Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-16
The French President Abroad.

from the LOLNOn OioDe.
With regard to che movements Of Presi-
dent Carnot an interesting pamphlet has
just been published, in which a curious
comparison is drawn between the luxury
of former times and the simplicity Of the
present, as far as concerns the travels of
the chief of the state. During the last few
weeks NJ. Carnot has been going backward
and forward from his country residence
like the commonest of mortals and will
shortly make another provincial tour, pro-
vtded his health does not prevent him. His
travelling paraphernalia is always the same
and consists Of three dress coats, with
waistcoats and trousers to match. twelve
shirts. three grand cordons of the Legion
of Honor-for the rain changes the color of
the rbbon-four pairs of boots four hats,
twelve pairs Of white gloves and box Of
white neckties. The whole of these articles
are placed In two trunks. The great point
of NJ. Carnot Is to be ready for all even
Qualities. He knows that punctuality, II
It has not always been the politeness Of
kings, ought to be that of a president of
the republic, and he therefore misses no
opportunity to display his urbanity and
Courtesy. The rain may fall in torrents, or
the wind may blow great guns; as>soon as
he reaches his room he changes his clothes
entirely, and never fails to arrive at a ban
Quet or a reception at the hour fixed and in
irreproachable dress. An example of his
punctuality took place when he went to
Marseilles. 1t rained cats and dogs as he
entered the town. and he had barely five
minutes to change In time for the banquet.
His clothes. however. had been prepared be-
forehand. and. thanks to this precaution.
he was able to enter the banqueting hall
as fresh and dry as II he was entering his
asl oth-hoftp. offfuer1-e anirmfrmhcfhmrc
salon at the Elysee. while all the rest of
the company present were forced to appear
drenched to the skin.
NJ Grevy was even more simple his bag
gage being confined to the smallest Of
trunks. 1t must be stated. however. that
he never made any official Journeys. prefer
ring to put his salary by for a rainy day
He went every year to his humble seat at
Mont-sous-Naudrey. where he spent his
couple Of months holiday in shooting and
billiards. Marshal Mcmahon, in his travels,
always wore his uniform, and his baggage
consisted Of three suits Of clothes, but he
rarely used them. The only thing In which
he took special pride was his gloves which
he changed two or three times a day.
As regards NJ. THEIRS he was in the habit
of packing up his own trunk, and superin-
tending everything connected with his Jour-
ney. He always took his bed with him-a
small iron bed. with mattress and q
blanket; he would not sleep in any other
bed. and the care taken Of 1t can there
fore be easily imagined. 1t was on It that
he died at ST. Germain. after catching cold
on the famous terrace. He always wore a
long black frock coat. which he buttoned
up to the chin. and which became almost as
celebrated as the redingote Of Napoleon 1,
to whom he believed he had some likeness.
To swallow tails he had the greatest aver
sion, and seldom wore a white cravat. He
was equally an enemy OF gloves which he
considered feminine. He never Travelled
without his books. the care of which he in
ever, so punctual in his engagements as NJ
Carnot, and on many occasions kent his
host waiting; but, being such distin-
guished guest, he was readily forgiven.