New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-19
PARIS.
THE QUESTION OF THE POPES sue
CESSOR.
CARDINALS SATOLIL AND GIBBONS PROM
INENT-LOCKROY'S NAVAL REFORMS
THEATRE AND SOCIETY


fBY THE TRIBvNE.l
Paris March 1S.-A prominent French ecce-
siastic who arrived this evening from Rome
brings to Cardinal Richard. Archbishop Of Paris
news that in the inner circles OF the Vatican the
condition OF Pope Leo XIII is known to be so
critical Notwithstanding the hopeful statements
Of Doctors Lapponi and Mazzoni. that the Papa
succession may be considered already open. FOR
three days the Sacred College has been Weighing
the claims of the best-qualihed candidates. The
thirty Italian Cardinals who sit in the Sacred
College said to hold different opinions In re-
gard to the attitude the next Pope should main
tain toward the Qurinal. The twenty seven for
eign Cardinals Of the Sacred College are also
divided on the question of a protectorate over
Roman Catholics in the Holy Land. which has
been eagerly discussed since Emperor Will
Jams visit there last autumn. The German and
Austrian Cardinals are resoutcly opposed to
France continuing to monopolize such protec-
I ton while the French and Spanish Cardinals In
sist upon maintaining 1t.
In ecclesiastical circles here the opinion is that
the two most likely successors to Leo XIII are
Cardinal Satolli. who in the conclave would nave
the votes of at least sixteen Italian Cardinals
besides those of more than half of the Foreign
Cardinals and Cardinal Gibbons. whom French
and German Cardinals are willing TO support as
compromise on the Holy Land prOtectOrate
question and TO whom many Italian Cardinals
I would accord their suffrages. not only on ac-
count of the enlightened character Of the Arch
bishop OF Baltimore and with a view 10 strength
ening the growth Of Catholicism in the United
States by fattering the country's pride but also
because the Italian Cardinals feel convinced
that an American Pope would bring an annual
influx of Americans to Rome and probably
IL. tn tCF. na
during the last twelvemonth has dwindled to
q. 100 600 lire. the smallest amount yet recorded,
and prove a boon to the Roman tradesmen. 1t
appears that Leo XIII is very sad and despOnd-
ent since the death Of his warm personal friend,
the late Monseignor Clari. Papal Envoy to Paris,
which deeply affected him.
NJ. LOckroy Minister Of Marine. Is daily WIN
ming new laurels by the spirited manner In
which he defends his naval budget. H. seems In
fair way to accomplish for the French Navy
what Carnot. in the closing days Of the last cen
fury. did for the French Army. NJ. Lockroy's
latest victory is the destruction OF the aniquaed
system Of shipbuilding accountability, origi-
mated in the days of wood and iron. which in
complicated modern constructions has enabled
those responsible for technical matters to elude
their obligations. greatly adding TO the cost and
time required for completing new French ships
The charity performance at the Grand opera
tonight for the benefit OF the French dramatic
artists was the occasion for one Of the most sue
cessfuI and interesting theatrical performances
ever given in Paris. Molieres Bourgeois Gen
tilhomme." with Lullfs music. the ballots and
all its spectacular accomplishments. was pro-
duced exactly as when given for the first time
before Louis XIV. at the Chateau de Chambord,
on October a. 1870. at the fetes when lie Roy
Solen hoped TO marry La Grande Mademoiselle
TO the Duke of Orleans Since that date lie
Bourgeois Gentilhomme" as originally written
and composed by Moliere and Lul has been
produced only upon one occasion, at the Hof-
burg Theatre, Vienna. before the Emperor OF
Austria.
At the OPERA the programme gave the cast
OF tonight side by side with that of October ~.
1910 when Moliere acted NJ Jourdain and Lulli
sang the part Of the Mufti. characters imper-
sonated this evening by Coquelin Cadet and
ChambOn. Their acting was admirable; never
before have the efforts Of Coquelin Cadet been
hailed with such storm OF reclamation I-e-
bargy was inimitable as Dorante. and Leoir
outdid himself as the professor Of philosophy.
The other characters were impersonated by
Mines Pierson, Marsy, Muller. Kalb and by
NM Feraudy Trufier Boucher and Laugier.
The audience was a most brilliant one. includ-
ing President Loubet whose modest attitude
called forth from the few Royalists sarcastic
comparisons with Louis XIV
Among the Americans who attended this re-
markable gala performance were Mrs. Astor.
Mr. and Mrs Bradley Martin, Miss Backing
ton Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Curtis, Mr. and Mrs.
Frank Higginson. Mr.. and Mrs. Augustus +.
Gardiner the latter daughter of Senator Henry
Cabot Lodge; Mr.. and Mrs. Louis Rutherford,
Mrs Sharon Mrs. Richard and Mr.. William
Washington and Miss King. Mr.. and Mrs. Edgar
Scott the Duchess Of Marlborough. the Coun-
tess Kleckscowska. nee Tudor; Countess Coet-
logan nee Blake: Mr. and Mrs David Fulsom,
Sebastian Schesinger and his daughter, Baron
ness Reibnitz: Mrs Charles Whittier and Miss
Policy Whittier Mrs. and Miss Leischman and
Mrs. Beaumont.
The presence of the Queen and royal family
on the Riviera has given decided FLIP to social
gavety at Nice. Cannes and Monte Carlo. Mrs.
George Law has been giving series Of sumptu-
Gus entertainments at the villa Polawski; Mrs.
Willard Case. Mrs. Ingraham, Mrs. William
Payne and Mr.. Howard Case have left Monte
Carlo on q coaching trip through Ligura.
Mr. and Mrs Royal Phelps Carroll put in a
regular appearance on the golf links at Cannes.
Among other arrivals at Cannes are Messrs.
putler Duncan and Edward Gray. The Prince
of Wales since he arrived at Nice had slight
RELAPSE in his knee trouble which yesterday al
ternoon was aggravated by fall as ne was
getting out Of his carriage at Villefranche TO
enter a steam launch to go aboard the cruiser
Venus The Prince returned 10 Nice In the
evening His knee remains somewhat stn. ana
his nhyscians say that with massage trea tment
he will soon be right again The Prince sus-
tanned no other injury by the fall, which was
due TO his foot slipping on n carriage step.
nersonal telegram from Malta announces
that the American steam yacht Nourmahal
which has Mr.. and Mrs. John Jacob Astor's
marty on board. arrived on Tuesday from Tunis