Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-14
FOREIGN NEWS AND GOSSIP.

John Bright's condition was much improved
yesterday.
N. Hammer has been elected president of
Switzerland, and N. Ruchonnet vice-presdent.
The conference Of the Bimetallic league has
resolved to endeavor to secure return to the
bimetallic system prevailing prior to 1873.
A conversations will be given at the Birming-
ham town hall on January in honor of Mr..
and Mrs. Joseph Chamberlain. sdiamond
and sapphire bracelet will be presented to Mrs
Chamberlain and an illuminated address to Mr..
Chamberlain.
The French chamber Of deputies has rejected
the proposed commercial treaty between France
and Greece.
In the house of commons last night Mr. w. Fl.
Smith, the government leader, was asked
whether Sir Charles Warren was to be sent to
Suakim. He gave an evasive reply that af-
forded no information.
The sardine and other tins, of which such
thousands are thrown away, go to support
branch OF industry in Paris which is deeply in
teresting to the youthful part Of the popula-
ton; for. after being stamped into shape by
machines Of simple construction, they reap
pear in the form of countless armies of tin
soldiers, which are sold at prices so low that
the manufacturer could not possibly afford to
buy his material new from the tinman.
The steamer Cleadowe, from Philadelphia
for Genoa, which arrived at Gibraltar yester-
day, had on board the crew Of the American
four-masted schooner T. A. Lambert Capt.
Hall, from Philadelphia for Boston, which was
abandoned November % in a sinking condition.
Hadji Sulyman Saba, Of Constantinople, who
died the other day, was ninety-eight years of
age when he took his last wife, and he lived to
be 1872. He had sixty sons and nine daughters
and seven wives, and survived them all.
The emperor Of Austria is highly indignant
over the rumor that he smokes three-cent
cigars: He adds, with a nonchalance that is
almost shocking, that he generally pays five
cents for the delicious cigars he smokes.
In the house of commons, last night, Sir
plying to Lord Randolph Churchill. said that
the American minister had presented notice
on the Sackville affair a few days ago, and that
it had been referred to Lord Sackville for COM
ment The correspondence on the subject
could not be published until complete
After long discussion in the house of COM
mons last night, motion that the report of the
committee on the arrest of Mr.. Sheehy be APP
proved, was rejected by vote of 1872 to 100.
The results of experiments made at Spezia,
Italy, with new shell fred from hundred
ton gun far surpass all expectations. The de-
structiveness of the shell exceeds that of any
before used.
The London Standard says that the letter
written by Osman Digma to Sir W. Grenfell
asserts that Ell Mahdi had an engagement with
Emin Bey and defeated him The latter's
troops mutinied and Emin and white traveller
surrendered to the Mahdi and were held prison.
ers
The French have destroyed band of Chi
nese pirates at Bac-Ninh Tonquin. Eleven
were taken prisoners and shot.
Paris dispatch says: "Mr. Sanford, FORM
erly Of the United States legation in Paris and
afterward in Brussels, is now in this city The
impression prevails among his friends that he
will succeed Mr.. McLane as United States min
lister 70 France.