AN AMUSING MISTAKE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7869, 3 August 1911, Page 8

AN AMUSING MISTAKE

There was great excitement yesterday (says the Baris correspondent of tho ‘‘Standard" on Juno 3rd) in a restaurant within a stone’s-thxow of the Chamber of Deputies. The restaurant is one frequented by many members of the Chamber, and yesterday M. Jaures was lunching there. As ho came in a little hubbub rose at the different tables/ Men leaned over to whisper to- each other and to laugh, and several people with laughter in their eyes, went up to M. Jaures aud congratulated him. The thing seemed quite incredible. M. Jaures, tho Socialist tribune, has been known for years as a man.having no sympathy with such baubles as the Legion of Honour and other decorations. Yet here he was with a rosette of the Legion of Honour, marking him. as oar officer or of an oven higher grade in the order, calmly ordering h meal before he took off hat and overcoat and sat down to enjoy it. When he was congratulated he ivus sam to start, to loot down ah the big red rosette in his buttonhole, to seize his overcoat with both hands and to feel in the pockets.' Then ho took tho coat off, called a messenger, and gave it him, and the mystery was explained to everyone’s amusement, aud to the relief of the Socialists present. When ho loft tho. Chamber he had taken a colleague’s overcoat instead of his own. and had startled a number of people considerably.