The San Francisco call., 1898-12-18
adoption, but they will lead to lively de-

bates.
 A gambling scandal affecting a num- Der of ari +ocrats has been brought to light and has created a sensation in social circles. 4 smart" club called the "Joviale Club" frequented by off, cers of the guards, cavalry, high Gov ernment officials, bankers and members of the Reichstag, has existed in Berlin for some years. 4 stranger was re- centl-- introduced by two highly re- spected members and soon became a favorite. All went swimmingly until rumors about his antecedents began to circulate. and it was noticed that luck invariably favored him. The Berlin Tageblatt says the stranger got many young men of the best families in his power. The whole affair will shortly be sifted in the law courts. Several club men lost immense sums, and the affair is likely to have serious results for the military officers, in view of Elm peror Williams determination to SUD- press gambling in the army.
 The Italian papers say they learn that Emperor William will pass a ten days visit to Rome In January and give a magnificent fancy dress ball at the German Embassy. The costumes. 1t appears, will all be of the time of the Roman empire, His Majesty ap- bearing in a Roman tunic with a great purple cloak.
 Particulars of the acquisition of the legendary abode of the Virgin Mary at Jerusalem by the German Catholics. which the Emperor announced during the Palestine trip, have thrown fresh light on the recent scandal in connec- tion with the sale of the American cemetery at Jerusalem. Collins were said to have been eXhumed and the bodies dismembered and packed in small boxes and reinterred elsewhere. The names of the purchasers of the cemetery and the purposes of the tran saction have been concealed. It now transpires that the cemetery formed part of the site of the abode of the Virgin Mary, and was bought by the German Catholics in confidential antici- patton of an arrangement by which the Sultan, to oblige Emperor William. would place them in possession of the rest of the property which was in the hands of Mussulmans, who were forced to sell under the order of the Sultan. The Catholic press notes, in mock sur prise, that while the Catholic clergy and press formally mad generally thanked the Emperor for what he had done for them in Palestine, the Protest ant press and episcopacy have re- mained silent
 It is curious fact that though
 
 Reichstag claimed Emperor William had attained highly important results through his Oriental tour, about which the Secretary of State will tell you in detail,'' the latter official, aI- though present when the announce ment was made, did nothing of the kind in his subsequent speech.
 The committee of experts appointed to inquire into the unsanitary condi- ton of the new palacA at Potsdauo hitherto regular royal residence dur ing the greater part of the year, re- ports that the water from the Hayel Is increasingly permeating the land round the palace, and that unless the river Is regulated and extensive i'm provements are made In it's banks, the whole palace, which cost 20. 900 600 marks. and on which the present Elm peror has spent 5000, ,000 marks, will be- come permanently uninhabitable. The Prussian Diet will be asked to vote the necessary sum.
 The Empress of Germany for some time has been using. as regular treat ment for obesity. tablets containing the active principal tyrhoid glands of sheep, which is specific for this trouble. While she has succeeded in re- ducing her weight, she has been suffer ing seriously in general health is be- coming nervous and is threatened with heart trouble. The Emperor, there fore, has induced her to stop using the remedy.
 A mass meeting at Kiel. attended by 5000 persons. has adopted strong pro test against the expulsions from Schleswig- -Holstein.
 The German Cabinet is working in conjunction with the Russian authori- ties in order to facilitate the importa- tiOn of Russian 7etroleum.