The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-09
Cornelius Vanderbilt Offered 3d..
00O, 900 for Former Residence
of Marie Antoinette.
HEIRS DELAYED ACCEPTANCE.
Finally Patron of Splendid Scheme
Was Obliged to Leave Paris
and Drop All Negotia-
tions-Paris News.

SPECIAL BY CApLE TO THE NEW YORK
HERALD AND THE ST. LOUIS REPUBLIC.
Paris. Aug. s.-(Copyrisht. 1sO3>-The de-
sire to establish what might have been
one OF the finest art schools in Paris. and
exclusively American to boot. has just fall
en- through owing to procrastination on the
part OF the owners of the Chateau de la
Muette. This scheme was formulated by
Mr.. Cornelius Vanderbilt. who offered the
heirs to the property (once the residence Of
Marie Antoinette) 150oooe0 francs
The comte de Franauey1lle. descendant OF
Sebastian Erard, replied that an offer of
100000 francs would be considered. Mr..
Vanderbilt refused TO make up the difference
and the other side was stubborn. They,
however. recons!dered tho offer. but days
passed without a definite action being ar
rived at. and Mr.. Vanderbilt, who was to
be received by the Emperor OF Germany,
was obliged to leave for Marienbad. Thus
the matter has fallen through, and It IL
probable that this beautiful chateau and
park Will pass into the hands OF the builder.
A spectacle was furnished this week of
. number OF prominent automobiles and
journalists tarrins roads In the environs of
farfs. In the presence OF NJ. Forester. In
spector General OF Roads and Bridges. This
was merely to give practical demonstra-
tion OF how easy 1t Is to combat the dust
NJ FORESTER was then taken on a tour
OF inspection Of the roads toured last year.
All were found In splendid condition The
cost Of tarrtng is only four sous a SQUARE
meter. and the road thus treated retains fts
surface almost indefinitely.
In October NJ. Jean R,chepin. the cele-
hfated writer and poet. author of "Sme
Du Barry" will visit America TO rive q
series OF lectures and superintend the re-
nearsals Of his play. He will visit New
York. Washington. Chicago San Francisco
and st. Louis.
Miss Marbury has organized the tour.
Al. Richepin will be accompanied by his
wue, famous for her grace and beauty, and
by his two children.
The discovery that plant called ocinum
rirtde Of Green Basil, is destructive 10
mosquitoes. has caused much discussion
among scientists. but till now no one was
aware that the sweet basil plant. common
IN the South OF France, Spain and Italy. II
equally destructive.
MIR. Charles Raymond. tho dramatic au-
thor. writes to the Journal. stating that
during visit to Venice he obtained COM
plete protection by putting pots containing
the plant along the window sill, as not one
mesquite passed through.
n. Torres Brought took before the Acad-
envy Des Sciences a new invention by which
an electric motor can be controlled at q
distance.
1t is an application Of wireless telegraphy
allowing the steering of boats. airships and
especially torpedoes without the presence
of man on board being necessary. The
apparatus Of the experiments has been con-
strrcted In the Sorbonne Mechanical Lab
oratory.
Much sympathy has been displayed with
NJ. Santos-Dnmont, who is suffering from
a slight attack OF fever. which his physi-
clans attribute to overwork. Since the news
81 his illness was published there has been
a constant stream of inquirers at his resi-
dence In the Avenue Champs Elysees. Many
Of the callers have been laden with flowers,
fruit. 5ellies and ether delicacies supposed
10 tempt feverish appetites, while his secre-
tary has been kept busy all day acknowl-
edgfng letters and kilograms from promi-
nent Parfsians now at the seaside or noun
tain resorts.
add considerably to their collections, as the
French Government has decided to Intro
luce special stamp for each colony in-
stead OF having. ~ hitherto. q single stamp
for the colopial service. Each stamp will
be ornamental with a characteristic design
very oHerent from tine commonplace thing
which has hitherto existed. The first has
already been issued for Somaliland.
N. Joubert. head Of the St Jacques OBJ
servatory. generally is very talkative about
Tho weather, but when interviewed about
the beginning OF the month on the weather,
said he was sorry that he could not give
Information, being much absorbed by fam
lily complications. His wife had Just brought
him twins, who have been called Castor ana
Pollux. All his children are named after
starr. the others having the names of Cran.
Us. Jupiter. Saturn. and q little 6-year-old
daughter Venus.