Evening star., 1926-09-28
CLEMENCEAU IS IS TODAY:
OBSERVES BIRTHDAY WORKING
Engages in TransIating His
Book, "CiviIization," Into
English Tongue.
Lives Simply Overlooking At
Iantic, But Likes His
Fast Automobile.
By The Associated Press.

BY The Associated Press
JARD, LA VENDEE, France, Sep
tember 2S.-Clemenceau. the most
arresting personality and perhaps the
greatest among contemporary French
men, is IS today.
He spent the day. as he did yester-
day, in concentrated labor for some
hours with an American translator
over the English text of his "CiviliZa-
tiOn," in wandering through his gar
den and in contemplating the sea from
his favorite bench near the sea wall,
where the Atlantic waves come rolling
in with such force that even on quiet
days he is reached by the flying scud.
The village postman is not busy
bringing letters and kilograms to
Frances great minister because few
persons in France are aware Of the
precise date Of his birth. All the ref
erence books place his birth as in
september" 1841, and he has always
been reluctant, as personal pecu-
liarity, to give more exact information.
He doesn't want people bothering him
with Fluctuations. An official person
age who has had occasion to see the
records confided to the correspondent
that the date is September 28.
Suggests Ancient Virtues.
SlcIIlSIlCcdu dl OO lives duSI0TpIN his
SIMPLE life suggesting ancient virtues
Reading philosophical and scientific
books, writing gardening, receiving a
friend now and then, make up his
ordinary day. Occasionally he goes
into Sables D'Olonne to do his house
hold marketing himself, using his sole
luxury, foreign automobile Of great
speed and beauty.
Il like the repose, the restfulness of
rapid motion" he says.
The principal street Of Sables
D'Olonne, a broad promenade facing
the ocean, is named on one side Ave
nue. Georges Clemenceau and the other
half is Avenue Du President Wilson.
Clemenceau's progress through the
streets of Sables D'OIonne Is one of
continuous Salutation. He talks 10
the citizen and the gnarled fishermen
| in the local patois and they repeat his
shrewd and homely observations on
| everyday things and events.
1t is quite a show to hear him bar
gaining with a fisher woman for a
better price on a sole or a lobster. He
likes the quick retort and joins in the
laugh on himself when the repartee
has been too much for him. He has
| never lived a shut-in life.
Loves Common People.
ACCeSSlUlS " dll COIIlcES, Ills lONc VI
meeting with common folk has given
him that assure knowledge Of what
people think or feel politically. The
spirit Of his letter on the Franco
American debt question to President
Coolidge last month, If not derived
from his neighbors. was in accord
with their thoughts.
What 1 wrote" said Clemenceau
few days ago, was what France
feels. 1t had to be expressed"
The garden upon which Monsieur
Clemenceau has spent so much love
and effort has no paths, no markings.
There is not the least regularity. The
first impression is that the phlox,
roses, heliotrope, heartease, larkspur
and migonette are growing haphaZard.
uncared for in the sand.
Doesn't Like Paths.
"Oh, I don't like paths" said NJ.
Clemenceau to the writer. when you
have gone few times along the paths
of garden laid out trinity you have
no fresh sensations, no surprises.
You have the feeling of being confin-
ed, even imprisoned by the rec
tangular outlines. / never feel that
way here. I can walk anywhere If
7 watch my step, and you are not al
ways seeing the same flowers and