The Washington times., 1901-10-26
FOREIGN TOPICS.

| the cities ana villages of the Black Forest
the hardy inhabitants take delight in the
sport Sunday is the day usually selected
] for the contests.
| 1he sport is not new one. The first
competition of This kind was inaugurated
/ by the Axemen's Association of Lathrobe,
| Australia, in 1soip- The trunks to be
chopped are usually about six and hall
| feet in circumference The points con-
sidered by the referees are the smooth
ness of the cuts and of course, the time
in which the work is finished.
! The champion woode1opper OF the word
| is William Cheilis, of Victoria, a giant
| who measures six feet seven inches in
his stockings. He chopped trunk of the
above description and Of aard wood IN
four minutes and eight ard one-quarter
seconds not long 6ince.
! An Austrian civil engineer ni.med kress
| the inventor of an eirshlp. came to grief
| a few days ago, together with his Tying
machine, which he called the kite flyer
Drachenfieger-and nearly lost his life
| His idea was that balloons will never be
| steerable and that we must initiate the
| flight of the birds or at least the move
| ment of kites SO that an aeroplane con-
sisting of several of such kites, arranged
| like the head, tail and wings of bird
and moved by a light motor would be the
| ideal flying machine.
Herr Kress constructed a number OF
| models but unlike Count Zeppelin, he
was not supported. and only when the
| Emperor gave him 5000 forms from his
private purse was i.e able to collect some
| 20,000 forms for building full-sized
! machine. He had. however the misfor-
| tune to order his motor at the wrong
place - somewhere in Germany - where
| payment was demanded in advance, SO
| that when a motor weighing $40 kilos
| instead of 240, as agreed, was delivered
| he was helpless.
This heavy motor, which did not answer
| to the dimensions and weight " the other
| parts of the machine, was the cause OF
| his disaster, Herr Kress made his expert
| ments on the surface of the reservoir of
| the Vienna waterworks, seventeen metres
deep, and when the flyer had risen
little. INTO the air It was was top
| heavy in consequence of the too
weighty motor, and dipped so deeply
into the water that the light linen OF the
aeropiares became soaked. Thercupon
the machine sank with Its inventor. VINO
worn a life belt and had not some by
ISLANDERS quickly rendered assistance.
Herr Kress. who was for years music
teacher in London, is now an old man
with whom much sympathy is felt, but
that he Will receive enough support TO
be able to build another machine with a
better motor is very doubtful.
NJ. Johanson, the official painter to the
French Ministry of Marine, who accom-
panied the Car of Russia on his recent
imperial cruise from Kiel to Dunkirk, de-
scribes his experiences In letter sent to
the Paris Journal by NJ. Bernard
Douay from Berck- -Mer.
NJ. Johanson, referring to his stay at
Elsinore, says: 1T was magnificent
sight to see King Edward arrive at Elsi-
more. You know that he puts all the
other Maiesties in the shade.
What an entrance. Not In steam
launch, the same as all Kings have nova
days, covered with a reversible landau
hood, very comfortable, but not at all
esthetic No; but a long white barge.
which twelve clean looking sailors, the
finest men in England pull with the
striking rhythm of a dozen oars all NOV
ing with a single swing. The perfect
sweep, sight to rejoice the heart of
sailor, described by the boat before touch
ing the quay, and in the bows that hand
some man In the red uniform of Dan
ish hussar, standing out against the drap-
cries of azure satin.
Then the manner in which he kisses
the hand OF the Czsrina before embracing
her and the same, ceremonial with all the
princesses. ending With his Wife and
his daughter. Princess Maude. 1t is ele-
gance and majesty Spersonified-
The people of Germany are approaching
great Industrial crisis caused by the
Introduction of high protective tariff
into the policy of the Government. The
tendency of all Europe is toward the
protection of domestic industries by I'M
posing duties upon foreign merchandise
England is now the only nation in Europe
that upholds the principle Of free trade.
Bismarck was the father of the protective
policy In Germany, just as he was the
father of Socialism, although every man
YOU meet might stoutly declare that he
was neither a protectionist nor Social
ist. Ever since the Empire the tendency
of Germany has been to build up It's IN
dustrial enterprises by the aid of the
Government and protect its farmers so
far as possible from foreign competition,
and finally 1t has decided to follow the
example OF the United States and impose
a tariff upon everything that is imported
from foreign countries except certain
raw products that are required IN the
German manufactures and are not pro-
duced at home.
For two or three years commission OF
experts representing the customs service
and the principal industries involved, in,
cluding several professional political
economists have been engaged In the
preparation of a tariff which is supposed
to be scientific triumph, the most per-
that has ever been produced. 1t Is
based upon the same principles as The
Mckinley Act of 1890. and resembles IL IN
almost every schedule. but the average
German is too proud and patriotic TO
admit that the legislators of his country
are Initiating the United States. He is
exceedingly sensitive on this subject.
Every man takes pains to volunteer the
assurance that the political economists of
Germany had thought II all out and had
evolved the principles and devised the de-
tails long before the Congress OF the
United States ever approached the sub
iect. and that their new tariff is an abb
solutely original and unique creation,
based upon theories invented and de-
veloped by the highest scientific states
manship in the world.
The new tariff Is to go into effect In
1904, provided the Reichstag approves 1t.
but before that happens there may be one
OF the hottest and most interesting nights
that ever took place in human poltics-
Political lines in the Reichstag Will be
disregarded, anG the members of that
body will vote Independently of previous
party affiliations, according to their own
interests and those OF tne CONSTITUENTS
they represent p
THE Reichstag is composed of 397 mem
hers about one for every l2,OO inhabl-
tants, who are elected by universal SUI .
frage for a term of five years The present
ReichstaR expires by Limitation in l9VS'
one year before the proposed tarifi takes
effect. and will hold two sessions before
an election can De ifiu' ihe a
the present Reichstag were not seiected
to decide the pending political issue, ana
Tho onnorrents of the tariff are demand
ing a postponement OF Its consideration
until after another election.
The London papers are complaining Of
the utterly unsuitable buildings and ac-
comrnodations in which the London Coun-
tv courts are held. 1T is stated that they
are wholly unworthy of the metropolis.
and no self-respecting provincial town
would stand them for a single moment
The Westminster. Brompton, White
Ia nt-tc .I,.1