The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-11-22
Ansedo... Of cIem.nes.u

Paris, Nov. 20.-The departure oil
Georges Clemenceau for the UniteSI
States, there to speak IN person to the
American people In behalf Of France,
has brought out q number Of anec-
dotes Of "the Grand Old Man Of
France" who Is credited with con-
Sributing as much, and perhaps more,
chan any other statesman to bringing
about the downfall Of Germany in the
world war by filing France with the
invincible spirit Of the conqueror.
After a lifetime Of vicissitudes,
Clemenceau once declared: 81 am
younger now than I was ten years
go" He said this even while carry
irg in his body the bullet of an assas-
sin, and while suffering from broken
lib sustained while crossing the Eng
lish channel.
Explaining his remark, the former
Premier declared: "I6leness and old
age are twin sisters. I avoid them.
The way to keep young and vigorous
IS never to let your mind grow mac
tive and to work, work, work. Pre-
serve strength Of mind and you van
quish age; that is the secret Of per-
peual youth.
81 believe it is weak-minded to grow
DID," he told certain members Of his
suite after his famous anti-Bolshevik
speech in Strasbourg in 1919. Glenn
enceau's day had been q hard one
with many receptions, journeys and
discussions of serious diplomatic ques-
tions but he appeared at dinner that
night fresher than many of his young
colleagues.
1t was some time before this while
ne was on one Of his customary jaunts
into the country, when he walked 10
or IL miles without showing very
great fatigue, that he discovered his
now famous retreat, two-roomed
fisherman's hut close to the seashore
| near Ducan, in Vendee. Bare of COM
forts and conveniences it is j~st the
kind of shelter the "Tiger" of
France would seek for a well-earned
rest. It is only short distance from
the former Premier's birthplace and
stands almost alone on the barren
lands. Often he walks to the village
where he converses with the old town
folk, few of whom knew him as q
boy.
Clemenceau's rigorous life was con-
'inued even after he accepted Presi-
dent .Poincare's invitation to form a
war ministry in 1917, when for the
second time be 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. m, in summer
and 4:30 o'clock in winter. An hour
or two later he sat down to hearty
breakfast, the main portion Of which
was generally dish Of macaroni and
cheese with melted butter. About
1890 p. m, he indulged in luncheon
simple meal of a couple Of eggs, per
haps, and few vegetables. Dinner
at p. m. was practically meatless
consisting largely Of vegetables ant
fruits. He eats very slowly.
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
Gays at time, the aged premier and
minister of war never removed his
clothing, but caught mere snatches of
rest of a few minutes duration on a
lounge in his office. In peacetime
| however, Clemenceau has a less siren
lous program. In summer, as soon as
he arises, he takes to his garden in
he rear of his town apartment, in
| 'pccting the flower beds and the
sbrubbery and trees, pruning off dead
branches and pulling weeds. He thus
finds rest from the turmoil of politics
| md the cares of office.
Clemenceau, it is not generally
known, was formerly physician. He
came to New York in 1866 but aban-
doned the practice of medicine to
teach school at Stamford, Conn. He
married an American girl in 1869
Miss Mary Plummer, of New York,
and returned to France a few years
later.
He entered the French National
Assembly in 1871, became president
Of the municipal council of Paris in
1875, and was elected to he Chamber
Of Deputies in 1876. In 1887 he de-
clined an invitation Of the president
of France to form ministry. In the
general wreck of French politicians
caused by the Panama scandal of
1892, he failed of reelection to the
Chamber, but in 1902 he was sent to
the Senate. Meanwhile he had fought
six or seven duels and had won fame
IS vitriolic writer. From 1905 to
1909 he was premier. He was an
anti-Clerical and fought for the sep
aration Of church and safe. He led
several political fights which results
in the downfall of as many minis
teries.
In 1914, at the beginning Of the
war, he established in Paris L'Homme
Libre, paper so bitterly anti-admin