The chronicle=news., 1912-12-07

Paris. Dec. lit Is the even OF a
presidential election in France. and
We, one seldom hears the fact men
toned unless he frequents the lob
bies o! the Senate and the Chamber
OF Deputies. Even in the halls OF
Legislation there is nothing like the
Interest TO be found In every hamlet
OF the United States preceding the
choice OF chief magistrate.
This is due largely 10 the fact that
the president Is chosen not by popu-
lar vote. but by the National Assem-
bly,, and that his powers. though
large. are by no means 80 great at
those OF the president OF the United
States. while his influence on legisla-
tIon and on public opinion generally
Is much less.
There is no campaign In the
American sense. no primaries. no
platforms and no popular discussions.
The wish of the people 80 far as II
finds occasional expression Is that the
president shall be = safe man. with
out daring ambition or 4 liking for
the dramatic and adventurous.
France treats II president fairly we'll.
His residence in Paris Is the Elysee
Palace and In the country the beau
tIful chateau OF Rambouillet. He
receives a'salary OF 100000 q year.
and In addition an equal sum 10 al
lowed him for expenses Of entertain
Ing. He assumes office a month af-
ter his election.
The members Of the Senate and OF
the Chamber Of Deputies. meeting to-
gcther as the National Assembly at
Versailles on January II. will choose
n successor to President Fallieres.
The foremost candidate 10 Paul Des.
chanel. president OF the Chamber and
one Of It's bright lights for twenty
eight years. He Is 55 years OF age.
and his family has great wealth. In
sense. the leader Of each parlia-
mentary group il a candidate.
though neither party lines nor COM
binations or factions determine the
choice. A notable candidate from
the Senate Is Alexandria Ribot. three
times premier and 4 man held In hiEh
esteem. His wife was Miss Mary
Burch of Chicago. and she has assist
ed him much in his public career. N.
Ribot 10 nearly n. Other candidates
are the president OF the Senate. NJ.
DuboHt. Leon Bourgeois. N. Declasse.
Premier Poincaire and Paul Doumer.
Tho latter's program II to save
France from materIalism and COM
mercialism.
NJ. Fallieres. In, preparing for his
retirement. has ENGAGED an apart.
mant near the American Embassy. He
will devote hia time between Paris
and his little vineyard i.oupillon In
southern France. where he produces
500 casks Of wine yearly.
Jean Aicard. the Acadcmican. sup.
plies AZ result Of his researches q
|definitive explanation Of the fact
that the celebrated Venus OF Milo has
no arms. Some have supposed that
the goddess lacked arms because the
sculptor. twenty centuries ago. feared
to complete his work. thinking that
his Inspiration would not last lona
enough to enable him to make arms
sufficiently beautiful TO match the
rest. Others have suggested that shs
held a lance In her hand AZ "venui
victorious" or repeiled q lover. wht
formed originally part OF q ErouE
with her.
But N. Aicard declares that venu,
had arms As lovely as her body. With
her right hand she held up her drap
cries: in her lett was an apple. We
nus was discovered In 1920 by I
peasant who was digging his field It
tho island Of Milo. She was in sor-
Of crypt grotto. Vaguely realizing
the value Of the marble, the peasan
carried away the top part to his cot
tage. There 1t was seen later by
| French naval ensign. The white
marble, pure as a lily. stood out II
all its exquisite perfection from thu
foul-smelling. smoky hovel. barrel!
Lighted by a tiny window.
Informed Of the pure beauty OF thu
statue. the Marquis de Riviere. thu
French Ambassador at Constantin
ople. sent his first secretary to obtaiI
lit. The envoy arrived barely II
time. The priceless marble was be
ing dragged along by party o
Greek and Turkish sailors to an OF
toman brig. The French diploma
landed men from the schooner IL
which he had arrived. and captured
the treasure after n fight. But !
was roughly handled by the sailors IL
getting 1t on board, and the arm
were broken. Portions lay upon tn