The San Francisco call., 1909-06-05
BUGLES' SONG
SWEET MUSIC
TO HER EARS
Nine. Jusserand Delighted With
the Many HOnOrs Accorded
Her Distinguished Husband
WOmanIy Sweetness, Gentle
ness and True Democracy
Endear Her to All


Jusserand at the depot at Third and
Townsend streets yesterday morning. a
woman in a gray dress. with kind
face and the gentlest of eyes, standing
by his side smiled in quick and de-
lighted appreciation. She was Madame
Jusserand the American wife Of the
French ambassador. and al that mo-
ment seemed TO realize TO the utmost
the great JOY of seeing her foreign
husband being honored by the men of
her own kin.
Her life's history is the strange one
OF the exile. Prior to her marriage
she was Miss Elsie Richards. the
daughter Of Boston banker connected
with the Partisan banking firm OF
Munro & Co. She was born in Paris
and lived there through her youth.
never coming 10 her own land until she
did so as the wife Of a foreign ambas-
sador She had made repeated attempts
TO cross TO the land of her fathers, but
time and again her plans had to be for
saken at the last moment This trip
is her first across the United States
her first glimpse of the country and
the people whose vigor startled a world
and TO whom she belongs It is her
heritage. after long years of waiting
and she is 10th 10 lose one iota of it
And yet when asked what impressed
her the most she replied:
TOUCHING INCIDENT
There is a little child-a little girl
Ia Arizona who brought me an armful
OF wild flowers. Can you think of any
thing more touching than the picture
Of the little tot gathering her wild
flowers in Arizona in order TO please
scme one else2"
Such is Nine. Jusserand, American
is the personihcation of kindness and
gentleness- Natures wonders may
pass before her eyes, but their re-
mains in her memory. more vivid than
all else. the picture of little child
struggling through the heat and the
sand, with an armful OF wild flowers
In Washington there is told story
bf how she was the only woman in
all that brilliant diplomatic corps who
had time 10 think of the lonely plight
OF the wives Of the Turkish dignitaries.
While the wives of the other officials
were able TO attend the social func-
tions. and live their lives according to
their rank. the Turkish women had
naught else 10 do the liNelong day but
sit at home and wonder at the mar
vels OF the brilliant world, which their
laws and customs forbade them enter
ing. Thus had il been all the years.
The Turkish women in the diplomatic
body were nonentities. They were never
seen and no word was passed concern
ing them. Then came Nine. Jusserand
and Washington was electrified by the
receipt Of invitations 10 an affair in
honor of the Turkish women Neces-
sarily. men We're excluded. but this fact
cid not seem to be felt, and the event
was one Of the biggest social successes
Of the season
GREATNESS OF HEART
The same greatness of heart which
prompted her 10 give that function for
the Turkish women was evident when
she passed through the wards of the
French hospital yesterday. She spoke
10 the patients not alone with her low
voice but with her eyes. which had in
their depths the Kindness and sym
pathy Of unspoken volumes.
While holding one OF the most prom
inent social positions in the land she
is possessed Of democracy that is es-
sentially American. When person
was introduced TO her she discarded
the conventional bow and frankly held
Out her hand 1t was so regardless of
social rank or position The same
hesrtiness with which she clasped the
hand OF Mayor Taylor was apparent
when she shook the hand of a second
cook in the Kitchen Of the French hos
'9pital
Also. she travels without a maid.
That is her Americanism dominating
over her European training. 1t is the
Puritan strain which years of easy liv-
ing Paris could not eradicate.
PROUD OF HER NATIONALITY
What does any American think of
America" she replied TO question.
You see. I am extremely proud OF
my nationality"
When IL came to a matter of inter
views Nine. Jusserand smilingly drew
back. She plainly indicated that in
terviews. If any were forthcoming
had to be from the official lips Of her
husband. She is. by nature, an excep-
tionsuy quiet woman. preferring to
. listen and smile-except when a kind
word is necessary
Some children gathered around her
automobile outside the French hos-
pitaI. and almost instinctively she
nodded TO them with a slight wave
Of her hand
CHARMED WITH 1T ALL
7 am charmed with it all" said she;
1T is so splendid-so American. What
wonders you have performed in this
city. They are the kind of deeds one
associates with Americans"
Her personality throughout is one
OF subdued gentleness. Her dress is
. quiet and modest her voice low. her
actions soft and graceful. But through
il all there stands forth her great love
. OF things American. To her the spirit
Of the land seems something sacred
. She has been so long from it that she
has fed her thought with the ideals
Of the men who made American history;
and now that she has come TO live
in the land OF her dreams, of her story
books and nursery tales, She refuses
TO lower those ideals.
The democracy. the plain living, the
- fryh III % ho
ness-aI the attributes of American
womanhood are hers. and because this
is so she has won the highest place in
the social life Of Washington and is
recognized as one OF the most infuen-
.tial and leading women in the capital
Therefore IL was that she flushed
with pleasure when, the bugles gave
tongue at the depot yesterday, know
ing that men she admired most were
honoring the man she loved the most
MADGADET III TNGT0N TS