The sun., 1879-05-04
WHAr Is eoINe ON IN EUROPE

Russia. The assassination, and the attem pts
at asaassinatlon. OF which some Of the highest
officials. and the Emperor himself were the
objects. would not Of themselves have made
such a profound impression. since crimes OF
this sort are often the work Of individual
fanatics But there IL an evident system in
these Russian attempts which shows. unrnis-
takably. strength and organization.
Not long ago the Nihilst movement was
sneered at by the most intelligent Russian lib
erals; In eastern Europe II VIVA called n spasm
Of national lunacy; famous French journalist
described 1t az a conspiracy headed by women
and children" All this was correct enough in
Its wny. There arc many women engaged in
the Nihilist business. and the bulk OF tho con-
spring body was originally composed OF stu
dente OF tho various universities and colleges.
Most Of these being under age. IL WIS Legitimate
enough to call them children. But the growth
which the secret society. originally Rtarted by
these women and children. has since attained.
shows that there was some sound substance In
their theories and solid system in the devol-
opment OF them.
That secret society. started by q few jour
naiets and students, should. within few
years. have reached such dimensions. shows
that the great mass OF the people in Russia
have ripened to condition OF mind analogous
at the close OF the last century.
The stupidity OF the Russian Government IL
likely to encourage this movement The whole
vast empire has been placed under MARTIAL law:
people in the capital are forbidden to 20 out in
the streets after nine O'Clock without a special
permit the domiciliary Visits OF the police nre
carried on upon u gigantic scale all through the
country; and high officers are dismissed and
arrested on the suspicion OF participating in.
or showing leniency to. revolutionary tendan-
cies All this demonstrates that the Gov
ernment OF tho Car has lost its head.
and that the condition OF affairs has
reached a point which makes it n mat
ter Of general European interest TO in
quire into the nature Of the great national
contest in Russia. Sir Robert Peel was stupid
enough to put question in the House OF Com
mons as to whether the English Government
intended to take any action with reference to
the ropressive measures adopted by the st. Pc
tersburg Government To this Sir Stafford
Northcote very reasonably answered that Eng
land had neither the right nor the power to in
terfere in the Internal affairs Of the Russian EN-
pire. Nevertheless II would be idle to try 10 con-
ceal the fact that the Governments OF England.
Germany, and all OF the other European mon
arches are greatly alarmed by the movement.
and are willing 10 take any measure likely to
prevent the spread OF tho Nihist theories into
their respective countries. Reports OF certain
diplomatic negotiations show that measures
have been taken for the surrender. II not OF all
fugitive Nihllsts. at all events OF such OF them
RS can be accused Of murder. Formerly polit-
cal assassinations were not considered muir
ders pure and simple. and wore to a certain
extent condoned by the international laws.
To-day even the Government OF Great Britain
seems to be willing to surrender the refugees
against whom an accusation OF this nature
can be brought Switzerland having. for some
time past ceased to be able to give protection TO
this kind OF refugees. II is not unlikely that the
United States will become the harbor OF the in
criminated Nihilists. unless the newly organ
ized Roumania should prove a sufficiently safe
place for them TO dwell in. Being so much
nearer to Russia. 1t would naturally afford
greater advantages to the sanguine idealists.
who are trying. by means OF a rabd advocacy
Of liberal ideas and few revolver shots to
master the despotism oithe imperial regime the
retrogradc sefshness ofthe nobility and clergy
and the brutal ignorance OF 10000. 900 Of mis-
cradle wretches called " the people,"
To the wealthy Russians who were In tho
habit Of spending portion OF the year abroad
and who are now prohibited from leaving the
country. life must DO almost unbearable, espe-
cially at this time OF the year. when the exodus
10 western Europe used TO begin. Paris 10 In
its very bloom now. In summer It is almost
entirely given up TO Cooks tourists and all sorts
Of outlandish middle class foreigners. But
spring is the season OF the year in Paris. 1t
seems to Just suit the gay nature OF the French
people. depressed In autumn and winter and
worn out in summer. Paris is now all life and
sunshine. The Champs Elysees and the
Bois de Boulogne are gay with the
foliage Of the beautiful trees, the brilliant caval-
cades and rich equipages. Early in the morn
ing the avenue Of the Champs Eysees Is par
tieularly fascinating. People in this country do
not generally know that the Parisians are early
risers in the spring. Statesmen. artists Jour
nalsts. idle arstocrats. wealthy representatives.
Of the "dem monde all are TO be seen about
8 O'Clock in the morning on the road 10 or from
the Bots. And the curious fact is that, while
with us II is the middle-aged and elderly people
who chiefly practice early rising. early riding.
and early driving. in France II Is almost exclu-
aivey the Young generation that cultivates IN csc
habits. The moment spring sets in the young
folks all rush out TO ENJOY the draughts OF in
invgorating morning air. The fashionable
afternoon hours in the Park are left merely to
the old people.
The ancient maxim OF Z" early to bed and early
to rise has, however. lately received what may
ue ucdth uloW from 0fTtnhn doctor VINO. not
content to accept the wisdom OF nations. has
been collecting data on tho habits Of persons
who have attained great age. He has found
that in the majority Of cases those who lived the
longest were those who went TO bed the latest
The London World says:
out OF every persons who had attained the age nj
50 and upward lie found at least eight who were IN the
habit OF not going a. ted until the small hours and who
consequently were late userS The doctor opinion
that VafN rising tends rather 10 diminish han To
vital energy aud 10 shorten he he maintains thar Is
qdltr mistake Ia think that the morning hours are the
most sireuEth' nng ON the contrary they are nr ant
to produce iateue and the morning breeze more dan
gctous ~ some constitutions than the damp oi the even
ng
now regulation introduced on tho London
Exchange has vividly illustrated the constantly
increasing influence which the Hebrew race is
obtaining In the management OF the worlds
affairs. II has been tme-honored custom with
the bankers and merchant princes Of the city OF
London 10 assemble every Tuesday and Friday
on the Royal Exchange for the purpose of buy
ing and selling foreign bAs OF exchange.
Until steam and electricity wrought change. -
remarks the World those days had been set
out ns foreign mad days, and on Wednesdays
and Saturdays settlements were obtained for
the dealings OF tho previous day." There has