The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-09-27
PRESIDENT CARNOT.
How the Executive Of France Looks and
How His Time Is Occupied.


How His Time Is Occupied.
President Carnot is not hard worker
In the sense that hard work is understood
In America. He does not bother himself
with details. He keeps a sharp eye on
all that is going on about him, but he
does not consider 1t his duty to perform
clerks work. He would not dream of
working as President Cleveland used to
do and as President Harrison now does
Like all Frenchmen, he is late riser
Coffee and rolls are served In his room.
At 0 o'clock he appears in his little study,
which leads from the big reception rooms
in the Elysee palace. His private letters
are opened and on his desk. He pulls
his easy chair up to window, puffs at a
cigarette, and one of his secretaries in
forms him Of the contents of his mail
Occasionally he dictates replies and
sometimes he answers letters by his own
hand. The contents of his mail bag are
curious. There are letters on all sorts of
subjects, some begging money, some ask
ing for presidential clemency, others ask
ing for Office and still others asking for
autographs
The little room denotes that its occu.
pant is of literary turn. There are
magazines on the tables, novels and
newspapers from America, England and
Germany, as well as Paris. On one side
of the room is a bookcase of choice liter
ature. A vase of flowers on the mantel
shelf perfumes the room. a tiny Scotch
terrier sleeps soundly on a rug at the
door, and canary chirps merrily as it
basks in the sunshine that comes stream
ing through the open window. AT 10
o'clock President Carnot receives men,
bers of the government, leaders and
deputies who have business with him.
AT II he has dejeuner, or breakfast,
either in the palace or he may go out to
the house of a friend. Dejeuner is
popular meal, and Carnot seldom sits
down alone. His wife, children and one
or two friends usually join him. At
noon he receives such visitors as may
have business with him, and just now
good many Of these people are Ameri-
cans, who have heard of the affability of
the president of La Belle France, and
wish to see him and shake hands with
him To these he is all politeness and
attention. His manner would do credit
to Chesterfield. He goes about the room
from one person to another, making all
feel comfortable and at ease.
Those of his visitors who have private
or public business with him are taken
into an adjoining room. At 80 o'clock
such public documents as it is necessary
for the president to see and sign are
hrN ,rrl,t 20 hi A he, O.Q0 ,N-Q q n'a a1-
he is free Sometimes he goes for a
drive in the Bois de Boulogne, or for a
walk, but at present he is devoting most
of his time to the great exposition. At
@ o'clock he returns to the palace. He
dimes with his family and usually q
friend or two at o'clock. He is a good
liver and his table is loaded with dain-
ties. After dinner friends of the family
are received. Sometimes there Is music.
Quite often the president goes to the
opera or theatre, and at 80 he retires
Yesterday saw him in the depart
ment occupied by the United States ex-
position. A crowd surrounded him. lie
was chatting with some American visit
ors and seemed deeply interested. He
is a man of medium height and ordinary
appearance His face denotes fair but
not extraordinary intelligence. His dark
beard is trimmed in the orthodox French
fashion. To the casual observer he might
be lawyer Of fair practice or respect
able merchant with goodly establish
ment on the Rue de la Paix. He dresses
in good taste, in quiet colors, and does
not make much display of jewelry. Oc-
casionally he wears one of his numerous
decorations, but not often. In fact, he
is plain in style and manner to the last
degree.
At the time when the exposition of
1878 was held Carnot was very obscure
man. Even at the time when in the cleo
ton at Versailles he so quietly slipped
into the chair that NJ. Grevy, much
against his will, was obliged to vacate,
owing to the peculiarities of son-in-law
Wilson, but little was known of him out
side Of France. But just at present he
is very comfortable in the chair that was
occupied by Theirs, MacMahon and lat
terly by Grevy. Theirs went the way
of all flesh about the time that Marshal
MacMahon met with his downfall You
may still see the tall, military form Of
the marshal duke at the Cafe dorsey,
the old haunt of the nobility. But Mac
Mahon is done with politics. NJ. Grevy
may still be seen in his favorite haunts
of Paris when he is not rusticating at his
country place in the Jura at Mont-so
Sandrey. But no one talks or thinks
much about Grevy. He is what King
Michael Kelly, of Boston, would call a
back number.-Cor. Chicago Inter Ocean.