New-York tribune., 1895-02-10
WOMEN AT THE ELYSEE.
MISERY IN A PALACE.


has woman exercised SO small degree of in
fiuence upon the affairs of state during the
last quarter Of century-the Third Republic
comparing favorably in that respect with all
previous regimes-yet it is impossible 10 deny
that two ladies have played an important part
IN connection with tho grave political crisis
through which the nation has just passed. The
one is the strong minded mother of NJ. Casimir
Perier; the other mis- equally headstrong and inn
pusive wife Tho elder Of the two response
bic for his acceptance of the post of Chief Magis
trate an Office which he reluctant TO
sumo an6 for which he in wise fitted.
while to the younger is attributed his startlingly
sudden resignation. spoiled child of fortune.
surrounded from her infancy by every form of
luxury. young Nine. Casmir- Perier until the
time that she became the first lady of France
knew no restraint save that of her caprice, no
law except that of ordinary conventionality, her
husband being only 700 ready to huinor her
every whim No one was more delighted at
first with her proud position as Madame Ia
Presidente carrying with it as 1t did a vast
increase of that homage which she hau pre-
Viousy been accustomed TO receive as w
charming. rich and well-born mohdaihe' p"'
when she found the restrictions which " ~"
tailed and the obstacles with when IL suirouhueo
her on every side it quickly became rksoihe u
her far more so even IMAM W hVi ""S""'"' ''
sionately fond of bicycle riding, she saw herself
cut off from this form of amusement and eXer-
else by the dreary etiquette that governs every
thing AT the Elysee Palace; and ii was pointed
out 10 her that ii would be out of place and
contrary to the dignity of France for the first
lady to be seen scudding about a wheel in
boomers. matter how fetching. Then, too,
she enjoys horse-racng, and until SIX months
ago was conspicuous figure at every meeting
at Chantilly Auteul and LonGchamps, taking a
keen delight in the racing not only for the port
itself but also for the excitement which it af-
forded to her. On becoming mistress OF the
Elysee she was made to understand that II
would be incompatible with her position to at
tend the races save in her official capacity ana
in state; ard the only time that she has been
seen on any course after her husbands election
was at the Grand Prix when the undsguised
hostility accorded by the public 10 the somewhat
too gorgeous Presidential cortege deprived her
of whatever enjoyment she might otherwise have
felt Then too. there was more visiting the
petits theatres by far the most amusing form OF
dramatic entertainment in Paris. and she was
restricted to an occasional appearance in the
state loge in the opera or at the Theatre Fran
Gals; the Palas Royal. the Athenee ana even
the Gymnase being forbidden ground to the VIE
Of Frances Executive.
OF the restrictions which the position i'm
posed upon her Social intercourse. upon her
visiting list and her hospitality, 1t is
needless 10 speak here She was compeiied
TO receive at her table and to show herself
gracious 10 persons of both sexes in every sense
of the word antipathetic to her husband and to
herself; while she could neither visit nor receive
AZ the Elysee dear friends and even near rela-
tiyes who happened to belong in politics to
different party than that which had elected NJ
Casimir-Perier to the Presidency. The r1dicule,
the abuse and the calumny heaped upon her hus-
band by the opposition press extended also 10
herself and even to her children; but the chnM
came when she received threats that her daush-
ter Germaine would be Kidnapped by the An
archists and held hostage. Only TWO Gays
before NJ Casimir-Perier's resignation. an Ill
favored individual stopped the young girl In tne
Champs Elysees as she was returning from
school with her governess. and taxing sooo
look AT her exclaimed: Good! l shall know you
again That will do, On being Informed OF
this. Nine Casimir-Perier determined that moth
ing on earth should induce her TO stay another
u,eos at the Elysee and every influence that she
oou,d bring 10 bear she exercised upon her hus-
hand 10 prevail upon him to resign the fresl-
dencv His mother, II is true, Yielding 10 the
solicitations OF his most intimate friends. urged
upon him not to desert his post In the hour OF
difficulty and Of danger, but her entreates were
unavailing; and If one is to believe the reports
In private letters, there seems TO have peen
struggle between the eXPresdents mother ana
wife for the mastery, the younger OF the TWO
manfesting undisgused signs of Jealousy at 'he
influence which her mother-in-law endeaVored
10 exercise over her husband. III was the "'ie
who finally carried the day. and that Is the ocs'
answer that can be given to the shameful cal
DraG
ton to an impending suit for divorce between
a couple who are nothing II not ahec''oh"'' anu
devoted 10 one another.
There Is something almost pathetic In contrast
ing the arrival Of the first ladies Of the land at
the Elysee with their departure. Each OF them
has entered the portals Of the executive paidce
with pride and pleasure depicted on her FEATURES
and making no attempt TO conceal the truly
feminine delight which she felt in occupying
a position filled before her by 50 many ceiee
brated and beautiful women, from Mary stuart
down 10 Empress Eugene. And each OF theh
has left the Elysee utterly crushed, broken
spirited and disappointed. In most cases under
the cover Of dusk, dreadng publicity ana con-
veyng the impression Of stealing away IKE soine
dlseraced servant Nine. Theirs was, perhaps
tho one who took things mos; philosophicaiIy
and who carried her head the highest on e her
husbands return into private life But then sie
was q very strong tempered woman. ana III
dignation at VIVA, she considered the Nation ;
vile ingratituie toward her husband inastereu
every other sentiment NINE; ...,,, ,ha
Duches.e de Magenta, left the Elysec win tne
knowledee that half the private fortune OF the
Marshal had been squandered In cnoeavoi '''s
TO maintain in BETTING manner the digniey OF
the Presidency ald that, far from any one ap-
preciating this generosity. the gallant old soidiel
had on the contrary lost as President a eoou.s
part OF the fame prestige and popularity when
he had won on the field Of battle. POOR oio
Nine. Grevy. who having been elevated by hei
husband from the kitchen 10 the saoh' 1 1ie
garded him as the ideal OF everything that was
perfect. good and noble departed from the
Elysee literally overwhelmed by the hurricane
of obloquy and disgrace that the questionable
'doings OF her son-in-law, Daniel Wilson. brought