The herald., 1898-11-20

turn to th1 Elysee palace and take heart at
the thought that. one man at least in all
France can be depended upon to keep his
head and still the tempest. Let those whose
nature it is TO rage and storm in the heat of
ii crisis waste their precious heartbeats
without purpose President Faure shows
no more sign of perturbation than does the
grim and silent sentinel at the gates of the
palace. Nevertheless France knows he has
his finger on the public pulse even in the
quiet OF his domestic life.
Few are privileged to pass beyond the
. grim sentry referred to. Republican free
dom such as Americans are accustomed to is
not part OF the political life OF France.
Visitors to Paris cannot walk in at the
gates of the EIysee palace as they can pass
through the gates of the White House
grounds. President Faure is not ''ar home
to anybody on stated occasions as is Presi
dent Mckinley. On the contrary, he is as
carefully guarded as is any monarch of the
empires of Europe, and the grounds of the
Elysee are as much barred to the public as
the enclosure in which stands Buckingham
palace or the garden of Marlborough house
On account OF this eXclusiveness of the
head OF the French republic there are not
many who have seen the interior of the fine
Old Elysee palace, and there are fewer who
know by observation how the man on whom
France depends in its hour of need spends
his days. \ photograph OF the outside of
the Elysee is seldom seen in the stores of
Paris; of the inside never. for their sale is
not allowed. Hence it is with feelings OF
curiosity and almost of awe that the visit
or who succeeds in gaining admittance to
the palace passes through the gates of the
fine grounds. There is no chance of halting
on the way to the building for the sentries
are alert and the hesitatng person is re-
minded quickly that lettering is not allowed.
Paris evidently distrusts ITSELF as well it
may, after the blood that has been shed
around this lovely building
President Faure is not man who need,
court secluson. He is handsome. dignifed.
clever, statesmanlike; in appearance the
beau ideal OF a national leader. The roval
visitors to France have acknowledged that.
although plain monsieur" this man has
the manners of a courtier and the wisdom of
born diplomat. But more OF the occupant,
OF the Elysee later; let It's look around the
palace first
hat memories come to those who have
studied the history Of France the moment
tie visitor enters the Elysee. 1t was here
that the fallen despot, Napo con |, sought
temporary rest when he fed from the field
OF Waterloo, where his mighty sword.
stained with the blood and tears of millions.
lay, Shlvered into atoms. Through the rail
ings the people saw the popular idol. and,
knowing nothing OF the disaster. saluted
him as the invincible conqueror In many
thrilling episodes OF French history the
EIysee has had a prominent place
lhe first rooms that the favored visitor is
SHOWN are the state apartments on the
ground floor. They include the state dining
room, where so guests can be entertained
IL Is gorgeous apartment Eight chande-
licrs are suspended from the handsome cell
ing, and when these are electrically lighted
the room is a sight worth seeing. The most
interesting features oi the furniture are the
Scvres vases. of which there are numbers of
various styles One OF the Seyres ornaments