The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-29

quite happier disposition Of mind, and wishes
10 enjoy his laurels during another septennate.
telling fast on the mental faculties of the Presi
dent. Persons who are au courant with the
secrets OF the Elysee assured me little over q
year ago that NJ. Grevy is under the control of
MS son-in-law, M. Wilson. This Wilson is of
English descent and has a smattering of politi-
cal economy but in other respects he is la
mentable failure, although being deputy
and director OF widely circulating
prominent newspaper. There is no romance
whatever in connection with his wooing and win
ming Alice Grevy, the Presidents daughter. She
was comparatively elderly maiden when he es-
poused her. Everyone thought that she had, to
use French phraseology. put on st. Gather.
ines bonnet" for life as she had previously fall
not recprocate her passion. Papa, however, in
duced her to throw herself into the arms of Dan
lei Wilson, who had proposed for her-not be-
cause she was rich, Daniel himself is worth
several millions. but because his position as
in-aw of the chief of the state would he thought,
enable him to crafty the yearnings of a deeply
rooted political ambition. He was no sooner in
stalled in the Elysee than he commenced to
usurp his father-in-law's functions. He used
to receive ambassadors and hobnob with minis
tiers In his name with such persistency that
ne soon became known as the Dauphin of France.
SO far, in fact did he carry his self assumed pre-.
negatives that he used to dispatch his letters
free of cost through the post by afixing the
noWSpa-
pers, however, soon discovered the "Dauphin's"
plot to defraud the inland revenue, and he had
to depend thenceforward on his own resources
50 far as the Scent postage is concerned.
PERSONALLY. M. Grevy is a species of good-na-
tured stoic-with dash OF the aware in his sys-
tem-living and letting live as best he can, and
content to be allowed to sit in the presidential
chalr and to have the time to play billiards with
ois son ln-law, or game of cards with his lovely
spouse. Grevy hunts amid the Jura mount
sy~
the neghborhood of the rather antiquated
building where he was born. When in the coun-
try he generally dresses in blouse and mixes
familiarly with the peasants. In Paris, how
ever, he is the very cream of polish and
etiquette, and never appears anywhere without
the impressibly white shirt-front and the ortho-
dox broadcloth. The Elysee however, has lost
all, or nearly all, its halcyon splendor since the
days of Adolph Theirs and Marshal MacMahon.
Little Thiers who had been many years pre-
viousy one of Louis Philppe's advisers. was
very much like Tom Moore in one respect-''he
dearly loved lord" and the magnifcence of
courtly trains. Once President of the republic,
he gathered around him court Of his own. and
spent his income of 1000, 600 francs on the para
phernalia of balls, dinners ana midnight sup
pers. His successor, MacMahon, was even more
prodigal of display; but M. Grevy has acted
IN quite different fashion. There are
no galas nowadays in the Elysee, if
we except an annual ball and reception or two,
while NJ. Grevy is pocketing and banking two
thirds of his salary. The result is that, in the
absence of count and countess, the wealthy
arlstocrats are keeping very quiet Money is
not in circulation, and Partisan trade and in
dustry languish. NJ. Grevy's enemies attribute
this farfrom- promising condition of affairs to
his parsimony, and l fancy they are not very
much mistaken. However NJ Grevy is uni,
versally acknowledged to be a gentleman of un
blemished honor and integrity, and while he
is at the head of the state coup d'etat like
that of December need be apprehended. His
presidency has been the anchor which has saved
the good ship of the republic from laundering
on either the Scylla or Chary bdis of conflicting
factions. Long, therefore, may he live to stand
on its deck and direct its helm!