LOURET'S QUIET LIFE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 262, 11 December 1909, Page 4

LOURET'S QUIET LIFE.

It Is wonderful how soon the people will forget a man who retires 1 from some big public position. The case of M. Lonbet, ex-President, of France, is an instance of this. "I used to think," lie renin rked some time ago, "that my political experience, the relations I have had with various monarchs, my knowledge of subjects of high import to the nation, would have kept me in men's minds, even tnougn lam no longer in power. Hut lam not interviewed in those days. However, one eonsolatiou has come' in the midst "f the general neglect. There in one at least who was a friend of President I.onbet who does not forget Citizen Lonbet. He came to see me not long ago, and we had a pleasant chat." Louliet'n tact and kindness wnue ne was in public life were proverbial. Once he was being shown through a 'picture gallery by a certain artist, and he began to criticise a particularly uglv picture. To liis dismay, lie found that" his companion had painted it. Lonbet covered the situation by saying: "You know that it is customary for a buyer to run down the tiling that lie lias set ibis-' heart on. I want that picture for T\\y-. self." Ihe angry artist was mourned, ana. Lonbet was as. good as Siis word. He bought the painting.