Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-04-16
fro BE CONTINUED
ON The RIVIERA.
Democracy of Distinguished People as IL
Appears To n Plain American.


Appears to Plain American.
Ballad Smith writes 10 the New
York World from Beauieu: This mar
row little strip Of France-i0 miles or
so from Cannes to Mentono and not
above four or five miles wide anywhere
between tho blue sea and the practically
impassable mountain chain beyond
might be called during any winter sea-
,on the Republic Of the Great From All
Lands.
The democratic fashion of it is lit
tla startling to the newcomer. You may
sit at the next table in a restaurant TO
an ex president Of the republic You
may come suddenly in public pathway
upon an emperor and empress walking
arm in arm together; you sit in the next
chair in hotel meeting room 70 the
great ex premier Of England. Politicians
from all countries, serene highnesses
from every monarchy in the world,
great artists-their faces become o. IA
miliar % you az those Of the convention
al people whom most OF Us have the for
tune only to bo brought in daily contact
with.
It has happened 70 me, very plain
American citizen, to have had the three
experiences mentioned above within tho
space Of 81 hours, together with some
others as interesting, and the fortune Of
il all. the reader being the judge Of what
measure OF fortune il is, may come 70
any other plain citizen Of any land who
forms part OF this little republic with
in republic.
In a former letter | described how ab-
solutely democratic is the daily walk
here Of Casimir. Perier, until only the
other day president Of France
In the rotunda Of the Hotel Cape Mar
tin we are to SEQ greater man than
any hereditary king or emperor or p0-
tentate OF today, of yesterday, Of the
century Luncheon Is just over when
Mr.. and Mrs. Gladstone come down
from their rooms and take seats among
the othor guests before the fire, await
ing their carriage The venerable states
man looks much older and more worn
than when saw him in London as he
started for the Riviera.
The arduous journey in the bitter cold
weather which met him in France and
its extraordinary continuance here in
the Riviera have evidently been most
preludieial to him. He walked very
feebly to his carriage, escorted on the
one side by his faithful wife and on the
other by the hardly less faithful Mr..
George Armisteal-many times mil.
lionaire, who seems TO have no object
in life beyond this friendship and almost
constant attendance-and now for the
first time in his adult life looks all his
age
had come to the hotel hoping that
Mr.. Gladstone might wish 10 say some
thing more TO the American public on
the prospects Of home rule in Ireland,
but Mr.. Armistead pleads that the
statesman is in too feeble condition TO
talk upon politics, and that his restora-
ton to health demands absolute rest
from all political concerns for the pres
ent.
The ex-Empress Eugene is another
guest at the hotel, except that she oc'
cupies cottage in the grounds, and she,
too, takes her daily walk abroad with
a single attendant, or more often alone.
She also seems very feeble and looks
very old, supporting herself with a
strong crutch stick She has lost every
trace of her former beauty and graceful
carriage.