Year: 1865




One day in the early part OF the summer of
1876, NJ. Theirs was seen IN box Of the bull ring
OF Madrid, which probably he then visited for
the first time. He was accompanied by two or
three Of his countrymen, one Of whom was the
military attache to the French embassy in that
capital. From his manner and conversation, he
seemed TO be struck with a spectacle which for
him probably had all the charm OF noyelty-the
picturesque costumes of the attendants the quaint
ceremonial, the vast multitude, composed OF all
classes, from the highest TO the lowest, from the
grandee to the majo; the noise, the wit, the re-
partees of the Madrid manolas, and all the pride,
pomp and circumstance Of the Tauro-machia
seen 10 the utmost advantage But when the
ground was cleared, the key dropped by the chief
magistrate, who presided, into the cap Of the
matador, and the bull, magnificent ami.
NAL bounded into the ring, and stood
gazing with dilated eye on the shouting
multitude, tearing up the dust and lashing
himself into fury, and preparing to rush at the
hoIseman, who, with long lance In hand stood be-
fore him; the picture was perfect, and NJ. Theirs
could not help sharing the admiration which 1t
called forth. This soon changed. When the first
act was over-that is, when the first bull was
killed-he felt as every one does whom habit has
not hardened TO the sight. He expressed to those
near him his horror of the sanguinary sport and
Of the cruelty with which bull and horses were
treated, and the danger 10 which the fighters





bul-hghting did not make Spaniards more valiant


In the field. His arguments were unanswerable,
and as they were expressed as NJ. Theirs only can
express them, they apparently made q strong ims
preston on his auditors. This impression lasted
during the interval between the first and second
act but no longer for at the next display OF
force by the second bull in killing his horse out
right at the very first blow, or Of Sail by the
picador in planting his lsncehead full three
inches in his shoulder and the shouts which hail.
ed it, the new-made converts to humanity aposta-
tized and they applauded and shouted like the
most hardened amateurs. They, indeed admitted
the trath Of all that NJ Theirs SAID, but the old
habit was too strong for them, and his eloqueuce
left no trace behind.


During the three hours that NJ. Theirs spoke
the other day in the Legislative Corps on sub
ject 30 dry as the Budget, you might have heard
feather drop. All, friends and foes, deputies
and strangers, government commissioners and
opposition hung upon his words they could no
more speak or move than il they were under the


spell OF the enchanter. The last time but one
that he addressed the house was upon the address,
and the impression he made was far from favor
able. He advocated an Austrian alliance as in
dispensable to France; he secuted the idea of an
united Italy, and as in his famous historical ro-
nance on the empire. he justified his hero in
most if not all OF what he did and blamed those
who resisted him, so he thought that the division
OF the Peninsula into petty states was just and
proper because il favored the policy OF France.
In the debate on the finances, day or two ago
it was quite different. He seemed 10 carry every
body with him, and at the close of his speech
an observant eye might detect even the very


occupants of the official benches beguiled
into forgetfulness and joining In the gen.
eral applause though they may have snx-


ously turned round to see whether anybody
caught then in fiagrante. NJ. Theirs rarely at


tains the highest flight of what is called oratory.
He either does not care to do so or cannot do So
There is nothing lofty, or emphatic, or passion
ate or decamatory in him. His words, his tone
and manner are those used in ordinary converse
and are admirably suited to everyday questions
like the present He has wit at his fingers ends
and gilyanizes even arith netic with 1t. His
comparison of the ordinary and extraordinary


budgets to the overaden ship oblIg ed TO transfer
a part of her cargo to a smaller vessel alongside
and then tighten herself to get into port and his
division OF the financial comedy into five acts were
worthy of Beaumarchas. NJ. Theirs may not be
eloquent in the ordinary sense OF the word his
force is in what the French call cAuserie, but
| it is causerie OF which one can never hear
enough, so replete is 1t with life, so yoluble
sparkling, varied by historical illusions, always
appropriate, and anecdotes msryeously To
the point. His voice, shrill, slightly nasal
and Southern in accent, penetrates every
corner of the chamber. There is nothing en-
phatic or theatrical in his gesture. He now and
then buttons up his coat and folds his arms
unbottons and throws it back from his Chest, or
leans familiarly on his desk with his chin rest
ing on his hand. He hardly ever refers to note.
No French speaker / have ever heard has more
appearance of sincerity and conviction than M.
Tbiers. The quality of supreme sef-conhdence
which Sidney Smith ascribed TO a celebrated


English statesman still living, seems especially to
apply to NJ. Theirs. A well.known writer no
friend of.his, put this, some twenty or thirty
years ago, in q strong manner. Propose to N.
Thiers," said Simon:


The command Of an army, and he will not re
fuse it; and l declare am not quite sure that he
would not win battles. | swear TO you that have
heard with my own ears general officers so in
fatuated with him as to declare they would will
ingy serve under his ORDERS"


And Of his power OF persuasion:


Another time he will go right up to Soult, and
have the hardihood to tell him that he did moi
eYacuate Genoa with his army by the French
gate, but by the Italian gate; and if Sout hap.
pened to be wounded at the battle of Salamanca
he Will maintain, which the Chamber applauds


that il was in his left leg and not in his right,
Soult himself thought up TO that moment and
he will prove it so clearly that the old General


to be sure of the fact, inVoluntary puts his ngei
into the wound"