New-York tribune., 1901-09-01
LOUBET AT HOME.
DETAILS OF THE DRESS AND HOME
LIFE OF THE PRESIDENT OF
THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.
Paris, August %.

president Loubet, whose portrait by Bonnat
or repose bust by Puech. reproduced by tens of
thousands throughout France and whose feat
ures each week form the subject of caricature
sketches by Forain. Caran dAche. WiIlette
Leandre. is more typical of the French middle
class citizen than has been the case with any of
his predecessors at the Elysees Palace and in
the country districts NJ Emile Loubet has at
tanned such popularity that his personality is
beginning TO be regarded as that of the ruling
class Of the third republic
With all his modesty and simplicity. the Pres-
dents manners and domestic habits have GER
tain pronounced traits which have forcibly i'm
pressed themselves the public mind. NJ.
Lcuoet Is above all Of a very timid and retiring
disposition When receiving in private audience
the President advances a few steps with pleas
ant smile. and invariably extends his right hand
palm upward, and with this gesture invites the
visitor to take a seat. He is a capital listener.
and toys with locket hanging from his watch
chain, all the while looking straight at you with
his small. but keen and intelligent. blue eyes
He asks frequent questions which are always TO
the point and indicate that he has taken pains
to make himself familiar with the subject
which his visitors have come to talk about
A correspondent OF the 'Cri de Paris has as
certained certain facts in regard TO the Pres-
Dental wardrobe which are being copied with
extraordinary avidtty by the Partisan and pro-
vlncial press II seems that NJ Loubet has five
Prince Albert coats-two for summer. two for
winter. and one extra for grand occasions This
last one has been worn only three tiules-at the
opening Of the exhibition Of 1900 at the recep-
ton Of the King Of Sweden. and at the garden
party in honor OF the Shah Of Persia. This
gala" coat differs from the others in that IL
has heavy silk lining and lapels. NJ Loubet in
Varlably a uIa in -, ,fa
by hand but sewn together and attached with
clasp NJ. Loubet used formerly 10 wear .aIse
cuffs, but one day. while making a sudden gest-
ure, the right hand cun slipped of and rolled
on the floor This happened at the Luxembourg
Palace. when NJ Loubet president OF the
Senate. Since then NJ Loubet's shirts have been
made with permanently attached wristbands
NJ Loubet's trousers are very peculiar They
are black or gray in color but their cut is OF
the old fashioned pattern. with the top OF the
trousers coming up as high as the arrnpits NJ
Loubet has always worn trousers OF this quaint
type and is so accustomed 10 them that he has
an inveterate dislike for evening clothes which
with low cut open waistcoat render the arm
pit trousers impossible. The Presidents ward
robe is, however. provided with several pairs OF
evening trousers suitable for low cut open waist
coats. NJ. Loubet is fond OF wearing white
waistcoats. and during the summer at Rambouil-
let he usually wears white socks NJ Loubet's
snoes are stout. with good thick soles and round
ed toes, and he is fond Of walking
NJ Loubet is neither a gourmand nor a gour-
met. but is fond Of having a good table He dis
likes complicated dishes and intricate sauces
He would give all the pheasants la Sainte-AI-
lance and all the carpes a la Chambord in the
world for tender wing OF cold chicken with a
mouJhful Of spring lettuce. NJ. Loubets break
fast usually consists OF two soft boiled eggs. a
roll Of bread and butter. grilIed mutton chop
or beefsteak. a green vegetable. cheese. fruit
and cup Of black coffee, and. once in a great
while, small glass Of yellow chartreuse. He
seldom drinks any other wine than light white
Burgundy-usuaIy Chahlis Moutonne-and ne
dutes this with Evian water
NJ Loubet eats very slowly. He cuts his meat
IN small pieces Of equal dimensions. and with
the back OF his fork presses them ii:to the
gravy in a corner Of his plate. His favOTite dish
Is Quenelle la Nantua. and he is very fond OF
gruyere cheese seasoned with salt and mustard
He breakfasts with his family and NJ. Paul
LOubet, his eldest son, who goes about a great
deal. relates the gossip Of the day. President
Loubet dislkes dinners Of ceremony. When
dining en- famille he puts a corner Of his napkin
in buttonhole of his waistcoat. He takes a
good plateful Of soup, and consumes IL by svaI-
lowing rapidly succeeding spoonfuls. He is fond
of roast chicken, and at dessert eats few sugar
plums- After dinner he always smokes a good
Havana cigar
The table at the Elys6es Palace where the
President lives in winter and spring, and at
Kamboulliet, where he lives in summer, IS SIM
pie but good. Each evening the head butler
brings TO Mime. Loubet the menus for the next
day The simplicity of these menus does not
exclude abundance nor quality II is the taole
Of the well-to-dO bourgeois where the arrival
Of eight or ten unexpected guests would cause
no inconvenience. NJ. Loubets food and wines
are excellent, but anything suggestive OF os-
tentaton prodigalty is rgidly avoided. SO
far as the cooking goes the great dinners at the
Presidential table are par with those at the
courts of Russia England. The only differ
ence is in the richness of table decorations,
plate, porcelain and livery. for NJ LOubet con
sders that II is not good taste for President
OF republic to display the sumptuous maSnih-
cence Of a sovereign. NJ. Loubet leaves all the
details of the menage 20 Nine. Loubet and TO
NJ. Pouet his secretary, but he insists that the
champagne be of the best quality. This is an
innovation at the Elysees Palace, for the IN
feror quality Of champagne that served
there in the Presidency of Felix Faure was pro
verbal. G. l. b.