Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-08
AN IMPRACTICAL HERO
Desjardins, Who Saved Twenty
Ladies From Death.
NOW THEY LET HIM STARvE
Affecting Echo Of the Charity Bazaar
Fire.
IS A VICTIM OF INGRATITUDE
~
IS A VICTIM OF INGRAT1TUDE
Possesses Three Medals for Bravery,
Is a Member Of the Legion Of
Honor, but is Penniless.
'ecial Correspondence Of The Star.

Special Correspondence of The Star.
PARIS, August %. 1903.
On the fatal day in May, 1897 when the
charity bazar fire was breaking out,
young iead-roofer passed down the Rue
Jean-Goujon.
Seeing smoke and flames issuing from the
one-story wooden building, he pushed in and
discovered a mass Of fashionably dressed
girls and women crazed rushing about and
clinging to and rendering helpless a few
fashionably dressed men.
The young artisan had no paralyzing
scruples-would not let himself be rendered
helpless. Pushing off five girls, he picked up
one, fought his way out with her, returned,
took another, kicked aside third who
grabbed his legs. struck down a frantic
man who would not let go of his coat, stag
gered with his burden to the street and
hurried back for another!
A few more heroes of this kind Joined in
the work-Georges, a coachman; Picquart,
a plumber; two hotel cooks, who pulled
women through a window, and three COM
positors from an adjoining printing Office,
who worked at two other windows; but
none ran into the fire like the young lead
roofer
None took out so many women. A charred
joist, falling, all but stunned him. One, an
aristocratic girl, reposng in his arms, cried:
Monsieur, your hair Is burning!" and she
put 1t out with her gloved hands.
He saved twenty women. Then he walked
simply away, and his name would have
remained unknown had not his landlord,
the next day, called in the poor-doctor to
treat him for heat fever" He was Leon
Henri Desjardins, twenty-three years old,
unmarried.
Hero Reduced to Poverty.
Four years later, on November Is. 1901,
young man fell in the Avenue dc Filters.
AS he could not rise two policemen judged
that he was drunk and took him to the sta
ton. There, however, he explained he had
not eaten for two days.
IT am lead-roofer by trade" he said to
M. Michaud, the police-commissary but
injuries by burns and joist failing on my
head prevent me from finding much work
nowadays; the bosses fear I will get dizzy
on the roofs. This week have been fol-
lowing cabs with baggage from the st. La
zare railway depot
What is your Manner asked the police
commissary.
Leon Henri Desjardins"
you have suffered from burns? Are you
by hazard the Desjardins who distinguished
himself at the charity baZar?"
Eyes, monsieur lie commissa1re."
Have you not medal?"
II have three"
Were you not made a member of the
Legion Of HONOR
YES monsieur
why do you not wear the ribbon in your
with the child's logic that distinguishes
him, Desjardins answered: 1T is not lifting
when l work at a tramp's trade!
1.-THE dishonor Is rather for those who let
Won do it," said the commissary. Give me
your address; I shall occupy myself WIN
YOU" Then handing him few dollars he
walked with the young lead-roofer to the
room of the policemen.
This Is not drunkard, but hero! ne
said to those who arrested him.
OF course the story made a great stir IN
the Paris papers Editorials thunoereo
against the ingratitude of the arlstocratlc
and the rich. This man had saved count
esses and duchesses when their noble nus
bands fed from them in abJect terror. why
had not single aristocrauc 1amuy mace
It their duty to provide for this Des1ardins
The aristocratic families remained silent;
but during the weeks following ali kinds of
sums from 81 to $40, came for Desjard1ns
to the newspaper offices In letters preatn-
ing admiration for his conduct and disdain
for swell ingratitude. Then, as newspapers
must move with the times, the brave lead
roofer and his restitution were, little by
little, again forgotten.
A Visit to Desjardins.
Curious to learn If some Of the twenty
fine ladies of Paris he had carried In his
arms had not at last come secretly to see
Desjardins. 1 went to his address as it had
been printed in all Of the papers.
He lived in one of those curious Partisan
establishments that are real workingmen's
hotels-a wine shop with quantities Of sleep
ing rooms above it.
'fM. Desjardins is expected any moment,
said a decent woman. tending bar. MY
husband has gone with him to the prefec-
ture to present his papers and touch the
indemnity accorded him by the project" 1t
was Madame Barrie, his landlady.
giving DeSiardiQS govern
ment placer" I asked.
The lady smiled embarrassed. mo, nor
she said, 'if they made him policeman
he would arrest nobody, but waste his time
helping old women and keeping children
out of trouble. If they made him turn
key he would give the prisoners tobacco
and post their letters for them"
"Ah, he is generous?" said, thinking OF