The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-01-17
WILL THE PLAGUE SPREAD? 1?
The Greatest Tragedy in Modern His
tory Being Enacted in India.
OUTBREAK OF MUSSULMANS FEARED.
Lifelong Residents in Constantinople, as
Well rs the sultan, Anticipate Trouble,
Appointment of the New Russian
Foreign Minister Arouses Interest

LONDON. Jan. l6-The eyes OF the
European world are turned this week to-
ward India Each days intelligence from
that stricken land makes it more apparent
that the greatest tragedy in modern his
tory IS being enacted there under the
double curse Of plague and famine. The
heart Of Europe has been touched at
last and the universal sympathy Is per-
haps more, because II is now unged with
apprehension. IL would not be surprising
if within month a genuine plague panic
should spread through Christendom. The
great powers show alarm, and the news
comes to-day that Italy has summoned
an international conference, TO meet
forthwith at Rome, to consider measures
for dealing with the danger. There IS
little doubt that response of the govern
ments will be- favorable and all the re-
sources of modern science Will be speed
ily arraycd against this hideous foe.
Reliable Information about the real
plague in Bombay and vicinity Is lacking.
and. regarding mortality, it Is only said
in general terms that more than half
of those attacked succumb. The news
service OF the London press is strangely
inadequate, and it is through private
sources that most OF the information
comes.
WILL IT SPREAD?
Tho point which most interests Euro
peans il whether the awful disease is
likely 70 flourish I'm northern latitudes
II injection should be introduced here, but
evidence Is not forthcoming yet 10
s argued ny medical men, however.
that n the plague was dangerous
in Hong Kong. 10 will find an equally
prolific field On London and Paris. so far
AS the climate is concerned II Is general
ly admitted that the plague Is filthy
disease.
Dr. Hankin. a woll-known bactoriolo-
eist. who IS INVESTIGATING the subject in
Bombay, fastens the responsibility for
carrying the infection upon rats. ants,
and other insects. Rats i'm houses have
the plague: they die and are eaten by
ants which carry tho germs into the
crevices Of the buildings. 10 water-taps
and sinks Thus tho poison is dffusod
and cannot De eradlcated except by fire.
This explains the efficacy OF tho OLD
method Of cleansing by connagration.
and. nc the same time. tho fuulity OF
is0lating the sick as in other infectious
diseases. The only thing TO do is 10 re-
move tho healthy It Is stated in the
Daily Mails dispatches. which are the
only ones worth reading I'm the London
papers. that large business houses in
Bombay which are infested by rats have
been rendered untenable by the ravages Of
| the plague among those vcrm'n. They die
! hv the hundreds in the walls. and the
human occupants have been compelled 20
vocate the buildings. IL is not observed
that any large animals are subject 10 the
| infection.
STRONGEST PRECAUTIONS.
arsr %.
crnmcnts have already taken stringent
I precautions against the Importation ~
J the plague but it can hardly be possible
T 10 escape series of alarms from this
cause during the next few weeks. The
ravagos OF the famine On the interior Of
/ India are suu far more deadly than the
more horrible plague nc Bombay The
victims OF the plague are perishing hy
/ hundreds daily, but the victims of hun-
ger sucrumD hv thousands daily.
TUE ARBITRATION TREATY.
Such Interest as Was aroused early in
/ the wo,k by publication ol the terms Of
/ tine proposed arbitration treaty between
Goat Britain and the United States seems
20 have entirely disappeared. 10 is by DO
mans regarded ln Europe ms an epoch
marking event. which ore or two news
papers seemed 10 class 10. This double
| q
dozen Eng isnMcnt in Benin have
aroused far deeper public concern. II is
in diplomatic circles only that the SUBJ
/ ject is SIN alive, aul it Is in its bearings
upon European politics that the treaty
/ is 10 Dee considered. The impre sion pre-
walls that there is n small chance of the
treaty being ratified by the present Sem
ate. and II would not DE surprising If
Russia. and perhaps other powers. should
make 0vortures 10 the new administra-
ti0n, which would enable Mr. Mckinley
/ o. submit q series of treaties 90 the new
Senate for joint consideration. IL action
/ IS delayed on the present one
NEW RUSSIAN MINISTER.
The diplomatic world .akes more IN
torest in the appointment of Count Mura-
vief as Russian Foreign Minister than
On any other subject The Cars seicc-
tion came as great surprise. but it is
everywhere Interpreted as meaning
steady and Inhinching pursuit OF the
policy followed by the late Prince Lab0-
noff There is difference OF opinion
thus FAR whether Nuravieff viii be great
or than his Office as Prince Labonof was.
or merely am executive officer Of the
Emperor. as ~ ShIshkin has been. His
office is undoubtedly the most important
In Europe at tho present moment, and
his character and antecedents are there
fore. being carefully studied I'm an quar-
ters. His appointment is popular In
France, but not upon tho whole IN Ger
many. English opinion Of him IS un-
formed. but is suspicious. His youth IS
the first and obvious offence 20 English
/ conservatism.
ROYAL ACADEMY.
II As a pleasure 20 be able 70 record
tho fact that tho Royal Academy cleo
tion Thursday night met the hearty APP
proval OF both the artists ana wider so-
cial circles The result was % surprise
10 most persons. but tho selection of two
Americans and third whose talent is
thoroughly identified with America WAS
purely accidental and served 20 demon
strate that this most illustrious insttu-
tion knows no national boundaries I'm its
recognition OF talent. There has not been
n voice raised in criticism OF the acad-
emy's action IN selecting Mr.. Sargent as
an academician. and Alessrs. Shannon and
Parsons as associates.
POSTAL CONFERENCE.
The international Postal Conference at
/ Washington next May IS likely 10 attract
n larger attendance Of government dele
gates than any OF IT'S predecessors. partly
because IL IS nearly six years since the
+ last conference and partly on account Of
some of the European delecate's determi-
nation 10 obtain n reduction In the mail
rates for letters The rcfOrmers say that
a thousand million people are Interested
I'm this question Of rates and that the