New-York tribune., 1904-09-25
TOPICS IN PARIS.
Wheat Crop Defciency-The Free
thinkers Congress.

Especial 10 The New-York Tribune by French CADET
Copyright; 1904: By The Tribune Association
Paris, Sept 24-The deficiency in the French
wheat crop causes lively speculation. but the
fears that large quantities will have to be I'M
ported for home consumption are dispelled oy the
publication to-day Of the official report OF the Ma
tional Association of French Millers, announcing
that the wheat crop of 1904 amounts TO llO'3o-'-
422 hectolitres, against 1463 63S5 444 hectoitres
last year. the average for the last decade being
100000. This deficiency of AZ per cent from
1903 is compensated for by the large supply on
storage owing to the late harvest last year and
the early harvest this year. The leading dealers
in Paris express confidence that with the usual
supplies from Algeria and Tunis France will not
require any wheat this year from abroad Mean
while. owing to the reports Of the failure OF the
Russian wheat crop. of a shortage in America
the Chicago predictions of 81 a bushel before
May and the large amounts required Tor the
war i'm Manchuria, speculation is intense out'
owing to to-day's announcement by the Nauonai
NiIlers' Association. the prices are steady at 20
francs a hectolitre-
In view OF the coming struggle for the separa-
ton Of church and state. the proceedings OF the
Congress of Freethinkers, holding session III
Rome in the Roman College in the face OF the
Vatican, and which is largely composed OF
French delegates, are keenly followed here All
the reports indicate that the congress Is dis
tinct fasco. II is largely composed OF hoIday
makers on a junketing tour. who took advantage
Of the cheap tickets provided by the frehch
railway companies to visit Rome. President
Magnaud the chairman who presided wearing
the leathern cap of a motor chauffeur, expresses
grave disappointment Professor Haeckel, who
made speech, wearing huge felt hat such as
is represented in Whistler's portrait OF Carlyle
says a severe blow 10 the congress IS the ao-
sence of NJ Berthelot the eminent French
chemist and intimate friend OF Renan. Nj.
Bertheots letter TO the congress is regarded
also as an anodyne for the freethinkers who at
the congress proclaim aims aggressively pollt-
ical rather than social. NJ. Berthelots advice
for tolerance OF liberty OF thought, whether
Christian or not. is disapproved by the congress
In short the freethinkers congress at Rome in
dicates that French freethinkers like NJ. Berthe
lot disapprove OF Premier Combess measures in
persecuting the recalcitrant Catholic associa-
tions. The recent Socialist congress at Amster-
dam showed that the French Socialists have cut
loose from NJ. Jaures the main Socialist sup
porter of Premier Combes in the French Cham
ber Thus the position Of the Cabinet becomes
daily more and more difficult. The difficulties
are further enhanced by the decision of Leon
Bourgeois the former President of the Chamber
of Deputies TO quit his retirement consequehI
upon domestic bereavement to become the
leader Of the Grand Republican opposition to the
Combes Ministry.
A commission of French chemists who have
been at work since the expulsion of the Car
thusian monks from the Fourvoires distillery.
announce that they have succeeded in exactly
reproducing the famous Chartreuse liqueur. The
result they declare. was obtained from expert
mental analyses and also from the peasants who
supplied the Carthusans with herbs and alcohol.
the spot.
Mrs GoeIet entertained the King and Queen
of Portugal on the yacht Nahma in Cascaes Bay.
Cintra, on Wednesday, afterward attending the
bull fight with her guests. including the Mar
quise dAligre, the Comtesse Chandon de Brailles
and the Comte Bari. c. b.