New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-05
MADAME La PRESIDENTE"
TGrdy Official Recognition of the
Wife of Frances Chief Magistrate.


Queen Helen of Italy's visit to Paris with her
husband ten days hence has brought about a revo-
luton in status OF the wife of the Chief Mags-
trate OF the French Republic. Until now Madame
la Presidente" has been to all intents and pur-
poses officially ignored There has been no place
for her on the statutory table OF precedence. II
was expressly stipulated that she should not he
Earded in any sense of the word as an official per
sonage, and TO such an extent has this principle
been enforced that the President could make
OF 2 military mounted escort when he had his
wife with him, Thus for instance, when he drives
each year in state TO the Grand Prix at Long
champs he is unable to have his wife beside him
in the carriage but is obliged to content himself
with the company of either the Premier of
the Ministers. He rides in carriage and four fol-
lowed and preceded by cavalry escort. while
Madame La Presidente' follows in carriage and
pair unobtrusvely without any escort.
When the Gar and Czarina paid their memo
rable visit to Paris neither the wife the daugh-
Of President Faure took any official part in the
reception of the imperial guests. They seen
nowhere in public with the latter the President
alone accompanying the Car and CZarina every
where. Madame Faure and Mile Faure did not
even appear the gala opera. and if they were
present at the state banquet given IN honor oe
Nicholas and his consort at the Elysee Palace. it
was because. living the premises, it was impos-
sible to prevent their attendance.
When monarchs have visited Paris and called at
the Elysee it has always been considered in the
light Of a delicate but unnecessary piece OF cour-
tesy when they asked leave before quitting the
palace to pay their respects of Madame La Presl-
dente" and while every queen and empress VINO
has sojourned on the banks Of the Seine has re-
ceived a call from the President OF the republic
none Of them have ever taken the trouble OF re-
turning the cali the Elysee on his wife, lnVari-
ably cortenting themselves with merely sendlng
their principal gentemen-in- waiting or me cieI
dgnitary in their train 10 acknowledge IN u'eN
stead at the Elysee the Presidents courtesy.
queen Helen's forthcoming stay in Paris Is now
ever. leading altogether new order OF innings
While the President will be at the Bols de bou-
logne station to receive King Victor Emmanuel
on his arrival Nine Louhet viii be there, too. IN
order to welcome Queen Helen. and while the
President will drive through Paris to the Palace
Of the Ministry OF Foreign Affairs on the Quai
9 'Crsay, which has been prepared for the royal
guests. lIme. Loubet will drive with the Queen
also in state carriage. and escorted. like that OF
the President by a troop OF cavalry. An hour
later the King and the Queen viii together call
on the President and Nine. Loubet at the Elysee
Palace and viii return again thithe- for second
tine at S O'Clock in the evening TO attend the state
banquet given in their honor.
on the following cay President and Nine. Lou
bet viii take the King and Queen OF Italy out TO
Versailles entertain them at luncheon there driv-
ing back 10 Paris through the Bots de Boulogne'
the King with the President ana the queen
with Nine. Loubet, while in the evening President
and Nine Loubet viii fetch the King and Queen
at the palace on the Quai d'Orsay. and accompany
them to the state performance at the Opera.
on the third day Nine. Loubet will again &C
company the President and the King and Queen
@ their visit TO the Hotel de Vile. or City Hall,
and OF the fourth day while the King is shooting
with the President in the state preserves at Ram
boUillet. the Queen after lunching with Nine Lou
bet at the Elysee viii together with her visit the
Louvre, under the direction OF the painter Bon
nat In the evening the King and Queen Will again
dine with the President and Nine. Loubet at the
Elysee, and on the following day. which witnesses
the conclusion Of the visit. Nine. Doubet will
drive with the Queen to the grand military review
Vincennes. the King driving with the President,
and after luncheon the Elysee Nine. Loubet
will accompany the Queen to the railroad station,
where she viii take leave Of her
From thIs IL VIII be seen that Nine. Loubet
viii play q very important role indeed in the Of
hcial entertainments Of the King and Queen OF
Italy. ard that there will be disposition what
soever on this occasion to ignore Madame La
Presidente' as in the past.
Il is true that there has been some for this
treatment Of the wives Of the President For Mime.
Grevy, during the presidency OF whose husband
much OF the ceremonial was arranged and royal
ties commenced once more to frequent the French
capitaL was entirely unsuited social and
rnonal scenes. Queen Victoria spent = few days at
Paris when Grevy was President and while he
called upon her at the English Embassy. she did
not dream OF visiting Nine Grevy who ignored
in a similar fashion by the widowed Czarina Of
Russia by her mother. the Queen of Denmark, and
her sister, Queen Alexandra. then Princess of
Wales. when they came to Paris TO attend the mar
riage o. the daughter OF the French Duke de
Charities TO Prince Waldemar of Denmark.
Great ladies in France in the past have fit to
take their cue from the foreign queens and
presses and treat the wife of the President with
a Gisdain that apparently due more to the
fact that she Mistress Of Eysee Palace than
owing to her personal character For Nine. Cast
r-1ir perfAr charming woman ted 10 several
houses OF the Oldest aristocracy. found herself
during her husbands brief tenure Of the Presidency
Stunned by all that great world in which she had
been accustomed to move prior to her taking up her
residence in the Elysee.
Now. however. that Queen Helen Of Italy has
established precedent, it may safely be taken for
granted that every other foreign empress queen
royal princess who visits Paris viii be obliged
treat the wife Of the President with the same
si6eration and respect, and. this being the case,
French society VIII doubtless follow suit and honor
itself by hOnori1g the woman who occupies for the
time the position Of the First Lady of France.
Lady Warwick has once more called attention to
the fact that she is Of the most gifted and
brilliant women Of the British peerage by the pub
ucation Of a very remarkable work entitled War
wick Castle and Its Earls' which. in view of the
fact that Warwick Castle, the historic homo of
The Last Of the Barons," portrayed in Bulwer-
Lytton's historical romance Of that name, ccnst-
tutes bourn Of pilgrimage 10 almost every Amer
ican tourist who visits England. viii doubtless be
read with considerable interest in this country.
The book. among other things. shows how it is
that the head Of the House Of Greville, vho has
connection whatsoever with the peer known as
The Last Of the Barons" should be in possession
OF Warwick Castle and fifth Earl OF Warwick
though taking precedence as Earl Brooke a dignity
Of more ancient creation than the present Earldom
% Warwick Leaving aside the many legends
which are connected with Warwick Castle as well
&c the authentic records which show the historic
h,ff+ nv Tsrre ~ .of 1fra1