Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1929-01-10

what he did not; without great originality Tin
fact, charges OF plagiarism brought against him
for some OF his most famous pieces" have never
been fully disproved), nevertheless his table talk
and his letters are as delightful they were
In his day.
Urbane cheerful aware OF the sun though Il
might be hidden behind cloud this man had by
nature the gift OF social ease This is trait to
which all French women aspire and one they most
admire in their men. Their brothers found him
responsible, deliberate, thrifty, all French traits
Is 1t surprising that they received him as one Of
themselyes7
Knowing these facts then, 1t is not surprising TO
learn of the ovation which Franklin was given
when he arrived In France In November, 1778 In
commenting upon that reception Steel draws nm
interesting parallel with modern incident He
says
When the (of Frankiin's arrtvan reached
raris' the city turned out masse. On every
tongue sounded the name, "Franquelin Franquei-
IN ana an ovation was prepared for him such as
the town had never before arranged fer-snx-
stranger.
Franklin came back not to a small coter,. ~
the nelligentsia but to the whole French uennte
who had never heard of his former nresenca amang
them The excitement. too, included every class Of
society, the aristocrats the bourgeosie the work
ers 'tranquelini" came from peopIe sharing a
new land with the Red Indians a land from which
the hereditary enemies of France had driven hsr
settlers and people which was now engaged IN
suuggle Tor life or death with the hated Eng
lsh
IN the latter thought may be found partial
reason for their enthusiasm but only part
That an old man (the French had added sore
years to Frankln's soxante-dx) had left HIS
quiet hearthp braved the winter seas to come ia
teach them the true rights OF man warmed tha
universal heart and inspired In each person tha
strong desire to see for himself this man-ths
embodied dream.
The aged man, weak from confinement scarce
" able to walk, craved only quiet inn where
he might rest for d few days preparinr for tha
lana Journey. But IT was not to be- People crowd
ed round him. to touch his hand to feel his gar
ment The huzzas OF the crowd kept him from
sleeping. great feast OF welcome was made ready
for him at Nantes
modern instance Iindberghs arrival in Paris
In 1920 saves this description Of the wild enthus-
by the people OF Paris for Franklin from
the charge OF exaggeraton. 1t is the single ex-
ample OF modern times to reach the Franklin
climax and II should be interesting to compare
the two. Portraits purporting be faithful like
nesses of the Sage appeared on the street the dav
after his arrival. artists who had never seen him
taxed their imagination for picture of the man
who drew lightning from the clouds, and these
were artessy accepted as faithful likenesses unti
Doctor Quesnay placed portrait OF his friend in
the hands OF engravers and Mile. Bihuron had
sort OF commodity was put In shop windows la
beled Franklin"
But, despite this tumutuous welcome. the lob
which confronted Franklin was no sinecure Unon
the invitation OF Ray de Chaumont Franklin es
tablished his headquarters In the Hotel de yalen.
tnois in Passy, village on the outskirts OF Paris
and although the Hotel de Valentnois was looked
upon as the American embassy" Franklin,s
status as an ambassador was not officially recop.
nlzed The Comte de vergennes, minister of for.
eign affairs, made 1t plain when he received
Franklin and his fellow commissioners. Sllas
Deane and Arthur Lee. that "he saw them not-
as ambassadors, but as gentlemen TO whom, no
wished 10 show respeaS. This yergennes. how
ever, while telling Franklin that hts king, Louis
NJ hah warned nm TO preserve. neutrality "for
impoverished France would fall without ca,ca ~.
she broke with England was the same verpennas