The morning call., 1894-06-25
NINE. CARNOT's ILLNESS.
Caused by Her Social Rank as the
Presidents Wife.


Presidents Wife.
Nine. Carnot is seriously i'll. She will
prOba bly, recover, for she has youth and
sound constitution. But her husband and
family are very anxious, recently wrote
a Paris correspondent of the New York
Mail and Express. The disease from which
she is suffering is officially declared to be
typhoid fever. 1t will, therefore. be
considerable time before she is we'll again.
A physician who knows her well, though
he is not in attendance upon her, says the
real cause of her illness is her social rank
ss the wife of the President.
Seven years ago." he says. "she was in
perfect health. Her life was 1,uiet and
simple, her habits natural. But as soon as
her husband was elected President all was
changed. She was the social leader OF
Paris. She had to keep ell sorts of hours
and wear herself out at receptions. Worse
than this, she had to live high at table.
Elaborate and overrich food was served.
This was necessary. because the Presi-
dents table is never without guests
of ceremony. What was the re-
suit ? She was wearing herself
out with overwork and at the same
time poisoning her blood and weakening
all the vital organs by induIging in i'm
proper diet. Thus was prepared the soil
in which the germs of disease are now
fourishing the actual commencement of
it was at reception little while ago.
She was there taken with chill. 1t was
thought that she had caught cold. Then
bilious fever asserted itself and then ty-
Dhoid."
lie was asked whether her high living
had affected her badly in other ways be-
fore this.
Most certainly. 1t has made her deaf.
You are surprised at that? But it is true
Before she came to the Elysee to live her
hearing was good. if not perfect. But
Over-feedng or bad feeding gave her gout.
That disease manifests Itself in various
ways, one of them being a thicKening of
certain embranes. 1t is thai. thicken-
ing of the membranes OF her ears, that
causes her deafness. 1t is deplorable for
more reasons than one. Her social duties
have thus been made much harder. For
example, at a reception she must keep up
a constant conversation with her guests.
But as she cannot hear word they say
she practically has to do all the talking.
II you think that easy just try to deliver
yourself of a Donologue for three hours at
a stretch 10 dozens of different people.
She does it with marvellous success, but IL
is terrible strain. She watches the faces
of those to whom she speaks and thus
reads their thoughts through the express
sions Of their countenances. Sometimes,
too, she can understand what they say by
the movements of their lips"
Another thing that has worn upon her
terribly is the necessity she has been put
TO to exercise economy and yet to keep up
an almost royal court. The salary of the
President is apparently large one. But
there are so many fixed demands upon il
that it is really small. II one is dishonest.
or not too scrupulous, he can add to his
salary very largely from the secret service
fund, which Is entirely at the Presidents
disposal. to use as he pleases. NJ. Grew
used 1t largely for bis own good, and was.
moreover, so extremely niggardly In all
things that he was able TO save more than
half his salary. If the President be honest
and have fine sense of honor, and if he
keep UP an establishment worthy of his
Office. be will be put TO il hardly to make
ends meet. This is the case with NJ. Car
not. There is no purer or loftier soul in
France than his. But he has generous
ideas of entertaining. and will not stint or
skimp any thing. The result is that Nine.
Caruot has often had 10 count her money
and plan and contrive with all her inge-
nuity.
NJ. Carnot himself has suffered much in
health since he became President Not
long ago, 1t will be remen bered, he had a
serious illness. 1T one tine his life was
in much danger. "rhe trouble in his
case" said this doctor, 'was much like
that in his wife's. He was worn with
overwork. Then he caught cold by expos
ing himself 10 the weather at some public
function. Finally bilious fever and
complication of liver troubles set in. 1t
was simply one of the penalties he has
paid for his position"
These things. with other considerations.