, 1891-09-26

LILO UDlnL "a Z ~
AT r;E;no event Of the visit. The French squa-
dron. az thew passed between the lines OF the
EnUlish feet. were greeted with rounds OF
hearty cheering, which were as heartily re-
4urned. AS a mark Of friendship and interna-
tional good will, the visit was q great success
It ia pleasant, too, to note that none the OF Eu-
ropean Powers have shown any jealousy, Orhave
attemnted to represent the visit in any light
hut the true one. AS q political event 1t has
no significance. unless to show that our sole
desire 10 to see peace maintained.
Tue Times Of Tuesday gives oil Interesting
account Of what has been done to reallse MI
Blaine's dream of an international railway
railway intended to string the Republics Il
Northern, Central, and South America, on q
line Of rails. It appears that, as n result OF
the discussions at the Pan American Conference
an Inter Continental Railway Commission
actually met at Washington last December, and
reported, in April of the present year, III favour
Of the scheme. 1t is very doubtful, however,
whether it will be carried out within the LIE
time of even the youngest Of us. At first sight
it might seem as if the railway extension which,
in spite of revolutions and financial crises, IS
constantly taking place in South America,
would ultimately well nigh accomplish the task
and that all that would be necessary would be
afew connecting-links. AS a matter OF tact,
however, the railway would have to be almost
entirely composed of such links. Owing to
the political and geographical conhguratlon
of the great peninsula which we call South
America, the railways tend to run inland from
the seapolts. and not down the heart of the
continent. Hence, many of the lines already
laid would be of no use whatever. Again the
great rib of the Andes produces engineering
difficulties only to begot rid Of by a vastexpen-
diture. The idea is a big one, but far less like
" to be carried out than that for q railway
connecting the Siberian and Canadian symtems.
That railway would not run from Pole to Pole
like Mr. Blaine's, but in the track Of trade
ALWAYS East and West and 50 would be Tar
more likely to pay its way
Prince Bismark has, it is said, partly written
five chapters of his intended book, and, 1t Is
added. has asked Professor Geffcken to write
from his dictation, q remarkable instance OF
the lion living down with the lamb, when we
remember the persecution 10 which the Pro-
lessor was subjected a year or two ago. The
book, it is said by the omniscient NJ. de Blowitz
will contain many curious stories as to the war
of 1866. Some of these are cited as a sample.
They show that the late Emperor William was
much given to weeping on the necks OF the
people whom ne UeledleO. AG us HleC III
terview with the Emperor FRANCIS Joseph after
the treaty of Prague, he threw himeslf into the
arms of the Austrian Sovereign, dissolved in
tears. Again, when he had written "and sent
Of ON unpleasant ultimatum to the King of
Saxony, he wept to tn link of 1.-The chagrin it
w~ouldcause the King of Saxony." and of "the
rsin which would be felt by Francis Joseph"
Not to be out done, Prince Bismarck wept too,
and bathed his masters hand in his tears.
Evidently the Plussian Monarch and his Min
lister shared the sentiments of that much-mal-
igned reptile, the crocodile, and considered
tears and best sauce with which to eat King
doms. M. de Blowits adCs that il Prince Bis"
marck denies the authenticity of those dlsclo-
sures. he cannot stand by them, however
trust worthy my information" "There are
diplomatists concerning whom, even when you
tell the absolute truth about them, it is pru-
dent not to be too positive, 80 that you can
withdraw without being wanting in respect to
yourself or your readers"
On Wednesday, Mr. Bennett re ID an interest
ing paper to the British Association Oh an Elec-
trical Parcel excohnge. His notion is that
the blocking of City thoroughfa res is be-
coming a more and mole serious matter, and
that the only way to relieve the congestion is
to establish q system by which parcels and
small packages may be freely interchanged