M. THIERS.

Southland Times, Issue 1662, 15 November 1872, Page 3

M. THIERS.

A correspondent of the Spectator gives the following description of M. Tbiera: — "If the term 'dwarf did not usually suggest deformity as well as littleness, the popular epithet Nain-geant would perfectly apply to M. Thiers ; but he is a symmetrical mite, neat, dapper, though, like Sim Tappertit's legs, * stupendously little.' I hardly knew how little until, afterwards, I chanced to notice that Louis Blanc standing beside him looked tall in comparison. With his dark withered face, his bright spectacles, his tiny figure, his steep head* thickly covered with hair like white spun-glass, and his fidgetty little hands — which, when he contradicted the speakers flatly and frequently he pushed up and out before him, reminding us irresistibly of Miss Mowcher — M. Thiers enthralled our attention. Even with the assistance of his hair and his complexion it is impossible to believe in his age, his vitality is so real, his gprightliness is so remarkable. He gets lost in a crowd, he climbs into his seat like a small child ; he squeaks like Punch feebly represented by a tired performer; his most impressive remonstrances against the facts and figures of commerce and the deductions of its Chambers were delivered like the utterances of a penny trumpet in trouble, his gestures resemble those of a refractory child refusing to be ' dipped ;' and yet he is an impressive little man and though he did not believe in railroads in 1840, and never could speak a word of English, and seems to English people hopelessly in error in his protectionist policy, his very obstinacy is interesting. He, at least, is painfully and desperately in earnest. He talks a great deal, and there is a perpetual coming and going about him, until the seance formally commences, and gradually the whole of the Salle is filled."