Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-16
Memories of Noted French
Statesman QuiCkened
ALL OVER FRANCE TODAY
Question of Removing Remains to
the Pantheon
S NOW BEING AGITATED
His Mysterious Love Affair With
Leonie Leon Revived-Why They
Were Never Legally Married.

PARIS. May 16-The question of re-
moving the remains of Gambetta to the
Pantheon is again being agitated. The
memory of the man who was the soul
of the French defense in the war with
Germany and the foremost figure in the
establishment of the third republic. as
well as its most powerful defender against
royal reaction during the first ten pre-
carious years OF it's existence. is very
dear to the French people. His name
is the inspiration of every republican
speech. and annual pilgrimages are made
to the little house in Vile d'Avray where
he died.
At the time Of his death he was given
great public funeral. and the govern
ment then desired to place his body
among those OF the immortals at the
Pantheon. But his father. proud Of his
Italian nativity always regarded his IL
lustrious son as an Italian. and interposed
his veto. He took charge Of Gambettas
body and inferred II at Nice. which he
still! considered Italian soil. notwith-
starding the annexation of Savoie by
France in 1916.
Before the father died. a few years
ago. however he relented and in his
will agreed that the body should he
translated to the Pantheon on considera-
ton that the sons of his married daugh-
ter should be given the right by France
to bear the honored name of Gambetta
(Which would have otherwise have died
with him). This condition the French
parliament fulfilled
His Love Affair.
Renewed Interest in Gambetta has re-
Gently been revived by the publication
of the story of his mysterious love af-
fair with Leonie Leon. Throughout his
life the strange figure of this woman
was always in the background. but her
identity was first revealed by this vol
ume written by Gambettas confidential
secretary. 1t Is a remarkable story of
the pure attachment outside the bonds
of wedlock Of a great man for noble
woman. His letters to her which are
published showed that she was his great
est inspiration. and that to her tact and
intuitive judgment he gave much of the
credit for his political success.
She first attracted his attention in the
gallery of the chamber of deputies. where
for months she was never absent when
Gambetta spoke. But his first effort 10
form her acquaintance was vain. At his
first approach she fled and he did not see
her again for four years. At last they
met and fell in love with each other. He
proposed marriage, but she refused, tell
ing him that there was a stain upon her
name. and under the circumstances she
felt that an alliance might interfere with
his career. She, however. consented TO
become his mistress. and although Gam.
BETA always regarded her as his wife,
they were never legally married. mar
riage was about to occur. however, when
he sustained the fatal accident.
How He Met His Death.
This book also clears up whatever mys.
terry still shrouded the pistol wound which
at the time was commonly supposed to
have been inflicted by jealous woman.
Ample proof is produced to show that
Gambetta accidentally shot himself while
handling a dueling pistol with which he
daily practiced.
After his death Leonie Leon disap-
peared. and 1t was weeks before his init
mate friends found her penniless in q
Paris garnet. They persuaded her to ac-
cept the modest income upon which she
lived until her death a year ago. residing
most of the time at Rome. near the Vat
lean. to which she had been at one time
Gambetta's personal emissary on a mis-
sion to try to arrange the separation of
church and state with Leo XIII.
Her letters written to friend during
this long period of sorrow are a most pa
thetic and touching record OF her perpet-
ual mourning for her great friend-the
story of the ineffabIe sadness of a life
whose sun has set forever