The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-02-18
NEW FIRST LADY OF FRANCE" ENTERS ELYsEE PALACE TO-DAY


 Another will be added to-day to the long line of hostesses who have pre- sided at Elysee Palace since the res toration of the republic, and for the first time woman of foreign birth beconles the first lady of France. Mime. Poincare 1s daughter of sunny Italy, and her maiden name was Henriette Befnucc1. She first met M. Poin- care when she engaged him as her attorney to bring suit for divorce agaanaA her7 Arst husband. a German dipl@uat The barrister and his beautEAu1 client fell in love and were Issue or the divorce suit
 The s<11me. Ia Presidente'' Of the French Republte has many and inn poreant soeiaf duties She must meet and entertain visiting monarchs and princeg and return their visits It is rsdbable that during M- Poincare's first year i'm the high office he as- eurnes to-day he win De visited by no 1ess than three Kings and two queens. George and Mary of England, Fred erick and. Louise of Denmark and King Alfonso of Spain are expected to visit Paris during the next twelve month.
 M. Poincare has publicly admitted that his wife has played a large part In his political success, and his first thought, after his election to the pres- ddency, was to hurry home and be the first to tell the good news to Mime. POfncare The Italian birth of the first lady of France was used as a campaign. argument against her hus- band, but 1t fell flat. President Taft has often stid that without the aid of his wife he would never have become an occupant of the White House. The author of a recent article on dealing with the career of Fallieres says: He has always lacked ambition. being contented and easy going; his wife. daughter of an attorney, has urged him on-''
 Mime. F,aIIie<as was famous: for her fruga1ity. and 1t has been alleged that her extreme economy would not al- low her to buy even proper food for formal state dinners. Mime. Poincare Is of q quite different type, and her salons have been highly popular among the intellectual leaders and foremost statesmen of France.
 Perhaps the ablest of the first la- dies of the French republic was Mime. Thiers, who. after the downfall of the second empire, succeeded the brilliant and eccentric Empress Eugente as Frances foremost woman. The wife of the first president was a staunch he1pmeet to M. Thiers, sharing alike his exile and his triumph. Mme. McMahon had been a grand dame of the empire, and was utterly devoid of sympathy for republican ideals. For that reason the wife of the Marshal was very unpopular. Mime. Grevy detested social functions, and there was little entertaining at the Elysee during her husbands administration. Mme. Carnot was the exact opposite of the transformations Mime. Grevy, and, until the assassination of her husband put an end to the empire, Mime. Perier eclipsed her predecessor in the gorgeousness of her entertain ments. and ruled social Paris like a was in charge of his daughter. Lucille. whose talents were such that the Ely see became a gathering place for leaders in science, literature and the arts. Mime. Loubet was of simple tastess with little fondness for state entertainments, but a kindly, noble woman who was a favorite with all classes. A motherly soul, her boys ranged from street gamins to King AL fonso. and the latter always affection ately referred to her as Mamma Loubet.