The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-12-04
FOREIGN ITEMS.

AT least twenty new operas are announced
at the various Italian theatres for the winter and
carnival season.
"A niece OF Mendelssohn has lately entered the
Leipsic Conseryatoire. She Is said to exhibit
great musical talent
The English Presbyterans talk OF allowing in.
strumental music in churches where two-thirds
OF the congregation favor it.
An English paper seriously informs its read
ers that years residence in Chicago entities all
married couples to divorce on application.
Nilsson was lately paid $25OO in gold TO sing at
one concert in Brighton, England. This Is proba-
bly, more than any one singer ever before received
for one performance.
king William OF Prussia has just commuted
the sentence OF q murderer to imprisonment for
llre AS the convict had been proved guilty of
numbering four wives In succession and Of making
way with his two children, all from avarlcious
motives only, 1t is believed that the act OF elem
ency betokens the abolition OF the death penalty
in Prussia.
In a recent letter John Stuart Mill says that the
institutions of the United States are the most po-
tent means that have yet existed OF spreading the
most important elements OF civilization down to
the poorest and most ignorant of the laboring
masses. Consequently he does not fear evil from
ths immigration OF Chinese to the slight extent
which is likely to occur
The French papers are gradually getting "en-
terprisingn One OF them publishes poem, the
author of which objected to its having publicity
at present, as it is to appear in book In few
months. The editor states that as 1t was impossl-
BILE to conquer the poets reluctance, - little sub
terfuge" had to be employed, consisting in sending
shorthand writer to theatre where the verses
where to be read at u benefit.
The London Times In an editorial article on
political affairs in France, says: "The Emperor
has not yet mastered the full truth. Ministerial
responsibility, which lie has conceded, Is incom-
patib!e with the theory OF personal government
which he would fain rctan lie Is embarrassed
between two principles; undecided, haltinS and
uncertain which way he will incline. Time was
when such q condition would bode Ill for the
peaceful development of French progress, but it
Is now past"
Russian actresses have protested against the
undrcss SO dear to the present French stage. On
the occasion OF "Ie Petit Faustn being repre-
sented at st. Petersburg they positively refused
to don its costumes unless they were developed
into comparative decency; and the manager was
obliged to respect their scrupes, aud to sacrifice
what he considered one Of the most attractive
parts OF his display. These Russians had evident
ly never heard Of the boatswain's maxim, in Mid
shipman Easy, DUTY before Decency."
Tho amnesty recently granted by Louis Ma
poleon has liberated thirtyfour galley slaves, I'M
prsoned at Toulon These conyicts arc encourag-
cd to employ their leisure hours in the manufac-
ture of fancy articles, which are sold for their
benefit, and the proceeds are handed over to
them at the expiration of their sentences. On
the recent liberation by the amnesty, the sum
paid to the thrty-lour galley slaves amounted to
5000, being an average Of $3.50 for each convict
A sailor who had been nine years In confinement,
and was famous for his skill in the construction
of model ships, received for his share nearly $780,
The various sums due were formerly handed to
the prisoners Immediately on their being set nj
liberty, but now their earnings arc paid to them
In orders upon the civil authorities OF the different
towns appointed for their future residence, as.
under the Old system, those known to have re-
ceived the largest sums were generally waylaid
acd robbed by their less fortunate comrades.