The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-08-03
MT FICTION

M. ElCJ1oN.
 I cannot reconcile myself to the ob- livion into which M. and Mime. Pichon have already fallen. For years l used to see Pichon several times week. He had one of those Roman faces that one sometimes sees at Mines, wore spectacles, was a man of cold, unde- monstrative manner, with head that warmed easily. His speech was under all circumstances straightforward. It might be reserved, but was sure to be truthful. The habit of listening 10 great doctors diagnoses and clinical lectures gave him a clear trenchant style. He had a good deal of natural dignity, was obliging, and did not en- joy being thanked for services he rem dered Pichon (anglice, little pitcher) began life as a medical student, His fate would have been different had he not been plucked at the degree exami- nation. This disappointment took place when radical republicanism was carrying all before it in Paris La Jus tice was being started. Pichon ap- piled for a place on the staff, was ac- cepted, and became a successful candi date for that paper at the municipal elections.
 The reform of hospitals and the sys- tenn of poor relief was called for by him As a medical student, he had seen how the poor suffer, and apart from party politics, really felt for them. At Pekln he organized a dispensary in the lega- tion to give medical relief and often food to the poor there. It was a pity that he did not stay longer at the Ho- tel de Vile. La Justice hoisted him and M. Lanessan-now Marine minister M. Pelletan, with some other members of it's staff, into parliament. Pichon. there and in the paper, took up foreign affairs. I dare say he looked forward to becoming foreign minister, and was qualifying for the post, He often wor- ried foreign ministers with interpela- tions about their relations with the Pope and with Catholic missions in the east Spuller was bothered by him to suppress the French embassy to the Vatican. I remember Pichon attacking him for the support he gave to enter prising monsignors in China.
 The radical party collapsed under the obloquy of the Panama scandals. Pi- chon, who had never fingered check 
 or to go down with it. He was on good terms with the then foreign minister who gave him the unenviable post of minister to Hayti. The prospect of liv- ing among negro republicans was not inviting. But the Hayti legation was foot In the stirrup. He was soon pro noted to Argentina, and then to China. For some time he showed in letters to friends intense anxiety for removal to some other capital. I was shown letters from him as they arrived. He did not state in detail the reasons for his fears. But he owned to narrowing ap- preheneion, and wanted to be out of vortex of dangerous intrigues. The straightforward Pichon would have been no meet colleague for diplomats receiving instructions from Lobanoff and Muravieff. He saw that forces were being unloosed that could not be restrained if they once broke bounds. One communal instruction was enough for him; he did not want to see a sec ond.
 Meanwhile, he and the other diplo- mats tried to drive away their fears by getting up Sociable amusements. Most
 
 his excellent wife are not massacred. She was an excellent, unobtrusive per son, absorbed in her menage when I knew them. They lived in the He St. Louis in a quiet, honest, bourgeois way. Pichon was studious and conscientious in discharging his duties of journalist and deputy. His mother-in-law's sin gle ground for complaint was that he was unambitious. He was a devoted son to Madame Pichon Dollfus, his mother. She is now in her seventy eighth year, and is beside herself with horror at events In Pekn. Madame Pichon's mother is not a less great suf- ferer. M. Delcasse does what he can to encourage them to hope. The first time I ever heard of that minister, and of M Loubet, was from Pichon. Of the latter he said, "He is a thoroughly good and honest man. "A more obliging neighbor does not exist. Paris Corres- pondence of the London Truth,