The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-21
e u r @ p E A N A
Drift Gathered Up from
n Foreign Seas.


III. Colbert. French artist. has been selected to
furnish the Spanish government with the general
plans OF the building the international Exhibition
to be inaugurated at Madrid in May. 1881.
Mrs. Ewing Pfeifer has offered to subscribe
$1,000. if others Will subscribe also. for the esab
lishment and endowment of a National English
Theatre The London Times encourages the attempt.
Prince De Bismarck can boast fewer than forty
seven decorations. OF the distinctions having
been specially created for him. He the insig
mia of nearly all the prominent Orders in Eu-
rope.
At Venice Mr.. Gladstone's time is said to be dis
men, Signor Bonghi, himself ain accomplished
Hellenist and x-Minister OF Public Instruction,
rived Sunday to pay his respects to the right hon.
orable gentleman.
The Unireys publishes a despatch from Rome CIV
ing a denial to the report that the Pope has nom-
mated commission OF Cardinals to consider whether
the Papacy could accept the millions granted to it
by the so-cailed "Guaran tee laws" Under Plus TX
a committee or the Sacred College pronounced for
categorical refusal. and his will manta
that decision Us the only one worthy OF the Church
and the Catholic world.
The London metropolitan Early Closing Associa-
ton has issued circular in which it states that
"there are still about thirty thousand shops Lon
don and the suburbs, employing more than
hundred thousand assistants who work for thirteen.
fourteen and fifteen hours a day, and even longer
Saturdays. Many of the assistants are young women
who suffer grievously from being Obliged stand
during these loGe hours or labor.
Holland, with its sluggish canals, obese horses
and pervading atmosphere of schnapps and tobacco,
is the slowest Old country III Europe. But all the
to Holland au,ongs the honor OF inauguratinc
q system of cheap telegrams. The new tariff came
into operation all over holland and Belgium about
three weeks ago, ana its working may be thus de-
scribed:-T mnni un fee payable to the Office for
sending the telegram is six cents, and about half
cent for every word sent.
report is current in Russian official circles
that in the event of breaking out between
China and Japan the whole of the Chinese merchant
shipping will obtain protection from japanese
cruisers by hoistng the Russian flag. An arrange
this effect, 1T is stated, has been arrived at
between the Chinese Envoy and the Russian govern
ment. The understanding between Japan and Eng.
land Is, however, friendly that British purchases
OF Japanese prvateers might under the circum-
stances be winked at.
The excavations undertaken by the Prussian gov
ernment on the site of Pergamus, five six months
ago. have already resulted in interesting dis
coveries. Fragments of sculpture have been found
in wall in the lower town, and among the remains
being brought to light the acropolis is
large hexa9on base of marble, which seems to have
supported colossal statue OF Zeus The lower part
is adorned with the embems of various deites while
the frieze has miniatures OF the elements, with their
names written above.
The first French regiment ordered to try tho light
tunic i'll which the epaulettes replaced by frogs
and also cork helmets covered with thick blue cloth
somewhat after the Prussian model is the l3lst of
the line. stationedat st. Denis The uniform, though
mere comfortable than the one hitherto worn does
not seem to be regarded with any great favor by the
public. The helmet is. however ornamented in
front with the national cockade backed by brass
grenade while the crest is replaced by sort Of COP
per bolt The peak is in leather.
The English Board of Trade returns give evidence
of revival OF commercial prosperity. The returns
tor the month of September the most satisfac-
tory that have been received for many months The
total exports for the month amounted to cit 4O2
increase of fS40 000 about five per cent over ex.
ports of September last and of aud
per cent over the same month in 1877 The imports
q M Of hnf tic
satisfactory afeature the returns nasmuch az the
increase is greatly due to the enormous
of wheat from America
Field Marshal Count Won Moltke on conclusion
Of the maneuvres at Strasburg. remained in Asace-
Lorraine i'll order to determine the erection OF
the works and Notifications necessitated by the
stupendous increase of the military strength of
France. He is accompanied his tour by q large
suite OF officers OF the general staff with whom he
particularly inspected those parts which could be
easily invaded from Belfort AS the Marshals jour
ney might cause misapprehensions in France, Count
Wesdehlen. the German Charge d'Affares in Paris
was instructed to give all possible explanation of
the inoensive character of Count Moltke's invesi-
CATION.
