New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-14

the Opposition drew attention in the Chamber
the other day to the fact that he was reading
his remarkable speech on the International re-
lations OF France. his remark to the effect that
he was combining his energies to the conduct Of
the foreign policy OF the Nation and had no
leisure for improvising eloquent phrases
silenced all interruption and won for him the
respectful and undivided attention of the entire
Chamber. 1t is perfectly true that he is devot-
ing more attention to acts than to words. and Il
must be confessed that from the point of view
of foreign policy. France has never stood higher
since 1870 than at present She has achieved
one diplomatic victory in the far Orient by the
treaty which gives her Tonquin railroads access
to the southern provinces Of China and another
by her treaty with Siam, which practically cuts
away the ground beneath the feet Of Great
Britain. Besides This. she has brought to a
successful termination her tariff war with
Switzerland, and. above all, has forced Russia
into public acknowledgment. for the first time
OF the alliance that exists between the two
countries
NJ. Hanotaux, unlike most Of his predecessors
In offce has received his entire training since
MS earliest youth. In the great Department Of
the Quai dOrsay, among the traditions and doc
trines OF which he may be said to have risen to
MS present eminence 1t Is the MARQUIS de-
Noailles brother OF the late Duke, and for many
years French Envoy at Washington. who de-
serves the credit OF having Afforded to NJ Hano.
taux the first chance OF winning his spurs The
latter Joined the Marquis at Constant.nople as
a mere attache under the most adverse circum-
stances The Ambassador had been warned
against him as intriguer and as untrust-
worthy, while the Marquse herself the daugh-
ter Of little Heb sw tailor at Moscow, was
especially indignant at the idea of having q
man Of peasant birth and name figuring as q
member OF her husbands staff. Yet Hanotaux
had been at Stamboul only a few weeks when.
In spite Of his plair and even vulgar features
and his by no means distinguished manners. he
had managed TO ingratiate himself with the
Ambassadress. and to win the confidence of the
Marquis to such degree that when the latter
went away on his annual leave he .ntrusted the
conduct OF all the important questions pending
with the Sublime Porte to him instead Of to the
chief secretary. No one had a higher opinion
Of his abilities than Gambetta. who frequently
predicted great future for him, which he may
be said 10 have achieved.
IMPROVEMENTS AT VERSAILLES
Visitors to versaillas-and surely there Is no
American tourist ever comes TO Paris without
going out to Versailles-have a great treat in
store for them. thanks to the species OF revou-
ton which has been effected IN the chateau by
its curator, NJ de Nolhac. The latter Is not
merely able administrator, but dis
tnguished archaeoogist and artist as WE'LL and
he had not been long In office before he realized
the frightful confusion that existed In every de-
partment Of this superb abode OF the former
kings OF France 1t is probable that there has
never been any Government in France that was
so Indifferent to art and to history that Of
King Louis Philippe; for 1t is 10 his reign that
most Of the confusion Gates. More than two
thousand canvases many Of them Of almost
priceless vaue-such as. for instance. an entire
collection Of Matters paintings-had been
stored away like much rubbish In the attics
OF the palace. exposed to The intense cold Of
winter. the broiling heat Of the summer. and to
the damTness due to the dilapidated condition
Of the acres OF roofs On the other hand, ut
terly worthless copies hurg side by side
with masterpieces. nearly every painting being
wrongly labelled and catalogued. Valuable fres-
Goes had been whitewashed over. delicate wood
carvings and ceilings concealed BY masses Of
plaster. while t only natural that Empire
furniture should invariably be consigned to
rooms Of the Louis Quinze style and vice versa.
In one word. chaos regned supreme, many OK
the statues being even adorned with heads that
did not belong to them. 1t Is all this that NJ.
de Nolhac has been engaged IN setting to rights,
and among the first results OF his remarkably
intelligent and successful efforts is the OPEN
ing to the public OF two Icing galleries on the
ground floor filled with valuable paintings Of the
eighteenth century. all OF which have hitherto
been stacked away out of sight.
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