The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-05-20
FOREIGN ITEMS.

/ Since 1852 the French public debt has been
Increased 1851, 200 600.
MIR. Burlingame's Chinese embassy leaves
France for Prussia next week.
Queen Victoria has corresponded regularly
with the old KING OF Prussia ever since her
daughter married his son.
"A silk weaver IN Lyons has invented
loom 80 simple that an entire revolution in
the manufacture Of silks and satlps is pre-
dicted.
Bismarck, it is reported, lately said, in
reply to some English criticism on his poll
cy, eff were an Abyssinian, or a Hindoo,
or even an American, might, perhaps, care
what England thinks. But being European,
I do not"
Vast ruins have been discovered in the
Zulu country in South Africa-obehsks with
colossal cirvings, terraces, aud halls OF heHn
stone, or cut out of the solid rocf. The no
tives regard them with mysterious awe, and
keep strangers from them, for fe'r if they are
spproa ched no ain will fall for three yeals.
According to Chinese writers, the great
bell of Cantcn was cast five centuries ago. At
first ~ person was bold enough to strike 1t.
Afterward, however, one O. the officials order
ed 1t to be struck, whereupon npwarl OF one
thousand infants, male1 and female, died
throughout the city. On this account, young
children, both boys and girls, were made to
wear clothing with frInges, to which small
silver bells we're attached, as charm 10 ward
off the evil influence.
"A gentleman in search of lodgings in Paris
inquired the price OF room, and was told that
it was Blk hundred francs year. Remarking
that it was too high, he crossed the street and
found another precisely Ike the first, which he
was told was eight hundred francs. "Two
hundred fr ,ncs more than the other side Of the
street 2" '.Ab but if Monsieur should happen
to die iu this house be would be buried at
Pere Ia Chaise. while If he should dis on the op-
posite side o. the street he wou d be carried to
Mont Parnasse."
-Victorlen Sardou, the popular French dra-
matist. ten years ago found himself standing,
one vintry night, in doorway, with roll Of
refused manuscript III his pocket, with the
wind and ralu penetrating his miserable cloth
ing, without money and without friends, and
worse than all. with an inexorable landlord
who had turned him into the street to starve
or to freez,i Now ho receives thousand
francs day for his pieces; he owns the mag
niHcent chateau OF Maria, on the hill, near
Malmasion; he lately built business house in
Paris to rent, and he has money in the funds.
The dauaes d'honneur at tho French court
receive each salary Of about f4SO per apnum.
They are not lodged in the palace. but apart.
ments are assigned to them 10 Paris. The gen.
tlemen of the court and the dcmo.selles d'hou-
neur however, have rooms in the Tuileries.
The days service OF the dame d'hoaneur, or,
as we should say, laly-in-waiting, does not
commence until haf-past twelve, when court
oarri Ige ID sent to the one on duty to convey
her to the palace. The Emperor and Empress
breakfast quietly together al eleven A. NJ, and
at on, the Empress requires the Attendance OF
ber suite. Tho Iadv-in-wa'tinz ropairu to the
drawing room, and is present at tie audiences
given there by the Empress; drive follows
and sh, then returns hone to dress for din-
ner; the court carriage is absolutely at her
service and Oh ders tor the whole term OF the
weeks duty. Dinner over, il there are no tho
str1cal entertainments, childish games are al
lowed for the amusement Of the Prince 1mpe-
rial. Tea is introduced at ten. There was
yery lately violent discussion between the
danes and demoiselles d'honneur as to which
Of he two had the right OF handing to the EN-
press her cup OF tea. But as the danes dhon-
neur urged that they presided over the tea
table thew triumphed, aud to them the privilege
was conceded. At 11.S0 P. NJ, the court car.
riage once more conveys the lady back to her
apartments. 1t is the custom, while In Paris,
for two always to be on duty at the same time.