The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1901-08-24
FOREIGN TOPICS.

| Paris Is carrying crusade against
| the mosquito. but not with oil. The public
| fountains are being shut OFF, those In the
| Place de la Concorie. at the Luxembourg.
| the Observatory, the cascade at Long
| champs and the little brooks in the Bots
| 1t is the Council of Hygiene which has
brought this about. and ii is compelled
| therefore to suffer the displeasure of the
| public But the council says that mos
quitoes are dangerous to the health. and
as the fountains breed the pest the foun-
tains must be suppressed.
They are becoming freer in Germany in
| their comments on governing powers. and
| it is quite possible a story. entitled The
| Golden Plate" in the latest number of
| 'Fliegende BIaetter," may have reference
| to Won Naldersec's remarkable standing
\ with the Emperor. The tale says there
was once count and a countess who had
son born to them. They were very
| happy and gave feast in his honor, in
/ Wiling to Il among others four fairies that
| lived in the neighborhood. Now, among
| the family heirlooms had been four
| golden plates, but they had pawned three
OF them. So only one fairy could dine off
goldware. while the others had to put up
with porcelain This made the trio mad
and they bestowed on the youngster three
bad gifts. which may be thus translated:
without tact. said the second. He'll
| talk too nuch.'' said the third The fourth
fairy laughed: None of these evil gifts
VIII do him any harm. He'll have protec-
ton and a pull. -
The habit of splitting becomes more and
| more prosecuted as the authorities are
| better informed of the dangers which
| may come of 1t. Recently Paris was
placarded with tens of thousands of little
bills about the size of a pocket handker-
chief. which read: Prefecture of Police
Notice. The public is earnestly requested,
IN order to avoid the danger of propagat-
ing tuberculosis and zymotic diseases,
not to spit in the streets The notices
Were sent out in pursuance of an order
promulgated by the municipal council last
month. 1t is said to remain merely a
notice so far as any observance of it has
been seen.
The Pope's wardrobe, in so far as his
linen cassocks and capes are concerned,
is looked after by the nuns of the Repara-
ton on the solemn understa nding that
none of his discarded articles of wearing
apparel are ever given or bartered away.
a practice common enough in the Pontif-
cate of Plus TX. Leo XIII has been known
to break his own rule, and that no fewer
than three times in favor of the same
privileged lady, a fair and persuasive
American, who presented herself at the
audience carrying skull cap of the rich
est white satin This she succeeded in ex-
changing for that of the Pontiffs we'll
worn one. This ruse met with similar
success on a second attempt, but some
what doubtful as to the result of a third.
the fair American brought the new skull
cap filled with golden coins as an offer
ing to Peters pence She scored again,
needless to say. and the Pope's staff are
awaiting with some curiosity the ladys
ADDea:anCf
BILE Pontiffs skull cap.
The painful news comes from Paris that
there is woeful shortage In pearls. For
several years now pearls have been the
fashion, and the demand for them has
been much greater than the supply. The
consequence is that anyone who wants TO
buy string of pearls or dog collar
for his wife or some one else must pay
three or four times as much as he did
fifteen years ago. There is on exhibition
in Paris pearl necklace containing forty
five jewels. twelve of which are black 1t
is worth SSS,000 and will be sold. so the
French say, to an American. Americans
are buying pearl necklaces worth any
where from $4,000 to $4,000 without muir
muring.
The report of the Manchester ship canal
for the half-year ended June 30 last is
discouraging to advocates of artificial
waterways and artificial ports, in the fact 4
that it shows a decline of traffic from
As, 81 tons in 1900 TO 1.39i. l49 in 1901. Net
revenue for the six months was $685.
or enough 10 pay interest on the first and
second mortgage bonds and leave S6i,UO
for interest on the IS, op0,OO3 the city of
Manchester has invested in the canal
For the first time in the eight years since
the canal was opened it shows a decrease
instead of increase of business. Cargoes
of seagoing ships fell off 6is per cent
The railways serving that part of Eng
land show like decreases OF traffic, the
cause being the general depression In
trade and the high price of coal.
Twenty-Five years ago London had prob
ably the worst hotels of any of the great
capitals of the world. Today 1t has some
of the best The hotel habit has become
a fashionable craze. People now live in
hotels during the season instead of taking
town houses Those who still have Lon
don mansions on their hands patronize the |
hotels for meals. Not content with dining
out your smart woman of today must |
have her afternoon tea at Claridges. her |
lunch at the Carlton, and some ultra 1
smart people have been trying even to |
create a craze for going out for break |
fast.
The twenty leading hotels of London |
represent a capital of something like L. |
00dO0o sterling During a busy month !
they accommodate about $500 guests ev-
cry night and find employment for 800 |
servants. The Gordon Hotels represent !
an investment of three and half mil |
lions, and secured a profit last year of
GI56.000. The Cecil is run on a scale |
greater than the whole Government of |
more than one South American State.
Dor TT/T ar OHNEM Mt