Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1895-09-17
WEALTH oFFRENcH STATESMEN
Grevy and Theirs tho wealthicst Of tho
Dead PfcSttents.


Grevy and Theirs tho wealthiost Of tho
Dead Presidents.
There seems to be an impression
among the French people in general,
according to the Paris Figaro, that tho
various French presidents have been
men of great wealth. This arises pos
sibly from the fact that the civil list of
the presidents is 100000 francs $780,
ooO)a year. But the journal declares
that the impression is erroneous. "This
is not even true" adds tho Fig
arc, "of NJ. Grcvy. This affirmation
may seem paradoxical regarding the
father-in-law of Mr.. Wilson. It is.
however, absolutely true. When NJ.
Grevy became president in 1870 he had
an income of 10000 francs. At his
death, In 1891, he left, in addition to his
former fortune and the estate of Mont
sous-Vaudrey, real estate in Paris val
ued at 100000 francs and 100000
francs in bonds and stocks. These
100000 francs represented the savings
OF NJ. Grevy during his nine years Us
president. He drew 100000 francs
year, and as an old man did not use
more than the half of it. The French
criticised him severely for his niggard-
liness; but when man is so years old
and has always lived simply, it is impos-
sible for him to spend 100000 month.
But he is also the only one who made
anything out of the presidency.
"Thc first president of the republic,
NJ. Theirs, was twcnty-seven months
in Office, but without pecuniary profit
to himself. He had married Mile.
Dosne in 1883, and when he died, forty
four years later, the considerable pat
rimony of his wife, added to his in
come from the History of the Consul.
ate and the Empire the fruit of n long,
laborious life, did not make a fortune
of more than 5000, 900 francs. This in
cluded the value of his famous house
in st. Georges place and his collections
OF art, estimated to be worth q large
amount. But NJ. Grevy and NJ. Theirs
were the only presidents in twenty-five
years excepting NJ. Casimir-P ericr)
who after leaving the Elysee were not
obliged to use the omnibus in making
their tour about Paris. Here are the
others:
"All the world knows that Marshal
MacMahon, in the course of his presi-
dency MAY 20, 1878, to January 80,
1870 ate up his patrimonial estates. At
his death III 1893 he owned only two
small estates, sold year ago. lie was
obliged to live from his salary as field
marshal.
We now pass from marshal whom
the presidency impoverished to NJ. Car
not. Sadi Carnot, modest, conscien-
tious man, religiously spent his whole
income from the state, and his private
income IN addition thereto. This pri-
vatc income at the time of his election
to $4,000 francs, and this he
left to his widow and children when he
del. His widow declined the pension
offered her by the government.
ut is said that Gambetta, for many
years, leader of the republicans and
prime minister, paid his coolt more
than many cabinet minister received.
However, he left IN income of 5000
francs to his son and bundle of |
bonds.
another president OF the chamber,
Burdeau, died poor, and the chamber
had to care for his heirs. Jules Ferry
also lcssened his fortune by politics."