Arizona republican., 1900-08-25

that it is simply incredible that a sen sible American should be willing to pay several thousand dollars "backsheesh' for the questionable privilege of bring ing his wife and his daughters into con- tact with them.
 One of the most unkind things wri
 ten about Lady Hart in connection with the crisis in China has appeared in one of the principal society pap5rs in London. Giving a pen sketch of Sir Robert Hart at Pekin, it concludes the story with the following odd sentence: Lady Hart usually lived in Europe. so that the great chief of the imper al customs department was spared the worst of tortures." This phrase is par ticuiarly cruel in view of the fact that Sir Robert and Lady Hart have ben virtually separated for nearly a quar- ter of q century.
 
 The Prince of Wales gave Lady Ran dolph Churchill very funny wedding present. a diamond and rubystudded gold pig of considerable size as a porte bonheur, stipulating, however. that no mention should be made of his gift in the press.
 Inasmuch as some changes have re- gently taken place in connection with the leading Parisian clubs. it may be of interest to state that the latter are six in number. Tie most select of them all is probably the Jockey. founded by an EngIishman. Lord Henry Seymour. and which has about thousand members Its president is the Duke de la Roche foucauld Doudeauviile, and it is solely on account of his position as presiden- of this institution that he is conceded in arfstocratic society a precedence which should otherwise belong to the young Duke of UZes as premier peer of France. In spite of it's English origin it is very difficult for Englishmen to obtain access thereto. and there are but but a few English members, while the only American members the club has ever had have been the late Allen Thorndyke Rice. who died just after his appointment as envoy to the court of Russia. and MT. Ridgeway, who in spite of the immense sums that he has lavished on his French racing stables, was unable to get into the club until quite recently. and then only by the very skin of his teeth. Count Boni de Castellane enjoys the distinction of having been rejected by the largest number of black balls ever cast at the Jockey.
 Next to the Jockey club in import ance comes the Union. which includes harcbirn other Not only is every foreign am bassador admitted without ballot, but foreigners of distinction are also wei comed. Indeed. there are 200 foreign members, as compared with the 350 French ones. The Union is dist IT, Suished from most ether French clubs by only allowing games of skill and games of chance. Its her. aldic device consists of the royal arms of France ''cnpaled" with those of Great Britain. It is situated on the Boulevard de la Madelcin. and is under the presidency of the French Duke of Rohan. who must not be confounded with the Austrian Duke of Rohan. the latter being in reality the chief of this illusuious and historic house.
 The CeIcle ASricUle, nicknamed the ''Pommes de Terre." is restricted to the country gentlemen of France, and has but few foreign members. It makes it's home in q fine building at the corner Cf the Boulevard St. Germain. facing the chamber of deputies, acknowledge Count Fernand de Rrissac. of the du al family of that name. as it's president, and is probably the most respectable club in Paris.
 The Sporting club, presided over by the Duke of Fitz James. is composed almost exclusively of Breton and An geVin nObles, and owing to the fact that most of the members are either related to one another or else have known one another since boyhood. greater degree of comradaship and prevails there than in any other Parisian club.
 Finally there are the Union Art stique, at the corner.of the Rue Boissv D-AnSlas. which is far more cosmopoIi- tan than any of the others. and which comprises among it's ranks not only many foreigners, but likewise a number Of the princes of the Haute Finance It's president is that Marquis de Vog who is well known in the United Stat s as a frequent contributor to Harp=r Magazine. And then there is the Ger -le de la Rue Royale, now under the presidency of the Duke de la Tremol e and which has been the scene of seve: al lisgraceful card scandals. one of whi almost entailed the disappearance of the club. The sporting element there If virtually controls steepIechasing in France. and the Steeplechase club is 'Jally nothing but a committee of the Rue Royale club. It was there that the Prince du Sagan, now Duke of Tal- cyrand, made his home for so many years; indeed. he vas long regarded as the handspring of the club.-Marquise ie Fontenoy in Washington Post.
 QUESTIONS ANSWERED.