The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-02-28
Week-End Gossip From Paris
8Nlk5IHlE llz f Es " ll M l " lHIll lN INV
BY A. ". L,AMOUREAux.


 Paris, Feb 27-M. Clemenceau. Prime Minister. and M. Francis de Pressense. deputy and president of the League of the Rights of Man. formerly fast friends, having fought side by side in the Dreyfus case, have fallen out in remarkable way. Probably a Premier and a member of Parliament have never before exchanged such words across the floor of the House The Prime Minister, in classical term which in French has become colloquaial twitted the deputy with his palinotios." M de Pressense answered back that M. Clemenceau had, as for that. turned his coat more often than he himself had. and that for the rest he had no leisure to trouble his mind with the insults of "an angry old man." He also recalled that M. Clem- enceau had formerly acted as his sec ond in a duel. "In circumstances which it would be just as well for you not to drag up8' the Prime Minister snapped out.
 This was too much for M. de Pres sense, who now publishes a long letter recalling the circumstances of the said duel, M Raurico Barros, dur ing the second court-martial of Major (then Captain) Dreyfus. at Rennes, by whom he had already ceased to be as of yore the detashed philosopher of the Cultivation of the Ego" and had become as now politician wrote extensively about General (then Lieut. ColoneD Picquart, M. de Pressense answered for the latter, and was chal- lenged to duel by NJ. Barres. When it came to fighting, 1t was found that M. de Pressense suffered from rheuma- tism in the right hand, and was un- able to hold a sword in that hand. He took lessons in left-handed fencing from Lieut.. .sColonel Picquart himself and came upon the ground ready to stand up with sword in his left hand against M. Barres, who, however, un- der the circumstances, refused to fight. All this M. de Pressense now recalls. The whole question is whether the rheumatism in M de Pressense's right hand was genuine, as medical certi- ficates affirmed at the time, or wholly or in part imaginary. as M. Clemenceau insinuated.
 In the Chamber of Deputies M de Pressense said that for twenty years he had been unable to hold sword or pistol in his right hand, yet he had during that period fought several onds must have known this M de Clemenceau, who was one of his sec onds, must have known this. Mir. de Pressense concluded with some severe remarks on M Clemenmeau's methods ana WlLn the IlidL tllS COuH- try would feel very uncomfortable when it learned to whom 1t had en- trusted its honor.
 Socialist applause resounded when Clemenceau appeared at the rostrum to answer. and in his racy style related how he had conducted M. de Pressense on the ground, only to find that he was not in a condition to fight. NJ. Maurice Barres very properly declined to avail himself of this advantage, but if he had not, only imagine the position In which M. de Pressense's seconds might have been placed M. Clemenceau wounl up by saying, T have my faults Who has not? I have been attacked over personal questions which are unworthy of this assembly If you deem this an opportunity to rid yourselves of the Government. seize it I beg.
 Afterwards resolution regretting that personal questions should be introduced and expressing confidence in the Government to carry out its re- form program was adopted by large majority.
 Ninety-seven years ago, in a little village just outside Paris called Couv- ray. child of three. the son of strapmaker, was initiating his father and cutting at a piece of leather. The curved knife slipped the child shriek- ed. but the mischief had been done and he was blind. That boy was Louis BraiIle The centenary of his birth is being celebrated over the whole world this year. for 1t was he who invented the Braille system of writing and reading for the blind Louis Braille died at the age of forty three. and was buried at Couvray, where a monument was erected to him in 1887 On Wednesday last the French Blind Institute received dele gates from one hundred schools for the blind all over France. attended a concert of blind musicians, and listen ed to a lecture on the life of Braille and his work by a blind doctor, Pierre Wiley who has effected many cures on patients who were not as he him self was blind at birth.
 On the last day of January Leon