Year: 1874

tack. however, has not yet become 90
habitual TO HIM as 1t will doubtless be
after q few ycars' practice; so unite
suddenly he bounds to his feet as II moved nv
. spring and glares at his adversary like
wounded lion. His friends and supporters then
instantly wake up and observe him in sort OF
ecstasy OF admiration; but he thinks better OF It,
and. cOn'enting himself with q contemptuous
shrug OF the shoulders. sits down again without
word. Still, he has produced an effect and SO
great man cannot shrug his shoulders without
being rewarded with the applause Of his adher-
ents. NJ Gsmbetta, perhaps. does not think it
worth while to quarrel with respected general
oficer Just now, and he knows that an answer
from his tongue would give fictitious importance
to those hard words which will have no echo il
only dealt with by silent scorn.


The next speaker Is, therefore, a portly and
soemn parsonage, OF Ministerial rank, which sits
all awry upon him. He. is awkward and embar
rassed. He tries to keep himself in countenance
by 1umbling among the papers in his portfolio,
but ne cannCt find what he appears to
he looking Tor. Ne ither documents, phrases nor
ideas are ready. and after nearly an hour OF nau-
dlble dronlng about nothing he sits down amid an
oppressive silence broken only by a single snore
which ceases abruptly as though some sleeper had
been awakened by friendly intervention in the
nick OF time.


The Due de Broglie comes forward next, and It
cannot be denied that he is parliamentary
speaker of the first ranK who would do honor 10
any deliberatIve assembly OF free people His
language is very hne quite academic in its stately
periods and full OF deep meaning. He is quietly
and correctly dressed, but perhaps a little too
prim in manner. He might be taken at first sight
for banker VINO had made money by appear
ances; but there moments when his features
Of
his half open lips close with the nrmness OF lock-


At last the discussion grows very warm, ana
then small old man begins to speak. His black
coat is buttoned up so high that his necktie Is
invisible. But he has necktie. going twice round
his neck, in the fashion OF thirty years ago and
terminating In short, careless knot. His yellow
hands move rapidly before him, now crumpnng
his handkerchief, now taking up the glasses in
front Of him and moistening his lips There
two of these glasses-One contains black Coffee
the other pure water. The noise grows loud
that one might fancy ones self In the Tower OF
Babel or at an auction room in the East End OF
London. But the little gentleman only becomes
more animated as the hubbub increases His eyes
sparkle like black diamonds under his large gold
spectabes and his sharp piercing voice is heard
above all the cries and counter-cries OF angry fac
ton. He tells not without emo ION, OF his devo-
tion to his country, his constant efforts to serve
her. and his disnterestedness; he reers in terms of
strange pathos to his age and exhausted energies.
Some Of the nosier Deputies try to interrupt him;
but, on the WHOLE he is heard with attention and
respect. There are even cheers when he concludes
and descends from the tribune; but they fall
cOdly on the ear, and he walks away alone with
heavy step, in which fatigue and encouragement
are plainly visible.


Tne House adjourns rather unanimously; there
is rumor that the Ministry have resigned once
and that Marshal MacMahOn must form another
new Cabinet ask member OF the Right II this
is true, and he says that the Minister OF the In
terror only is out as yet. "But." he adds, I'VE
have eaten the nrst leaf of the artichoke" 1t was
night when l found myself In the street; some
carriage lamps alone broke the sombre gloom OF
the long avenue, hanked bv weird trees, which
leads to the station. The broken road was lashed
by the rain and swept by tine wind. l thought of
all the wild elements which are troub ing France,
and felt regretlul doubt whether she has yet seen
the worst. 1t is always comfortable, however, 10
hope for the best.