Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-20

interest in all that concerns them. The
Paris creches have always had her warm
support and like many other French ladies
she makes with her own hands throughout
the year many little flannel and linen gar
ments to be distributed at Christmas to a
number of special proteges recommended
by the Sisters of Charity.
How Madame Carnot Receives
When the President and Presidente are
invited out to dinner they are, by polite
fiction, master and mistress of the house
for the time being, but the President rarely,
if ever, dimes out, save at one of the foreign
embassies; on the other hand, he is ex-
pected to entertain largely and dinner
party is the rule every evening at the
Elysee. When receiving her guests Madame
Carnot stands by her husbands side shak-
ing hands with them and saying to
each some thoughtful, agreeable word Of
recognition and welcome. Before state
ball all the decorations are personally
superintended by the mistress of the house
or her daughter. Ivy and water lilies are
Madame Ia Presidente's favorite garnitures,
and the Elysee buffet and tiny supper tables
are strewn wherever it is possible with the
beautiful nunephars sent up from the lake
at Fontainebleau for the occasion.
Although obliged to dress up to the posi-
tion, avoiding both extravagances and dowdi-
ness, for either extreme would produce
bad impression on King Mob, Madame la
Presidente takes as much trouble and
thought over her toilet as any little bour-
geoise. Her favorite combination is white
silk and gold for evening wear, and soft,
deep purple velvet when she is receiving
callers or entertaining distinguished for
eigners at luncheon. Occasionally special
npIA f, %
brocade train or mantle woven in marvellous
colors, and of which the design is afterward
destroyed, is worn by Madame Carnot at
some state function, but as rule both the
President and his wife deal exclusively with
Partisan tradesmen, and every bill is settled
the day that the goods are sent in. Madame
Carnot's toilet costs her almost 30, 900 francs
per annum, twentieth part of her husbands
official income.
Resting at FontainebIeau.
Although it has been once OR twice sug-
gested that the President and his suite
should go to Versailles for the summer
months, Madame Carnot always persuades
her husband to return to Fontainebleau, for
she is passionately fond of the little town
on the edge of the far-famed forest
where her early years were spent. Fon-
tainebleau was built for Francois I, the
tallest king who ever reigned over France,
and his height was the unit of measurement
which architects took in pitching ceilings
and cross-beams of the doors. When at
Fontainebleau the members of the Presi-
dental court lead the simplest of lives,
walking and driving in the forest, while
the good ladihs of the town bring their
daughters to early mass to the beautiful
chapel of Fontainebleau in order to see
Madame la Presidente kneeIing on the velvet
prie dieu, where the beautiful Empress
Eugene performed her devotions some 20
odd years ago.
People are apt to hint that NJ. and Mad
anne Carnot greatly exceed their official in
come, but then those worthless do not realize
what a good manager and accountant the
President possesses in his wife. Every sou
spent is put down by her every day, and
while at Fontainebleau much less is spent
than at the Elysee, and Madame CarAot has
the power given to so many French women
Of making sou go as far as franc in ap-
pearance and effect.
No one would take Madame Ia Presidente
TO be q grandmother Her hair, neatly
parted in bands and coiled up over Span
ish comb, is glossy brown in tint. Although
rather below than above the average height,
she has great personal dignity Of bearing,
and her face breaks readily into smiles, es-
pecially when she is with young people or
lueening it atsome popular fete on her hus-
bands arm.
MARIE ADELAIDE BELLoC.