The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-12-21

was the church crowded at the InurS-
day midday services.
! ton societies from obtaining the success
they certainly deserve Is that they are
| practically all in the hands Of dear old
| ladies Of both sexes.
| If they were III the hands OF such ad-
vocates Of peace as NJ. d'Estourneles dc
I! Constant. formerly Councillor at the
French Embassy in London, and now
| Deputy for the Sarthe department., they
| would have an influence far and wide.
This ardent and Intelligent apostle Of
peace among the states OF Europe, and
also member of the Hague Court Of Ar
bitration, gave a lecture on THE Diplo-
| macy of Peace at the school Of High
| Social Studies.
His arguments are of simple and prac-
| teal character. He took as his thesis that
war Is a kind of folly which might have
been allowed a certain margin in days
that have gone by. but which is in utter
! discordance with the industrial and COM
| mercial life Of modern Europe.
While admitting that the still remain
| ing dregs Of international hostility might
| lead to another war or two. he consider
ed that those who are rulers OF diff
ferent people should zealously enlighten
them on the dangers Of war, laying stress
"
will totally differ from those which pre-
coded it.
| Both adversaries have to face not only
one another, but the prospects of fnan-
c.,.l disaster.
The lecturer concluded with an APP
peal In favor Of European federation,
which, I am afraid. is committing the
mistake made by most peace societies
who obtain nothing. because they ask for
too mucn and even for the impossible.
If all the rulers of Europe would abide
we might very well be satisfied with the
result-for the present, at any rate.
What ever may be the faults and short
conlings of the French. they are, even the
hum blest. a nation of artists ever jealous
OF the work which they produce.
l have to record this week two suicides
which will illustrate to what length the
French carry their professional scruples
History tells US how Vatels the fam
Gus cook of the great Condo. committed
suicide because no fish could be found for
the dinner which his master was to give
10 Louis XIV.
A few days ago. in Paris. a lady invit-
ed several friends to dinner. Wishing to
have an especial good menu. she pro-
posed to hire a male cook for the day. to
help Maria, the cook. but the latter felt
so indignant at the idea that her mis-
tress thought her inca pable OF preparing
q good dinner for her guests that. sitter
some hesitation, the lady allowed herself
to be persuaded to leave the whole re-
sponsibility on her cook.
II poor Maria had confined herself
strictly to the dishes with the confec-
ton of which she was we'll acquainted.
all would proba bly, have gone well: but
her ambition to surpass hersef led her to
shut herself up in the kitchen with a
cookery book and to concoct the most
complicated dishes she could find.
Alas, the dinner was disastrous fall
ure. When the guests were gone, the
kind mistress wished to console her poor
Service.
She went to the kitchen, but failed to
Enc her. She then went up to her room
and called her. Obtaining no reply. she
became alarmed and had the door broken
open.
There was poor Maria lying senseess
On the floor, with a smoking charcoal
fire burning by her side. Her sorrow at
the failure Of the dinner was more than
she could overcome
She had gone upstairs to her room. had
closed all the doors and windows and had
attempted to pass into that world where
cookery books are not known
The other case will go along length to-
ward reconciliug the Partisan with tina,
most maligned Paris institution, the "con-
cel ge'' r the cantor
The CONCIERGE" is so feared In Paris
that we have a saying that the essence
of wisdom is to be the friend Of your
concierge"
The one whom am going to relate the
suicide had done forty years Of faithful
service in the same house.
Being informed the other day that the
disease with which he was afflicted was
incurable, he resolved to take his own
life, but not before he had taken all pos
sible precautions that no tenant in the
house should be Inconvenience by his
At night the duty Of q Concierge" is.
of course, to let the tenants in by pulling
n string which causes the street door |
to open He left on the table the follow-
ing note:
II wish to die: but, as it is very cold, !
I do not want to be the cause OF any !
tenant having to remain outdoors At |
will commit suicide
At the moment Of putting his resolution |
into execution he thought tnat, after all. (
some tenant hight be kept out late and /
una BILE to return home before midnight /
What must be done?
An ingenius idea struck the poor fellow. |
He hanged himself to his professional /
string, so that the weight OF his body
should. during the night. keep the street i
door ajar.
1t !s;verypro6able. hat Df.. Joseph FPsr-.l