Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-01-20

LATE European papers give full particu-
lars about the foods which have devastated
the valleys of many of the rivers which take
their rise in the center of the continent. The
Rhine, the Main, the Elbe, the Vistula,
the Danube and half a dozen others have
been involved. Under southerly winds there
was heavy rainfall in November and De-
cember, and great quantities OF snow in the
Alp. melted. Throughout Upper and Lower
Austria and Bohemia the thawing OF the
snow was very sudden, and the Danube rose
with extraordinary rapidly. Bridges and
dikes we're strengthened as fast as possible,
but without avail. The river overlooked Its
banks in many places, destroying great
amounts of property. Linz and Pesth have
suffered most among the larger places, but
as the inuDdation was foreseen the loss OF
life was not heavy. In the Rhine provinces
in Germany the floods have been The most
destructive recorded for many years. AT
one time the plain between Mannheim and
Worms was lake ten feet deep. Several
small villages were utterly washed away.
The lower part of Cologne was flooded, and
villsges farther down the stream were SUBJ
merged. Recent dispatches indicate sub
sidence of the waters.
AN interesting illustration OF the anti
Romanist, if not anti-religious, feelings th at
are very prevalent in France, wss afforded
by a casual debate in The Senate not long
ago. Under a law of March 18th last, it is
in the opinion OF the minister OF public in
struction, the duty of his agents 10 remove
SO far possible all religious elements from
communal schools. Hence instructions have
been given to the provincial projects to that
effect, coupled, however, with more moderate
recommendations, such as this, that &c pdrte
- L. Al
cruci6xes aud pictures must be removed or
allowed to stay in accordance with the gen.
eral sentiment of the several comm unities.
A senator from the clerical party, foreseelng
that with such discretionary powers in ex-
istence the removals would be general, OBJ
jected TO the Interpretation pu. on the law
by the government. In accordance with it,
he said, the crosses in the public roads might
be blown up, and those on the breasts of
soldiers and priests torn from them. He
argued, in shori, that though the law said
nothing about the retention of the emblems
in the schools, yet it did not require their
removal. The reply of the minister, NJ. Du-
vaux, showed clearly enough the purpose OF
the government 10 obliterate all emblems of
the cruci6xion as rapidly as possible.
London Truth thus speaks of Count Won
Wimpfen, the Austrian ambassador, who
shot himself in Paris: "The count was not
ill enough to go to bed and stay there for q
week or more; but although restless and
waktful at night, he had all day TO struggle
sgainst oppressive somnolence. In paying
and receiving visits he with difficulty fol.
lowed the conversation of his interlocutor,
and felt as if he would have liked to drop
into deep slumber and hibernate for the
rest OF the winter. When he was not affect
- L.
were as il laid bare. He had for years al
lowed his wife to guide and command him
But for the last fortnight of his life be
thought her uncomfortable, and violently
resented being lectured by her. Al
they were furnishing house, they
had many opportunities for expressing
differences OF opinion. His excellency
was in haste to turn his back on Meurice't
and purchased (her excellency thought
without due reflection the furniture they
needed. She thought she could pick up bar
gains at cheap rate He declared that she
was a mere baby in a shop and had talent
for getting taken in. Whatever the ambas.
ssdor ordered the ambassadress found fault
with as either dear, vulgar, or trumpery
Countess Won Wimpffen was described to NJ
Theirs, by the Princes, Lise Troubetskoi, a,
being as proud as Lucifer, imperious and 9
Prussian TO the hearts core. This was why
be said, when Count Won Wimpffen wal
spoken of as a probable ambassador, tina,
one German ambassador at time wal
enough in Paris. Her excellency is a wo.
man of character, certainly; but she is mol
the maitresse femme which she passes for be.
ing. She used to be regarded ss belle al
the court Of Berlin, and is still rather
handsome. I thUus ht hrr of AS
most aristocratic looking women who at.
tended the afternoon reception last week Of
the Countess de Menabrea. She was dressed
in black, with much lace drxpery in the
shape of fodnces, 'caecades' aud a mantilla
| and bonnet which at distance resembled 8
Spanish veil. A conventional smile wher
she was exchanging those vapid greetings
which are the current coin in q diplom atit
salon played over her face. When it van.
ished she looked utterly wretched. The
unhappy expression was most painful to be-
hold in scene Of frivolous and fashisnabl,
gaiety. Her husband did not come with
her. The countess has two daughters-littlt
girls-with whom she is in the habit o
spending her evenings, and TO please whom
she gave little party on Christmas evening.