The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1907-05-03

WHOlc udyS ucFouiinS INC uiioSS
books
Nine. Fallieres' dislike for ostenta.
ton shows itself in many ways. Dress
ed in simple but elegant black
gown, or at least a dark color, she
looks much simmer than she really
is. Even when she entertains roy.
atty she does not wear jewels. Il
never had them BEFORE" she says;
why should have them now?" AS
hostess she is not gushing, although
polite, and her husband is generally
her chief topic of conversation.
persons household often betrays a
character as much as her dress. But
in Madame Fallieres' case-that is to
say as far as the Elysee is concerned
1T is different. The Elysee is kind
of hotel where she will stay for seven
years; and the same remark can be
applied to the presidents other official
residence, Rambouillet. To see Ma
dame Fallieres' personal taste, go to
her country home at Loupillon; this
is simplicity itself.
Like their predecessors, the Lou
bets, the Fallieres are of the humblest
origin, and glory in the fact. Honors
have not spoilt them; they belong to
that category of persons who have
honors thrust upon them, and nothing
gives them greater pleasure than to
talk of their dear Gascon peasants.
How pleased and proud are these
peasants to-day to think that son of
their soil should be called upon to be-
come a ruler of nations! "My grand
father was a village blacksmith" M.
Fallieres is never tired of telling
you.
Although the president no longer
lives at Mezin, he has by no means
severed his connection with that
place. Every time he returns to
Loupillon he stops there to see his
friends" as he calls them: woodcut-
ters, various small shopkeepers, and
his faithful barber, who always has
the honor of cutting and keeping the
presidential hair. The country all
round Loupillon is charming-a beau
tiful little tranquil spot, now famous
as the place where the French presi-
dent has spent the greater part of his
life. The house stands on the top of
a hill, whence can be had charming
view of the whole country, bright
and green and fresh; and as the near
est village is far off, M. Fallieres is
alone to enjoy his vines. How the
Fallieres miss the beautiful trees and
vines of Loupillon! How they long
to get away from town and all the
ties of public life! And yet in the
country they rise at the same early
hour, Madame Fallieres generally &C
companying her husband on his
morning walks.
Although the Fallieres have plenty
of friends, they entertain as little as
possible. There are a certain number
of official receptions, however, which
every president gives, which have be-
come almost national fetes, and which,
for foreigner especially, are extreme
ly interesting. In winter there are
two or three balls given, and the as
sembly is always brilliant with uni
forms.
In spite of her numerous state calls,
which she so dislikes, Madame Fal-
Heres manages at times to slip away
unnoticed and visit the very poor of
Paris. One indiscreet person once
saw her going out accompanied by a
maid carrying big basket. The in
discreet person spread the tale abroad
and the world naturally concluded she
was going to market. She dearly
loves the poor. What an acquisition
she would have been in a country
parsonage!
Like all public persons who are
worth anything at all, the Fallieres
have their encns.as, in spite of what
the world may say; but no one can
take peep into this little household
without finding out the rare qualities
of the host and hostess.
GRACE ELLISON.