New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-03
HENRI ROCHEFORT
A Glimpse of Him at the Time of
His Last Exile.

huckler more debOnar ana engaging
in private life than the late Henri
Rochefort. The savagery of his news
paper manners was in almost comic
contrast to the generous and courteous
demeanor which belonged to him when
he was off the battlefield. Then ne
seemed 10 live only for the graces, to
be amused and to he charming. The
last volume OF Les Aventures de Ma
Vie" that curious autobiography which
carried the record of his career down
To 1895 and the end of his second exile,
contains delightful picture OF his
mode of existence in London He kept
his eye upon French politics and helped
pull the wires which ultimately brought
about his return 10 Paris, under the
amnesty pronounced by Felix Faure,
but meanwhile he had plenty of time in
which TO enjoy himself among his
friends. and he did so to the top Of his
hent.
He could not go to Paris. but as he
says, Paris came to him. Jules Claretie
was bringing tn artists OF the Coincide
FRANCHISE over to London. and he knew
them all Duse was acting at Days
Theatre, Emma Calve was singing
and incidentally keeping an open table
al her house, where Rochefort met all
manner of good comrades-aDd at this
time. too, he renewed his acquaintance
with Patti, the two De Reckless, Maurel
and others. He was In his element.
and so far as one could judge from
surface appearances, entirely happy.
despite his exclusion from his own
frontier. Perhaps he sensed even then
the coming amnesty. At all events he
presented a more than cheerful face TO
the world He had so much TO be in
terested in besides politics, Some
where in Les ADVENTURES" he speaks
Of his experience as a sportsman in
London as consisting of lucky hits in
the auction room. where his instinct in
artistic matters enabled him TO capt
ure at small prices good pictures UNI
appreciated by richer competitors.
spent a memorable morning with
him among his paintings. while Boil
DIM. in the next room, made the por-
trait Of Rochefort's niece, a magnif-
cent. black haired woman. Everybody
smoked nnumerable cigarettes and
moved necessarily up and down. catch
ing. | suppose. from Rochefort himself,
the restlessness that made him seem
victim Of fever. Grizzled as he was. he
hi the vivacity and the enthusiasm
Of a boy. II was not enough for him
10 stand talking in torrents before one
Of his Dutch or italian pictures. He
had 10 leap upon n chair. take the
painting down and carry II 10 the win
dow. where he would get the right light
and then positively caress the canvas
with his hand. / remember his zest for
Guard. He could not find superlatiyes
enough for the Venetian master. II
was impossible TO think Of his rather
raw political habit when he was dis
coursing on artistic things. He seemed
then Just a type Of intellectual, disin-
tercstcd ardor. There was something
very ingratiating too. about that
picturesqueness To which references are
made in all the notices OF his death.
Rodin. who made fine bust OF him,
thought that he had the profile OF a
Roman emperor; but 10 expose that the
sculptor had TO cover up the little mill
tarv beard and the tuft above the
handsome brow. which was even more
aggressive than Whistlers famous
white lock. In his broad aspect Roche
fort was more romantic than Roman.
He suggested the man at arms even in
his smoking Jacket At the fashionable
hour. when he drove abroad with the
great world, at his side the flashing
lady of the portrait. he looked the sol
der turned dandy, groomed TO the last
inch. alert and smiling. very much on
parade. He had his little vanities.
When he went to the fete at Covent
Garden. organized apropos OF the APP
proaching marriage OF the Duke Of
York. he duly records in Les Avent-
ures" how the then Princess OF Wales
said to her father, the King Of Dem
mark: Look, There is Rochefort"
All through those five entertaining VOL
umes 1t IL plain that he had a proper
conceit OF himself. Entertaining as
they are, they do not make invariably
pleasant reading. The old marquisate
in the family, with its implication OF
breeding, did not make Rochefort a
man of impeccable taste outside Of his
artistic interests. In politics and jour-
nalism he used the bludgeon as often
as he used the rapier. IL not more fire.
ouently. But there is no danger Of his
ruthless traits as a publicist being for
gotten, and II is the more desirable
therefore, that his mere charm OF per
sonality should be recalled, along with
his really extraordinary fair in mat
ters OF painting and sculpture. II will
be a fine day for the collector il his
treasures are brought to the hammer
His taste embraced all the schools and
he knew what was good IN them.
II. C..