New-York tribune., 1895-10-13
TOPICS IN PARIS.
A ROYAL VISITOR.
MoNARcus TRAVELLING INcoGNITo-A NEW
PLAY AT THE coMEDfE FRANcAIsE-
VENERABLE RACING MAN

Paris October T.
Among the royal visitors who at the present
moment are throngng the boulevards there is no
one whose doinRs are attracting so much atten-
ton or whose stay has given rise 10 so mich spec
ulaton az that Of the King OF the Belgians VINO
has been here for more than ten days lie ~
acting as II he foreign tourist, devotipg
the major portion Of his days to Sightseeing visit
ing museums public institutions and nauona
monuments. and expressing everywhere his aston
ishment and admiration at the progress and
changes which have been effected since 1858. the
last time he was here otherwise than incognito
To listen to him and TO read his remarks pub
lished in the papers one would imagine that he
was as much a stranger 70 Partisan life as the
Shah Of Persia or the Sultan OF Turkey. and yet
there is no royal parsonage in the world VINO
possesses a more intimate acquaintance with
every phase OF Partisan life.
People know that. and they are asking them
selves what object he can possibly have in play
ing this species of comedy. Some are or the
opinion that he is anxious to get the French 70
take the Congo Free State off his hands In return
for a sum OF money which would recoup him In
measure for his enormous outlay in connection
with that white elephant. Others say that he is
here to float a Congo loan. Certain Of the news
effect that he is here as an emissary of Emperor
William for the purpose of sounding the French
Government with regard to project for general
Disarmament, while the more frivolous go so far
as to urge that the main object Of his visit is 10
secure actors and actresses FOR the theatre which
he is about to build at Ostead. and by way OF con-
firma ton OF their theory, they point out that he
passes every evening and most Of his afternoons
tha ,,rio, haa II. hag
however. had several interviews with Prime Min
lister Ribot and NJ. Hanotaux, the Minister Of
Foreign Affairs. and has likewise paid a state
visit to President Faure at the Palace OF Fon-
tainebleau.
A CONDESCENDING MONARCH.
It is this state visit which has done more to win
for him the good will Of the French than any
thing else AS rule, all crowned heads and
royal personages who have either stayed in
Paris or merely passed through It since the es-
tablishment of the Republic have always done
so incognito. sometimes calling privately upon
the President at the Elysee, but as n general
rule neglectng that piece Of courtesy There
have only been two exceptions, namely, King
Leopold. on the day before yesterday. and the
late King Alfonso Of Spain in 1884 The lat
ter's visit like that of the Belgian monarchs,
was OF a state character. and he was received at
the railway terminus on his arrival by President
Grevy, the streets from the station to the Span
ish Embassy being lined with troops. He was on
his way home from attending the manoeuvres or
the German Army, at the close OF which he mad
been created a colonel OF Prussan lancers by
old Emperor william This compliment led to so
hostile demonstration on the part Of the Paris
Ian populace. Kisses and howls Of Down with the
Prussian Uhlan" resounding In the ears OF the
royal visitor that he lost his temper entirely, d.
vested himself Of his official character and cut
short his stay. The treatment to which he had
been subjected seized upon as pretext by
the other royalties for invariably retaining their
incognito when here, and King Leopold is the
first to break through the custom. His example
will be followed a few weeks hence by the King
and Queen Of Portugal, when President Faure
will find himself in the strange position of hav-
ing TO accord a royal welcome and royal honors
to the eldest daughter Of the late Count OF Paris,
the sister OF the present preender to the French
throne.
The visit 10 Fontalnebleau was ceremonous
affair The gala equipages Of the President, es-
corted by cavalry, conveyed the monarch VINO
was arrayed in evening dress with the star and
ribbon Of the Legion Of Honor. to the railroad
station where a special train was In waiting 10
take him to Fontainebleau. The ceremonial or his
arrival there equally elaborate, and, after
inspecting the palace in company with President
Faure and partaking Of banquet 70 which about
fifty of the chief dgniaries OF the Republic were
bidden he was escorted back to the station by
President Faure himself who remained chatting
with him until the train left, the visit being re-
turned three days later at the Hotel Bristol.
THE KING AT THE COMEDIE FRANCHISE
One Of the events Of Psrisan life is a pre-
miere" or first night at one Of the leading the
aires and when II occurs at the Coincide Fran
caise II Is looked upon I'm the light OF one OF the
principal features of the season. King Leopold
was therefore especially fortunate in having the
premiere" OF Paul Hervieus piece Les Te-
naies take place at the Coincide during MS stay
here The house. as might have been expecteh,
was an exceptionally brilliant one, many of the
great people having returned to the city with the
sole object Of geng present for the occasion. The
Belgian King occupied the Presidential box.
while in other parts OF the house were to be
noticed Prince Nicholas OF Greece. the Grand
Duke Constantine Constantinov!tch Of Russia,
Queen Isabella Of Spain, Prince Eugene Of Swe-
den King Humbert's nephew. the Count Of
Turin and the old blind Grand-duke of Mecklen-
burg -StrelitZ. whose aide-de-camp. the English
born Major Won Winslow married 10 an Ameri-
can grD. is the brother Of the first man VINO fell
I'm the war Of 1870 while reconn0itr!ng the
French outpoSts.
The piece according to the playwright has
been written with the express object OF securing
a reform In the divorce law as II now stands.
Under the First Empire insanity OF either nus
band or wife considered an adequate cause
for the legal dissolution Of a marriage; whereas.
according TO the NaGuet divorce law now in
force IL is no longer considered SO by the code.
the theory being that mental alienation Is not
incurable. and that the person who has been dl-
vorced on that ground one day may recover his
or her mind on the next. The drama II in three
acts two Of which are laid in Paris and the
third in the country The characters ar" Few IN
number and represent exclusively what are
known here a. gems du monde that is. people
I'm society. The heroine Is young woman mar
ried 10 an lncurable lunatic. and is the victim
of the "Tenailes e marriage. not being
able to break the conugal chains on ac-