The San Francisco call., 1896-07-05

dence surprising in importance any other
since the Code Napoleon was imposed on
western Europe. Three commissions of Ger
man iurists have been toiiing over this
task for nearly thirty years. The legal
confusion which they had to bring into
order was of the most extraordinary char
acter. Roman law as imported into Ger
many before Luther was born ruled over
the largest area of all. Seven million
RhIneIanders lived under the French code
OF lou4, Prussia's common law dated from
lf4S, and then came some thirty minor
provincial codes, all conflicting, especially
In matters of inheritance and marriage.
IL was tremendous labor to create new
system which would cause the minimum
friction in practice, but every body seems
to be satisfied that this has been done.
The general tendency of the new code is
10 lay stress upon the duties and response
Dllltles Of property TO the community.
TINS is hailed as triumph of the German
loea over the Roman, which treated the
rights OF property as absolute and in
alienable. 1t finds expression in numer-
Gus provisions limiting the arbitrary
powers OF landlords over tenants, etc.
The principal innovation is in making
civil marriage compulsory.
Outside nations which have been watch
Ing the extravagant fuss made over Ii
Hung Chang in Germany with some mis-
glyings breathe easier to-day. and even
perm1: themselves to smile little. The
Germans somehow got the notion that Ii
had authority to place big contracts, and
accordingly they took him all over the
country Wherever there was a factory en-
gagged In making anything the Chinese
were likely to want.
Everywhere lavish luncheons and BAN
quets were the order of the day. Work
men paraded, towns were decorated and
at Essen aron krupp went to the length
OF hastily molding bronze statue of the
chinese visitor. 1t was set upon pedestal
and soiemnly unveiled in his presence as
II the desire for such memorial had long
been National passion. After each visit
that Ii made i: was ruInored that he had
given immense orders for ships, guns, or
balloons, as the case might be.
AT the farewell dinner given him in
Cologne, however, on the verge of his de-
parture for France, Ii had his interpreter
thank the Germans warmly for ali their
remarkable courtesies and explain that he
now had very clear idea of the capabili-
ties CT German industries, and when he
got back to China he wound not fail TO re-
port what he had seen. Unhappily, he
was authorized to do no more. This cruel
blow hits the German Chauvinists hard,
and they are already talking OF "Mongo-
liam perfidy."
In France the temperance of Rouvier
as parliamentary power, after it was sup
terly destroyed him, is the political sensa-
ton of the hour
his speech against the proposed taxa
ton OF rentes is not only regarded as the
most important fiscal utterance of the
session, but IL is credited in advance with
having killed the project in the Chamber.
All sides assume that Meline will now
withdraw the measure. Strictly speaking
he ought also to resign, since the defeat
OF the main feature of the budget is quite
the gravest rebuff a Premier can sus tain.
But Meline is not of the resigning sort,
and, moreover, recess of Parliament is
at hand.
French seaboard cities-Marseilles, as we'll
as BORDEAUX, Havre, Dunkirk and great in
dustrlal hives like Lyons, Lille and Rouen
are getting ready to pool their issues
and make formidable attack on Meline's
protection policy, which is running them
all.
The most remarkable illustrated Bible in
existence is shortly to be published at
Amsterdam in Dutch, English, German
and French editions. The project has
been rlpening for years, but large capital
had TO be subscribed first and numerous
contracts made. Everything is at last
ready for start.
parts, each with four large pictures.
Burne-Jones, Gerome, Morot and Tissot
will do Genesis; Tadema, Exodus and
Mum bers, and Jean Paul Laurence Judges
and Ruth. To Sargent and Israels will be
intrusted the story of David. Benjamin
Constant will supply three pictures in
Samuel and two in the life of Christ while
Munkacsy has scene surrounding the
crucifxion. Many other eminent French
and German painters have commissions,
but Walters Crane, who does the cover
and some pictures, is the only English
man mentioned. Menzel has not yet en-
tered the combination, but it is hoped
that he will do SO. HAROLD FREDERIC.