The Washington times., 1906-11-04
Was Born to Be Draw
ing Room Ornament,
Says Fantasia.
ORIGIN OF HIS SPEECHES
Claimed That His Style of
Of Oratory Changes as His
Secretaries Change.

PARIS. Nov. 3.-An Paris is laughing
"a Boni de CasteIIane, who has been held
up 10 ridicule with excellent effect by
the new Illustrated weekly Fantasia.
a good many stories says the
writer. have been told about Boni de
CasteIlane. and a good many clever say
ings have been attributed TO him. Too
many. He is less talked about now.
Paris IS quick 10 forget.
He IS well aware of the fact He
knows his time too we'll not to realize
the ridlcuIe which attaches to fallen
ROYALTIES ane men who survive their
fame However. ne will set out OF the
situation in some striking way. He has
paid too much attention To his stage
to finish IN commonplace man
ncr. He Is sure to strike a becoming
attitude as the curtain Is rung down
upon him.
De Casteliane's Destiny to America
His mistake has been to try to step
out OF his sphere. You cannot detaCh
yourself from the place in which YOU
have been put by popular opinion. Every
man should abide by his destiny. NJ, de
Castellane's destiny was to amuse the
populace. 10 wear handsome neckties. to
shine In drawingTooms. But he has not
been satisfied. He has dreamed of play
ing a great role. He had visions OF HIM
self as a sort of Due de Moruy. He
sought 20 climb too high His foot has
slipped in middle life, and he has just
escaped having 10 berin all over again
His election was invaHdaJed by the So
cialsts. but he was stubborn and man
aged 20 be reelected. Some people are
very hard upon him They should be
more induIgent lie is the only man OF
his day who has known how 10 combine
idieuess and grace.
.'FIe has not always shown discretion
i'm display and his exaggeration OF ef-
fects has often detracted from MS mag
uihcence His nature and breeding
should have led him TO be more dis
Greet But he wanted TO hold the cen
ter OF the stage and in order 10 do so he
has worn loud clothes, given snowy re-
ceptions. driven IN oveFelaborated car
riages. shown a truly American amount
OF bad taste which has shocked society.
Past Master at CIavat Tying.
M De CastelIane is past master of
the art of tying a cravat. He has i'm
aGined that he was also master pol
itician, and has had entire confidence IN
his lights. But a gentleman cannot
NEEDLE in the mean quarrel of matters
political NJ. De Castellane has dealt
only with great issues. His first dis
course, 1t will be remembered. con-
ce-ned NJ. Loubet's voyage TO Rome. 1t
was a great speech. Some people
thought they recognized the style Of the
late lanented Syveton in the flow OF
sentences. Others thought il sounded
like Jules Lemaitre, and some seemed
TO recognize the pen of other celebrated
literatteurs. BE that as it may II had
a magnificent success. When Gabriel
Svveton died. II. de CasteIlane's ora
torical style changed abruptly. Up 10
that time Il had been calm and well
balanced, with frequent and effective
reference to history. To be sure Syve-
ton had been a professor Of history. All
OF a sudden N. de Castellane became
declamatory. His phraseology had the
redundance of a Derouledes' operation,
and his gestures were like his. One
might nave thought the speech written
by Derouldes' great friend. Marcel Her
bert. A coincidence. of course. To be
sure, when Syveton died. Herbert sue
ceedel him as the private secretary. but
then, who says the count did not COM
pose his own speeches2
Opinion of America Changes.
''In addition to his speeches in the
chamber the count was engaged upon
a work dealing with the wealth of the
United States and the practical spirit
OF the American nation which he great
~ admired. He spoke of America with
great enthusiasm and was uhstinting in
MS praise OF that marvellous land.
Since that time certain events of a pri-
vate nature and a few disillusfons have
caused him 10 abandon his project He
has been led 20 do so by a particularly
near view which he now has OF the
practical American spirit. 1t seems, too
that he is not so enthusiastic as he
used TO be on that subject
He will set over a good many other
sllr--f-r... 4.