The Indianapolis journal., 1898-11-11
THE FRENCH SPEAKER
IN PARIS HE Is KNOWN As THE
PRESIDENT or THE CHAMBER.
He Undertakes to Rule the LeEisla-
cessfuI-Present Incumbent.
Paris Correspondence London Mail.

adapted - their parliamentary system from
England. adapted also the speaker" AMI
called him the president of the chamber.
They adapted him only imperfectly and in
their republican zeal they omitted the most
picturesque and at the same time the most
effective portion of his attributes-his wig,
his knee breeches. his sword, his throne.
1 remember well the hilarious demonstra-
ton of an intelligent foreigner when 1 gave
him a brief description of the appearance
of the speaker presiding over the House of
Commons. 1 had never before suspected
that there was such fund of latent humor
in the trappings of state and authority
which are familiar enough on the English
side of the channel. But my Frenchman
roared. Fancy Brisson, fancy Poincare in
a wig!" he cried. and forthwith exploded
again. No" he concluded, I'VE are too
republican for these tricks. They would be
laughed out of the chamber the first day."
This was all very well. but any one pro-
vided with a card which enables him to
make his way to the lobby of that same
chamber may behold on any day of the ses-
sion a curious little ceremony and one that
clashes strangely with austere republican
notions. At about 8 clock, or earlier, there
are symptoms of hustle and preparation in
the lobby and adjoining rooms. Drums are
heard, and commands are given in a loud
military voice. Then a double file of SOL
diers. some fifty in number, march in, post
ing themselves between the outer door of the
lobby and that which leads to the chamber
itself. They form a lane, and then stand
at attention with serious and resolute mlen.
their officer meanwhile passing them under
review with the scrutiny of an eagle.
Presently the side drums roll again, and
stave of the 'Marseillaise' is played; all
hats are doffed in the lobby, and we all
gather round close to the lane or soldiers,
as eagerly as If we had never seen the like
before. Then appear two attendants In
livery, who march at the head of the little
procession, and whose dignitied step, and
heads inclined forward, strike fair balance
between justiiable pride and natural mod
esty. Then appears the president OF the
chamber, in dCess suit, marching with AIR
still more dignitied. but equally tinged with
native modeSty, until near the entrance
door for the deputies. Here he stops. He
turns soemnly to the right and bows. lie
turns sOlemnly to the left and bows. lie
faces round, and then resumes his process
sion, disappearing through the portals.
The soldiers march away. A pleasant buzz
i'll the Hobbies gives way TO the previous
Solemnity and then we know that the
President has well begun another day.
TRACES OF MONARCHY.
The French, it is evident. are still strug-
Cling amid the bonds of monarchical tradi-
tions. They have only half abolished the
suits and trappings of state. and they have
often retained the more fantastic part of
ceremonial
In the chamber itself the president sits
on high. One might say, were it not for
irreverence, that he is perched aloft above
the assembly. The seats of the chamber are
disposed so as to form a semi-amphitheater.
The tribune of the orator faces this heml-
cycle. and the chair Of the president 1S
a that BACK
orator is opposite him, while both look to-
wards the assembly. 1t is then really that
clothes" that Carlyle so much expiated on,
becomes evident, and that the htlarity OF
my friend is seen to be so very misplaced.
The president of the Council is not an i'm
posing figure at any time. He is still less
so when he has the elegant proT ions, the
refined appearance, the air OF perlesct
gentleman of the drawing rooL at dis
tinguish the present holder of -itle, NJ
Deschanel
chair, which looks bleak and scanty and un.
protected on the heights The silhoutte OF
his slight figure looks terribly insufficient
outline in the glaring position of the pres
ident His gentlemaniy gestures and re-
fined features are like the tender offerings
Of innocence in a lions den. His tmmacu-
late shirt front and the clawhammer coat
of fashion are a mockery and a sham. The
result is only too evident on stormy day.
The President rocks and bobs on the blliows
like cork the while he Jangles his lnef-
fective bell in despairing signals OF distress.
NOT EFFECTIVE.
Compare him for a moment to the speaker,
with his famous wig and the prestige of his
sword Half hidden in the obscurity of his
throne he sits like Rhadamanthus, until
some occasion draws him forth He then
energies, authoritatively, backed by the i'm
posing throne and the shadows of the past
centuries. His wig multiplies his dignity.
and the imperative words, order! Croer!
bring the most unruly to his senses If not.
the terrible alternative, Il must name you, "
almost invariably withers opposition Com
pared with all this the position of the pres
ident of the council is indeed difficult. De-
prived of the wig, the throne the knee
breeches and the tradition. he is as helpless
as ship that goes to battle unarmored on
the ground that cuirasses are obsolete.
The Left" howls. Nj. Deschanel implQres.
The Left r2ars NJ: Deschanei exPost1ui- exp u
lates The Left reverberates. and M
Deschanel holds an unequal contest with
the bell as his only weapon. The Left
behaves like pandemorium, and M.
Deschanel raises his hands towards heaven
and cries, What a Sorrowful spectacle!
The chamber looks aghast for a moment
authority is lost amid the chorus of cries,
catcalls Interruptions and laughter
Yet M. Deschanel is a most estimable
man, and one of those who are, and who
deserve to be, the hope of France. He is
young, just forty-one, of remarkably good
presence, carefully 'groon.ed" and in all
make a r6proach of his irreproachable
tenue, and call him "pOmmade" and repre-
sent him welding, not a scepter, but a cos
metic stick and brush His regular features
his carefully trimmed mustache his care
fully arranged hair, his natural graceful
ness are matters of offense to the Social
lists His correctness gives them no chink
for the arrows of their scorn, ana II eXaS-
DerateS them.
A "REPUBLICAN NOBLE"
NJ. Deschanel is another example of the
Republican nobility" his distinguished
father, well known for his pathological and
other researches, having had TO fly from
France after the coup etat of Napoleon
III
At a very early age NJ. Deschanel, his son,
commenced to win scholastic distinction
and in all manner of official prizes he has
continued since TO reap the reward of a
young man. studious end 'bien sage"
He is a student of colonial questions he is
a student of belles-lettres, he is deep on
financial questions and on all manner of
movements, and he is a charming lectur-
er He is the cynoSure of the ladieS-he is
yet unmarred-he is the envy of his col
leagues, he is a favorite of the President
of the republic, and he is counted as a
very likely successor 10 that highest Office
in the gift of the French nation.
Yet there is something not entirely con-
Viucing about M. Deschanel. Perhaps the in
stinct of the Left is right NJ. Deschanel
is too correct. His successes have been too
academical, TOO official, too orthodox. His
AOO1 - o