Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1891-10-10 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

SOME PERSONAL RECOLLEMONS.  General Boulanger was about the last man in the world who appeared a " likely " suicide. I hare seen him (writes one of the Pall Mall Gazette representatives) when, though an exile, he was vet at the height of his glory, and when, after H. gernmix's revelations in the Figure, he had suddenly to face the world as an impostor, and worse. But never once did it occur to me that he belonged in any sense whatever to the category of " heroes " who are content to olay their part during a brief, brilliant day, and when that day is over to plunge into the darkness of death. There was absolutely nothing of the desperado about him. His ruddy face, his bonhomie manners, and his self - complacency under all circumstances made one imagine that when he had run his course of cheap glory the black charger would be sold, the gak uniforms packed away, and Boulanger would disappear into private life with the smile half of amusement, half of contempt, which nearly always played around his eyes. I saw him for the first time just after he had arrived in London, a little over two years ago. Rio audience-room at the hotel was crowded, even at 10 a.m.; in his private room masses of costly carnations, in beautiful " arrangements," stood about, and dignitaries of almost every European country streamed in to pay homage to the bran' amend. He was ever gallant, and no sooner had I expressed a wish to be allowed to stay for a while and watch the changing crowd in the inner sanctum than General Bonlanger pushed an armchair near the fireplace, expressed himself "tout si fait charine," and invited me to stay as long net pleased. The stream flowed on Russians, Hungarians, Austrians, Poles, Germans, English, and French journalists, artists with sketch-book and pencil, came in, and were all received with the same calm, smiling courtesy. Once two strange-looking individuals came in compatriots of the great man, they said they were, and artists. But when it appeared that the special branch of the art which they practised had its home at the Polies Bergeres the great man lost his composure just for a moment, and his gracious condescension changed into an awkward stiffness before which the blue - coated "artists" lied immediately. In a moment Boulanger had recovered his stately serenity, came back again to where I eat. as he had done a dozen times before, and chatted glibly, amusingly, on all the social subjects of the day, He was a past master in the art of conversation, and there was that in his manner which gave a charm to any subject he touched. Unlike most Frenchmen, he talked slowly, occasionally pausing, as if arrested by some sudden thought, and then again, with a look of almost beaming benevolence, pursuing his subject. His voice was low and even in his speeches, which he read off wilenever I have heard them, he never made an effort of reaching his whole audience. What were the reporters for? his slight shrug of the shoulders seemed to atiy whenever somebody shouted, " Speak out." On that morning after his arrival in London, General Boulanger, with the prospect of being lionised before him, was in a very communicati re mood. Invitation cards with gilded crests and coronets lay by the score on his table. He took one up occasionally, and shook his head with a good-nattared smile. No, for some time to come he was not going out stall; he was far too busy with important affairs; but it was kind of the English thus to receive him. Yes, he had alvrays had a soft spot in his heart for the English, and was he not himself half an Englishman? Why, his mother was a Welshwoman, a true Welshwoman, and could I not see it in his face that he had something of the Gael in him P It was nearly *33 years, though, since he had been in England, and alas! he had forgotten the language, although he had remembered enough lobe able to read what the papers said. And then he took upsome newspayer cuttings, read then. and handed them across to me with a hearty laugh and a "Ma foi ! they know how to exaggerate in F.ngland as well as in Prance !" Then 'another admirer came in, and another brief audience t'.ook place.  -