New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-03-02

traordinary interest taken by Emperor William
in what is described the 'menacng rapidity
Of American progress and declares the blum
der committed by the Emperor Williams illus
trous grandfather now condemns Germany to
isolation. Emperor William is between two
fires. He must either unbuckle the belt of
masonry and steel at Strasburg and Metz, or
else he must put on a good face. offer pleas
ant countenanct at Washington and caress the
American Sphinx, in the hope of deferring the
moment when be will be devoured by it,"
Ernest Judet goes on to declare that Napoleon
III told friend of his during the War of Seces-
sion that the interest OF Europe is that the
United States should be broken up and sepa-
rated into four five rival powers" The
Petit Journals editorial concludes with these
words: The prepOnderance of the United
States foreseen by Napoleon in 1861 has since
become overwhelming. and it is marching with
giant strides to destroy the vantage ground
hitherto held by Europe"
The Figaro" the Temps" the "Debats' and
the "Gaulos" dwell upon the enormous financial
power and capital represented at the New-York
banquet of captains of industry, citing the
names and qualities of the guests. Nearly all
the newspapers point out with satisfaction that
Miss Alice Roosevelt christened the Meteor with
. bottle of French champagne, and not with
sparkling wine of German vintage.
The apparent collapse of the project for the
sale of the Panama Canal by the communication
from the Colombian Government is regarded
here as partially explaining the mysterious
reticence of the company concerning their
ability TO convey clear title TO what they have
been striving to sell.
The preliminary sIdrmishes taking place all
over the country in view of the coming
general elections April 20 indicate very
clearly the irresistible trend Of opinion to
reduce military service to TWO years The lead
ing technical authorities protest in vain against
the measure. (which they consider must impair
the fighting strength of the nation. The Repub-
hCan papers point that the five years SER
vice. established in 1872, only lasted seventeen
years and gave way in 1889 TO the present three
years service. which is about to be re-
placed by two years service, while the Socialists
are clamoring for a one years service.
This question of the period of military ser
vice bids fair to become the main issue in the
election campaign The upshot of it all is that
the people finding the burdens imposed by
armed peace too heavy 10 bear and the tremen-
dOus military edifice constructed after the war
Of 1S7O-'71 is slowly but surely being modified
and lightened.
The French delegates to the Brussels sugar
conference who came back here on Thursday
10 ascertain the extreme limit OF the reduction
of import duties that the French Government
feels prepared TO submit to the Chamber have
returned to Brussels by no means sanguine that
any practicable result can be reached by the
conference. Persons here in close touch with the
delegates say that even supposing the Austro-
Hungarian delegates to the reduction of
their import duties, which now 81 30 to only
81. as the English delegates demand, such
agreement on the part of the Austro- Hungarian
delegates could have no force. because there is
chance whatever of such proposition
being adopted in Austria, where the mainten-
of the present sum is regarded abso-
lutely indispensable to avert the collapse of
the sugar industry in that country. Meanwhile
several British engineers are making studies in
France of the beet root process with the view
of starting beet sugar production in Scotland.
Wales and England, where beets can be utilized
for feeding sheep and cattle well as for sugar
production. The impression among sugar men
here is that there is a strong tendency in Eng
land 10 attempt sugar production in Great
Britain a large scale and TO induce the gov
eminent TO foster the future industry by a pro-
tective tariff. which would completely revolu-
tionize the sugar industry of Europe and lead
to a grave financial and industrial crisis in
Austria and Germany.
The city of Paris is ambitious to take the
lead in the development of wireless telegraphy.
A proposal has been submitted to the municipal
council to establish wireless telegraph posts on
the boulevards and main streets. House owners.
shopkeepers, hotels. restaurants and private
citizens are invited to subscribe, just as they
do at present for telephone service. Each Gus
toner is to have a small receiving post in his
residence. The proposed wireless system is to
be used for business. social and domestic pur-
poses but the company looks for it's main sup
port from the turf fraternity and intends to
install wireless posts on all the raCecOurses, so
that sportsmen sitting at home in their arm
chairs will be able to follow the races second by
second. The novel enterprise has been referred
by the City Council to the technical committee.
Les Deux Ecoles" a modern comedy, in four
acts, by Alfred Capus, produced last night at
Les Varieties. is pronounced by the Partisan
critics be the most brilliant theatrical
of the season. The Figaro describes the new
play as "A grand and delightful triumph" The
'Gaulois'' this morning accords Capus higher
rank among dramatists than Mehac, inasmuch
the author Of La Veine," La Petite Fonc-
tionnare' and Les Deux Ecoles" attains by
means of scrupulous truthfulness to nature and
TO humanity what Meilhac sought for by the aid
of exaggeration and caricature. Les Deux
Eco;es is accurate reflection of the daily
life of a young married couple in well to do
circumstances, moving in fashionable society
The wife suffers from the aggravatng facility
with which her husband gldes into momentary
firtations. The play begins with a divorce and
ends with reconciliation but the spirited &C
ton, wit and keen observation of Balzacian hui
manty with which this simple tale is presented
make 1t masterpiece. 1t has the indulgent
philosophy OF La Veine' and the good natured
gayety of La Petite Fonctionnaire." The sec
ond act passes at a favorite restaurant near the
Madeleine, famed for its oysters and largely
patronized by prominent Americans The third