The Savannah morning news., 1902-09-16
THE PRESIDENT OF FRANCE.
LIKE ROOSEVELT LOUBET AN EN-
THUSIASTIC SPORTSMAN.
President Faure, His Predecessors.
The Gallo Chief Executive and
the Peasants He Meets ON HIS
Shooting ExpeditiOu

the Peasants He Meets ON His
Shooting Expedition.
President Roosevelt might very prob
ably dislike the comparison, but it is
the fact that his dear brother of
France"-to adopt the royal styles as
enthusiastic a hunter as himself. The
two Presidents of the two great re-
publics of the world are nimrods both.
There's difference, of course; a diff
terence depending upon the vastly dis
similar nature of the two countries.
BY the side of the big game" ex-
ploits of President Roosevelt, Papa
Emile" has the air of a small boy pelt-
ing stones at garden sparrows from u
catapult. He has not at his disposal
the vast spaces teeming with superb
wild life that Teddy made his own in
his early days. But in his little way,
Loubet is just as enthusiastic a slayer
He glories in it-and does it right we'll
From early August till midwinter
President Loubet rests from state
| ceremony and state work and foots it
daily miles of forest and plain dealing
destruction to the game of all kinds
in which the state preserves are so
rich. Al this moment his gun is GER
tainly cracking persistently at RAM
bouillet or Marty, once the demesnes
of the Kings of France, now the happy
hunting grounds of the democratic
presidents of the third republic.
Both these classic spots are within
thirty miles of Paris President Loubet
could hang his rife on it's nail and APP
pear duly frock and coated and top
hated at the Elysee in a couple of
hours If he suddenly received news
that Derouiede was marching on the
capital across the Spanish border to
| establish his suffrage repub-
liza highly unlively contingency. AS
a matter of fact the President does
run up to Paris every now and then on
a surprise visit and keeps the telephone
wires hot with summonses to minis
! ters and administrators to present re-
| ports and give him the news of the
| day.
!, But for the most part he is buried
| these days in the heart of his forests.
| rifle in hand, pipe in mouth and inno-
cent joy in his peasant soul. Clad in
an old blue velvet coat, with his stout
yellow CATERS drawn tight over the
solid square toed, heavily nailed shoes,
a dilapidated easy-fitting soft hat
thrown in picturesque disorder on his
head, he looks more like a benevolent
poacher than a president bound nor
mally by a rigid protocol. When he
leaves Paris he slips off his presidency
and becomes again the peasant of
Montelimar.
At first these simple ways nightly
displeased the people of France. They
had disliked his predecessor, President
Faure. for his naughty aristocratic or
seignorial manner, for the stiff splen-
dor and state with which he loved to
surround himself, going to bed" as
the Parisians said, ito the sound of
trumpets.' But the change was too
sudden. Loubet was blamed for an
affected simplicity where Faure had
been ridiculed for his pomp and pa
rade.
After two years and a half, the
peasant of Monteiimar" has become
Papa Loubet;" and the smiling, white
haired old gentleman has found his
way personally right to the hearts of
the people. Even in Paris, where the
mass is distinctly administered. Lou
bet is always welcomed enthusiastic
cally. in the country he is adored
For miles round Rambouillet the peo-
pie never tire of telling stories about
his good natured familiarity. In one
cottage he has often invited himself
to take a cup of milk and a rest while
he reads the mail he has brought in
the outer pocket of his shooting bag;
at another he has frequently deposited
hare, a rabbit or a pheasant by the
way of treat for the sick wife: in a.
third, they will tell you, that he has
taken particular notice Of a little
Emile" whom he gravely recommends
not on any account to be president of
the republic when he is a man. And
he laughs" the good woman tells me,
with a delighted sense of humor.
"mondieu, how the president laughs
when my little Emile promises faith
fully not to think OF such a thing!"
Expensive Apples.
A favorite story in the purlieus of
Rambouillet tells how the presid emit
was one day making brisk fire close TO
the chateau when he noticed that he
was being tracked by an unkempt
looking individual keeping by his side
some dozen yards or so within the
shadow Of the wood. What are you
| doing there?" he called sternIy. The
man stumbled stupidity forward and
held out a big bag. Then. addressing
| the president with the familiar thou
| which the working folk employ among
| themselves and which is not otherwise
| used except between close friends, he
said:
Il have brought thee some apples,
| my president"
Thou art very kind" said M. Lou
| bet. humoring the mans familiarity,
| "how shall / thank thee?"
Thou shalt give me a pheasant"
was the answer, Unexpectedly prac-
| teal, to the rhetical question.
Loubet laughed loud, took the apples
and gave a pheasant, "the dearest APP
pies / ever bought in my life" said
the president as he handed the bag
to his gilly. from whom | had the
story. At first. the servitor explained,
he had feared some mischief was afoot
and his relief was immense when he
found that the suspicious individual
was only a simple woodcutter who, not
possessing a sick wife or child. knew
no other way of gratifying a rather
undemocraiic longing 10 add a presi-
dents pheasant 10 his pOt-au-feu.
There does not seem any possibility
Of personal danger 10 the President
from the people Of RambOulllet though
Madame Loubet Ia VIGOROUSLY timor-
Gus on the subject. 'fhe only discOr-
danf note heard Of during q cycllag
expedition 10 the nflghboFhood was n p
ported BY Q local gendarme THIS
ifunctiOnaFy was ifnmeasurably shock
"a BY overheafiug 2 young man 10 q
wine shop .iisuissing al. L0ubefs
claim ~ respect ~ q phrase Tor Wh9Ss