New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-22
AT CLEMENCEAUs TABLE.
PERSONAL AND POLITICAL CRUMBS GATH
Erred AT BREAKFAST.

lrh'" ''''' PARIS, April o.
The last Ministerial crisis was well and quickly
Got through. One of its effects has been to give
81 Clemenceau a great position as an oniciapie
man. and to transfer him from the leadership VI u
forlor hope Of opposition into the championship
the Government. He made hard race ZOE tne
Speakership, and there was between nun ano
NJ Meline dead heat, solved In favor Oh she
latter because he was three years the senior
It's all my grandfather's fault cried Nj. Cie-
menceau. 4" NV mother wanted to marry four years
earlier than she did He wouldn't let her, but
kept her engaged all that time. I was born IN
less than year after she was married. and had she
had her own way should now be two or three
months older than my rival Hang the old grano-
father Pll never pray again on his grave, ZOE
the bad turn he has done mel"
But I have many times heard NJ. Clenenceau
since say that he is glad he ID not Speaker
can't conceive him lending himself TO the daily
ceremonial with which Mr.. Speaker Is conducted
from his residence to the Chamber. A colonei
goes with company of soldiers to fetcn hm'
and under their escort he is taken as though ne
were State prisoner to the Chamber. Inc
drummer beats out rub-a-dub-dub when he places
himself under tho protection OF this military
force, and another as it ts quitting MN. M.
Clemenceau is no posturer, hates solemnlty ana
can never resist the temptation to throw OH any
bright saying that rises to the tip OF his tongue
He is delighted at the place he now holds IN the
Chamber. I never saw him in such happy Spirits
as he was last night at @ little dinner party
TO which his eldest daughter made him come
This morning breakfasted at bis house OF o Jolly
repast given in honor of Herr Steps, the father
in-law of NJ Paul Clemenceau THE statesman's
brother), who had come by express to congratu-
late him on his changed position. Herr Steps
Is great printer and publisher and is Editor OF
the "'Tagbattu Of Vienna. joyous pianist, NJ
Chamvert, OF Herr Grunfeld, was OF the company
He is one of the lions of the musical world, and
was the merry OF the party. He has just
come from @ tour in Russia. When no was at
St. Petersburg the Gar would have him accompany
His Imperial Majesty's trombone playing. Alex
ander III. is melomaniac. The Czarina was de-
scribed as the most charming little woman In
or out Of Europe.
The breakfast took place in O beautifully fit
ted-up dining room, in the style OF the early
Valois The furniture was of richly carved oak.
Oak lodges with small balusters ran along the
surbase panelling at the top and near the cor
nice. They served as dressers for old-fashioned
plates and other curious pottery. Porte feurs
of quaint character fastened on each side OF
the panel rising from the chimney piece, were
square projection OF the renaissance kind, with
small colored panes, stood plants with fan-like
leaves and large greenhouse ferns. The table
was prettily decked out. The pianist sang and
laughed and ate and drank heartily, and asked
for two helpings Of roast illet Of beef, and
again at dessert Of baked apples. At dessert
q brass kettle and two teapOts Of fantastic form
of the brown Bokhara stone-ware were placed
on the table. A spirits Of wine lamp set the
kettle to stea,ping. NJ Clemenceau then made
tea for all the company and poured it OUT His
wife and her two younger children were In La
Vendee Mile. Madeleine had remained in town
to prepare to pass an examination for teachers
diploma. She was dressed in dull red stuff made
like q polonase and trundled up over black
petticoat Her dark skin and her features are
of singular delicacy, and she has fine dark eyes
and O most lady-like expression. MADAME Paul
Clemenceau, lively little thing, slender, small
and agile, and not looking at all matronly
was engaged in q succession Of small practical
Jokes on the great orator, and he in giving her
tit for tat. While the meal was going forward
NJ Albert, the youngest of the three brothers
Clemenceau, entered. lie is nice, good young
fellow, and Is engaged to o daughter of NJ Paul
Meurice the devoted old friend Of Victor Hugo
and one of his literary executors.
After dejeuner there was q game of billiards
in the next room. NJ. Clemenceau then took
me into his study, which the architect continued
up from the fifth floor to the garrett TO give
plenty of room for book shelves. An oak side
stairs communicates with two galleries, so that
books can be stored away to q great height. In
the centre Of this room IS n horseshoe renais-
sance table Of the Italian style in light oak.
NJ Clemenceau, when readlng or writing, sits In
swivel chair in the centre. The seat and back
arti NJ
the shade of the table and take the form Of a
she'll This home is at the top of O fve-story
house, but the ascent is by lift, unless one pre-
fers to mount Handsomely carpeted stairs in q
square case and squarely made. l know Of no
more charming home. Were the worst to come
to the worst NJ. Cemenceau could make fortune
as an art-upholsteDT.
In the study he told me that the Government
has no other resource than to go ahead in the
path of reformation and trust for strength to
the country. Its enemies are to be gathered to
battle under NJ Rouvier and NJ. Ribot the latter Of
whom though q severe moralst, does not object
to work in the same team with that shady per-
sonage OF course Baron Maclkan, the acting
leader of the Royalists under the fgureheadship
of the Duo de Larochefoucauld, will be in the
combination Of the two rs against Radicalism
A syndicate Of resistance is good as formed
Should IL get the better of the MINISTRY, don't
knew what may or may not happen. great
pull will be given to the Boulangsts, who now
call themselves the Party of National Disgust
There must be deadlock on the triumph Of re-
action. The Senate is dead set against the Cabi-
net and would never join with the President IA
dissolve unless to keep the advanced party, of
which NJ. Floquet is a member, out Of office.
But it would join with what heart it has in
dissolution to enable the Ferryites or Orleanists
of the Centre to manage the general elections
T.. G.