Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-17

calamity. All the streets in the vicinity of
the Elysee have been filing up for several
hours with private carriages. whose occu-
pants wait anxiously for further Informal
ton. At 1910 an order was issued that no
one should be admitted to the palace.
Sketch of His Life.
Francois Felix Faure, sixth president of
the third republic of France, was born
January 90 1871. in Paris, and was the
son of a cabinetmaker.
He was educated al q private CONNER
cial school and WAS then sent to England
for two years TO learn the language and
to become acquainted with English meth
DDS of business. On his return to France
he went to Amboise and mastered the BUSH
ness OF a curricr. When quite young he
married the daughter of NJ. Belluot. an
attorney at Amboise. Almost imme ately
afterward he settled at Havre as fell
monger and commission merchant, and he
soon became Il leading snip owner.
The better to tit himself for the discharge
of his new public duties. he practiced public
speaking by iectdring on history in an even
ing class for adults.
He became president of the Havre cham
Der Of commerce. and during the Franco
Prussian war held the office of deputy may
or of the city. In these troublous time he
was also captain of the Mobiles of the
Seine-mfereure, in which capacity he took
part in the skirmishes near Havrc, being
recommended by Admiral Mouchey for the
Legion of Honor. He greatly distinguished
himself by the promptness with which, at
the head of the volunteer tiremen, organized
by himself, he eXtinguished the conflagra-
lions started at Havre by the communards.
In doing this he was slightly wounded by
a shell.
Mission to England.
During the war Gambetra sent him to
England to buy arms for the Franco
Treurs and Mobiles. He was deprived Of
his deputy mayorllty by the Broglie cabi-
net of 1874, but he compensated himself for
the loss of Office by devOting increased at
tention to provident, educational and char
table institutions.
In August, 1881, he offered himself as a
republican candidate for parliament in the
third district of Havre, and was elected.
He was appointed under secretary of state
for the colonies in the Gambetta admins
tration, formed in November of that year,
and held the same office in the ministries
of M Jules Ferry dSS3), NJ. Brsson QSS5)
and NJ. Tirard QSS1). In May, 1891, he be-
came minister of marine in NJ. DuDuy's
cabinet, and was appointed vice president
of the chamber of deputies, a position to
which he was several times elected.
Naturally, his business position made him
an authority on shipping, commercial and
colonial questions, and during those years
he compiled valuable work on the Com
paratiye Budgets OF European States"
On the retirement of NJ. Casimir-Perier,
who resigned the presidency January IT,
1S95, he was chosen president by 43o votes
as against 36l given to Henri Brisson, the
election taking place January IL, 1885. E
All who came in contact with him have
described him as extremely winning in
character well as in appearance. His
presence was finer than that of any of his
predecessors In the presidency of the third
republic. Black eyebrows and mustachc
contrasted with snowy, close-cut hair. His
features were finely shaped, the figure tall
and well knit, the eyes well set and serious.
In 1897 NJ. Faure went TO St. Petersburg
to return the visit of Emperor Nicholas,
and while there definite announcement of
the treaty of alliance between France and
Russia was made. He filled many import
ant public offices, but in the midst of al
most general corruption he passed m