Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-06-26

Seine. At the close Of the war the Cote
dor returned him as deputy. He joined
the Left Centre ranks and then drifted
to the Opportunist side. He was elected
secretary OF the Chamber. and was APP
pointed Under Secretary Of Public Works
I'm NJ Ferrys Cabinet. He held this port
folio until 1854 when ne was made Min
lister OF Finance under NJ. NJ. Brisson,
post to which he WAS reappointed January
T. 1886, In the De Freyc!net Cabinet.
A year after his enforced resignation,
December, 1886. under the Goblet Ministry,
there was much psrplexity concerning
successor for N. Grevy. When the names
of all others had been oAnvassed and re-
jected. that OF NJ. Sadi Carnot was pro-
posed. His integrity in the days when
few men withstood temptation from the
Elysee and his sterling worth were re-
membered and recognized. On December
3, 1887. the Chamber Of Deputies elected
him President Of the Republic. Since then
his careful hand has safely steered the
French ship OF state through many dan
gerous passages.
HIS PERSONAL APPEARANCE.
A graphic picture is presented OF NJ.
Carnot by a recent visitor to the French
capital:
"He is a man Of medium height and
ordinary appearance. His face denotes
fair but not extraordinary intelligence.
His dark beard Ia trimmed in the ortho-
dox French fashion. To the casual OBJ
server he might be lawyer OF fair prac-
tice or a respectable merchant with
goodly establishment on the Rue de Ia
Paix. He dresses in good taste. in quiet
colors, and does not make much, display
OF jewelry. Occasionally he wears ons
n btp dnroea
often. In fact, he Is plain in style and
manner TO the last degree"
President Carnot was not hard worker
in the sense that hard work is UNDER
stood in America. He did not bother him
self with details. He kept a sharp eye
on all that was going on about him.
but he did not consider IL his duty to per-
form clerks work. Like all French
men, he was a late riser. Coffee and rolls
were served In his room. At o'clock
he appeared In his little study, which
led from the big reception-rooms IN the
Elysec Palace. His private letters were
opened and on his desk. He pulled his
easy chair up 10 a window, and one of
his secretaries informed him OF the con-
tents OF his mail. Occasionally he die.
tated replies, and sometimes hd answered
letters by his own hand.
The little room denoted that its occu-
pant was of literary turn. There were
magazines on the tables, novels. and
newspapers from America, England. and
Germany, as well as Paris. On one side
OF the room was bookcase of choice
literature. A vase OF flowers on thu
mantelshelf perfumed the room. A tiny
Scotch terrier slept soundly on a rug at
the door and a canary chirped merrily as
3 haG xa1 n hn nlh
streaming through the open window. At
10 o'clock President Carnot received MEN,
bers of the government, leaders. and
deputies who had business With him. AT
IL he had breakfast, either In the palace
or went out TO the house OF friend.
His Wife children. and one or TWO
friends usually Joined him. AT noon he
received such visitors as had business
with him. To these he was all polite
ness and attention. His manner would do
credit to Chesterfield. He went about the
room from one person to another. making
all feel comfortable and at ease. At l:3V
o'clock such public documents as ir was
necessary for the President to see and
sign We're brought 70 him. About ~
or o'clock he was free. Sometimes H.
went for a drive In the Bois de BouloSne
or for a walk At o'clock he returned
ana usually a friend or two at o'clock.
After dinner friends Of the family were
received. Sometimes thera was music.
Quite often the President went 10 the
opera or theatre and at l30 he retired.
In a country where the wife OF puOilc
character Yields much influence, Nine.
Carnot has shown herself NJ 10 occupy
her position Her Intellectual bnlliancy
and social graces have given TO French
official life a charm it had scarcely known
before this generation. Though she has
n married daughter. she looks little more
than five and twenty. Her reception days
were counted privilege to attend. ana
distinguished diplomats enjoyed the op-
portunity OF socially meeting this gifted
woman. NJ. Carnot was married 10 her
when he was Il. and his regard for her
was such az to impress the observer that
the French President and his vile were
on perpetual honeymoon.
FRIENDLINEss TOWARD AMERICA.
NJ. Carnot took frequent occasion of
showing his friendly feelings toward
America, and was invariably courteous
| and more in his reception OF American
visitors. He always travelled with some
what OF bodyguard. but this was not
more than a matter OF form. lie was the
last man for whom any apprehenslons ol
personal safety would be entertained.
A piece OF literary work OF some note
was his translation of John Stuart Mill
Revolution Of 1873 and Its Detractors.
Ii is too early at this writing to pro-
| nounce an opinion upon the cause OF the
| Presidents assassination. His popularity
| however, of late has been waning. The
| polIy OF his government toward the
| Cler:cals and Socialists made him many
enemies and IL was very douDtiu
whether he would have been candidate
| for reelection at the presidential election
| OF November next. With President Car
| not dead, NJ. Casimir-Perrier president
| of the Chamber OF Deputies, and General
| Saussier. Military Governor of Paris, are
| the two strongest men In France.
| M. Casimer-Perrier is probably the
| strongest candidate for the presidency. as
| he seems to be the most powerful man In
| France at present. Firm. fearless, and
| alert. the ex-premier was looked upon as
| likely to succeed President Carnot, and IL
| will be recalled that his recent "falr
| from the premiership was looked upon
| as nothing more than a political move
| calculated to strengthen his political
| chances.
| Ii Is difficult to predict the Immediate
| outcome OF the assassination OF President
| Carnot, but as the explosion OF Valiant
| bomb in the Chamber OF Deputies last
! year wonderfully strengthened the hands
| of the Casimir- -Perrier Minister, so may
| the blood-stained knife Of Santo strength
en- republican France and rally around
a strong. patriotic government all that Is
| good and law-abiding in France.
The late President Of France was Grand
| Master OF the Legion OF Honor. as Chief
| of the State, and had also been honored
\ with a number OF foreign decorations
| including the Russian Cross OF ST. An
| drew, bestowed upon him by the Czai
in 1891
| A President OF France Is elected fol
| seven years by majority of votes by tn.
| Senate and Chamber Of Deputies united
| In a national assembly or electoral con-
| gress.
President Carnot came into power or
| January, 1883. and would. In the natural
order OF things, have retired on January
| /. 1895.