The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1920-01-22
THE TIGER RETIRES
TO PRIVATE LIFE
CLEMENCEAU SERVED FRANCE
FOR FIFTY YEARS.
Great Work in War.
Probably Did as Much as Any One
Person to Defeat
Germany.

Paris, Jan. 17.-Georges Eugene
Clemenceau, "the Grand Old Man Of
France after having served his coun-
try in high Office for almost so years,
retires to private life with the ap-
pointment of the new ca binet of Presi-
dent Deschanel.
He is credited with contributing as
much, perhaps more than any other
statesman, to bringing about the
downfall of Germany by filling
France-discourage and war torn
with the invincible spirit of the con-
queror.
After lifetime of vicisstudes, he
recently declared: 81 am younger now
than I was ten years ago." He said
this even while carrying in his body
the bullet of an assassin and while
suffering from a broken rib recently
sustained while crossing the English
channel.
Explaining his remark, he said:
'Idleness and old age are twin sisters.
I avoid them. The way to keep young
and vigorous is never to let. your
mind grow inactive and to work
work-work Preserve strength Of
mind and you vanquish age; that is
the secret of perpetual youth.
81 believe it is weak minded to
grow DID," he told certain members
of his suite after his famous anti
Bolsheviki speech in Strasbourg last
November. The premier's day had
been hard one, with many recep-
tions, journeys and discussions Of
serious diplomatic questions, but he
appeared at dinner that night fresher
than many Of his younger colleagues.
1t was some time before this, while
he was On one of his customary jaunts
into the country, when he walked ten
or IL miles without showing very
great fatigue, that he discovered his
now famous retreat, a two roomed
isherman's hut close to the seashore,
near Lucon, in Vendee. Here is
where he is expected to pass fort
night or more. Bare of comforts and
conveniences, it is just the kind of
shelter the once known "Tiger" Of
France would seek for a we'll earned
rest. 1t is only short distance from
the famous premier's birthplace and
stands almost alone on the barren
sands. Often he walks to the village,
where he converses with the old tow
folk, few of whom knew him as
! boy.
Clemenceau's rigorous life was con-
tinued even after he accepted Presi-
dent Poincare's invitation to form
war ministry in 1917, when for the
second time he became premier Of
France. In civil life he arose with
the birds and retired often at sunset.
"A glass of milk and few crackers
was his usual repast at a. N. in
summer and 4.30 o'clock in winter.
An hour or two later he sat down to
a hearty breakfast, the main portion
of which was generally dish of
macaroni and cheese with melted
butter. About 1890 p. m. he in
dulged in luncheon, a simple meal Of
couple of eggs, perhaps, and few
vegetables. Dinner at Z p. m. was
practically meatless, consisting large
ly of vegeta bles and fruits. He eats
very slowly.
Sleeps in Office.
During the war the pressure OF af-
fairs of state often forced him to
alter his sleeping habit, and there
were occasions when, for two and
three days at a time, the aged pre-
mier and minister Of war never re-
moved his clothing, but caught mere
snatches of rest of few minutes
duration on a lounge in his office.
In peace time, however, Clemenceau
has less strenuous programme. In
summer, as soon as he arises, he
takes to his garden in the rear of his
town apartment, inspecting the flower
beds and the shrubbery and trees,
pruning off dead branches and pulling
weeds. He thus finds rest from the
turmoil of politics and the cares of
office.
Clemenceau, it is not generally
known, was formerly physician. He
came to New York in 1865, but aban-
doned the practice of medicine to
teach school at Stamford, Conn. He
married an American girl in 1859,
Miss Mary :Plummer, of New York,
and returned to France a few years
later.
| III ontorod tha Franch nof;o, 81