The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-11-20

Some persons in Paris are preoccupied
with the subject Of President CarnOts
Stat, clothes. The chief of the State has
no gala uniform for great occasions, and
usually appears at public functions in or
out of the Elysee attlred IN plain even
ing dress. the simplicity OF the black and
white being relieved by the grand sash
or Gordon Of the Legion of Honor, to
which he is entitled eX-Otlicio. The
Marquis de Castellane, in recent
article, first started the clothes question,
and 1t has been revived since NJ Car
not reviewed the troops engaged in the
autumn manTuvres at Cambria. Accord
ing 10 the contention OF the literary mar
quis. the President ought to start ON visit
ing tour 10 those foreign courts which do
not regard France with the eye of enmity,
but are willing 10 enter into friendly rela-
tlons with the republic. Tue Presidents
suite could be made mp Of prominent gem
erals like NJ. de Gallilet, of Cabinet minis
ters like VI. Ribot. who is Secretary Of State
for Foreign Affairs, and Of Euro
pean celebrities like NJ. Pasteur and
VI. Edel. Touching the matter Of
attire, however, the Marquis de Cas-
telane Opines that it would be better il
NJ. Carn0t discarded his evening dress and
appeared arIayed in the embroidered habit
his visits Of courtesy to foreign p0tentates.
Another difficulty, namely, that regarding
the national air or anthem 10 be played by
foreign military or court bands i'm honor Of
NJ. Carnots visit is disposed of by the ac-
cOmmOdatng marquis with equal ease. ln-
stead OF the "Marsciii aise," English, Rus
sian. or Spanish musicians could adopt
the soldiers chorus from Faust" tue
patriotic hymn oi Madame Holmes, or the
Federation cartata of VI. Massenet. lnde
pcndentiy Of TIE lurking spice OF satire
which underlles the suggestion ~ the Mar
Quis de Castellane and other clothes critics,
il is not at all likely that VI. Carn0t Will
either visit foreign courts or alter the rlgd-
ity of his attire. The third republic is
uliitarian, and NJ. CarnOt has become the
very Incarnation OF that very utliltarian-
ism which began TO show itself after the
war Of 1870. and was accentuated when
NIcMahon. q. military President, retired,
giving way tO republic of irock
coated parlameutarians, headed by NJ.
Greyy, a plain, pros IL lawyer, who in
his turn has been succeeded 10y a civil en-
gineer When General Boulanger appeared
in the horizon il was thought that France
was hankering again after the panache or
plume Of the warrior, but the hascO ass ci-
atrd with the name Of The exile OF Jersey
has caused a reaction once more IN favor OF
the more prosaio and peaceful symbols Of
personal ad0rnment adopted by NJ. CarnOt.
Ii is ali very well for the close-crtics TO
argue that the great Carn0t wore dashing
directory suit, that even Robespierre did
not disiain elegant cOstumery, and that
Prince Louis Napoleon, when president OF
the republic, boldly inspected HE troops
dressed rs general Of dNision-much, by
the way, 20 the disgust OF Generol Chan
GARNER. These precedents could not he
used by the present NJ. Carnot, who has, II
may be said, entered upon a new lease OF
power since the fall Of General BJulanger,
and who, however long or short that lease
may be-, will certainly have no need to adopt
any kind OF uuifOrm.-ll9ndOn Telegraph.