The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-25

the Panama canal enterprise. At the
same time she gets little sympathy in
Paris from friends OF the De Lesseps
family who have spread indus;riously in
the last few days some astonishing state
mcnts as TO her influence in breaking
down the agCd engineers mental and phys
Seal strength. They say that for twelve
years. or ever since the inception OF
the canal enterprises. De Lesseps has been
go harosscd and betrayed by his young
wife that he has been hardly ac-
couutablc for his words or actions She
was sixteen years old when De Lesseps
married her. and he had passed sixty.
Tor the first seven or eight years their
life was happily spent. Then she began
career ot reckless unfaithfulness under
her husbands own roof. At her instance
he entertained layshiy at Castle La
Chaynac. Under the pretcxt OF exccp-
tioral hospitality, she made excursions
with the guests which always resulted
in a small scandal within the household.
once. a friend OF Charles De Lesseps
says. she ran away with a French Senator
To Nice. and did not return until Charles
pa Lesscps. who FASTENED after the cOu-
pie. had driven away her companion at
the point of revolver. and had given
her the choice between a divorce and i'm
mediate departure for home. Charles
DE Lcsscps il is said has already fought
ducls with men who had cast doubts upon
his relationship to the youngest three
children Of his step-mother. In fact, in
recent years everybody in Paris society
has understood that it was a perilous
matter to mention Madame Ferdinand
DE Lcsscps IN her step-son's presence.
That her husband was tormented day and
night by her conduct was generally
known, and il was equally apparent that
he failed mentally and physically under
his domestic burden. Several times he
was driven almost TO the point Of suing
for a divorce but every time dcsistcd i'm
the interest Of the Canal Company, which
he believed would suffer from the stigma
placed by the scandal upon his name.
Before his arrest Charles De Lesseps
said significantly that his father had been
too much occupied with private matters
TO observe the painful distraction afforded
hy the necessity Of guarding Madame
DE Lesseps. At present Madame De Les
s.ps poses as q heroine at her disgraced
husbands bedside for several reasons.
She IS anxious to get as much as possible
Of his money when he dies, and she
wishes 10 conciliate Charles and Victor
DE Lesseps SO that they will leave her
in peaceful possession.
There is no doubt that the Panama
revelations have estranged Russia from
France and have facilitated the negotia-
ti0ns between Germany AKA Russia for
new tariff convention. The prospect OF
revival OF the historic Russo-G German
friendship is believed by German opti-
mists 10 be assured i'm case the revela-
tl0ns in France be properly exploited by
General Won Wcrdcr. the new German
Ambassador in St. Petersburg.
An incessant correspondence by telc-
graph has been in progress between the
Berlin foreign Office and the ST. Peters
burg embassy during the last few days.
And it is believed I'm Berlin that the biting
criticism passed 10y the Russian press on
the Panama revelations are the ultimate
results of the information thus indirectly
conveyed 10 the car. The report that the
Austrian army is 10 be increased by some
5000 mon, contcmpOraneously with the
introduction of the two year service,
causes considerable satisfaction in Berlin
and Rome. If France were to completely
upset the report would cause correspond
ing dissatisfaction In Paris.
Emperor William during his last visit
10 ShCeubrun is said to have talked plain
ly with Emperor Franz Joseph as to the
Immediate necessity to fight the next
war without Italy. lie pointed out that
Germany would take the lions share or
this rcparation by adding 10000 men TO
her standing army. but could not 90 IL
! AN. I'm view of Prince Bismarcks attacks
upon Auallld anu llin '''N 1'' ''l'l'' 'ii''' '''
/ has uuloaded her burdens on Germany,
/ Emperor William said II would be diff
ncult for CapriW to push the army bill
proposing such an increase through the
Ecichstac unless the members were con-
/ WINGED that Austria was ready to make
am equal effort. IN consequence of this
plea. the Austrian Government has al
lowed the present report TO 30 out in
order that Chancellor Won Caprivi may
have at once the moral assistance de-
sired. although the actual increase Of the
Austrian army will not be proposed for
three or four months