The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-21
FRANCES FIRST CITIZEN
VANCE THOMPsON's STORY OF THE
FRENCH REPUBLICS PRESIDENT.
A simple. LaboriOus Man, Who Has
Reasoned and Worked His
Way Up m the World.
Vance Thompson. in Saturday Evening

Post.
This is the story Of IN BRAY homme.
President Emile Loubet was born at Mar
sannes. in the department of the Drome.
Oct. 81. 1SS. His mother. very aged now,
stfn occupies the old home. a short dis
tance outside the village. on the edge Of
a little river shaded with poplars. The
house and the adjoining farm buildings are
ample and large. built. in the old French
fashion. round "A big court. wherein the
fowls and domestic animals take their ease
and the sheep are folded at night. The
peaked and red-tiled roofs. the white
washed walls. dazzling in that southern
sunlight. give an air Of homely comfort and
thrift to the old homestead. Monsieur Lou
bets father was just such a competent,
worthy man as Thomas Carlyle described
his father to have been. Indeed in that
little corner of DaUphiny you will find so
many solid qualities. 50 much hard-headed
virtue. thrift and love of liberty. that you
might well be walking in the Annandale Of
Carlyle's boyhood; though the golden sun
of the Midi seems TO have had a human
fzing influence (making men a trihe merrier
II less WISE that you would seek vainly In
q Scotch mist. They are terrible fellows
for liberty. these burghers of the little town
OF Marsanne- Under their old charter OF
1854 they have the right to almost abSO-
lutte home rule. out of such civic liberties
and solidarity has come all that
Is best in the modern republic. The elder
Loubet was mayor of this little freetown
for thirty-seven years. He gave his chill
oren an education which was better than
fortune.
Monsieur Emile Loubet's own career diff
ferS not very greatly from that OF the late
benjamin Harrison-for whom Monsieur
L0ubet had a strong regard-and indeed
the men are not unlike, either physically
or mentally. In each there is the same
fortnight honesty of purpose. joined to
that worldly wisdom which is made up OF
knowledge OF men and judgment of events.
Capable. efficient. cool-headed, Monsieur
loubet is the essential type Of the sturdy
middle class of France. that bourgeOise
which. as Oliver. Goldsmith pointed out, is
the backbone OF a nation. An anecdOte of
the boy paints the man.
IL goes back TO his bOyhoOd days.
With some companions he was bathing in
the Drome near Crest one OF the lads, q
poor swimmer got too far beyond his depth.
and as the current began to sweep him
away ne called for help. Young LoUbet.
who was ten years old. swan out toward
him But when he saw the big frightened
mind that he would only lose his own life
should he try to aid him then. So the lit
tie LOubet kept out of reach and trOd
water. At last when the big fellow had
risen and sunk 50 many times that he was
ful OF water to the teeth and SO nearly
deal there was no struggle in him his
wise, small friend took him by the hair
and towed him ashore, rolled the water
out OF him and brought him back 10 life.
That. l think. is q wholly charming adj
ftHNOtC- 1 It hoN o ten VINO COulU reason
emergency and do It with calm. watchfuI
courage had already prepared himself for
getting on in the world.
HIS LIFE IN PARIS.
After taking his degree at the College OF
valence Emile Loubet came up to Paris in
1857 TO study law. He lived in a small room
at the very top of a slx-storied building
in Rue Tournon. His one window looked
down on the Luxembourg Palace. which in
time was To be his home by right OF his
presidency Of the Senate.
BY day he studied hard: at night. being
companionabIe. he gathered the fellowship
dents he liked best in his little room. made
coffee for them and put them at their ease.
Then. their pipes all drawing and the
smoke curling up, they discussed-what
should one discuss under the rOtting en-
pire but liberty "Libertad." said Walt
whitman It's a good word in any Ian
guage.
The young lawyer went back to his ma
tive town 10 spread those ideas of repub-
mean IlertN which We're one day to tCDDle
over imperial absolutism and all things i'm
perlal- In lc69 he began 10 practice his
profession at Montelimar. and a year later
when the empire fell he was elected mayor
OF that small city. The wise and steadfast
administration of the m affairs OF
MonteImar was the basis of his political
fortune. lie became deputy. senator. presi-
dent or the Senate. and when France most
needed q c0Ol-headed. competent. honest
man ne was made President. TN bray
honme." the people call him, which i Ss
though they said. An honest goodman
and that Emile Loubet is. After forty
years continuous practice At the bar. after
having held every important position in
the gift OF his fellow-citizens his fortune i
less than 10000 francs-an honorable for
tastes.
His chief pleasures. outside of his family
HE, are those OF "a gun. a dog and a morn
Ing when the birds are strong on the wing.
NJ Loubet Is a capital shot. A plain.
neiSh5orly man. courteous and tolerant. a
sure friend. religious. a sound patriot and
a clear-headcd. patient. discerning states
man. Emile Loubet is of those Frenchmen
who honor France most and represent her
best. Tn BRAY homme, And that. indeed.
Is the true French type. The casual Parf-
SLAMS. the fiippant nternationaliSts who
squeak and gibber I'm the streets OF the
capital. stand for nothing that is French
and little that i good. Their roots are not
II the soil They have drifted here from
one knows not what melancholy Polands
ana have made themselves Partisan. il may
oe. nut French they are not.
Monsieur Loubet Is quite up to the level
OF his high functions. He receives kings
and reporters with a dignity and grace pc
culiariy his own. He smokes n pioe and
does not know the meaning OF snobbery
once while he was prime minister NJ made
p nylng visit-it was between two stormy
sessions OF the Chamber Of Deputes-to his
old mother at the farm In Dauphinv. The
old dame was IN the kitchen kneading the
bread for the fortnightly baking. which is
stu a custom in the old families of the
Midi She put her ioury arms around his
neck and kissed him.
All. mother. YOU should give over this
heavy work" said the prime minister.
Ard sit with folded hands on baking
day the good old housewife cried indig-
rhntly. NO. no-but I admit il Is not 81
easy as IL was"
well. to-day you shall fold your hands
sit down, mother. and talk 10 me-" said
the first minister OF France. and he took
OF his coat. rolled up his shirt sleeves and
kneaded the bread. I doubt II IL was a
small task. for they are mighty eaters OF
bread in Dauphiny. and when he had fin.
sshed and heard all the gossip OF the farm
he kissed the good old mother and went
back 10 his more conspicuous duties OF
statesmen. I ike this story better thar
that OF Cincinnatus at his plOw. It's more
human. moreover. IL paints Emile LOubC
better than pages OF biography would do
IN brav' homme!
SIMPLICITY OF MANNER.
This simplicity IS the chief characteristic