One Sunday afternoon, last August, in Paris, Alexandre, head of the Fine
Arts Department of the Government, brought me an invitation from Rodin
to visit his studio. We found the successor to Michael Angelo turning
over in his hand an exquisite little head of Minerva, goddess of wisdom,
carved with the perfection of a lily or a rose. "He is always studying
something," exclaimed the author. But what Rodin wanted us to see was
his head of Clemenceau. When the covering was lifted, there stood the
very embodiment of the man who is supreme in France to-day,--Clemenceau.
The sculptor's face kindled and lighted up. "The lion of France!" How
massive the features! How glorious the neck and the shoulders!
Clemenceau makes me think of a stag, holding the wolves at bay, while
his herd finds safety in flight. He makes me think of the lion, roaring
in defence of his whelps. Our descendants will say, of a truth there
were giants in those days, and among the giants we must make a large
place for Clemenceau.
The invincible courage of Clemenceau is in the challenge he has just
flung out to the enemies of France. Reduced to simple terms it comes to
this,--"It is said that the Germans can get within bombing distance of
Paris, or reach the capital, providing they are willing to pay the
price. Well,--the Allies can break through the German line and gain the
Rhine, providing they are willing to pay the price. To destroy Paris
means a price of 750,000 Germans at least. The probabilities are that so
heavy a price would mean a political revolution in Germany. But what if
Ludendorff gets to Paris? Rome was twice destroyed, and later the city
of brick was rebuilt as a city of marble. Nearly fifty years ago the
people of Paris destroyed their own city, at an expense of hundreds of
millions of francs. The motive back of the destruction was the desire to
replace an old and ugly city by a new and the most beautiful city in the
world. Fire destroyed Chicago, intellect rebuilt it,--earthquake and
flame levelled San Francisco, courage restored the ruins. Enemies may
destroy Paris, genius and French art and skill and industry and will,
will replace it. Our eyes are fixed on the goal, namely, the crushing of
Prussianism. What if Paris must decrease? It will only mean that
civilization in France, and humanity, will increase." Reduced to the
simplest terms, that is the substance of Clemenceau's appeal. Never was
there courage more wonderful. Not even Leonidas at Thermopylae ever
breathed nobler sentiments. That is why Paris is safe to-day. That is
why France is secure. That is why we await with confidence and quietness
the next great offensive for the Germans.
In her darkest hour what France and the world needed was a hero, a man
of oak and rock, a great heart, a lion,--and the world found such a man
in Clemenceau. Nothing fascinates the listeners like tales of courage.
Not even stories of love and eloquence have such a charm for children
and youth. Many of us remember that in our childhood the crippled
soldier of the Civil War became a living college, teaching bravery to
the boys of the little town. For months Clemenceau has been going up and
down France, heartening the people. This Prime Minister with his great
massive head, the roaring voice, the clenched fist, is an exhilarating
spectacle. That hero of Switzerland, William Tell, left behind him a
tradition that it meant much to him to waken each morning and find Mont
Blanc standing firm in its place. Not otherwise all patriots, soldiers,
and lovers of their fellow men to-day can look on the great French
statesman and patriot and gather comfort and courage from the fact that
he still stands firmly in his place.