Evening star., 1899-03-04

est In Paris, he is neither pedantic nor or
nate. His thickset figure is plainly clad
and a little carelessly; his gray beard Is
not TRIM and the homely head and face in
dicate a steadfastness of character in es-
sentials. One hears without surprise that
he has the reputation of keeping his word,
and that his home life is of a piece with
his life in public. Up to three years ago,
when his presidency of the senate took him
into an official residence, he received his
friends en- famille in an entresol OF the Rue
de Tournon, Madame Loubet cooking south
ern dishes with a good deal of garlic In
them, and the evening being spent with
pipes and music. His visits to the Drome
are frequent; his mother Is still alive at
Montelimart at the age of eighty. six, and
he has a crowd of other kinsfolk there.
1t is told of him that on recent visit ne
kneaded a baking of bread for the old
lady, as she had taught him to do when a
boy. No wonder that he was OF Carnot
innermost circle. He would seem, indeed,
to have many Of the qualities most admired
by Americans. and 1t may be hoped that
firmness of will is not wanting among
them.
The Joint High Commission.
Much regret is expressed in England over
the failure of the Anglo-American COM
mission to come to an agreement over the
question pending between the two coun-
tries The feeling is not, however, so Keen
here as in Canada, where the questions
have more value. Public opinion and near
ly all the papers take a hopeful view OF the
situation and believe that when the joint
high commission sits again treaty Will be
arrived at, and that the intervening term
will be usefully employed in coming in
formally to certain conclusions.
In this country ii is felt that the Cana
dians could hardly expect to carry all they
asked. especially when their demands in
cluded a port or custom mouse at or near near
Skagway. To sum it up, as one paper puts
it: 'It is to be regretted, OF course, that
the great tariff questions at issue between
the United States and Canada cannot be
settled straight away and the obstacles to
reciprocal trade be removed without further
delay but it is proverbially an i'll wind that
blows nobody good, and English traders, al
all events, have no cause to regret the pl O.
Iongation of a state of things on the Amer
ican-Canadian frontier which operates so
powerfully in favor Of British commerce.
1t is unnecessary, because II might be un-
just, to condemn the United States com
missioners for not accepting the precise
methods of arbitration suggested by their
British colleagues. At the same time Amer
lean statesmen would be wise II they aban-
doned the idea that, by dint of hard bar
gaining. the imperial government can be
persuaded to sacrifice Canadian rights on
the altar of international friendship. As
for the reports of Canadian encroachments
upon Alaska, and the collection OF dutles
from American subjects, We decline to be-
lieve them without better proof than the re-
ported transmission of complaints to Wash
ington.'
Russia Military Affairs.
As further commentary on the cars
peace proposals, may mention that the
Russian military budget for 1899 amounts
to about s17o,0o0000, which is a consider
able increase upon the outlay OF last year.
The only chapters upon which any reduc-
tions appear are for forage, new artillery
material and work upon the Transcaspian
railway, and these are quite inconsiderable.
/ learn from wel-informed source that
the Russian military authorities ara MAX
ing arrangements to send 5000 troops of
all arms to eastern Siberia and Manchuria
during the current year. These troops VIII
be shipped at various times from Odessa
with all their stores, and large numbers of
convicts are to be employed in the pro-
vision of barrack and other accommoda-
dons.
Russian Military Affairs.
am able to give some particulars of the
new royal train provided by the Great
Western Company for the use of the
queen. The work was undertaken in COM
memoration of the queens jubilee. and no
expense has been spared in its construction.
The cost of the train complete, that is,
with six eight-wheeled coachas, each sc
feet long, has been about 100000. Con-
tinuous communication is provided through
out the whole length of the train upon the
yestibule system. The carriage for her
majesty's use is the compartment which
was built for her by the company in 1874
The queen did not wish 1t to be altered in
any way, and 1T had to be removed in its
entirety from the original frames and then
restored to its position after the necessary
alterations had been made. The decora-
Of a
and the arrangements include well-ap-
pointed kitchen.
Similar trains, though not so ornate in
their decorations, can be taken any day by
ordinary travellers for runs of 200 miles and
over, on several lines running out Of Lon
don. England has progressed very much
in this respect of late years.
Growth of the Press.
There are now published in the united
kingdom 1855 newspapers. or this num-
ber London owns 460. the provinces 1883,
Wales JOG, Scotland 235, Ireland $50. and
the isles 2l. There are 1S2 daily papers
published in England, IN Waiss, 10 in
Scotland, 20 in Ireland and in the Brit
ish Isles. In 1916 we find some interesting
facts. There were published in the united
kingdom 551 journals. OF these IA wers is
sued daily, viz: Twelve in England and
in Ireland; but in 1899 there are now estab-
nSned ana Circulated <,ooo papers, OF %nicn
no fewer than 232 are issued daily, show
ing that ths press of the country has more
than quadrupied during the last fifty-five
years The increase in daily papers has
been still more remarkable, the daily issue
standing 232 against IA in 1876. As to
magazines, there ara now published in the
united kingdom 2,290 magazines, of which
at least $40 are of q decidedly religious
character. Comparing 1899 with 1916, II is
estimated that in that year there were only
300 of such publications in existence. Al
most every branch of science and thought
Is now represented. L. H. MOORE.
Robbed q Chnd's Bank.
Charles Hughes. a coiored boy who was
t,,,,rlavxad as a holJse servant nv Mrs Erlfza