New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-14
TOPICS IN Paris.
Interest in Emperor UiHam-Open-
ing Of the Whistler Exhibition.
Especial by French Cable to The Tribune1
Copyright 1903. by The Trihnre Association

Copyright, 1865. by The Tribune Association)
Paris, May 13.-AH eyes in France to-day are
turned toward Emperor William A thrill Of
emotion swept the country when it was
learned that the German Emperor was about to
celebrate the memory of those who fell at
Gravelotte by military demonstration, with ar
tiilery salutes, parades and manouvres. The
uneasiness is all the more keen owing to the
general impression in France that the recent
Teutontc pinpricks coming from the reptile
press ana the haisers gO-ahead policy in Mo-
rocco We're mere preteSts TO force a quarrel
upon France. Tie trend of feeling was that
Kaiser William, irritated at seeing England
Italy and Spain all becoming more friendly and
entering into closer relations with the French
Republic, was ready, If necessary, to provoke
war It was feared that the Kaiser by speech
or act at Gravelotte, would seek to irritate
France or to humiliate French amour propre.
The Paris newspapers forthwith sent their most
capable writer's and correspondents to Grave
lotte Emperor Williams portrait appeared in
a dozen journals m Paris, while the front pages
of the "Matin," the Figaro the "Gaulois" the
Journal" the Echo de Paris" the "Eclair."
the GIL Bias" and the "Libre Parole" al
most exclusively devoted TO Gravelotte. The
'Gaulos" published a special Illustrated sup
plement giving descriptions OF the battle of
Gravelotte by eye witnesses, such as the late
General Philip Sheridan, Prince Bismarck. Cen
eral du BaraN. Maurice Busch and others.
Emile Faguet of the French Academy, urged
all patriotic Frenchmen 10 read Les Oberle,"
by Rene Balm. and ''Au Service de rAlIemagne,"
by Maurice Barres, while the German Emperor
is passing over the plains of AIsace not with
out melancholy souvenirs"
Consequently. after all this conmotion and
excitement, it was with immense satisfaction
that France learned that Emperor William SO
modified the original programme at Gravelotte
not TO wound Gallo suscepubilities. The
eighteen French special correspondents who
teegraphed glowing descriptions of the imperial
ceremony of the dedication of the Gravelotte
Halle. in GIavelotte Cemetery, were unanimous
in saying that the Kaiser gave France an OBJ
jeCt lesson. and that least expected,
namely. by refraining from grandiloquent mar
tial speeches. but silently and with deep re-
ugious emotion doing honor to the bones Of
those killed at Graveotte and the sentence in
the German pastors address spoken in pres
ence Of the Emperor. We should salute with
profound reverence those flags that witnessed
the glorious martyrdoIn Of the German and Of
French soldiers" is quoted. The French CORE
spondents all gave minute descriptions Of Kaiser
Williams personal appearance, of his paternal,
benevolent expression Of cOuntenance. and they
dwelt upon the martial appearance of the Ger
man soldiers The Figaro" corresp ondent
Jules Huret said: KAISER William always has
a happy intuition of symbols, and the golden
angel Of peace that was before him during the
ceremony prevented the Emperor from uttering
any warlike discourse" The extraordinary in
terest in regard TO the German Emperor at
Gravelotte shown by the French nation indi-
Gates the nervous tension that existed for the
past fortnight, but with characteristic impress
sionable temperament France draws a long
breath of relief TO find that the Gravelotte cere-
mony is factor for peace rather than for war.
The question of French neutrality in the Far
East occupies little public attention and in dip
loInatic circles there is absolute confidence that
friction with Japan or with England is now
removed.
The Mediterranean autoboat contest, in the
opinion Of naval experts. does not show that
autoboats in the present stage Of their develop
ment can be of real service maritime war
fare. From the start at Algiers they had TO
be watched and protected by the gunboats and
destroyers of the whole squadron, which had
TO be modified TO accompany the autoboats.
Had they started alone they would not have
been able TO keep adoat in ordinary Mediter-
ranean weather and the DANCE. OF their
pIosive fuel is regarded an insurmountable
objection for naval purposes.
The Paris Bourse was frmer to-day, especially
in government securities than for three months.
This is attributed to the pacific attitude of En-
peror William at Gravelotte and Metz, also TO
the visit TO the Quai dOrsay made by the Jap
anese Minister DR. Motono. yesterday after
noon previous TO his departure for The Hague,
DR. Motono having expressed TO NJ. Delcasse
that his government felt satisfied with the
French measures for preserving neutrality IN
French waters in the Far East.
The opening Of the Whistler exhibition at the
School of Fine Arts was attended by the Min
Of Fine Arts the American and British Am
bassadors the president of the Society of French
Artists. the president of the National Society Of
Fine Arts and by leading painters and sculptors,
including NM. Rodin. Besnard, La Touche, De
tatlle. jacques Blanche, Cornon. Georges Picard
and Arnan Jean. II perhaps the most
brilliant tribute paid by France 10 the
memory of an American painter. The building
was decorated with French and American flags.
Alfred Roll alluded to Whistler's portrait of his
mother loaned by the Luxembourg Gallery, as
q hvphen linking together the artistic tempera-
ments of America and France. There are 1877
numbers in the catalogue, which include many
mixtures and drawings exhibited recently in Lon
don The pale gray wall color required by Miss
rz,rnte Philip the testamentary executor OF
WHISTLER is considered by French artists and
,.,cs better suited 10 Whistler's works than
.ha green hangings used at the London eX-