The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1901-08-13
FOREIGN TOPICS.

FOREIGN TOPICS.
The noted Danish sculptor Hasselriis
mas scored another victory in monu-
mental art. Early in September n mag
nificent work in stone will be unveiled on
the grave of Heinrich Heine in Paris. 1t
will be remembered that Hasselriis is the
author of the Heine statue destined for
the Isle of Korfu. which was constructed
by order of the late Empress Elizabeth of
Austria.
The unfortunate Empress was an ar
dent admirer of Heine, whose writings
she read almost to the exclusion of any
other. She died at the hands of the Ital-
ian assassin before her noble tribute to
the immortal author of "Lorelei' was
finished. Hasselriis continued his work,
which Is now completed. 1t was ac-
quired by the Vienna Heine Monument
Committee, which secured enough popu-
lar subscriptions to purchase 1t for re-
munerative figure. 1t was resolved to
place the monument on the grave of the
poet in Paris.
A German firm about three years ago
attempted to introduce into Palestine oil
engines of three or four horse power for
pumping water from the deep wells more
rapidly than it could be lifted by mules.
AT first no one would try these engines,
garden proprietors looking upon them
with suspicion, Finally. however, the
agent of the firm in question volunteered
to set up an engine free Of expense in
one of the gardens by way of experiment.
and it was found to work so well that
several orders were at once placed with
the firm. When first set to work these
engines were made to pump up the water.
but It was found that the pipes frequently
became clogged with the mud and sand
at the bottom of the wells.
Now, however, by very simple adjust
ment of the belt the old water wheel
with its buckets Is made to rotate and the
water is raised as formerly, only at a
considerably greater speed. 1t is found
that an oil engine will NIL one OF the large
reservoirs above mentioned in about six
hours at half the daily cost of keeping
three or four mules, and the gain to the
garden proprietors is, therefore, manifest.
Since 1898 about sixty of these oil en-
gines have been employed In the larger
plantations. two-thirds of which are of
German manufacture and the rest of
British make.
Giants of both sexes all over the world
are offering themselves as competitors in
the contest organized under the will of
the prize of $4,000. which Is to be offered
to the best physically fitted to bring about
the physical regeneration of the human
race Several British and German COM
petitors have sent in their names and
qualifications, with an enquiry whether
they will be allowed to take part in the
contest. Nothing is said in the will as to
the nationality of the competitors. but
there are so many entries from persons
of French origin that it is improbable
that the prize will go to any foreign
prodigy.
The would-be regenerators of the race
are mostly country folk. and some of the
letters sent in with particulars of the
competitors especial qualifications are
couched in the most innocent and
men are French soldiers and gendarmeS.
one is a nome commissioned officer. the son
of a Paris doctor, and all claim to be over
seven feet in height. broad and robust in
person None Of the competitors admit
to a single days illness, and one man
claims to be an absolutely perfect model
of manly vigor and physique
The village council of Kami-mura, in
hiroshima Ken. Japan. has been terribly
insulted by a mild-mannered old gentle
man, who now protests that he meant
no harm" The old gentleman in ques-
tion lately got the notion into his head
of becoming a member of the august
body Just mentioned. and in order to win
over the local electors one day treated
them to a dinner. When the sake cup
was making its rounds the host got on
his legs and spoke as follows: The rea-
son why | ask you, gentlemen, to assist
me In getting elected to our village coun-
Gil is this: As you know, L have a little
money, but, as you also know, my son
has gone to an early grave. My daughter
has left me- SO has my wife, and | am
thus alone and foriorrl. bereft of all the
pleasures of the world. Last month the
prevalent hair disease attacked me, and
didn't, as You see, leave a hair on my
thought that l might, with your pernis-
sion, gentlemen. console myself and divert
my mind little by becoming one of your
respected council"
1t has probably been noticed by readers
of British commercial and maritime jour-
nails that where the report of one British
Consul appears, drawn from the Govern
ment Blue Books and therefore more or
less out of date. there appear ten or
more timely reports from United States
Consuls, reproduced from the neat bro
chures sent out by the State Department.
This fact has just been made the subject
of communication from the British
Chamber of Commerce to the British
The difference between the
of British Consuls and American
Consuls is that while the former give only
what information they think may be of
use to their Foreign Office, and usually
upon demand. the latter. more as COM
mercial than diplomatic agents, report on
those things which they believe to be of
interest to the commercial, industrial, and
financial classes of their country.
The annual report of the British Cham
Der of Commerce in Paris has just been |
published in neat volume 1t concerns |
itself principally with Anglo-French |
trade, showing that while Great Britain |
still heads the list as the chief suppiier of |
France, she is closely followed by Ger |
many; thus, while Great Britain increased |
her exports to France last year by about |
is, 900, 900 francs. Germany augmented hers |
by nearly 100000 francs. Another i'm |
portant feature of the report is the COM |
plant of the inconvenience caused by the |
lack of British consular representatives |
In that portion of the Department of the |
Nord which includes such important |
towns as Lille, Douai, Roubaix, Tourco- |
ing. and other places. At present British |
Consulx in France are appointed almost |
exclusively to seaport towns and have no |
direct mission in respect of inland COM |
mercial interests; the directors of the |
British Chamber of Commerce have. |
therefore, placed the following resolution |
upon the agenda of the annual meeting of |
the Association of Chambers of Com |
merce:
81. IL, 10