The sun., 1881-06-19
WHAT IS GOING ON IN EUROPE

The English will, in all probability, still
have to look to America for breadsturs this
autumn. but not to such an extent. perhaps. as in
recent years. The tone OF their agricultural
press is not nearly as jubant over the crop
prospects as 1t was during the winter. The Sc
we're frosts which occurred in the early part OF
May cut the young wheat considerably. A Pc
riod Of heat and drought such as has not been
known for twenty years so early In tho year.
destroyed the small chance 1t had Of recover
ing. This is likely to make the crop OF all
kinds OF grain late one. and in the districts
where the soil is light. the number OF patches OF
ground which are denuded OF the young plants
augurs badly for the long hoped for season OF
plenty There will also be another drawback to
the value OF the wheat crop. The wetness OF the
last four or five seasons has been most ia
yorabe for tho growth OF weeds.
and although the dry season has
enabled the farmer to do much toward
eradicating these banes OF his life. it will take
at least another year to fully clear the soil Of
the couch grass. Nor is the outlook any better
for the stock raiser. The severity OF the winter
was almost fatal to root crops and to green food.
The consequence is that live stock is in poor
condition. and will require large quantity OF
oil cake and other artificial food before it can
be put on the market. There is but poor look
out. too. for the hay crop. Hops are backward.
but look well. Potatoes have suffered greatly
| from the drought In fact, the English farmer.
| who has been almost ruined for the last few
years by an excess Of water. is likely this year
! to be made still poorer by the want of it, It
would be well II the members OF the English
| Government. instead Of trying to carry out ab-
surd political reforms. would turn their atten-
ton to the important question OF regulating the
| irrigation OF the ow-yine districts OF tho king
| dom. profitable employment might thereby
| be found for the immense amount OF surplus
| capital lying idle in the English banks.
The English take their defeat in the Derby
with better grace than might have been ex-
pocted and console themselves with the refec-
| tion that It might have been worse; the Ameri-
| cans, after ALL are our relations" They
acknowledge. however. that the defeat was
| crushing one. John Bull has been skinned so
often lately that like the eels. he must be getting
used to it. Anyhow he manfully acknowledges
HE defeat and cordially offers his congratula-
tions to the winners. In fact he would be in
| consistent il he did not. He is indebted 10
| foreign countries for most OF the luxuries he
enjoys. The Italians send him his opera sing
ers. Germany has for years supplied him
with his best instrumental music. and now
that country and France are showing him
| through the medium ofthe Commedie Franchise
| and the MeinnGen troupe Of actors. what dra-
| matte art consists OF. For some time we have
supplied his more material wants. and he can
hardly find fault with US II we now show him
| what horse racing is like. Our fat friend has
learned to kiss the hand that smites him. and.
II he can stomach the chastisement he received
from the Beers. it is not to be wondered at that
he should almost worship US for our bloodless
| victory over him on EPSON Downs.
Racing In France Is very different affair
from racing in England. In the former the
sport cannot be called popular. True. large
crowds go to the Longchamps to see the Grand
| Prx run for. but as the race is on Sunday when
n vast number OF Parisians leave the hot streets
for the cooler country. it is doubtful whether the
racing Is the real attraction. The presence Of
many children on the course gives probability
to this doubt for man who was roally fond Of
racing for its own sake would hardly encum-
Der himself with these inipedinenta. The ex-
element over the running of the Grand Prix Is
very great. but. IL analyzed it would be found to
consist chiefly OF anxiety that foreign horse
shall not carry Off tho honors. Yet horse racing
Is growing in favor as an amusement. Small
race meetings are springinG up in the neiehbor-
hood OF Paris. at which the young French
sport " is to be found in all his glory He is.
however too often accompanied by the old Eng
lish sport. who. for some heinous ind.scretion
against the racing autocrats OF his native coun-
try has been forced to seek precarious living
on the hospitable shores OF France.
This absence OF an irrepressible cnthusas m
has many good points in its favor. Nothing
can be moro Objectionable than the average
crowd to be met with on most English race
courses. They may not mean to bs offensive
but to any but the most degraded their conduc,
is disgusting. 1t is due mostly to tho free use
OF intoxicating liquors. If any indecorum is
seen on French race course IN English para
5te OF tho turf is sure to be the cause OF IT, The
French Jockey Club is doing its best to preyen,
the deterioration OF the French turf but with
the establishment OF suburban meetings. it is
certain that many OF the Objectionable features
OF third-rate English races will spring up. and
will do much to inJure French racing by en-.
couraRing breed OF horse which Is known in
England as q screw"
The enthusiasm with which NJ Gambetta was
received during his visit to his native Cahors
was overwhelming The whole OF the south o
France rose as one man to do him honor. Put
ting aside tho sneer. which is perhaps not un,
founded, that the French must have sono lido
to worship. Gambottas popularity Ia seen (
rest on substantial grounds His devotion tc
tho republic cannot be doubted. and his grea
ambition is not 80 much for his own advance
mont as for the welfare OF his country, BY olimi
mating from French politics ali that is monarch
ical or corrupt. With this end in view he hGi
J eSerted his influence 10 secure tho passage o
the ScltHn de lSte through the legislature
Jealousy OF him has led the Senate L
thwart for the time being his efforts il
! this direction: but his popularity With th