The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-26

ARIS. February 2S.-Who could,
 H thirty years ago, have foreseen
 the almost unanimous impluse of the sovereigns of the wor-l to condole with very bourgeois President of a French Republic on his mothers death? I say of the world, because the Mikado and the President of the United
 States joined in the chorus of per- sonal condolence The Russian Elm peror and Empress seem to be en delica- tesse with their compiegne host as they have not yet made any sign. but the Empress Dowager made haste to tele- graph her sentiments Thi other august ladies who condoled were the Queens of Portugal and Italy, and the Queen mother of Spain. Even the Sultan entered an appearance. Affection Is now so much the fashion, and the dress madness so rages, that l feel diffidence in calling attention to the virtues of the aged farm eress, whose death has so stirred the great and small courts, save those of Ger many. And even the German Emperor lost not a moment In telegraphing con dolence to the -alysee. The Pope, not having any longer a nuncio in Paris, or dered the Archbishop of Paris to go. and in person express to M. Loubet the deep concern of his Holiness, and his sense of the great worth of the venerable mother he had lost.
 The whole long life of Mime. Loubet mere was marked by simplicity, sincerity, usefulness. and kindness In England she would have been classed as the wife of a yeoman. The wife of q M. P. might have called on her to admire her poultry or taste of her cheeses, as general elec- tions approached, but only then. Loubet mere never wished to rise above her sta ton, because she thought 1t really in- ferior to none She lived from the day of her wedding to her death at her farm of La Terrasse. near Marsanne, small burg on the lowest spur of the Dauphine Alps. In her long widowhood she only left 1t for few weeks at time to take the waters of Vals, on the far or west side of the Rh6ne. Her friendliness and fairness won the good will of her neigh bors, and the firmness of her character their esteem.
 The homestead buildings of La Ter rassee received since M. Loubet rose to the Presidency. coat of white rough cast, No other change could be noticed. The good people about continued to accost M. Loubet when he came among them as Monsieur Emile" ---e fermiere wore, as usual her country widows cap black pelerine or neckerchief-and big blue apron to protect her dress. Her speech declared her product of the soil. and she had, though going on to ninety, the strength, regular features and well shaped mouth that is part of the Roman heritage to many localities on the Lower Rhone. The .arm that the old lady managed so well stands on the edge of low tableland. at the foot of which runs a brook which is a steady source of income. It's course is marked by pas lures green and fresh all iie year round, and often bordered by poplar and pol larded mulberry trees. One or Its spring heads is turned into a pool of the walled in farmyard for the benefit of ducks and geese. The pigs have another pool to and seem to think 1t lux urv The farm house is on a line with a harm and under tn same continuous roof. I dwell on these details to bring out the astounding change In the courtly standpoint everywhere within the last thirty years.
 Mime. Loubet mere had no craving to visit her son in any of the palaces he in habited since 1892 when he went as prime minister to the ministry of the interior to sixn the military convention with Rus