The record-union., 1899-08-21
GENERAL DE GALLTFET.
Remarkable Career of the French
War Minister.

the French Cabinet lately formed py
M Waldeck-RouSseau, is 1.-The man OF
the hour in Europe. In a little more
than month he has apparently crushed
the INSTRUMENTATION in the army that
seemed to threaten the life of the re-
public by his fearless handling OF Cen
eral Pellieux and General De Negrler.
General Gallifet is the subject of num-
erous newspaper articles dealing with
his fearless exploits and numberless
gaIlantries in peace and in war. The
following particulars of his career are
taken from the London World" and
the Paris correspondence of the New
York "World":
Well-built and supple, with sanguine
complexion, burning eyes, and martial
mustache; sixty-Seven years old, but
always 'just down from his saddle;
a reckless soldier who has carved his
way through the thickest battles, yet
can summon at will the most exquisite
polish of nobleman of Louis XIV
that is General the Marquis De CALI
fet.
Fate has delighted in providing op-
portunities for Gallifet. He fought in
France, in Russia, in Italy, in Mexico.
He was one of the most dashing figures
of the second empire, the most bril-
liant general of the third republic;
when his career finds its historian the
writer will unfold long recital of
fabulous feats of extraordinary love
affairs. wild wagers, insane duels, in
-credibly senseless challenges to death.
Noble exploits We're Gallifet's in the
rather ignoble Crimean war. 1t was
1oI h a nit
on the Green Hill, and won by his gal
liant conduct decoration upon the
battlefield. There was a lady also.
She was of the high society of Paris;
had met Gallifet there, and followed
him to the seat of war but was not
allowed to cross the French lines. Gal
lifet learned of her presence nearby.
Russian outposts and challenges had
for him no terrors. He went alone
| into the enemy's country to meet the
lady, and next morning came safely
back, smiling, in time for reveille.
The Marquis never tarried long at
the capital His spurs were ringing
/ in all ATTITUDES, and tales of his pluck
were brought from the front, wherever
F that happened to be. Take, for in
| stance, his crazy jump from the high
bridge into the Rhone. Gallifet had
wagered that he could plunge into the
river with his horse and swim ashore
without losing his seat in the saddle.
Perhaps it was not worth winning, at
/ lifes risk. but he won.
/ War led De Gallifet to this CONT
nent. The Emperor was taking ad
vantage of our civil disturbance to
place Macmillan Of Austria upon a
! balloon framed throne in Mexico. The
/ Mexicans objected. One of their OBJ
/ jections, at Puebla, took the form of
an exploding shell which tore De Cal
lifet's abdomen open, exposing more
! of his vital machinery than was pleas
ant. Here was a condition, not the
/ ory. De Gallifet met it by pressing
/ his hat over the gaping wound and
/ walking to the field ambulance.
At the TuileTies Empress Eugene
was taking a sherbet, when she was
/ told that far away, in a sunburnt part
/ of America, Gallifet's comrades ran
daily through the fusilades of the enc
my to go into the mountains and get
+ the snow necessary to keep his fright
full wound cool. She put down her glass
and pronounced: I'VE shall never take
! ices again until the Marquis de Gallifet
is out of danger" So you see that, too
gallant to deprive his lady sovereign of
cool drinks, De Gallifet really had to
get well. He came back to France with
a silver door on that side of him which
was never turned away from a foe
the famous silver shield made neces-
sary by his wound.
/ 1t was at Sedan, the battle already
hat n 60
nous order: Were lost! Now. CALI
fet, last effort for the honor of our
/ arms!" Gallifet, wiping his bloody
/ sword on his sleeve, replied, cool as
/ ever, Anything you say, Generali"
With this. he led his squadron in
sweeping, fantastic, terrific charge.
which drew cries of establishment and
admiration from the King of Prussia,
/ Bismarck and the German staff assem-
bled on the hill
In the melee the brilliant Colonel lost
his cap. As he galloped back with
what remained of the Third Light Cav
airy, Gallifet, with the point of his
sword picked up from the field Gen
erals kept, which he planted on his
head, saying to Ducrot: II deserve it,
don't I?" A few days after he sent a
request for an interview with the i'm
perial prisoner and signed it General
de Gallifet" Napoleon wrote opposite
that daring signature, granted" But
the republic had already been proclaim
! ed, and Gallifet had to win the title a
second time.
When the national troops overpower-
| ed the commune, there was no quaste
Day after day, as the Presidential lines
t closed about the hearts of Paris, trem-
bling bands of communards were
t brought before Gallifet. There was no
mercy. This was the procedure: When
a band of communards was brought in
General Gallifet would say in his Ian
guild tone of politeness, Pray cause
these gentlemen to hold up their
hands,"
"Ah. thank YOU perceive that there
are powder stains. Messieurs. I re-
gret''-
Then that slow wave of the hand, the
gesture that meant death.
OF late General Gallifet has turned
serious. When he was retired, in 1895
he felt the blow very much. 'The
army was my family, my work, my
only satisfaction; now the sooner I die
the better" he exclaimed. He did not
dream that his greatest work was yet
to come.
The Poet Perambulator.