Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-17

And these are the two concepts of
Herriot held in France. The first, an
actor, a man of clay; the other, a
genius-the writer, statesman, hero.
The real Herriot is both. He is the
typical French politician, peasant in
origin, with all the solidity and COM
mon sense of the land behind him,
opportunist and bourgeois in his poll
tics, yet calling himself radical be-
cause, like Doumergue and BRAND, and
even the aristocrat Cailaux, he has
found that nominal radicalism Is the
quickest way to the top. Perhaps where
the other statesmen are more Suave he
is more energetic. Among French
politicians he Is conspicuous for the
whole hearted, strenuous, "Americaine"
manner in which he plays any part to
the full.
Always Center of Things.
Somehow Herriot Is always the center
of things, however innocently.
The scene of the broken nose will go
down with many another Herriot cpl
sode as classic of French politics.
Unfortunately for the sensation seek
ers, it was not Herriot's own nose that
was broken, but the nose of a statued
statesman, Emile Combes, whom he was
apostrophizing. To all intents and pur-
| ..
| For a man of Herriot'S ingenuity q
portfolio in public instruction is rich
with dynamic possibilities. In the Third
Republique the question of the church
| in education has proved broncho
harder ito bust" than Roosevelt's trust
issue. Emile Combes first put through
| legislation banishing the church from
the schools. Like the Volstead act, this
prohibitory legislation has been difficult
to enforce. Herriot's party has tried to
| tighten Combes' original acts, while
other parties, even united with Herriot
In the Union Rationale" have tried to
loosen them. The issue smoldered for
weeks, but when Herriot got up in the
tiny public square at Pons to eulogize
the memory of Combes it broke out
fiercely, and in the ensuing scandal be-
came so hot that the coalition ministry
dissolved
Science Honors Him.
Now. when Herriot speaks there is an
impressive silence. There are perhaps
10 other orators in Europe who are his
equal He was born with good voice.
His job, when he became a professor,
was teaching elocution. Today, in the
prime of life, he can make his voice
dramatic enough to hold the rabble
whom politicians must address, or mel
low and winning enough to charm a
mob Herriot relies neither upon the
big-stick, clenched-flst methods Of
Roosevelt nor upon the sword rafting
OF Wilhelm. He uses his voice.
AT PonS, when he had finished his
speech in memory of Combes, the quiet
little town became political arena. A
group Of youths stepped forward osten-
sibly to lay floral tributes about the
statue. One Of them, hoisted by the
others, whipped out q hammer,
Chipi Chip! Chip!
Poor Combes' nose fell in stony frag-
ments. His chin was battered.
This for the man who made our re-
public Coolest"
SwelIs Into Issue.
The bust was ruined before the desc
orator was pulled down. The police ar
rived and the melee spread. One man
was shot dead and several severely
wounded. In the midst Of it all Herriot--
shaken, yet powerful-reappeared. He
questioned the bleeding policeman who
had fired in self-defense. He stood, with
that admirable feeling for the mobs
mood which always characterizes him,
for just the right number of moments
silent and respectful before the statue,
dedicated, now, in blood And then he
placed his hat again upon his head and
insisted that the program of the day be
carried through.
In two weeks the incident at Pons
Union Rationale" split like a hollow
tree and Herriot stepped forth.
Wnere does Herriot get his unbound
ed energy? He Is Of sturdy stock, of
Frances peasant aristocracy. He was
born not far from Troyes, on the upper
Seine, In that region which Jeanne
dare delivered from the English. From
such stored country he came down
to Paris, yet after his schooling he
again went back to the provinces. Until
ms rise to international prestige his ca
reer centered, not in Paris, but in Lyon.
Prepared Since Childhood.
From his childhood Herriot was pre-
pared for government. He thriyes on
action and enjoys it. His mask Of good
numor covers his multiplex plans.
Wnen Herriot is not dog-tired he has
one OF the most winning smiles that I
nave ever seen. He looks much more
ready to twinkle into merriment than to
rise In the Chamber to ask pointed
questions that confound the opposition.
The laugh lines about his eyes form
wrnkled crow's-feet that cut deep and
break the solid square of his heavy,
tnick-set face. On one side they tangie
1ogetner and trace 3 furrow down TO-
ward the lips, while on the other they
scurry away quickly before the upward
mare OF nostril. So small are the eyes
ana 50 ponderous the cheeks that one Is
| grateful for these furtiye evidences of
humor. How impenetrable they are.
these smiles and these twinklesl What
a perfect face for politician!
More Than Mask.
| Herriot's whimsical visage served for
much more than mask It Is the true
| expression OF one side of his being . .
the boyish Herriot, occupied with the
pursuit OF hobbies and of letters. Even
| Herriot's hobbies bear real burdens.
| Years ago he took voyage Of explora-
ton across the Atlantic and discovered
America. When he returned he wrote
book about 1t. America, or. more
exactly, American ideas, became one of
his passions. He put Yankee methods
OF organization into the routine of
Lyon.
He took motto. It is contained in
the titles Of the three books which first
Drought MN prominence in political lit
erature: Agir, Vouloir and Creer-Act!
| VIII! Create! So thoroughly has he
absorbed this doctrine that he permits
himself no vacation without writing a
book, or no artistic passion without lot
ting down its record He goes of to
play in Normandy and suddenly comes
back to publish Dams la Foret Nor
mande." He visits a Beethoven festi-
val in Vienna and returns to write
book about the composer. After years
Of antiquarian interest he gets together
his notes on the Renaissance In South
ern France. Even MS literary fiirta-
tons are sublimated into biographies.
Some years ago France had the spec
tacle OF her first minister publishing a
romantic, well documented but some
what impertinent life Of Mime. Recamier,
drawing her portrait In words as well
as ever did Ingres or Nine. Lebrun in
| their ripmentR