The Washington herald., 1909-01-24
Ry JOHN ; HARwOOD.


humble origin. It's social structure is
thought to be piled so high-composed OF
so many strata Of birth, privilege, pref
udice. and tradition-that he who has
only his own self TO aid him cannot
reach the top
Yet despite thess supposedly insuper-
able barriers 10 lovTIy ambition. many Of
the men who are making European his
tory to-day arose from the ranks. Not
only do various political states furnish
ulustrious examples. but the Roman
Catholic Church, most monarchical Of all
in many respects. exemplifies this same
democratic truth The father Of the Pope
was a postman.
Frances President as well as her only
living ex-President were peasant horn.
Clement Armand Failieres. who. as Chief
Executive Of the republic. has greatly
Strengthened her political prestige by
diplomatic alliances with England and
Russia, IS the grandson of a blacksmith.
Emile Loubet, the first President Of
France TO serve out his fun term. was
born on a farm. and even when Presi-
dent found his chief recreation from the
affairs Of state in caring for the poultry.
milking the cows, and mixing bread al
The rural home Of his mother
When a boy the present Chief Execu-
tive OF France was regarded as failure.
The elder Fauieres considered himself Of
somewhat OF social advance over the
preceding generation. having risen from
the blacksmith shop Of his father 10 the
holding the Office Of secretary 10 a justice
OF the peace At Mean. Gascony- He
at first believed his son would not
amount to as much as the horseshoeing
grandfather.
Boy Proves TO BE Lazy.
i was his fathers desire that Armand
should enter politics by way Of the law
He became disheartened enough when
the teachers Of every school TO which he
sent the lad reported that their pupil
could not learn much because he was too
lazy. In 1883. however, at the age Of
eighteen. young FaIieTes took his de-
gree Of bachelor Of letters al Angouleme
Having gone 10 Paris to study law the
folio wing year, he again aroused parental
disapprobation by deyoting more time TO
the gay life OF the capital than his law
books So he was sent 10 Toulouse
This young man from the provinces
who, Ike the leading character Of Bal
zac's novel by the same name. went 10
Paris from Angouleme, nevertheless re-
-natned IN the merry metropolis long
enough 20 meet Nile Besson, an event
which proved by far the most important
n his whole life. from that time on he
began 70 develop ambition. a quality
which before had lain apparently dor
ulant- At Toulouse he studied with new
zest, and managed 10 pass his exsmina-
tons
That his conversion 10 a more serious
life, however, was superficial was shown
by the nonchalant fashion in which he
chose the attorney under whom he was
% begin the practice Of law He took a
list OF lawyers, shut his eyes. and stuck
q pin into the paper. There" said he.
''the man I've punctured is the man for
me FaIlieres only remained n the Of
fee OF this lawyer few months. when
he went 10 Nerac. and hung out q shingIe
OF his own.
Loved Good Things of Life.
As a matter Of fact the very habits Of
the son to which the father most strongly
objected were 10 a certain extent inner
tied from his father He hat his fathers
love OF the good things Of life without
the ambition Of the elder Fallieres. His
sire was man Of strong character. Of
huge size, a bon vivant, an immense
eater, and very fond Of the society OF
young people
Nile BesS0n also lived al Nerae. She
was regarded by the beaux Of the town
as a great catch" Her grandfather had
been an attorney, and she carried with
her not only a handsome dot, but also
her grandfather's law practice. Nerac
was surprised when she married young
Fallieres- II was said she had thrown
her life away. Her husband was spoken
Of as dull. lethargic, fat. with neither
ancestry nor those brilliant personal
traits that make for social advancement
Nine Fallieres was wiser than the gos-
sips She saw IN the prOsy young law
yer an opportunity which few women Of
the day have had She first brought him
her grandfathers law practice and
thereby laid the foundation Of his pres
ent small fortune. Herself a friend Of
the aristOcracy, she was able 10 intro
duce her husband to men and women
who proved OF great political assistance.
Nor was he found 70 be duh. as first SUD
posed. Although not brilliant. he won
wide respect because Of his unusual COM
mon sense, his sound political Judgment.
and withaL his iEveterate good humor
He came to be called the ''Sunny-faCed
Gascon."
Early in his career FalTeres became. a
stanch Republican After serving Nerac
as mayor in 1876 he was elected a dup
Uty- -Four years afterward he became
fee, later, minister OF the interior Of
public instruction. and OF Justice. Eight
times he was reelected TO the presidency
Of the senate
Made Useful Friends.
It was when her husband wa. chosen
70 this Office that Nine. Fallleres showed
her real strength. She made their resi-
Gence in the Palace Of the Luxembourg
q brilliant salon. surrounded her husband
with friends who would be useful as well
as coRgeniaI and kept aIoof those whom
she believed would have upon him
wrongful influence
No part of France IS 50 dear 70 Fal-
Iieres as Is the place where he was born
in Gaseony. When the little cabin Of his
grandfather was about 70 be torn down.
FaIlieres bought il. and set it up brick
for brick. stone for stone, in a more IA
Tcrahie site. In peasant gaTb the Presi- /
dent spends much Of his spare tine at
his country home He delights in fool
Ing strangers who find him working in
his vineyard into believing that he is
only q farm hand. Parisians jOkingiy +
say that he brings his country clothes 20
the capital They still recall his first re-
ceDtlon 10 the ministers after ne became /
President when he appeared in a light
blue jacket and the same style OF but
ter1iy necktie as he had worn for the
past thirty years
Like Louis Philippe. the President Of (