The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-07-26
NOTES OF THE RAR.


The Francals says: Italy promises to mafn-
tain a friendly attitude towards France. The
latter declines other aid unless Austria inter-
feres. Reports are favorable from the diplo-
matte agents in Denmark and Spain. Russia,
however, seems inclined to favor the Germans.
Many of our readers may not have a fair
understanding OF the word "rentes," which
occurs 80 constantly just now In our foreign
dispatches, and whose rise and fall seem to
constitute the financial barometer Of Paris.
They are the funded debt of France, not, how
ever, In the form of bonds, but simply loans
from the people. These loans are entered to
the credit of the lenders on the government
ledgers and draw specified rate of interest.
The holders of the debt are called "renters," !"
and the fluctuation in its value denote popular
distrlst or confidence in the government.
The quality Of the Prussian soldiery as to
their personal and family respectabillty Is
probably higher than that Of any nation In
Europe. The rigorous rule for all, even the
highest, commencing in the rar's; the excel
lence of Prussian educational systems, and the
sober enthusiasm Of the German people, con-
stitute them dangerous opponent. The
French have more elan; but the Prussians,
like the Anglo-Saxons, will bear whipping,
and, after defeat or two, may, perhaps, feel
Just ready to begin. On the other hand, the
French have always been demoNlized by re-
verses. ,.--=
-Auber's opera of ''La Muette de Portici,'
known to English theatre-goers by the name
Of '.Masaniello,n was always accounted mis-
chievous in political tendencies. The spark
ling music, the tremendous elan of the chorus,
raised the infiammable Frenchman to pitch
Of nervous excitement, and royalty prescribed
the charming and inspiring strains to French
audiences. In 1880 the production Of "Masa-
niellon In Brussels was the last ounce that
turned the scale. The audience, after hearing
the market chorus and the sufferings of the
dumb girl and the vengeance of her brother,
rushed into the streets, built up barricades,
and oil Europe was speedily in flames. Just
now Napoleon III permits Parlsians to hear
the "Masaniello."
The "Marseillaise" hymn, after being in
terdicted and replaced by the old royalist song
of "Dunols the Brave" Is again heard In the
streets of Paris. 1t always used to be the toe
sin of the barricade, but, singularly enough, it
now returns to its first purpose. Originally
written by Rouget de l'Isle, an officer of the
Strasbourg garrison, in the days of the first re-
public, for express use as war song By the
army of the Rhine, its introduction to Paris
was by the band of Marseialse sympathizers
brought to the capital by Barbaroux in 1872.
They chanted it In their march through the
streets to their work of blood. The declama-
ton of the hymn by Rachel was one OF the
most inspiring efforts By that great actress. Its
effect on the audience was electric.
Castle Garden, inNew York. the Mecca of
foreigners, no longer echoes to the tread of
the countless hosts Of German immigrants tn at
for so many years have sought refuge under
the banner Of liberty. The sudden change in
the aspect of affairs in Europe, and especially
the stringent laws of Prussia regarding her
citizen soldiery leaving her dominions during
foreign war, have suddenly checked the exo-
dus of Germans. Hamburg, Bremen, and Lu-
bec the great centres of emigration to this
country, are now doubtless blockaded By
French squadrons, and as there are no steam
ship lines from Trieste, in Austrian territory,
to this country. there is now no possible outlet,
unless it be through Holland, whose ports are
watched with jealous eyes by the enemies OF
Germany.