The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-02-25
ion in Franco. and the yoarly surplus has been

bust that the Bank of France refuses to accept
gold except at a discount, prefcrring its own
notes 10 coin. This state OF things in van
pushed France contrasts sharply with the
financial position OF victorious Germany.
Tho Kaiser acknowledged in his speech
at tho opening OF tho Rcichstag. on Thurs
day last. n deficiency of over sc 900 900.
which. to judge from tho experience OF past
years. will bo considerably increased before
the year is out. The old Kaiscr's speech was
tame and melancholy. Its only really interest
ing fcaturc was the confidence expressed in tho
preservation of the peaco Of Europe: yot tho
largest expenses are still incurred for war pur-
poses.
Tho national debt OF France. duo ex-
clusivcly 10 tho wars In which che has
been engaged since 1913. will absorb this
year about $l50.000 900: the pensions to in
valid soldiers. widows. and orphans, t22.-
100000: tho army. fllO.00O.OOO. In this way
just one-half Of tho whole revenue Of tho coun-
try IL sacrificed. Had 1t not boon for the Girl
mean. tho Italian. tho Mexican and the Ger
man wars. and the present supposed necessity
of keeping large standing army. France
would not owe cent In the world.
The other sensation in Paris IL the now play
Of Sardou. The talented dramatist has. this
tmc touched new and very original chord.
female spies. The play. full of admirable situa-
tons aud sparkling dialogue. is pronounced by
the scvcrcst critics. one of the best Sardou has
ever written. With the general public. how
ever. the great question IL. whether the work il
piece OF fancy. or a copy from real life Our
opinion Ia. that. like most pieces Of this intensely
realistic dramatist. II has very little fancy work
in ii. High-lfe female spies nourished under
the second empire. and have not altogether dis
appeared even now. Besides. they are not ex-
elusive products of French soil. Russia. Aus
tria, and Spain have had at all times. and have
still. many fine specimens Of these poisonous
flowers. Italy too had plenty of them in the old
days before unity.
The gossip mongcrs have but q very poor
treat this week. There il scarcely anything in
the way of scandal to record. except the alleged
clopement Of Adena Patti with the tenor. Nlco-
lni. and the consequent action brought by the
Marquis dc Caux for Il divorce. 1t is by no
means likely that the Marquis has made any
such application. for both he and his wife are
Catholics. But he can easily succeed In pro-
curing a separation. should the alleged facts be
established. Tho dird is said to have eloped
from St Petersburg. Tho Russian opera sea-
son has Just closed. and most OF the artists have
left the capital. The strange part OF the report
Is that Patti. who is a woman Of refined taste.
should have selected Nicolinl. He Is one OF the
coarsest and most vulgar men on the Italian
stage. A few years ago. when he began his
brilliant career. he had 10 take lessons in walk
ing. dressing and pronunciation. Wealth and
the artists life may have polished him; but the
common extraction and the utter want Of edu-
cation will always betray themselves.
Another prma donna. Christine Nilsson is
also said to be in trouble with her husband. NJ.
R,.n, bA ia 70 ln in l1a lnat AT n
consumption. Mile. Nilsson has never enjoyed
the reputation of being person OF pleasant
temper, and good many people Oet us hope
mostly cnvious womcn) say that there Is moth
ing to be surprised at in the results of this
match.
The report that the Spanish Prctcndor Don
Carlos. intends entering the Russian service in
case OF "a war with Turkey. seems to bc correct.
He soiourneI for some time in Bucharest.
enjoying himself in the society OF Russian
cmssares and Rounanian ladies. and trying
10 learn the Russian language. More recently
he has reached Kichcncff. the headquarters OF
tho Grand Duke Nicholas. He was received
with regal honors. Iii wife. Dona Margarita.
Is once moro away from him. She has
exchanged her residence at Pau for the
new house just completed in Paris. She APP
peared among the mourners at the requiem
mass in the Chapclle Espatoire on the eighty
fourth anniversary Of the execution Of
Louis XVI.
But II Russia is thus going to acquire young
General experienced in defeat. It has lost one in
the person Of Gen. Tchcrnayeff The ex-Com-
mandcr-in-C Chief Of the Scrvian army. on as
suming his command was naturalized as a
Serb, and has since behaved toward the Govern
ment OF the Car as II II were n foreign power
4 short time ago. a banquet was 10 be given to
the General in Paris. where he has been consid-
crably lionized. and he was To- deliver n speech
on the Eastern question in general, and tho re-
lations OF Russia and Servia in particular
Prince Gortchakon. for some reason best known
10 himself, objected. and. instead OF simply
sending an order To the General TO hold his
tongue. directed the ambassador at Paris
Prince Orlof to call upon the ex-Command-
cr-in-Chief and request him at least to
postpone his GRAFTON. The General graceful
ly consented TO do SO. and promised not TO
"speechfy" on that subject before the date Of
the banquet to be given him in London under
the craftsmanship of Gladstone. At the pres
ent moment the General is resting at the
Isle OF Wight. He has met everywhere with
brilliant receptions; but in Servia and Russia
the talk about him is not very complimentary.
He seems TO have behaved very indiscrcety at
Prague. and is accused Of having squandered.
or permitted to be squandercd. most of the
money which the benevolent Slavonic commit
tees sent out TO him for the sick and wounded
II is said that high living was INDUCED in AT the
headquarters OF the Commandor-in-C Chief, while
the hospitals and ambulances were in want Of
necossarios
The death roll Of notabilitics Is not largo this
week. Carlo Guasco. one OF the famous tcnors
OF twenty years ago. the great rival of Mario
and Tamherlik has Just died. Donizctti COM
posed for him Maria di Rohan. Verdi " Her
mani and Lombardi." He was one Of the
most romantic tenors. Rich. we'll educated.
chivalrous. handsome. and indolcnt. he was
always n great fayorite with the ladies. His ar
tistic reputation was achieved mainly in Italy
and Russia. In st. Petersburg having been one
evening insultcd by his stage manager. he at
tackled him with the stetto he had to carry In
Maria di Rohan." and was banished from
the country. OF late years he had entirely
withdrawn from the stage. Another death to be
registered was that Of the widow Of Au-
guste Comic. the father OF positive phi
losophy. Tho death OF Francois Au-
Der. which occurred some six years ago
has just been recalled to memory by the