The Daily Alaska empire., 1929-11-25


 suddenly in 1909 and overthrow ta ministry, but the power os Ciemaa ceau was not broken. When ts World War began Clemaleeau e., tered the Cabinet of Rene ViY.ali where he continued to criticize anc attack.
 Record As DueIiist
 Possessor Of a sharp tongue anc wieldnig wicked pen, Clemencear often was called upon to back UT with an educated sword or a steady pistol epithets and articles which the objects of his attacks regarded as offensive or defamatory. Hi reputation as duellist was second to none in France. He fought the editor, Paul Boucher, General Pous. sergue, Deputy Maurel, the late President Paul Deschanel, Prince Joseph de Chimay, former husband of Clara Ward, and at last the great patriot, Paul Derouledc. In none of these encounters did he meet with defeat and blood was shed in all.
 Georges Eugene Benjamin Gle menceau, "the deliverer of France, g which was one of several names ap- piled to him, was born September 28, 1841, in the province of La Ven- dee. He was a true child of the revolution and was proud to relate that his father too had been im- prisoned by Napoleon III at the time of the coup d'etat that de- stroyed the Second Republic.
 Most of Clemenceau's political activities were spent in the oppo- sition. He was known as "The Wrecker of Cabinets and was said, to be responsible for the downfall of more Prefniers than any other French politician When he be- came Premier the first time he was 65 and upon assuming power remarked T am an old debutante."
 Physically, Clemenceau was short and stocky, with a large head in clined noticeably forward on broad and stopping shoulders. He seemed to have been born bald; one could hardly picture him with hair upon his short skull which looked hard as oak. High cheek bones upon which the skin was tightly drawn like some yellow parchment, bushv Llows practically hiding a pair Of never flinching dark eyes, his fea- lures were of a pronounced Mongol- ian type.
 Visitors Welcomed
 Although entirely divorced from public affairs in France, Clemen- ceau always welcomed visitors to his little farm by the sea. Among his guests at various times were newspaper men who had been inti- mate with the Tiger during tha years he was one of the central figures fo French history then being written While the correspondents always got a story, they never got what they had hoped for-the old statesnlar's views on the current European and world questions.
 The Old Tiger loved to talk about his native region and especially the woods, for he could remember near 1y 80 years before when there were no woods there.
 In the modest little farm house of only one story there lived with Clcmenceau his valet and a cook. His nearest neighbor was half mile distant and his village, Saint Vincent -sur -Jard, 20 miles from the nearest railroad center, the Stables d Olonne.
 Speaking of his home Clemenceau said T don't own this house. you know. Oh, no, don't own any thing. This belongs to royalist Countess and she rents it to me for my lifetime at SIP a year. This royalist Countess is quite old and didn't do anything with this place before l came. It was nothing to her. Now she thinks when I die that perhaps the government would like to buy it. So in that case she will put on a large price and make money out Of the last home of Clemenceau."
 Breaking into chuckle he con- tinued: "So, when tell her I am feeling i'll, she is quite cheerful, and when tell her am in good health she is very sad"
 T always awake at 5 am" he said. That's because go to bed immediately after dinner. usually lie awake in bed for an hour in the morning, and think of thinqs and watch the sea. I arise at six. and I usually write for several hours before breakfast and before I begin my day in the forest or on the dunes. or riding about to see my neighbors."
 This explanation usually led to questions regarding the nature of his writings and what he intend cd to do with them. To one visi- tor he replied:
 Frankly, I don't know. I have not decided. I feel that I have learned my rest. but again, perhaps,