The "Kulturkampf" in Germany has led to a de-
plorabe state OF affairs In the Archdiocese Of
Cologne the 143d priest has just died without the
chance of being replaced In the diocese of Treve
there are lS2 vacant parishes, and in Munster the
93 parishes without priests means that quarter Of
million Catholics cannot hear mass Sunday. In
Paderborn there are 90 parishes without priest in
Breslau III and in Posen o. In the archdiocese of
Friburg alone there were 500 curacies last month
without CATHOLIC ecclesaStcs or any hope OF their
being filled up on account of the legal restrictions
and still Prince Bismarck spouted of "Freibeit"
when he voyaged to Vienna.
Italian brigands may be picturesque in a romance.
but they are unpleasant customers to deal with in
reality. An Irish family temporarily resident in the
neishborhood OF Rome had dsagreeable encounter
with some Of the banditti recently. Mr.. Lucius
OBrien Blake and his cousin, u lady were return
ing one afternoon to villa Castellamare, and
sat down to rest themselves in wood Mr.. Blake
perceived man crawling stealthiy toward him,
and at once seized him. At the same moment two
other men sprang forward and attacked the lady.
throwing her to the ground. Mr.. Blake to her
assistance and kicked away her cowardiy assaants.
contadino, hearing the disturbance. fred of his
gun, ana the carabincers quickly on the spot,
but the three ruihans had fed. They were, how
ever arrested subsequently.
France is u happy country. says Manchester
paper While every other nation in Europe is be-
moaning over deficits and financial difficulties her
revenue is pouring i'll and exceeding the estimates
by large sums. The returns for the month of Sep
TENDER have just been made UP, and they show that
the receipts exceed the estimates by francs.
The total sum received during the first nine this
of the present year exceeds the estimates by
10SOOO,OOO francs So that. ii France continues TO
progress financially during the next quarter OF 1879
in the same ratio as she has done during the past
three quarters at the end she Will find herself tho
possessor or surplus of between $4,000. 900 and
$4,000 ooO--a sum nearly as large AS the deficit
which Lord Beaconsfelds government have created
for their successors to wipe of.
Fortune. never tired of favoring the Irish has be-
slowed upon them another distinction. In the
hands of of their is last the largest da-
mond. One Mr.. OFaherty has found, we are told
at the Cape Fields. no tiny gem. but huge mass Of
brightness weighing $50 carats. and promising TO be
a very mine of wealth. The largest known be-
fore when cut proved only to weigh lib y carats;
the Koh-i-noor does not boast OF more than two
thirds that weight, and yet an Irishman, whose
claim is IT seems, ~ the very middle of the diamond
mud, has quietly lifted this large and bril stone
from the earth and taken it down to the Cape. He
is said now to have three courses open to him :-He
dispose OF 1t ut once to spectators the spot
or. bringing it to England. he can sell 1t to be cut;
or he may have 1t cut at his own expense. and take
his chance of u colossal fortune or comparatively
little.
The palatal town mansion built, but not occupied,
by Mr.. Albert Grant and known kensington
House, London. with its pleasure grounds, marble
terrace. orangcry, aviaries. Italian garden skating
rink, ornamental lake aud islands, boathouse swiss
chalet. American bowling alley and other appur-
tenances was offered for sale two weeks ago by the
mortgages. The property is said to have cost
f3UO 900. OF which about ouehalf was expended
the mansion. including fld. 900 for the marble stair
cases. The first and second bids were ESQ, OOD and