The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-12-31

nothing OF Importance except Prince Bis
marck's private letters. The Prince did not
appear at the Reichstag although several i'm
portant measures were being debated and
there was q large attendance expecting his
coming. He was suffering from o nervous ILL
ness, but had sufficiently recovered two days
later to have an audience Of an hours duration
with the Emperor.
The political season Ia particularly inter-
esting one in Germany. While in the Reichstag
the double budget for 1884 and 1885 is under
discussion. In the Landtag. apropos OF the po-
lice. the question OF vagabondage is prominent.
and the leaders Of the different parties have
had several passages ut arms already. 1t ap-
pears that there are in quiet and peaceful Ger
many no less than 100000 Migrants. The con.
sequence is that the number OF thefts and
other crimes is enormous. The prey which
these rufrians get hold Of every year Is esti-
mated at 100. 900, 900 marks Meantime the
law is too mild. and the German juries have
tender hearts and are constantly acQuitting
guilty persons. 80 great has this nuisance be-
come that societies against begging from house
to house have been organized throughout the
country and It Is no unusual thing to see on
the sides OF hall doors in Berlin or Cologne
little porcelain plaques stating that the owner
Is member Of such society. However. these
societies are also too lenient. and q skilful
beegar can make in q day three times as much
as an honest workingman can mako In dis
cussing the best means OF putting an end to
this vagrancy the question arises. What causes
it2 Herr Windthorst says the schools Of Min
lister Falk and the Culturkampf. No. says the
other side. the schools founded by the Roman
Catholics are to blame for all the mischief To
which Herr Windthorst replies by thowing tho
blame upon the Free Masons.
In Italy the Ministers have been very ill-at
least they have pleaded illness. which the skep-
teal assert is only an excuse to keep out OF the
way OF unpleasant political complications and
interpretations" NJ. Depretis. the President
OF the Council. is in somewhat OF a dilemma.
Remain with u.s." say his old friends Of the
Left. and you will be sure OF o Governmental
majority" But the Deputies Of the Right are
equally urgent. They allege that it is due to
their efforts and those OF the moderate Left
that Depretis has been able to fight against the
Radicals. Tho Premier. unable to choose be-
tween the two. became i'll. and thus avoided the
necessity Of making up his mind.
While the political world is thus vexed.
Roman society and the foreign colony are ex-
! cited over the singers at the Sixtine Chapel.
where the chefs dGurre OF the composers OF
sacred music are performed at Rome. The IL
lustrious Mustafa. who has long been the
chapel master. has sent in his resignation. and
even the Pope himself is said to be q prey to
deep emotions on the subject. 1t seems that
the singers have kind OF prescriptive right to
reelection every ten years and the Popes. in
the goodness OF their hearts. never interfere
with them. This being the ease. 1t naturally
happens that many Of them are quite unfit to
sing their parts. and hence the decadence in
the music Of the Sixtine Chapel. One bass
singer had been there for forty years. and it
was against the abuse in his case that Mustafa
rebelled. Unable to get rid Of the voiceless
basso. Mustafa resigned. and Rome is on the
tiptoe OF expectation whether the famous chapel
| master will resume his post or not. N. L. Il.