OCR Text |
Show THE CITIZEN order a glass of beer, and while waiting for it he would take two or and CLEMENCEA ITS HUMOR PREMIER Clemenceau of ofFrance Ger- the measure man diplomacy long before the recent conference (writes Arthur peace Lynch in the Pall Mall Gazette). At the time when the Agadir affair threatened to light the conflagration that was started later by the murder of the Austrian archduke, the German ambassador came to see the French statesman ,and began to adopt the threatening tone which had served him well with lesser mortals. Gn this classic occasion the man who was later to be the outstanding war premier of France showed that he could smile as effectively as he has since shown that he can roar. In the face of the German potentates threats we read: Mr. Clemenceau did not turn hair. a Exasperated at length, the cried that if France did not am-basad- or at once climb down he would leave for Berlin that very day. Leaving for Berlin meant, of course, a declaration of war, and the ambassador had hinted that war would mean the annihilation of France in three weeks. The menace was terrible. Mr. Clemenceau, who was seated all the time, did not seem at first rightly to grasp the significance of what the German representative had said to him, for he kept rummaging among a number of old papers on his desk. Finally, he produced the French equivalent of Bradshaw, and, opening the deliberpages, conned the time-tabl- e ately, while the feelings of the were displayed throughout all the gamut from fury to amazement. Looking up at length, Mr. Clemenceau replied quietly: Well, it must be this evening; I see you have missed the morning train already.- The ambassador felt that his tire was punctured. He changed his tone completely, and Agadir was scored as a victory for French statesmanship. People who write about Mr. Clemenceau nowadays give him too often d the conventional airs that are to go with heavy statesmanship just as palms go with Africa. But Mr. Clemenceau is really too big a man for the pose and side and air of profundity and mystery that are am-basad- or . sup-rose- necessary to protect the second-ratdiplomat. There is in his nature a e vein of waggery, the spirit of (the Parisian street arab) that has more than once asserted itself on e Gav-roch- solemn occasions. At one time, many years ago, Mr. Clemenceau lost his chance of ruling the destinies of France until the fires of war proved the true metal by his frolicsome spirit An election was pending for president of the chamber, and the fortunate candidate would at once be in the running for the presidency of the republic. The votes of Mr. Clemenceaus party were in the majority, and his supporters were assured of his success. Now, one of the party was a queer old card, whom we will call Mouffler a snuffy old gentleman who had hit on an economical plan for getting his lunch. He used to go to the buffet three sandwiches and deftly slip them THE RICE BIRD'S FREE RIDE. Size and strength are popularly associated with victory, especially among the lower animals, but in many cases this is far from being the case, particularly in the bird world. Among the rice flats of the Carolinas there abound at some seasons tiny rice birds, birds so small that it takes two dozen for a good meal, even though Mr. Mouffler retired to his comer bones and all are eaten. as usual, but when the time came to The great buzzard is found circling fish out the sandwiches he was obover the flats at all times. He dreads served searching his pockets with a the time for the rice bird to come, for look of bewilderment. Then he looked he is then nearly pestered to death. up and caught Mr. Clemenceau laugh- It is a common sight to see one of ing with three or four friends who these tiny creatures fly up to a buzhad seen the maneuvre. Mr. Mouffler zard, and, after dodging this way and was furious. When the voting for that around the awkward bulk, finally president of the chamber took place alight well forward between the buzMr. Clemenceau lost by one vote. Mr. zards wings on the back. Here the Mouffler had turned the scale against little passenger grabs a few feathers him. It was some fifteen years before in his beak and holds on for grim life. Mr. Clemenceau was entrusted with After ( enjoying a ride for as long as power. he desires, the little fellow hops off Certainly he always had the power and is gone. of criticism, but there are great ups The peculiar feature of the whole and downs in the life of a journalist performance is. that apparently the that is the backbone of Mr. Clem- only purpose the rice bird has in getenceaus public character and there ting on the back of the buzard is to have been times when his various take a free ride. It puzzles every one little papers have depended for life who chances to see the little play to g on the good will of some find any other reason; yet the fact Mr. Clemenceau a3 little printer. remains that it is a frequent occura journalist is described under a thin rence, and the little birds seem to disguise in the Arriviste of Felecien enjoy it hugely. Champsaur, and the novelist has not missed the jaunty, waggish, demoTommy was sent to a barbers shop cratic side of the great man, with his hat cocked over his ear, his eye, which to get his hair cut. The assistant who to him had red hair. Would expresses so many things, not free attended from drollery, and the offhand, but you like to have your hair cut like friendly nod for the garcon of the mine? asked the barber with a kind hall. smile. No, sir, answered Tommy. I do not mean, of course, to imply Cut it some other color, please. any lack of responsibility in this leader of men. Mr. Clemenceau is a deep classical scholar, as well as a man of science, but he is not of the type of cricketer who goes out in a test match trembling with the solemnity of the occasion. He is always sure of himself, and he skelps the bowler over the chains with gayety and abandon. Moreover, during the war he has displayed a Napoleonic capacity for work. He sat on a number of important committees, and gave the right impulsion to all, but he never lost the wit and humor of Gavroche. His remark when Cottin was preparing to fire He is going to miss me was neither one of the heroics of The most refreshing nor the oracular melodrama Adelphi most satisfying! utterances of a hypnotized man; it was simply the shrewd judgment of one who had all his wits about him and on whom fear had no hold. into the tailpocket of his long coat, and then, carrying off his beer to a corner, he would quietly enjoy his frugal repast. Mr. Clemenceau knew of this trick ,and one day, when he saw Mr. Mouffler slipping the sandwiches into his he quietly took them out again. tail-pock- et r OBSERVATION PLANE (Continued from Page 8.) neighbor is permitted to sprinkle only the same number of hours during the Naturally, he feels that he is not getting his moneys worth. Of week? course, if it is a crisis, like the recent war, wherein we must conserve or perish, sacrifices would be made cheerfully. But is the water situation so serious that it is necessary to place every buyer of water on the same level, giving the same amount to user whether he pay six dollars a year or sixty? P MARMON 34 Enclosed M A R M 0 N S weighing under four thousand pounds, are in striking contrast to the excessive weight of similar models of other cars in their price class. long-sufferin- THE LAUGH WAS ON FATHER. The following epitaph is inscribed on a tombstone in Birmingham, England. says a writer in the London Sphere: Here lies the mother of children seven, Four on earth and three in heaven; The three in heaven preferring rather To die with mother than live with father. a HEWKLOVHHNGffl MMI If MS! At (Mill MVTN DRINK and AT LAGOON AT SALTAIR AT LIBERTY PARK Order from your local dealer or JESS G OLSON DIST. CO., Salt Lake Distributors 533 So. 4th West Wasatch 5664 Manufactured by Becker Products Co., Ogden |