Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-29
BY CoMMANDANT BUGNET.

written Exclusively for The Star and the
North American Newspaper Alliance)
At Bombon, in his Office, the marshal
used to stride up and down the room
smoking his pipe.
Every day I made the journey with
the marshal from the Office to the Rue
de Grenelle at least once, often twice. A
few hundred yards, few minutes walk
1t was the best moment Of the day
Each time. before parting. he would stop
in front of our door with a remark,
THE meeting is adjourned" or else ex-
claimed as he moved on, Closing time!''
Unless. in a tone Of gayety, he flung
at me: "Ahal I'VE now part"
Gems. Weygand and Desticker left
with him, and accompanied him to the
gate.
His style Of speech was vital and full
of color. His arguments were often too
rapid in their very effort to avoid ex-
cessive completely. He could handle
ironys was not afraid of joke and did
not shrink from a strong expression,
but without ever descending to vuigarity.
Did Not Conceal Dislikes.
He frankly proclaimed his tastes and
preferences; he did not conceal his dis
likes.
Sometimes I would think him alb
sorbed. would not care to distract
him. And of his own notion, after a
certain time, he would begin to think
aloud He continued his inward debate
and gave a shape to his musings Some
times, If the person or the event I was
trying to discuss was displeasing to him,
he did not reply or did so with a grum-
BILE. Then, to break a heavy silence.
had to find another subject. 1t was not
always easy. l knew already only too
well those subjects which were taboo
novels, for instance. OF these he once
said:
Il have never read much. The staff
college. then the command of divi-
sion, then an army corps. I had
enough to do. have never read any
of Anatole France. Yes I know.
He had wonderful command Of form
Form? How do you suppose that
concerns me? If it does not help to say
something, what use is it? Language
is beautiful and useful only in SO far
as it serves to express ideas. " Form
work. What good is a fine frame II
the picture is hideous? Artists? You
see, times change. And nowadays it Is
| economic questions which take prece-
dance.
I'VE Latins are too fond of form; we
are carried away by beauty of form II
would be better for us to apply our
| resources to our new needs. = Let us
| beware Of becoming Carthaginians like
the English, who are developing into
the merchants of the world+ But
let us also take care not to become
| Athenians."
Praises Cardinal Mercier.
On the other hand, speaking OF
Cardinal MERCER, the marshal said;
He was a great man. He scared
above us all. but he was no dreamer
| he was man OF action"
The marshal's phrases were brief
and compressed. his speech abrupt. al
| the risk of ignoring grammatical con-
| struction. Their theme passed from
one personality to another without any
| indication; but the meaning was clear
The word they" was continually
breaking in, to represent people he did
not wish to name, though he wished to
discuss them!
Though his speech was rapid, his
| thought was even more so 1t was
often hardly given full expression. II
was almost riddle. And If suggested
and answer, to show that understood
| it was useless, because he was no long
er thinking of what he had just said
| When out walking the marshal was
always In mutt, and he went home by
car on days when he had to wear uni
form. Quietly dressed. he wore in his
buttonhole only the ribbon of the mill
| tary medal.
! In the mornings, on his habitual
| journey, he was recognized by the pass
| ersby Most of them were officers
from the ministry and the defense COM
mittee.
Sometimes the marshal saw an UNI