San Francisco Call, Volume 77, Number 139, 28 April 1895 — MAX O'RELL'S WIFE. [ARTICLE]

MAX O'RELL'S WIFE.

Mrs. Paul Blouet Is a Good Cook and

an Accomplished Linguist. Something may be judged of the interest taken in Mme. Paul Blouet (wife of the clever Frenchman known to fame as Max O'Rell) in her husband's work when it is known that, with the exception of his last book, every word written by him has been translated into English by her, says the London Tit-Bits. She was a Miss Mary Bartlett, the daughter of a ship-owner. Her father sent her from the Devonshire coast to a school in London, and it was while there she met her future husband, who had come to London in search of fame, having had to retire from the French army in consequence of a severe wound received during the commune, which incapacitated him from further military service. In all his work she takes a keen interest, and not a line he writes goes to either editor or publisher until it has been revised by her. When a book by her husband appears she is impatient for the press notices, and reads each with eager interest. She writes herself, but does not publish many articles. She learned French when a girl, and after her marriage perfected herself to such an extent in that language as to be of immense assistance to her husband. She has been the sharer in her husband's travels, having accompanied him to America upon his last lecturing tour, and also through Australia. They reside in a charming house in a northwestern suburb of London, and have one daughter. Leonine Marie, who is now some 18 years of age. Mme. Blouet is an excellent cook, a model hostess, and is to be seen at her very best when entertaining her husband's friends, whose name is legion. She is a brunette, with dark brown eyes, and there is about her a combination of that vivacity and quiet retirement which is so seldom found. She often finds recreation in drawing, although her artistic efforts are only seen by her husband and daughter and a few intimate friends, and is extremely well read in French and English literature. In matters of dress she is a believer in the simple and is generally to be seen in black.

Cant, meaning mock humility, took its name from Rev. Andrew Cant, minister of Pitsligo, in Aberdeenshire, who, during the time of the Covenanters, was famed for his whining and pretending fervor.

One of the natural curiosities of Stanwood, Wash., is a "blowing" or "breathing" well, which exhales immense quantities of noxious gases.

The Canary Islands have a Latin name, canis, "a dog." They were so named from the large and fierce mastiffs bred in the islands.

The deepest well on our Atlantic Coast is that at the silk works near Northampton, Mass, ; depth, 3700 feet.

The only wooden shoe factory in lowa is at Pella, the Hollander's community, in Marion County.

The largest bible in the world is a manuscript Hebrew bible in the Vatican, weighing 820 pounds.