Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-02-17
AS EMILY CRAWFORD SAW HIM.
A Newspaper Woman's Estimate of
the Dead President of the
French Renuhlic.

Copyright. Isss by the Associated Press.)
PARIS, Feb. l6.-"President Faurc died
suddenly tonight of apoplexy,'' says the
bulletin, but 1t was really Of worry. appre-
hension and their effect on his health; of
the intoxication of exalted situation; of
imperial and royal friends. His doctors
had long noted symptoms of general par
elysis.
He meant well; but he did great harm to
the republic. because of commonplace
mentality and that sort of vanity which
Moliere ridiculed in lie Bourgeois Cen
tilhomme." Louis XIV. himself, though
standing on a right divine pedestal, did
not attach nearly SO much Importance to
courtly etiquette.
NJ. Faure had no insight into the great
problems of human life, and saw only ex-
ternals. He revived, SO far as possible, the
ceremonials of Napoleon's court.
Not even a deputy or senator could
speak to him without being first spoken
to. -H-t
Whenever a French diplomat, who had
freshly arrived in Paris, came to pay his
respects. NJ. Faure's first question was:
What are they doing at other courts?"
1t was noticed last week that the whites
Of his eyes were yellow; his speech was
thick, his seep uncertain, his neck bent
forward and his underlip inclined to droop.
He was IS last January. I mentioned on
Tuexday to NJ. Ciemenceau, who is a doc
tor, these signs of premature old age, and
he said: II also have noticed them. If
N. Faure Is not soon turned out of the
presidency he will die of general paralysis,
the effect Of folie des grandeurs.'
NJ. Faure alone was unaware that he
soon must resign, but no one save Glenn
eneeau and few others foresaw the fatal
ISSUE --.
- The situation brought on through his
fault is most dangerous. Never has there
been a better opportunity for a coup d'etat
in France since 1852. The republic for the
next forty-eight hours will be lying al the
mercy of the first man who will seize it,
but the suddenness of N. Faure's demise
prevents the enemies Of the republic con-
certing to strangle her. Besides, there is
no man Of sufficient prestige to make a
coup dietat. The generals are disaffected
but the soldiers. though hostile to the Jews
would not obey IL ordered to fire on the Re
publicans.
time The reactfonist forces, under his en-.
couragins eye, were being gathered to bat
tie. -" ~Fs
Goodness knows what he fondlysimagined
Perhaps it was that military coalition
would hail him as savior.
II. Faure went privately and unexpected.
ly last week to the opera Notwithstand.
ing the surprise caused by his visit, ths
directors staff rushed out to receive him
Ii. Faure's aide de, camp, as the presiden,
advanced toward the stairs. made q sigr
that the attendants were to fall back 6
considerable distance to mark their re
spect- He had received few days before
letter from the czar. and had not yet de-
scended from the high sphere.
At St. Petersburg he was almost shocked
to find himself and the emperor returning
from the review without a military escort
After the czar had conducted him to st
Peterhof palace, NJ. Faure remarked
How lacking the Russian court is in dig
nity.'
His best point was genuine charity fo
the poor and the suffering. There wa.
doubtless parade in his visits to hospitals
but there was also much kindness. He CAV,
handsomely to the poor. though close-hand
ed in other respects. His Thursdays wer
devoted to visiting hospitals. and it wa
on Thursday that he was called away.
The Elysee was no bed of roses to M
Faure. He loved its grandeur, but h
dreaded blackmailers. Urban Gobier, on
Of the most respected journalists In France
had threatened to expose the jobs Of tn
Madagascar expedition, which. as ministe
OI dufe udu OfSdulZtu. SOr
ruption and iInbecility marked the enter
prise 10 such an extent that the F'renc
government was compelled to send the ar
tillery on British steamers.
He was more civilly treated by III
crowned heads than any other president c
France. and he was a member of the mos
ttiustrious orders of knighthood. save tn
Order Of the Garter and the Order of tn
Prussian Red Eagle. The last grand funt
tion at the Elysee was his admission int
the Order of The. Golden Fleece. He wa
almost business partner OF King Leopol
in Congo affairs.
1t delighted him to kiss the hands {
sovereign ladies' He had kissed those
the sdowager czarina, of the reigning Ru:
sian empress. of Empress Elizabeth of Au:
tria. Queen Victoria, Queen Dowager Emm
OF the Netherland. and of Queen Wi
helmina. He had been the host of ii
kings Of Belgium. Greece. Portugal san
Siam: of the czar and czarina. of Primo
Ferdinand of Bulgaria. and of the Duh
of Connaught
Cervantes never imagined anything moi
fncongruous than NJ. Faure in his pail
tfal grandeur and accepted as a kind ,
younger brother by European royalties
EMILY CRAWFORD.
ANXIETY IN LONDON.