New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-30
N. CARNOT AT LILLE.
REVIEWING A BRILLIANT PAGEANT, BUT
nut FORGETFUL OF TIE POOR MINER&

REVIEWING BRILLIANT PAGEANT. But
Nut FORGETFUL OF TIE POOR MINEl&
Paris, Oct. ~.
Mr.. Gladstone said to me last winter: There
Is no journalistic topic connected with French
affairs that now interests nc more than pro-
vincial tour of NJ. Carnot. 1t delights me. can
truly say, to watch how simply by good con-
duct he gains over provincial France to the Re-
public" Had Mr.. Gladstone been ut Lille last
Sunday, he would have had greater reason than
ever to rejoice at the power Of N. Carnot to con-
vert. That city is the manufacturing capital OF
the North Of France, and was the stronghold
three years ago Of Bonapartism and Boulangism.
In 1871 there was a considerable Legitimist
party there which openly hailed the Comte Dc
Chambord, when he went among them as the
Ming Of France. But on Sunday there was
unanimity in giving splendid welcome to tho
head Of the Republic who appeals alike to the
working classes and the provincial bourgeoise
by his private virtues which 81 brace up his
public life and stamp his as genuine all round.
NJ. Carnot has lost that shyness aud its accom-
panying stiffness that were among his prominent
characteristics in the early days Of his Prcst-
dency, and which were. so funnily caricatured nv
Caran dAche. lie is now merely OF correct
demeanor and when he speaks TO any one, no
completely thaws and looks the most amiable ana
unaffected Of human beings The refrigerant edu-
cation Of the polytechnic school placed him at
disadvantage. Hardly trace Of ID remains. IA
Re makes point Of coming into direct contact
with the working classes and the sufferers in the
hospitals which he never fails to visit IN bis
provincial, tours, this freshly acquired aflabilify
serves him in good stead. Having an excellent
heart and rare rectitude Of intention, the kind
words that he says fall with good grace from
his mouth.
Then, he is liberal in his aims, and Is known
t., save no money ont OF his official salary. Nor
does he GO in debt or lend himself to jobs OF any
sort Then he is punctual to the minute. and
shows human respect by appearing as though h"
came freshly out Of bis Wallets hands, NJ matter
what the weather may he. This respect is further
shown by his remaining barehcadrd all the time
he il driving from the railway terminus to tho
Prefecture or the Town Hall. Though rain were
to fall in torrents no would not accept the shelter
Of great coat or umbrella, much less that Of tho
hood Of his landau. ] have seldom witnessed such
weather as that on last Sunday at Lille Tho
President was drenched three times in driving to
different parts OF the city. and fourth time
just before he started for the railway to 90 bacK
t, Paris. The ducking came about In this way.
When the programme was exhausted and VI.
Carnot was taking leave Of the Project, he waS
informed that body OF musical miner collers
had come to screnade him from Lens, place
where there was lately a strike, with the ac-
companyinc circumstances OF Violence and hot
appeals by Socialist agitators to bad passions.
VI tarnOt at said that the miners must not
he discouraged, and arranged to defer his de-
parture. and to listen t, their serenade pelt-
NnS.Ap Nlo
went and stood on the steps of the Prefecture. in
front Of which tho musicians were drawn mp.
They were far too numerous Z, 10 brought into
the Prefecture All of them wer" in their work.
ing suits and had safety lamps stuck in their
hats The President is himself an accomplished
pianist and loves music. III" stood as II not
heeding the ran and at tho close OF the enter.
tainment' shook hands with the spokesman, ana
advancing to the front of the steps thanked the
others for the pleasure lie had received in listen.
ing to patriotic airs played with truly patriotic
spirit. Other friendly words uttered. II
wa. probably the first, and the only time in their
lives, unless when General Boulanger went among
them as n Savior of Society, that they were over
ci,illy and kindly spoken to by person OF
superior position. Naturally the kindness went
straight home t. them, and the enthusiasm IL
aroused was frantic. Tho mining class in North
France is looked upon by the rich people the!s
a. a beast with few hundred heads, and tho
manufacturing population is physically the most
ill-conditoned that have sr"n.
The Emreror Napoleon III and the Empress
Eucenic visited Lie with their son in 1859. and
in sign OF welcome the town INDUCED in pageants
of marvellous splen Tor. Lille WAS annexed u
France by Louis XIV, who took il from the
Spanish brarch of the ITous' Of Austria. 10 waa
Flemish in its origin, and its burgers and hurgesees
still retain the love for sumptuary maSnidcence
for which the Lillois were remarkable from the
earliest times Fro;sSart came from the neigh
borlood, and was a kind Of po"t-laurente at thu
court Of the Court Of Flanders at Lille. when
Edward III Of England went there to WOO the
Counts daughter .Fhilippa. The taste for
tournaments and grant spectac'es which cams
into England in that kings reign, and which
Froissart deliLhtci W. h. traced 10 Flanders
Long before Philipra's time Lille gave another
Queen TO England. III the person Of Ma ildl wife
Of William the Conqucror. On Sunday, which
fell on the centenary OF. the raising Of the siege
of lille in 1892, TN" town, a. collective body.
the wealthy manufa tuers, the society AMI official
magnates, and tn" garrison united in celebrating
the anniversary with pagcantry that far sur
passed that o. the centenary Of the French Rcvo-
hut ON on the Paris Boulevard,-splendid though
that was The pageant showed forth the history
OF Lille from the time OF the GaulS To tn" raising
of the siege, hundred years ago. This EN-.
braced a review Of tie weddings and trlumphal
entrances of a long array of princes and prin-
ccsses OF the Flanders tho Burgundy. the Spanish
and Austrian Hapsburg dynastics and Of Louis
XIV. whose wife was. he claimed, heress. accord.
ing to the custom OF Flanders. to that part OF
the Netherlands .Thosc who performed the first.
rate parts were all society ladies and gentlemen
and spleudidly mounted and not less finely clad
NJ M,urce Lock paid 5000 francs for his Lonis
Ouatorze costume, and was applauded by NJ
Carnot, and persona;cd the French monarch 10
the act of taking possession CT the town.
Another manufacturers son paid 10000 francs
al tho Emneror Charles