Saturday, 21 February 1880

I go to hear M. Rouher's speech, and I must admit that despite the aridity of the subject, it was interesting. And then Rouher is an orator: no bleating, no bombast, but a fine gesture, a natural eloquence, a clarity, a logic that make one listen to him without fatigue and even with pleasure. It was Gambetta who listened religiously; he is not stupid, the president; he was learning.
I inaugurate an album on whose pages I shall paste all the articles, news items, etc., that I find interesting in the newspapers. Courtes, Ferret, de Rouzat.
Maufras, the Mirandas, Randouin, Gavini, Poitrineau, Piccioni, the Multedos (the old ones), Soutzo, etc., etc. This Soutzo has bought a newspaper that will make him do golden business, and he has had his hair cut like Arnaud de l'Ariege because I told him to.