The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-18
OUTGOING MINISTER
NOT VERY COMPETENT

scientific world is indebted for the won
derful collection of Central Asian
is indeed one OF the most able and re,
markabe Of England's corps Of civil
servants in India and Central ASIA,
where Sir George lives. with his English
wife and children. Ia extremely remote,
although Sir George insists that II is the
reach kashgar via India, and even at
/ the best OF times II takes the InaHs
a month 70 two weeks TO reach hasngar
/ from India. and even much longer IN
4 the winter.
Wholly forgotten. there has just
passed away at the advanced ago OF
/ ninety-three. in a small. ose-bowered,
sunshiny cottage in the Department.
the founders of the Third Republic.
and who while Minister of Justice in
several administra tions, furnished the
butt of many of the witticisms of the
then Austrian ambassasor in Paris. the
late Count Beust, Jules Cazot was of
peasant origin. So was his wife. and
career their characteristically French
peasant contempt for French bourgeois
sham and hypocrisy, and for the af-
fectation and mannerisms of fashion.
Thus, when Senator Cazot was ap-
pointed Minister OF Justice ne became
entitled thereby to a handsomely fur
stan of servants, maintained at the
expense OF the state. and situated in
one of the finest portions of the city.
namely, the Place Vendome. The
Cazots. however. declined 20 live there.
declaring that they would not be COM
Portable. and insisted on retaining their
more than modest apartment on the
fourth floor of a rather shabby house
in an obscure street of the Latin Quar-
ter.
that when he went to pay his official
call upon the Minister of Justice, who
also was the keeper of the great seal
a -. - l,L-
ously the four flights of ricketty stairs.
he came TO narrow corridor. in which
an elderly woman was seated near the
window. knitting pair of stockings.
Imagining her to be one of the servants.
or housekeeper. he asked her if he
could see NJ cazot; whereupon. with
from her chair. she shouted out: Eth,
jules: un homme qui tie demande-te -
QHey. Jules Here is a man who is asking
least embarrassed by the visit. and.
after introducing the count to his wife.
led him into small and very quietly
The Cazots never made any pretense
of belonging 70 any different social
rank than that 20 which they had both
been born. II they prided themselves
on anything, 1t was on their peasant
stock: and while they furnished the
comic sheets of the boulevard with
caricature, won the regard and respect
of all sensible people. especially those
OF the nlsHeSt Classes. DY their quiet
dignity and obvious sincerity.
AS keeper of the great seal of France.
it was Jules Cazot's duty to pass upon
the. various. titles of nobility in France.
registration. and who were able
to furnish evidence of right to the
honors by legitimate descent. 1t also
fell to him 20 refuse registration to
those nobiliary titles which were usurpe
and Notwithstanding his peasant
birth. he gave more satisfaction in this
narfiCliiar dtfi
exercised greater degree of scruple
and of care, than any other keeper of
the great seal. before or since
Although a much older man than
mate friends. and was the latter's sec
retary-general during the period of the
dictatorship in 1870 In 1851 he. as young
guished himself to such an extent by the
vigor of his defense of the opponents
of the coup etat that the imperial
authoritles sent him to jail for a year.
Indeed. he narrowly escaped deporta-
ton to the penal colony of Cayenne.
On going out of office as minister of
justice, even his political opponents
that he was appointed president Of the
Supreme Court of Appeal, which ne
held until a canal company of his own
ton. Although he was not financially
Interested in it in any way he had
given IT a certain amount OF legisla-
tive support while in the Senate lust
as he would have done to any other
of his parliamentary constituents. TAX
ing the ground. however that the presi-
dent OF the supreme Court of France
must have his ermine so immaculate
that his name should rot be even in
directly associated with a commercial
or industrial failure. he insisted on
resigning and retiring into private
life
Copyright. 1918. by the Brentwood
Company