Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-12-30
FOREIGN NOTES.

The Empress Augusta OF Germany gave 8
special reception to Mr.. Phelps. United
States minister at Berlin, Saturday night.
Though his condition does not occasion
any alarm, Prince Bismarck ia i'll enough to
be compelled TO give up almost entirely the
effort TO transact official business.
On New Years day Emperor William will
make a short pacific declaration, the pre-
sumption being that his word on that occs-
sion will give a keynote to Europe Tor the
year.
King Humbert of Italy is suffering from
the worries of State business. His bair and
mustache have turned almost white, and he
has some throat trouble of which The sur
geons are not allowed to talk.
MIR. Gladstone celebrated his Slst birth
day Yesterday and congratulations and pres
ents poured in at Hawatden, where the post
| office authorities Kept the telegraph and
post Offices open for the receipt of copgrat-
ulation5.
The influenza 10 Europe actually killed
between 200 and 800 persons during last
week and laid low some SOC, 900 fresh vic.
Tins. Oae estimate places the total number
of present victims at l 250, 900, but, allowing
for recoverias. the number probably does not
exceed 100000.
Theresa Christina Maria, ex.Empress of
Brazil, whose death has been announced,
was the daughter of Francis [, King of the
Two Sicilies. she was born on March ii,
1922, and sbe married Dom Pedro II. on
Sept 4. 1S43 The couple had one child,
the present Countess d'Eu.
Princess Maud of Wales, it vas said the
other day, was to have married q Russian
Prince, but the report does not seem to have
been well founded. Then it was asserted
that she is to be married to the only brother
of the German Empress, a young Lieutenant
in the German army with a fortune ofsome-
| thing like $50 q year, who goes by the name
of Duke Ernest of Scfleswig Holstein, but
| DOW that announcement is also denied. III
the daughters of the Prince of Wales are not
exactly brilliant they are not devoid CT ccm
mon sense and shrewdness.
Paris is about trying an experiment that if
successful will prove a boon TO humanity.
The attempt is to be made to regulate cab
| fares automatically so as to leave the coach
man out of the question as to the amount to
be paid. AZ the passenger enters the cab
he Gets free an electric current, which at
once registers on q dial his present lab lity,
a bali franc, for taking the vehicle. AS the
cab proceeds the dial registers 20 confines
for each kilometre Of tie journey, so that
the passenger can tell at any moment the
number of miles he has gone and the exact
fare be owes.
The Wiltehire property of the Marquis of
Ailesbury, in England, is up for sale. /
comprises, besides the beautiful mansion
and forest, 30, 1000 acres of corn land and
pasture. Ailesbury is nearly always pressed
for ready money, for his noble heritage has
been wasted In drunkenness and vice OF the
worst description. The Marchioness OF
Ailesbury lie Dolly Tester, formerly q music
hall singer, by whom he has several chill
drec. Ailesbury dresses most of the tine IL
,hs costume of q costermoDger, and the
House OF Lords is in continual dread tina;
he will carry cut the threat he once made
10 take his ssat in that august body thus at
tired. He is the patron of twenty one
| church living, and Ia debarred from all
English race tracks for dishonesty.