Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-08-19
,"MR. SPEAKER" OF FRANcRI
Entertaining Sketch of Monsieur Dss-
( chanel, the DIstinguo Partisan.

Entertaining Sketch of Monsieur Des-
( chanel. the Distinguo Partisan.
' We have a new president Of the
chamber. He is worthy to lave him
self In the silver bath Of De Morny,
and to act the part Of host in the
tapestried Sale des Fetes. Deschanel
has those social gifts and talents for
which so many women are remarkable.
No woman could have mere tact
charm, quick repartee, or keener
feeling for what is elegant, distingue'I
refined. He dances to perfection, mas
an elegant figure, and face that
would be Of feminine beauty were the
forehead not so virile. The well-cut
profile is one for Sevres, alabaster, or
cameo. 1t looks delicate, but II you
examine 1t you will find 1t strong. He
was nursed on Greek and Latin, but
took most kindly to Greek. l sus-
pect him Of weakness for Alcibiades,
Pericles, Aspasia, and the society that
gathered round them. Nobody talks
of love at an epicurean banquet Win
more Anacreontic feeling than the
new "Mr. Speaker" Now that think
OF 1t, he is in some respects kinsman
of Moore, but received better educa-
ton and has a harder head. Had he
been born to wealth he might have
grown up a dandy; but he was born
the son of proscript of the coup detat
at Brussels (1S76), and was reared In
honorable poverty. AS 1t Is, his dress
Is merely elegant, and good deal OF
the elegance is thrown into 1t by the
wearer. There is no better drawing
room actor. He is very clever ora
tor, though his speeches are over
studied. But he is a first-rate lee
turer, as his father was before him.
Such man must have aristocratic
l9anings. He would have been IN
Athens with Alexander and Aristotle
as against the disciples of Demos
themes. But l do not think he realizes
what a vast distance lay between
Athens and Corinth, though they were
but 80 miles or so apart. A Corinthian
republic perhaps would suit him bet
ter than an Athenian. M. Emile De-
schanel, the speakers father, was also
an Athenian in education and feeling,
but had no particular taste for els-
gance, except in literature. He went
in, as a professor Of classic literature,
for analysis Of the feminine heart.
have somewhere two little keepsakes
he once upon a time gave me on lie
Bien qu'on dit des Femmes" and lie
Nal qu'on dit des Femmes." He was
worshiper Of Racine, and discovered
endless keys to his tragedies. They
turned in the rusty old locks and were
wonders of ingenuity. Throughout the
empire Prof. Deschanel had black
mark against him. He nearly caused
the Introduction Of certain courses OF
lectures in the Rue de la Paix by his
expositions of Shakespeare. Poor
Badinguet had just been holding out
the olive branch to the Bishop OF Or
leans and patronizing Darboy, Arch
bishop of Paris, the future martyrs Of
the commune. Deschanel pere found
in this a parallel with Richard III. be-
tween the two bishops. 1t was seized
by the audience. l never heard any
thing more spirited and more anus
ing than the lecture. The passages re-
lating the Richard and the bishops
were admirably read. He also gave a
lecture on Juliet's love affairs, which
brought pocket handkerchiefs to eyes.
Romeo he thought poor creature. But
love is blind, and all the interest OF
the play was centered in Juliet. Prof
Deschanel has now a chair at the Sor-
bonnie and a seat in the senate.-Lon-
don Truth.