New-York tribune., 1899-07-02
TWO NEW FRENCH LEADERS
SKETCHES OF WALDECK- ROUSSEAU AND
GENERAL DE GALLIFET.
r1OR1Es TO FURNISH coRoLLARY TO rn'rI
ALREADY PRINTED BIOGRAPHIES

rousseau since the days when uSeu 10 meet
him at the table Of Gambetta both at the Palais
Bourbon and afterward at the little house in the
Rue St Didier. and having known General de
Gallifet since boyhood, 1t occurs TO me that
few notes Of an anecdotic nature concerning
these. the two principal members Of the new
French Cabinet. may serve an interesting
addition to the various biographical notices that
their appointment has called forth Anecdotes
are calculated tc enable one to form a far better
idea OF the individuality and the characteristics
OF the person whom they concern than any cut
and dried record Of his career. Particularly is
this the case with men who have played so con
spicuous role in French life as has De Gallifet,
who is declared by the War Department at
Berlin to be the most brilliant cavalry general
living.
But inasmuch as Waldeck- Rousseau is the
Premier OF the new administration, l may as
well begin with him. all the more as his private
life is much more OF closed book TO the public
than that Of the Marquis de Gaiifet. The ma
jority Of his countrymen know their new Prime
Minister only in the role Of very distinguished
member Of the Partisan bar. who seems TO enjoy
the monopoly Of all big cases. who never loses
his temper OF displays the slightest degree Of
passion in his utterances. but pleads in sort
Of monotone that would be drcary were it not
the logic Of his conclusions and the great
sobriety Of his speech which leads him TO be so
concise that there is never a word too much in
his pleadings in court To this absence Of all
gesture and Of superhuous utterance he adds
singuarly cold and reserved manner, which.
taken in conjunction with his phlegmatic man
ner. his drooping eyelids and the species Of
cOurteously ironical smile that seems to be for
ever lowering about the corners Of his lips, con
veys the impression that he has neither warmth
OF heart nor genality of spirit. and that he is
too much on his dignity to be anything else than
a prig.
THE PREMIER AS A MIMIC
Yet nothing is further from being the case
This eminent lawyer. who keeps people at such
a distance and whose whole bearing repels all
idea of familiarity is among his intimate friends
the most delightful and amusing companion
who excels above all in the art of mimicry' ana
at whose successes in the art Of taking Off the
leading persOnages Of the day at Paris l have
often roared with laughter, never more so than
when. before becoming Minister Of the Interior
In the only Cabinet Of Gambetta, he on one
memorable occasion. at the request Of that great
statesman mimicked him 20 his face in the most
inimitable manner after particularly merry
d6jeuner at the Petit Bourbon. then the official
residence of Gambetta as President Of the Cham
Der of Deputies Waldeck Rousseau is likewise
skilled in the art Of caricature. and there is
scarcely a single parsonage of note in the public
life Of France during the last twenty years who
does not figure in his portfolios in carcature In
fact his skill in this particular branch Of art
approaches that of Caran d'Ache. though his
pen-and-ink sketches Of soldiers. and especially
OF women connected with the bur!esque stage.
are distinguished by chic that sayors Of Mars.
CLEVER WITH HIS FISTS.
As stated there has scarcely been a trial Of
sny Importance in which Wald-ck- Rousseau
has not figured. Thus. he defended Einel. Of
tower fame. against the charges Of fraud
brought against him in his capacity as en-
eineer-in- chief Of the Panama Canal Company.
and if his client escaped punishment and was
permitted 20 retain his Cross of the Legion OF
Honor ne owes it entirely to his lawyer. Wal
deck Rousseau likewise figured as counsel for
poor little Max Lebaudy when his family en-
deavored to have him put under restraint, and
It was in connection with this case that Wal
deck Rousseau was called upon TO fight the only
duel in which he has ever figured. During the
course Of the proceedings he vas Obliged in de-
fence of his client TO crOss-eXamne IN rather
cruel fashion one FriS h, journalist who mad
managed to secure the hand and the fortune Of
one of the Lebaudy girls, after which he had
procured by means Of cash an Italian title OF
Count under the style Of "FrIsch de Fels.
Greatly exasperated by the humiliation TO
which he had been subjected in the witness
box the Count, on catching sight Of Waldeck-
Rousseau in the hall Of the Palace cf Justice
known as the Sale des Pas Perdus, addressed