A GREAT PERSONALITY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2554, 31 August 1915, Page 4

A GREAT PERSONALITY

-« Mr. Hudyard Kipling, who has 1 just returned to England from a visit to France, gives a graphic description of the manner in which thb French people are throwing their whole soul into the tremendous struggle for their national existence in which _ they are now engaged. "Franco is not merely fighting this war—she is living- it;" She did not want war, but now that it has been forced upon her she is fighting with fcho unflinching determination begotten of the knowledge that the alternative t9 victory is national death. The nation is saturated with the .war spirit. The peril of death has ' given new strength to the will to live and conquer. France is fortunate in the men who are controlling her destinies in this great crisis—the greatest in her long and eventful history. ; President Poincare, M. Rene Vivi- 1 ani (the Premier) and General Joffre are striking personalities and whole- j hearted patriots. They spurn the i idea that France has run her course; but they would rather see her perish ' than submit to the brutal yoke of ' Germany. A recent cablegram stated i that M. ViviANi's speech in the Cham- ■ ber of Deputies last week was "the J finest that France, and perhaps the i world, has heard since the beginning r of the war." In that splendid utter-' -i anoe he expressed his conviction that "France is now equal to her des- [ tiny," and that there will be no division among Frcriohmen until Bel- ' stinm has been restored and Alsace- J Lorraine reconquered. M. Viviani i has; been described'as "the supreme ' living master of speech." Ever since 1 his entry into public life he has been ? a fluent speaker, but, according to a character sketch of this remarkable 1 man, j somehow his genius as ail orator shone j with unwonted, brilliance all at onco . when ho had turned forty-five. -Not that ° his vocabulary seemed more-, copious, or' 1his.'gcsture finer, or his varying mood ad. a ditionally infectious. Rene Viviani lias 0 managed to integrate liis capacities at last, to discharge, in one volley, m the "Figaro" iisscrt#. the nrtlllcry o{ a per. wjialitj top ecaUcnti bet'orqn 1-

i It is _ not merely his words but also - the vivid personality' which finds ex- - prcssion in them that makes his eloquence so fascinating. He is a v heavy,'big-framed'man'with a wonr derful voice which has been describs cd a«_ "s,\ kaleidoscope of sound, :1 changing its effects in ever new com- , binations, but always recognisable as a Viviani." The spell ii} which he i holds his audience is in his flashing 5 eyo.as well as in his ■ marvellous - voice. And yet ho is something - much more than a mere voice and t manner. "He carries an atmosphere t with him."_ He is a keen judge of L' men. Few if any understand human - nature better than M. Viviani, and - lie' knows how to make use of his pc- - culiar gifts and qualities. It has s been said that he can achieve more 3 in the Chamber of Deputies by merei ly waving his hand than "an ordinary j politician can do by,a carefully-pre-l pared oration. . Even the greatest 3 men have their_ limitations, and M. , Viviani has his, but his personal t characteristics mark him out as an 1 inspiring leader at suoh a time as - the present. . His so'cial and political i, point of view differs from that of 1 President Poincare, but the two 3 men are absolutely at one in their : determination to continue tho War j until the cause of freedom and jus- - tico has triumphed. It is this policy i of a fight to a, finish which the Chani- - ber of Deputies has just affirmed by i 539 votes to one. -The snirit in which France is fighting is invins Cl ,, The has brought out > all the best qualities of the nation. • Jivery Frenchman feels that. France 1 is worth fighting for, and living for, i and, if needs be, dying for. No sac- > ri . t ? 1 k°° Rreat. The civilised ' world is watching France with ini tense_ and admiration. - Heroism like this will never' accept ; defeat. M. Viviani is right when ■he declares that-"a- nation which is [ capable of arousing such enthusiasm ; is imperishable."