer. Gambctta
affected to laugh at such superstitions. but not
always. He seems to have made the acQuaint-
ance OF Nine. Leonie LNon as she has Of late
been known about eleven years ago. There
had boon q preceding liaison Of some duration
with some ono else. of which q son. now at
school In Germany. was the result. For many
years no maintained = MENACE In the
Rue Bonaparte with Nine. Leon. visiting her
at nrst with circumspection. but later. when
at tho height OF his success disavowinG all
concealment and appearing with her publicly.
Finally she became tho partner Of his country
life at Vile d'Avray. Amc. Leon was the wife
of . solicitor named Andre. and whom Gam
betta first met her WAS woman Of great beauty
and distinction OF appearance. At "a she 10 20
yet As their intimacy advanced she grew do
sirous Of sharing his ambitions. She was mis-
tress at Vile dAvray. she presided at Gam
bettas dinners. and was present at bis in
formal councils. and while his prosperity and
activity continued she gratifed her wishes in
the political world Of her lover In no small
degree. Later Gambetta changed He became
morbid. prey to fits OF depression. and sought
to seclude himself among his books. He saw
few OF his friends and both physically and
mentally showed determination to lethargy
He was disappointed: his patience did not &C.
cord with his years he did not feel nble to walt
About eighteen months ago the solicitor died.
and to Nine. Leon the world looked brighter
than ever. She thought Gambetta would GER
tainly marry her. She had visions OF salon.
OF brilliant republic Of letters and art. OF
which she should be the absolute mistress. and
70 oil this distinction she saw the way clear BE-
fore'her. 1t was impossible. Gambetta said. To
tho republic he Dyed his first duty. and he
could not afford to imperil his position. He
was infiexible. and there was no longer peace
at Vile d'Avray. Nine. Leris. his sister. had
long advised him to marry as became his op-
portunities. and 1t finally came to Mme. Icons
ears that he was engaged TO Mile Daltonshea. a
niece Of that Gen. Dnltonshea who was ono Of
tho peers OF France. . lady Of beauty and for
tune. This meant that he would short
ly DO totally lost TO her. and she at
once sought to establish it, truth. He
admitted. 1t IL said. that circumstances
compelled him to change his mode OF life. that
tho sooner she accepted the inevitable the bot
tor that his position and responsibilities made
the proceeding imperative. and so on. Frsn-
zisd with rage and disappointment. she drew .
pistol. which she says she intended for herself.
aimed It at Gambetta. and fired. At the first
movement he had rushed toward her to wrest
the weapon from her. He was too late. Tho
ball entered tho palm Of his hand. and. ranging
upward came out OF the under part OF the fore
arm. II was Q painful but not necessarily q
dangerous wound. To Gambetta. however. II
vas fatal He was already victim to diabetes.
and the shock to his nervous system and
the mental disturbance which snsued
were moro than he could sustain. His
surgeons and his friends were appre-
hsnsive Of tho result from the first. but
they studiously concealed his condition until
the end. 30 effectively had they misrepre-
sented the case that the announcement OF his
death came upon Paris on Monday like thun-
der clan. Ono paper. his own. appeared In
black. and with single line only mnde the an
nouncement. "Gambetta 10 dead" In London
nothing was known Of 1t until the afternoon.
His death agony was protrscted. and was Of q
most fearful description. but to tho last he re-
tsined his faculties His last words were: u
yield 1t 10 useless to dissimulato. but have
suffered 80 much that II will be deiveranca.' "
At Ave minutes before tho New Year sounded
all Was over. Bert. Bpuller. Aren't Arnaud. and
Etienne wero with him also Lsonie Leon.
Tho excitement In Paris since has been in
describable. The whole community has been
feverish. hysterica]. and irrational. Compare