GAMBETTA’S DEATH.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1277, 17 February 1883, Page 2

GAMBETTA’S DEATH.

Owe of the Home journals gives the following account of M. Gamhetta'e liaiton and the circumstance whieh led to hie death :—M. Gambetta seems tn have made the acquaintance of Mademoiselle Levy Leeon (as she has of late been known), aheut 11 years ago. There had been a preceding littitnn of some duration with some one else, of which a aon now at school in Germany was the result. Fnr many years he maintained a mmaje in the Rue Bonaparte with Madame Leon, visiting her at first with circumspection, but later, when at the height of his success, disavowing al! concealment and appearing with her publicly. Finally, she became the partner of his country life Madame Lenn was the wife of a solicitor named Andre, and when M. Gambetta first met her, was a woman of the greatest beauty and dia'inction of appearance. At 44 she still had some attractions. As their intimacy advanced she became desirous of sharing his ambition She was mistress at Ville D'Avay. She presided at Gambetta’s dinners, and was present at his informal cnuneils, and while his prosperity actually continued she gratified her wishes in the political world of her lover in a small degree. Later on Gambetta changed He became more a prey to fits of despondency, and sought to seclude himself among his books. He saw few friends, and physically and mentally showed a predisposition to inactivity. He was disappointed. His patience did no accord with his years. He did not. feel able to wait. About 18 months ago her husband died, and to Madame Leon the world look brighter than ever. She thought that Gambetta would certainly marry her. She had visions of a salon, of a brilliant Republic of letters and of art, of which she would be absolute mistress. It was impossible, Gambetta said. To the Republic be owed his first, duty ; he could not afford to imperil his position. He was inflexible, and there was no longer peace at Ville D’Avay Madame Lervay, Gambetta’s sister, had long advised him to marry as became his opportunilies, and it finally came to Leon’s ear that he was engaged to Mdle. Dalton, a niece of one of the peers of France, a lady of beauty and fortune. I'his meant that he would shortly be totally lost to Madame Leon, and she at once sought to establish its truth. He admitted

that circumstance? compelled him to change his mode of life, tnat the sooner she accepted the ineritable the better, as his position and responsibilities made the proceeding imperative. At this she was so frenzied with rage and disappointment that she drew a pistol, which she says she intended for her self, aimed it at Gambetta, and fired. It was a painful but not necessarily dangerous wound to Gambetta. However, it was fatal. He was already a victim to diabetes, and the shock to his nervous system and mental disturbance which ensued were more than he could sustain.