River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-05-02

Although Nine Fallieres is the wife
Of the president of the French re-
public, very little is know about her
that could not be summed up in
few lines: Excellent housekeeper, wife
and mother; up till now, these have
been her principal roles in life, and
she has played them to perfection.
But to-day she has another part,
wife of the president How will she
succeed with this? Twelve months
have hardly elapsed since NJ. Fallieres
succeeded M. Loubet, and it would be
unjust to pass a judgment SO soon
Had it not fallen to the lot Of M.
FaIlieres to become president of the
Republic, Nine Fallieres would have
passed from this world to the next,
according to the manner of most
"bourgeoises," unknown save to her
little circle of intimate friends. But
it is just the fact that she is the wife
OF the representant of France that
makes people curious to know some
thing about her. What does it feel
like to be presidents wife? What
Is life like at the Elysee? What kind
Of person is the presidents wife?
Nine. Fallieres, during the seven
years that she was at the Palais du
Senat, always Stunned publicity as
much as possible-a policy now con-
tinued at the Elysee.
At the Palais du Senat, as well as
at the Elysee, Nine. Fallieres has al
ways superintendent her household in
the most careful manner. This is, OF
course, by no means necessary, but it
is one of the pleasures of which she
cannot deprive herself-and did not
etiquette forbid it, she would go to
market with her cook. ; One change
she has made at the Elysee has been
greatly criticised. The chef, who
had become quite well known, has
been replaced by Gordon bleu,
woman cook from the beloved Gascon
home This will not only reduce the
household expenditure, but allow the
mistress of the house to know all the
inner mysteries of the kitchen.
Before her marriage Nine. Faillieres
was Mile. Jeanne Besson, Ia belle
Jeanne Besson," as she was known
in the village of Mezin. Her marriage
was looked upon with great disfavor
by her parents who were not at all
taken with the young fiance's adj
vanced views. For M. Fallieres is,
and always has been, a stanch repub-
lican, and he was so at a time when
such a declaration was dangerous.
Still Nine. Fallieres had her own way,
and it is needless to add that she has
never regretted her choice.
Although her dislike for ceremony
is so great, she has never allow
ed it to interfere, SO far, with her
husbands advancement. He is al
ways her first consideration, and her
lifelong devotion to him is admirable
No one knows what agonies she en-
dures every time he leaves the Ely
see. Who knows if some yillainous
anarchist will not come and kill him?
AS if any one would attempt to MUIR
der our dear president" urges a
friend. Yet, Carnot was killed.
Every morning, after an early
breakfast, the president goes for a
brisk two hours walk. He considers
this a cure for the corpulency with
which he finds himself threatened. 1t
is quite impossible to keep pace with
him, he walks at such rate. Return
ing to work at ten o'clock, usually in
a fever heat, he finds his wife, who
always sees him off, anxiously await
ing his return, to see at the same time
that he changes his clothes She is
terrified lest he should catch cold
The presidents family circle con-
sists Of son and daughter and two
nephews, but there are generally sew
eral guests to lunch and dinner. If
the host is threatened with corpu.
lency, it is not astonishing when one
sees his liberal table. But then, he
is Gascon, and Gascony is the home
OF gourmands. There are trufies,
fattened poultry, grapes and other
fruit in abundance, and the presi- |
dents own wine from Loupillon is ap.
preciated by all. The mysterious
parsonage in the presidents household