Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-08
LOUBET AT HOME.
The Life Of Frances Uncrowned King
at Work and Play.


From Tit-Bih.
Very little is known about the home life
of that quiet, unassuming man who, in a
few days time. will be paying his first off,
cial visit to these shores. And yet the per-
sonality of President Loubet must be of
| interest to the majority Of people, consid-
ering that he is in every way a self-made
man, who, although the son of small
vineyard owner, has risen to be the first
citizen of France.
President Loubet is undoubtedly a man
of method and hard worker. At half
past five in the morning he is out of bed,
summer and winter, and at six is at his
desk, after having taken cup of coffee
and a well-baked roll He works steadily
by himself until Z. when his three secre-
taries join him with the mornings post,
which consists Of from 100 to l 200 letters.
These are opened by his secretaries, and
such as require official replies are read to
the president. who dictates the answers to
a shorthand writer.
At he retires for breakfast alone with
Madame Loubet This is invariably plain
meal. the president having no taste for the
elaborate dishes for which his country Is
famous. The meal over he hurrfedly scans
the morning papers, and at o'clock re-
turns to his desk to finish his correspond
ence
At u o'clock lunch is served, and by this
time his correspondence is complete. The
president allows himself one hour for the
midday meal and then is at work again,
this time attending some state function or
receiving the many visitors who call upon
him. Dinner is ready at o'clock to the
minute. and is served in the lofty dining
room at the Elysee, overlooking the luxuri-
Gus grounds. The president has a great
dislike to dining out and prefers to be
alone at the evening meal with his wife,
mi hao hlon wit h
an invitation. Here again the fare pro-
vided Is very plain, and seldom consists OF
more than three courses with little light
claret.
The rest of the evening the president de-
votes to his own amusement. and either
goes to the opera or spends the time at
home In reading, playing the piano, or in
a quiet game of billiards. He is passion
ately fond Of music, and has composed
several pieces of merit, and sings we'll;
Madame Loubet likewise being proficient
musician He Is also a student OF French
and English standard literature, and 1t is
interesting to know that he Is a great ad-
mirer Of Shakespeare. Milton and Dryden.
Not many people can rectte Paradise
Lost from end to end, but President Lou
bet Is said to be one Of them.
He entertains but little, and Is not fond
of society of any kind. He is. however. a
great believer in the annual holiday, and
when he shakes the dust of Paris from Off
his feet usually visits his old home at Mon
telimar, or goes shooting over his we'll
stocked coverts at Rambouillet. He is a
splendid shot, and when clad in his shoot
ing jacket Of dark gray, with leather gai-
tiers and peaked cap, appears the man Of
the people he unquestionably is. He is also
pugilist Of some skill, and often spends
an hour with the gloves in friendly contest
with an old acquaintance.
The president is not a rich man. but the
quiet life he leads Is in keeping with his
means. He receives f24,OOO a year for his
services to the state-not an exorbitant
amount considering the power he Yields
and the extent of the country over which
he has to rule But, as he once remarked:
II have no wish to be rich. only want
to be happy, and as I have happiness I
know no further ambitions