The President of the French Republic.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 131, 14 May 1872, Page 7

The President of the French Republic.

The following description of M. Thiers is from the pen of a correspondent of the London Daily Telegraph: — As the members were trooping back from the lobbies, and patient M. Grevy was waiting for the note of the numbers on each side, the crowd at the right door made way for a short, stout, squat man, with a square face and white hair, who walked, or rather waddled, to the bench facing the tribune, and sat down, or rather tumbled into, the seat. It was the President of the French Republic. He placed a pile of papers before him, and went through the process of handshaking with a few members. A Deputy ascended the tribune, and said a few words about the income-tax. When he had finished, M. Thiers raised his finger to let M. Grdvy know that he " demanded the word," and the expectant House cheered the uplifted digit. The elevation of that forefinger had a marvellous effect. I have so often spoken of the noise, the schoolboy din, the Bedlamite shouting of the Assembly, that I am bound to record the power of silence which it displayed when under the spell of M. Thiers. Not that the Deputies stilled their voices all at once. They took at least five minutes to stop speaking, although their vigorous efforts to be still were quickened by the sharp peals of the President's bell. Meanwhile, M. Thiers had gone up to the tribune, and was making his preparations for the delivery of a great speech in much the same leisurely fashion as a man might dress for dinner. A bundle of papers was placed in order ; a book, from which the orator had to quote, Wcis laid on the top of the heap, as if to pre- . vent any gust of passion from blowing the sheets away ; and then out came the historical pocket-handkerchief. M. Thiera's pockethandkerchiefs are peculiar. They are white, with a black border an inch broad, as if they were meant to imply that, even in blowing his nose, the President must display a token of mourning for Sedan. Presently an attendant comes to the tribune with a silver salver, on which are placed a glass of water and a glass of Burgundy. Before beginning and while delivering a speech M. Thiers drinks Burgundy as openly as Pitt used to drink port. A sip is taken from the red tumbler ; then a sip is taken from the white ; then, in clue historic order, the black-edged handkerchief is made to do its work ; finally, when all these little tricks of manner have been gone through, a somewhat feeble, but clear, voice speaks out with rapid utterance and beautiful articulation. Soon the voice begins to strengthen, until, at times, a sentence will ring through the Assembly. The gestures grow more animated, epigrams are shot forth like stones from a catapult, and loud cheers and approving laughter stop the orator now and then, enabling him to take breath, a new sip of wine, and a fresh rub of the handkerchief. On goes the wonderful old man, amid the intense silence of the Assembly, growing animated, throwing out his arms with youthful fire, and occasionally raising his voice to give force to an epithet until his words seem to be flung across the hall. For nearly two hours does he speak without showing any signs of fatigue ; and when he g.>es down from the tribune, members come to shake hands with the veteran debater in token of their admiraton.