The Portland daily press., 1894-11-10
WITTIEST WOMAN IN FRANCE.
The Talented Great Niece of the Orator
Mirabeau.

Work and Leisure of a Woman of Letters
Home Life-"Gyp'' Rides Daily.
| "Gyp" is the wittiest woman in France.
She is also the Frenchiest woman-which
is good deal more.
| Every body knows her that has read
La Vie Parisienne, to whose columns
she is indeed valued contributor. Per-
haps everyone has read "Autour du
Marriage" Everybody in France has.
Her true name-"Gyp" is only the pen
name-is Nine. la Comtesse de Marte.
And she does not, as you might ex-
| pect. live in Paris, but in Neuilly,
whence she takes only occasional visits
| to the capital. She is not even Paris
born, but Bretonne, which seems
strange enough. considering she knows
and writes about Paris life better than
any other living woman.
An English reporter--that is, an Irish
woman who writes for London paper,
che Sketch-has had the temerity to in
terview "Gyp," probably for the first and
last time in the French iady's life, and
the story the reporter has to tell Of her
experience is worth preserving as giving
an intimate glance into genuine sane
tum sanctorum.
The reporter was greeted at the door of
the Countess's house by big footman,
who told her abruptly: Madame the
Countess does not receive at all.n
But The reporter had an engagement,
and SO proved an exception to rule
made necessary by the curious tourists
who bore the life out of sGyp.n She
was, on proper showing of credential,
ushered across little paved pathway,
up short fight of stone steps, through
q hallway, and into the salon.
The 70 om," says the visitor, "was
charming and individual 1t ran the
entire depth Of the house, and had win
dows on three sides. That before me
opened down to the ground, affordinR
me aview OF a stretch Of turf, smooth a.
emeraldivelvet, and the great ornamental
iron Gates beyond, that form the carriage
entrance on the Boulevard Bineau. A.
gardener, .sthe only figure to- be seen,
moved outside, cutting the grass. Back
came the servant. Nine. la Comtesse
would be with me in moment. She
had only just come in, and apologized
for keeping me waiting. Would l care
to read these papers in the meantimes
preferred to study the room. Its pre-
vailing tone was gray. The ceiling was
draped like pavilion. In the center of
the apartment stood causeuse, topped
by majolica swan, filled with greenery.
The carpet mingled grayish and dark
blue tones; the furniture was chiefly
in the Lonis Quinze style, with covering
of faint-hued brocade: an embroidered
ecru portiere concealed the door by
which had entered. On black satin
couch to my left were carelessly laid two
bold and dashing paintings signed,
Gyp; one showed short frocked girl
lying at full length in a meadow, the
other gentleman on horseback. By the
fireplace opposite-the mantelpiece bear
ing an apidestra in full leaf, photo
graphs, Chinese monsters and bibelots
quaint or pretty-stood an armchair, a
fanked by4a white and gold screen set
An open piano behind it gave evidence
of musical taste, and in the correspond
ingAcorner BY a window a great paim
spread it's leaves" M
The reporter had time to take these
notes Of observation before "Gyp" herself
arrived--a Sweet and gracious ap-
parition.p
5s
A willowy figure, looking tall because
Of its slimness, robed in trailing tea
gown of pale yellow, with sleeves and
frills of white chiffron; small face, with
bright gray eyes and fringe of fair
hair; an aspect youthful and girlish;
grace of movement and of gesture that
somehow recalled Sarah Bernhardt; a
pleasant speaking voice, discoursing ex.
quisite French. Such was "Gyp.n
When the visitor apologized for her
faulty French "Gyp" consolingly replied
that she herself spoke not word of
English nor indeed any other tongue
than her own French. She had he said,
learned English as child, hut, with
true Partisan self sufficiency, had for
gotten every word of it.
The reporter questioned her very cou-
scien tiously about herself: "Je suis
bien BretonEe,n said "Gyp." IT am the
great niece of Mirabeau, the orator of
the French Revolution. His brother,
my grandfather, Mirabeau Tonneau,
bought property in Brittany, but we
are really of Provencal origin. My hus-
band is Norman"
"Did you begin to write before your
marriage?"
"No. for married young, at 10. That
was in 1869. 1 have three children. My
eldest boy, the original. by the way, of
pitt Bob, is just 20. He is great at
football, and Gas passion for games
and sport of all kinds. Ny daughter
who speaks English perfectly, is 16.
That is her portait," and she pointed to
the long painting on the couch of the
girl amid grass and flowers"
Really! l was admiring it before