New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-20

Parliamentary Hubbub - Barrett
JVendeUs Lectures.
Barrett
Especial 10 The New-York Tribune by French Cabls)
(Copyrigllt; ra3as by Thu Tribune Associaton)

Copyright: 1905; by Tho Tribune Association.)
Paris. Nov. I9.-The Combes Cabinet has
had a very sQually week. Whether it will
be saved by heaving overheard ballast in
the person of General Andre is still
tremely doubtful. The most violent storm
comes this time not from the Nationalists
the Clericals. but from Conservative Re-
publicans. from former members of the Wal
deck-Rousseau Cabinet and from NJ Ribot for
merly Prime Minister who, in the most eloquent
speech of his career. expressed astonishment
that NJ. Combes had the effrontery not to throw
up the sponge and offer his resignation after
having associated himself inseparably with the
talebearing espionage practised by General
Andre whom he cowardly sacrificed to retain
Office. NJ. Rtbot bitterly denounced the Masonic
Association OF the Grand Orient OF France.
Other Conservatives demanded that the Grand
Orient be proceeded against as an illegal insti-
tuition under the Associations law, which ought
TO be applied as vigorously as against religious
congregations. The Socialist defenders OF the
Cabinet retorted that Minister Andre had only
taken leaf from his opponents, the Clericals,
and had utilized NJ. Vadecart, the Freemason.
and the Grand Orient of France, in the same
manner that former Ministers had made use OF
Pere du Lac and the Jesuits- NJ. Ribot re-
torted that talebearing in any shape or form
was abomtnable and repugnant to the public
conscience. n. Combes in an adroit defence.
which amounted to a plea OF confession and
avoidance stated that the talebearing reports
from the Grand Orient Lodge due to
excess of Republican zeal and gave formal as
surance that such things would not happen
again With a slim majority Of twenty nine
votes on a side issue securing postponement Of
the main question, the Cabinet temporarily
kept afoat, but they must work hard at the
pumps to avoid laundering
Meanwhile NJ. Berteaux, the War Minis
ter, wealthy stock broker and Deputy Of
Versailles, personally Of the most sympa-
thetio men in the French Parliament thoroughly
familiar with military matters, having for
years been chairman of the Army Committee OF
the Chamber Of Deputies, is daily winning popu-
larity by cutting loose from all secret espionage
Of the private lives of officers by his plan
for the promotion Of officers and by his deter
minaton TO continue the work OF republicanizing
the army, but doing so in broad daylight, open
ly and honestly, not by the contemplate means
resorted to by his predecessor" Nevertheless,
the atmosphere of the Palais Bourbon is charged
with political electricity. a Ministerial crisis is
In the air, and the season for bagging Minis
teEial portfolios seems now open.
Amid the Parliamentary hubbub, Jeanne
dArc suddenly crops up a subject Of Minis
terial Interpolation. THIS picturesque feature
Is due to II. Thalamas professor of history at
the Condorcet College, having in the course Of
his lectures approved the condemnation and
burning OF Jeanne d'Aro and stating that the
evidence showed that the national heroine was
q woman Of dissolute morality and that she
had been the mistress and companion In camp
orgies Of at least half dozen Of the leading
French captains of her time. Georges Berry.
Deputy from Paris. has demanded of the Minis
T1,,fIy b.
sor Thalamas. The Minister has ordered an in
vestigation. Meanwhile professors. Senators.
Deputies and journalists all hard at work
diving into the early fifteenth century manu-
scripts at the National Library investigating the
private life and morality of Jeanne dare.
To-day q professional chair In the University
of Paris was for the first time accorded to a
foreigner for a regular course OF lectures at 8
o'clock. Barrett Wendell. of the faculty of Har-
ward University, began his lectures In the IA
nous Turgot Hall Of the Sorbonne before
large and brilliant audience. including Ambas-
sador Porter, Alfred Croiset dean Of the faculty
of the University OF Paris and its vice-rector
Lizard Rene DouInic. CASTOR Deschamps Count
d'Haussonvie. Henri De Regnier. Paul Adam
Baron dEstournelles De Constant the newly
elected Senator and president OF the Arbitra-
ton group OF the French Parliament; Adrien
Hebrard and the Duo de Loubat who has just
renewed for the third time his annual subsidy
of $4,000 for French scientific excavations in
the Island of Delos by NJ. Homolle director OF
the Louvre Museum. A bevy of charming
daintily gowned women OF literary Paris also
added eclat to the occasion by their presence
in the Sorbonne Professor Wendell spoke in
clear, terse terms Of America and American in
stitutiOns. He was frequently loudly applauded
and the young Harvard professor and his wife
have become quite the lions of literary Paris
Among those entertaining them at dinners
luncheons and soirees the Count and the
Countess d'Haussonville. Ferdinand Brunetiere
Rene Bazin. Jules Claretie NJ. and Nine. Paul
Adam and NJ. Hebrard. The Figaro" and the
Temps" to-day devote their leading articles to
interviews with the Harvard professor at the
Sorbonne, who is described as the Ambassador
OF American Literature to the University OF
Paris.
Active preparations are being made by several
large banking establishments for taking up half
the Russian loan in Paris the other half to
be subscribed for in Berlin and Frankfort
French investors seem willing to put more eggs
in the Muscovite basket. Russian securities
continue firm. quotations for the per cent
Consolidated to-day being 93 francs