The Aberdeen examiner. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1866-current, 1883-01-11
A Sketch Of Gambetta's Life.

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A Sketch Of Gambetta's Life.
Leon Michel Gambetta was born ut Ca
hors, April, 2 1888, Instantly being of
Italian extraction and originally from
near Genoa. 1t was the original inten-
ton of his parents to educate him TO
the priesthood, but an accident occur
ring to him when about eight years of
age, by which he lost the sight of his
right eye, led to an abandonment of this
idea. That he put out his eye voluntarl-
ly, in order to be removed from the SEM
mary of Montaubau, is entirely fiction,
After leaving Montaubau, he entered
the Lycee of Cahors, and at the age of
to Paris and entered upon the study of
law in which he became quite proficient,
but he was chiefly distinguished for his
oratorical powers, and it was by the ad-
vice of NJ. valette, deputy of the Ma
tional Assembly in 1851, and one of the
professors of the law shhool, which Gam
beta was attending, that he adopted
politics as the business OF his life.
In 1869 he was sent to the corps legis-
latif by the electors of Belleville, and
also Marseilles, formulated radical pro-
gramme, attacked the imperial consti-
tuition, protested against the plebiscite
g tt,p
empire fell with such terrible crash he
| was nominated member of the provi-
sional government OF September 4.
After Sedan he was appointed minister
of the interior, and remained i'll Paris
some time after the Germans had invest
ed it. He was all on fire with patfiotism;
he wanted the French to resist to the
last but, shut up like Il rat in Il trap, he
had no opportunity to rouse the country
He was, however, equal to the emergen-
cy. He resolved to get out of the then
beleagucred capital by balloon, and he
did, though not without running great
risk. He aighted Mt Ameins, whence he
went to Tours, where he was intrusted
with the control of the war department
He did everything to fire the nations
breast he would not think of capitula-
ton or defeat he was for continued bat
tie while his compatriots had the rem
nant of an army. He denounced in I'M
measured terms the surrender of Metz
us deliberate treason on the part of Ba-
zaine, and declared that if the army were
rid of him it would be again victorious.
as had been its record for generations.
His enthusiasm and endeavors came toe
late. When ii was decided to appoint
national assembly he sought by a decree
dated January 81, 1871, to give the body
a wholly republican character by direct
ing that no official who had had any re-
lation to the second Empire should share
in the election. Bismarck objected to
the decree, which was accordingly can
celed. Gambetta then resigned hi
ministry and went to Spain for Il while
to get rest and change. Although he had
failed to achieve his purpose he proved
his wonderful power and energy during
the time when he was really the dictator
of France.
The close ofthe war and the elections
of M.Theirs to the presidency OF the new
republic left Gambetta without an occu-
patton adequate to his ambition. He
had been hitherto unfriendly to Theirs
because of that statesman's conservative
attitude among the liberalists; now, how
ever he was found on the side of the
president, and was recognized ere long
as an element of Cancellation in the CON
troverses between the moderates and
ultra radicals which agitated the early
days of the republic. 1t may be that the
misfortunes aud mistakes OF his military
career had taught him the folly Of pre-
cipitation and excessive zeal, for Gam
beta now displayed new character
had become thoughtful and judicous
This conduct had its effect in restoring
public confidence in him, and ere long
he was the recognized leader Of the
Republican forces.
His first step to pecuniary fortune was
the founding of the Republique Fran
caise, of which he became the political
director, and his share in which brought
him in an income of about 80 900 year.
His personal appearance has been thus
described: He is very erect, carries his
head in a dignified and firm manner, has
a large but well shaped mouth, beautiful
hands, grayish hair. and the left eye
bright and full of fire. All his facial
characteristics betoken man of the
South. He is of medium height, has a
large trunk, broad chest, and moves
clumslly. He tends to obeseness, but
strives energetically to check this ten
dency by exercise. He frequently walk
ed from Paris to Versailles in company
with a friend, and last summer he was
hunting in the environs of Malmaison
while the Paris newspapers had him in
London.
Hepassed his summers at Ville-d'Avray,
little village of about 800 inhabitants,
lying near Paris, between st. Cloud and
Versailles. -Selected.
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