Omaha daily bee., 1888-01-06
EARLY DAYS OF M. .ClEMENCEAU.
Four Years In Amcrica-Becomcs a
Tutor and Meets His Destiny.

Four Years In Amcrica-Bccomcs n
Tutor and Meets His Destiny.
Clemenceau, the French leader, was n
physician, and he once lived in New
York. He was well educated, says IL
New York correspondent of the Phila-
delphia Press, Of fire address and II
manly-looking man. He hung out his
doctors sign, but succeeded only poorly.
A medical practice is not to be picked
up in day here, or in any other city,
and so Clemenceau found it necessary
to turn to other work. He advertised
himself as u teacher of the French Ian
guage. In this he succeeded better
He became the professor of French in
young ladies' seminary. He was young
and talented, and soon made hosts OF
friends. He continued the practice of
medicine, too, and so made respecta-
bic income.
He never wasted moment. He par
celled out his time SO that he could de-
vote so many hours to teaching, so many
to study and so many to literary work
and the study of our institutions. He
wrote on all sorts of subjects. He cor
responded regularly with one of the
Paris newspapers. He wrote essays and
speeches, and he also translated into
French John Stuart Mills "Auguste
Comte and Positivism. Ae quickly bo-
came accustomed to American ways.
He took deep interest in all
our institutions. He visited the
courts, the prisons, the forts in
diligence our system of government. He
was particularly interested in studying
the condition of the poor. He was an
omnivOrous reader and in the four years
he remained in this country he gained
a very deep insight into the American
plan OF conducting Il republic. He went
as far south as Richmond. He told me
the recollections of the war haunted
him and he could not gear to go further.
The west impressed him deeply. He
spent month in Chicago, and the
hustle and activity of the busy western
men and women impressed him favor
ably. His visit west and south were
taken during brief holidays.
He found the practice of medicine so
unremunerative that he finally took
down hts DOCTORS shingle and devoted
himself to teaching and writing. But
he spent many hours in the big hospit-
ais, and remember large and intor-
esting letter that he wrote on the sub
ject of hospital management for a Paris
newspaper. He praised the system
highly. He was particularly impressed
with the proceedings of our government
in Washington, and he spent many an
hour in the house and senate galleries
listening to the debates in those stirring
days. In tact, there was no branch of
the government that he did not take a
deep interest in. l remember one night
as | sat with him in his room, how elO-
quent he became on the subject of the
future of America. He was and is
great believer in destiny. He told me
that he knew he would one day be presi-
lnnt nf Eruppn Who l,nnyyar pnrhans
he will.
Not the least interesting part Of his
visit to the country was that in which
he became interested beautiful and
wealthy young lady, Miss Mary T..
Plumner by name. AS remember the
circumstance now, it was case of love
at first sight. The young lady's father
did not look with approval upon Gle
mcnceau. The lady referred to was a
Finally the lady's father took his
daughter from the school, and the
lovers were separated Clemanceau
took the matter deeply to heart. 1t was
his first love affair. One day he sur
prised me by announcing that he had
decided to leave New York and go to
Connecticut as a school teacher. He
could not bear the thought of
remaining in the same city with the
Object of his love without seeing her.
He did go to Connecticut, and taught
school at Greenwich for II year. Dis
tance, however, rather increased the
love on both sides, and the lovers corre-
sponded. 1t all eudad as such things
usually do. The lovers triumphcd. The
father relented, and they were married
in 1869. A. Oakley Hall, then mayor,
| performed the ceremony. They took u
journey to France on their wedding tour
| and have never leturned. Clemcnceau
| found way to utilize his talents, and
| his pretty wife with her fortune helped
| him in many wcys to gain the fame he
now enjoys. He established himself as
| a physician in handsome quarters in
Montmartre, of which place lie rose to
| be mayor at the outbreak Of the Franco
| German war.
Since then he has lived in the fierce
| light hat beats upon all great leaders
| of the people. In all the scenes that
| have stirred France he has taken an
| active part. He has been arrested time
and again for disobeying orders OF I'M
| perial superiors. He has made record
as duelist by fighting with the famous
Paul de Cassagnac, In the duel neither
| was hurt. At the time referred to
| Clemenceau had thrown over medicine
| for politics and had become IL leader of
| the people and editor of the Justice.
Cassagnac did not like Clemenccau and
he again challenged him to "A duel
| Clemenceau agreed. He notified Cas-
sagnac's second that his principal would
never again fight duel. This news
was carried to Cassagnac and he
sNulked out OF it, for Clemenceuu is II
| dead shot.
| He takes the liveliest interest in
| American affairs, and two years ago he
| became connected with the Republique
| Francaise he wrote editorials from
| America without leaving his editorial
| room in Paris. He likes Americans
and is never so well pleased as when he
has some prominent American to his
| house to dinner, and they discuss al
ways in English, the feeling of our
country. In appearance Clemencau is
rather small, slender, and well built
His hair is cropped close ana
is quite gray. The eyes are black
| and shiny. The nose is large. He