The Washington times., 1901-11-14
FOREIGN TOPICS.


tablished in Rome, $50 converts Of frlars
or nuns were added to the many already
existing in the Eternal City. ana that the
rroperty-landed and otherwiss-of the re-
liSious orders in Rome is valued at 800
100000 francs $500, ,005l Last year 80 ,e)3
francs $lE,15O. in bonds and other Sc
curitios were stolen in the Vatican from
strong box known as the -'buco nero
(the black hole, which seems to have
offered but a slight resistance TO the
thieves, who were never detected. Now
the moneys and other valuables belong
ing TO the Holy See are securely guarded
in six iron safes of an improved pattern
in special room, outside of which
Papal gendarme is on duty day and night.
and an officer spies through a - in the
dcor every FIVE hours during the night
watch TO ascertain that the safes have
not been meddled with. The pecuniary
resources OF the Pap1cy could never be
ascertained with any degree of accuracy
II Is only known that his Holiness spends
1,o99t9 francs (S1.251. 500 a year for the
ordinary expenses of The Holy See.
Before the war broke out few subjects
buiked mere largely in the public mind
In Great Britain than the dynamite mo-
nopoly in the Transvaal The question was
one which appealed to the mind of the
man IN the street. who had difficulty in
following the mysteries of the franchise
dispute. For several years the Transvaal
Dynamite Company fattened on the gold
mining industry of the country. II had a
monopoly, and it used 1t unscru-
pulousiy, probably because good
deal had to be paid to keep in
favor with certain of the Boer
Government officials The company was
a standing grievance to the gold mining
COMPANIES. as. along with other imposts
of the Boer Government. it rendered un-
profitable the wording of all but the rich
est mines. The breaking Of the power OF
the Boer Government, it was known,
meant the death knelI to the monopoly.
NO one knew that better tlan the offi-
ciais OF the company, but they are not GO
ing to be dispossessed without an effort
10 continue the manuJd dcture and sale of
explosives under less favored conditions
J ne company has il is reported made ar
olIer TO the new administration To supply
Dlastlng geiatine at 80 shillings case of
my pounds less than ii charged before
the outbreak of the war and geiignite
at % shlllings case less. Even at these
prices the company would make q profit
although the reduction I'm price woiJil
mean a loss Of revenue of aboilt s5nl eal n
year. Before anything is done il is certain
thai every eneCura cement will he given
70 OUTSIDE makers 10 compete for yalua-
bic and growing trade Before the war
the mining Industry required 300 900 cases
OF explosives yearly. IL may be taken for
granted that the Transvaal Dynamite
company concession is one of those which
VIII certainly not be recognized By the
new administration. The reduced price of
dynamite offered by the company would
represent saving of about ninepence a
ton of ore mined
His Highness Ibrahim the Sultan of Jo-
hore, who has just made a stir in Paris
by riding in the bouleyards with a young
woman named Tyler, who was nearly
killed by the insane antics of one of the
Suitan's untamed horses is one OF the ma
tive rulers of the Straits Settlements. with
an enormous revenue and no little poIit-
icai power in the Malay Peninsula. The
State of Joilore occupies the southern ex-
tremity of the peninsula. Il has an area
of 800 miles and an estimated popuia-
ton of about 200 Oc8, chiefly Malay and
Chinese. 1t is controlled in it's foreign re-
latons by Great Britain. Otherwise the
State is independent and is absolutely
under the rule of Ibrahirn Th. Sultan
Is fine specimen Of barbarous ruler
who is accustomed to have his own way
in everything. He has lately been visit
ing Europe, and like all oriental poten-
tates is most pleased with Paris, where
he has not been conducting himself how
ever, with the highest kind of discretion.
He carries an extensive retinue and a
stable OF horses, brought all the way from
the Far East.
Engineering experts from England vis-
ited the United States a year or two ago
to ascertain, if possible. the reasons for
Americas ascendancy in the industrial
worid. and Of late small parties of picked
worSmen from that country have been
sent over here to study mechanical meth
ods and devices. France now has in con-
temptation a similar but more permanent
policy. She proposes to establish on this
side Of the Atlantic technical school for
the benefit of her own young men. The
has been roughly blocked out
by the French Minister of Commerce. and
he will appoint committee to work out
the details Thus Continental Europe,
like Great Britain, is illustrating the
soundness Of the old military maxim. 1t
is legitimate to learn from an enemy"
Americans can afford to extend all pos
sible encoura cement TO schemes of this
the advantages which their rivals will de-
rive from such scrutiny and imitation.
The truth is that. while foreigners are
copying what appear to be the latest
American ideas. the American industrial
genius is continually originating new
ones. Hence. in these material matters
ltllS country manages TO Keep at least |
five or ten years ahead Of Europe
Active steps are being taken by var
ious antiquarian societies, on the invi-
tation Of Sir Edmund Antrobus, the owner
of Stonehenge. to preserve that monu- |
ment. The largest native hewn stone In |
England. which is to be found there, and
which was leaning over dangerously, has |
this week been raised into a perpendlc- |
ular position. II was encased in a cradle |
Of strong timber, to prevent it from crack |
ing, and every precaution was taken TO |
guard against an accident. Now the mon |
olith is raised. it presents an imposing |
appearance. ii stands about twenty-one |
feet above the ground its total length |
being about twenty-nine feet six inches
and it il estimated that it weighs more |
than thirty tons. The raising of the |
stone was witnessed by Sir Edmund and |
Lady Antrobus and a large number Of !
other persons who take an interest in the
ancient monument. The excavations nee
sssary for putting in bed OF concrete, on |
he northwest side Of the stone Will now
be proceeded with.
Ex-Dcputy Raphan PalizsClo. the pre-
sumed head Of the Palermo Malta. in
italy, charged before the Bologna asszes
with having caused the murder of di-
rector of the Bank OF Sicily, and Of an
other individual, has been making bril-
liant auto defence, which seems to have
greatly impressed the jury. and 1t is ex-
pectcd that he will be acquitted. His
asserted accomplices, who are said to
have actually committed the murders.
were tried at Milan. but The trial broke
Down owiag Ia the unvillingness of wit