The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-11-08
LONDON LETTER.
(From our regular correspondent. /,

IONDJN, wv. 49, AO'"'
A speech by NJ Paul Bert, especially on
education, is always deserving of attention,
both on account of his mastery of the subject
and the vigor Of his language, but at the ban
quet given to him the other day at Bagneres
de Bigorre, it was NJ. Bert's fate to dwell on
Article 7, and this topic Is now so very thread
bare that there is little to be added even by the
most eloquent orator. According to NJ. Paul
Bert the measure, as it is at present framed, is
absolutely perfect for, said he, "whoever de-
slres less or more, or otherwise, does not un.
derstand the situation" hespeaker declared
that ii was great mistake to suppose that the
Ferry Bill was aimed at the Catholic religion.
" I'VE shall never, as public men and leglsa
tors, make such mistake as to attack re
ligion which includes, perhaps, amillon think
ing Frenchmen and ten million women"
These figures are striking and, if M. Berts es
innate be even approximately correct, they are
whose numbers are small, especially If only
true believers are to be reckoned, the male
population of France may be taken at eighteen
millions, and yet only one million are sincere
Catholics, whilst ten times that number, or
more than half tho women in France are de-
voices. II would be curious to know how M.
Bert divides these religious men among the
political parties. At the beginning of his
speech he mentions the Royalists without a
King, the Imperialists without an Emperor,
united into the clerical army. And he warns
the Republicans against internal divisions, for
groups in their party cannot be formed until
their enemies have completely disappeared.
But have not dlssensons premature and dan
gerous, as NJ Paul Bert calls them, already
arisen? The question seems rather, can the
Union Repubicaine once more be established
j Will NJ Gambetta do il? Can NJ. Gambetta
: do It?
Active search is being made by the police
for the murderer of M. Lagrange and his ser
want, Zole Gaillot The man, Valdez by name
posted letter at Rouen the day following the
: murder; hence the police at once set out fol
that town. But Valdez took the train back tc
f Paris. His photograph was recognized at the
I Serquigny station as that of passenger by the
seven o'clock train. He made good break
fast at the buffet, for the tram halted at this
r station for twenty minutes and the walters
: state that he drank small decanter full o.
brandy. He must have arrived in Paris a
eleven o'clock at night, but no traces OF hin
are to be found anywhere in the capital. III
was IN the habit of dressing up rs u woman.
! A terrible sight was witnessed today b,
E passers-by in front Of the Hotel DieH. One o
the patients of the hospital went mad, and
leaping out of window overlooking the street
!, perched on the cornice. He addressed thu
\ crowd below in ncoherent language, ant
: threatened to throw himself down when any
: body approached the window. Mattresses ans
q . rugs were spread on the pavement, and thu
fremen were Immediately sent for. One o
c the latter let himself down by rope affixed t.
n the roof and, securing the mailman under hi
e arms, managed to thrust him into the oper
|, window, where was taken charge of by the at
e PENDANTS. The plucky conduct of the fireman
e was loudly cheered by the crowd in the street