The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-17
SAVANNAH, GA, SUNDAY JANUARY H. 1897
Messrs, shannon and Parsons as assO-

The international postal conference at
Washington next May Is likely to attract
a larger attendance of government dele
gates than any Of its predecessors, partly
because it is nearly six years since the
last conference, and partly on account of
some of the European delegates determi-
nation to obtain a reduction in the mail
rates for letters. The reformers say that
a thousand million people are interested
in this question of rates and that the re-
form has been too long delayed. The
main argument seems to be that if par
eel can be sent to any part of the coun-
tries in the postal union for a franc, ii is
exorbitant to charge a quarter of a franc
for carrying a small, light letter in
Europe alone. Efforts have been
made to induce the newspapers
and news agencies to combine to obtain
further extensions of the privilege of press
telegraph rates and a Reduction of the
present rates, but business rivalries and
jealousies so far have prevented anything
practical being done.
Efforts have been made this week to
create a scare in regard to the queens
health but without much success. En-
quiries elicit the information that the
queen is in good bodily health, save occa-
sional slight attacks of rheumatism. Her
appetite and digestion are good, and her
sleep is always natural and sound. but
within the last few months her majesty,
who herself has always been careful, has
been subject to fits of dependency, caus-
ed, it seems, by the haunting fear that she
is not to survive this, the GROWING year of
her long reign. There is no ground for
alarm, but it is true that the royal ply
sicians are somewhat perturbed on account
of the contrast to the queens customary
placid optimism. They hope that her visit
to the Riviera, the change of air and
scene will soon put her right, as they gem
orally do common mortals.
A private letter received from Constanti-
nople this week says that in the opinion
of lifelong residents there is certain be-
fore long to be an attempt of some kind
by ultra Moslem fanatics upon the Euro
pean embassies, which, of course, will pre-
cipitate a crisis The sultan himself has
reason to entertain the same
fear and by his orders the most
stringent precautions are being taken.
The same writer mentions as the most
significant OF all the portents, the fact that
within the last six months the stock OF
dealers in firearms and lethal weapons
has generally been cleared out by eager
purchasers. The arms are not usually
bought by Armeuians or sober-going
Turks. The purchasers have been fiauat-
ical Mussulmans and Greeks, who evil
IDENTIFY anticipate a period when arms Of
all kinds will be in demand.
Cardinal Richard. archbishop of Paris.
has again laid the hand Of discipline upon
his clergy. Last autumn the reproof took
the form of a circular letter, telling the
clergy that a priest on a bicycle was no
fitting spectacle on the streets of Paris
Now the Catholic clergy are shut out from
the theater. The archbishop forbids any
priest of the diocese OF PARIS 20 leave his
house without wearing a cassock. Then
he says that any clerical appearing In a
cassock at the theater, even at a matinee,
shall be liable to suspension. The circus
is not forbidden. That is the theater of
childhood, and the priest goes there as
the guide of children. Even the opera
and Coincide Franchise are forbidden. The
Figaro points out that there Is one way
out of the difficulty. Clericals may wear
a short cassock and cover it with a great
coat, but that would be an unworthy sub
terfuge.
Rome, Jan. 16.-It is officially announc-
ed that the governments Of England,
France, Germany, Austria, Russia and
Turkey have agreed to hold an interna-
tional conference, to sit in this city. for
the purpose of considering precautionary
measures against the spread into Europe
of the bubonic plague raging in India.
Paris, Jan. 16.-The government has is
sued decree forbidding the importation
of linen rags from districts in India in
fol, he hui, Ia fu