The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-11
WHAT rs COMO ON IN EUROPE

northern boundaries Of the British possessions
perfectly secure from Russian Invasion or
predatory attacks on the part OF the savage hill
tribes. The famous Major Cavagnarl is to go
as a resident British agent to Candahar: he
will actually WELD the controlling power In the
Government affairs Of Afghanistan.
Tho Afghan campaign did not at first promise
we'll for the English. and the reckless way in
which II was begun suggested the possibility OF
protracted struggle; but the cowardice OF
shere Ali. followed by his death. put q speedy
end to the strife. In less than six months tho
rash and almost desperate policy Of Lord Boa
consleld and Lord Lytton has been crowned
with complete success. II 10 for history to de-
eide what portion Of this success is due to the
genius OF the Prime Minister. and what Of it is
tho sheer luck Of political gambler.
The Prince Of Wales sustained defeat in the
House OF Lords on the subject Of what is known
as :" the deceased wiie's sister BILL" This Ia an
old story. The whole question is this: Is II or
10 II not proper for widower TO marry his late
wifes sister2 The English clergy. as n rule
strongly oppose the leRaliznR Of such mar
riages. The basis Of their argument is that n
man is liable 10 get tired Of his wife, and II this
bill were to pass. might forcibly get rid OF her
for the purpose OF espousinR her younger sis
ter. To assume that the presence in family Of
younger SISTER Oh lnt WIG. unucT inc pro-
posed legislation. would DO dangerous to the
happiness and life OF the elder sister. seems
monstrous supposition yet II is apparently held
by n large number OF Englishmen.
On the other hand. the advocates OF the legal
zation OF such marriages argue that in case OF
the death OF the wife. tho younger sister Is the
person best fitted to take charge OF the children
and the household In countries like Great
Britain. where the surplus Of unmarried wo-
men is very large. II generally happens that
whom the old folks die the unmarried girls go
to live with their married sisters The letter
thus find their household cares lightenod.
When a farmer. laborer. or a workinRman
loses his wifo. no almost invariably
asks her sister to take her place.
1t il with them n matter OF convenience. and
they have always been in favor Of such mar
riages. But the clergy have steadily fought
against the proposed change. Almost every
year the question OF the deceased wifes sister"
comes before Parliament. but until now II has
never had the support Of royalty. 1t appears
however. that tho advocacy OF the Prince OF
Wales and the Duke OF Edinburgh proved OF no
avail. The bill. supported this time by the pc
tition OF over 5000 Norfolk farmers was defeat
ed on the second reading. Allthe Bishops, with
the exception Of the Bishop OF Rpon. voted
against II.
From Zululand there has boon no news lately.
except that Lord Chelmsford asks for some re-
| endorsements. Labouchere. with his habitual
nauRhtiness. gives a curious explanation of the
origin Of the present war in South Africa. he
| evidently holds that a woman is to be looked
| for at the bottom OF every row:
Cetywayo loved Arabels, the barmaid Of missionary
who sold brandy a. MS store Ceywayo.s ln,enu9ns
h" b @a%SH 10th !. SSssS.ss the bar Gr az %
| match and the missionary afraid that II he
Sonssnied e the marriSss his, license to .sll
throne. cevwayo banished the missionary aud showed
Ses sir BSre Frere So~eS 10 aVors these ssStpY
Thus thanks 70 Arabela and TO anissonary wanting 10
2" S' Ta G"'' O' "s SAFE oil p' We are 'Ha'' " the
In Russia the Nihilist terror is evidently I'M
| abated. but the reports Of the repressve meas
| ures taken by the Government Of the Gar seem
| to have been greatly exaggerated. The 81. Pc
tersburg official newspapers reduce the number
| OF arrests from thousands to hundreds. and de-
clare that the army is all right as to loyalty. II
| is asserted that only three commissioned ON.
GERS have been arrested since February last
one OF whom has already been hanged for par
| ticipaton in the murder Of Gen. Mezenzof
| The Emperor Is quietly residing In the Crimea
| where Prince Alexander Of Battenberg the
newly elected ruler OF Bulgaria is to pay him q
| visit. Tho vast empire Is to remain for a month
| or two under the rule OF half a dozen Governors.
General holding dlctatoriAl powers. and OF a
central governmental committee under the pres.
idency OF the Heir Apparent The Car will
resume the reins in July upon his return tc
Peterhoff. his suburban residence.
The festvties which have lately taken place
at Amsterdam show anew the fallacy of the as.
sumption that Europe is becoming republican
| The old King of Holland is supposed to be de-
tested by his subjects Just us much as his late
wife. who died a little over year ago. was
| adored by them. He is an old debauchee Of 60
years OF age. and has compromised himself al
| over the world by his attentions to women in.
| Guiding the famous Nine. Musard and more
recently with the charming Morocco prma
| donna. Nine. Andre When his marriage with
| the young Princess OF WAldeck Pyrmont was
| announced. there was general cutlery through
out the quaint and sluggish Netherlands. The
outside world supposed that the King
would not dare to impose his new wife
upon his subjects. II appears. however
that no has done so. and with great sue
cess. too. After his wedding tour he returned
to Amsterdam. and was received rs heartily Ms
he could wish. Tho festivities lasted for sew
| eral days and the loyal citizens OF Amsterdam
| presented tho new Queen with superb set of
| diamonds. Since tho capital Of Holland is ia
| nous as n centre Of the worlds trade In Jewels
| the splcndor OF the jewels can be imagined
Tho London Graphic or tho Illustrated Ne,rs
will probably give US an idea of them next week
| Spain appears to DO suffering from partial
| famine. The scarcity of bread il so great that
| the Government has had to take control OF the
bake shops and the broad market generally. A
| proposition has been brought forward &c
abolish the duty on foreign breadstuns. but It is
strongly opposed by the landed aristocracy
| whose influence in the Cortes is at present
| paramount The rumors that King Alfonso
MI. is going to marry the Austrian Arch
duchess Mary appear to have some founda.
ton. At all events an intimacy has suddenly
sprung up between tho Courts OF Madrid and
| Vienna, Ar,hduke Rudolph, Heir Apparent tc
the imperial throne OF the Austro- Hungarian
empire, is at present visiting in Madrid, where
he was received in grand state.
Tho recent romantic marriages Of wealthy
young ladies with carmen and coachmen in this
country seem 10 have found a very unpleasant
sort Of echo on the other side OF the water. Tho
Truth says that divorce suit is impending
which will create prodigous scandal in British