The Washington herald., 1906-12-09
FOREIGN NOTES.


The death is announced at Paris OF
Nine. Leonle Leon. the intimate friend Of
Gambetta. who was about to marry her
at the time of his death.
Mgr. Constantine. who has been the
almoner Of Pope Plus X since his election
TO the chair OF st. Peter, died at Acqua-
pendente on November u.
A mild and pleasant autumn extends
to the European side OF the Atlantic. !
pear tree is in bloom for the second time
this season at Newport. Isle Of Wight.
India Is the first part OF the British
empire to have nickel coins. The new
one-anna pieces are made Of this metal
ing them, and will soon put these coins
in circulation.
Baroness Wentworth, who recently sue
ceeded 10 the title on the death Of her
father. has arrived al Genoa from Eng
land. Lady Wentworth is one Of the
few peeresses in her own right, and she is
also the great-granddaughter of Lord
Byron, the poet
The khedive made his state entry into
Cairo the last Of November to open the
winter season in Egypt His highness
spent the Mohammedan fasting month
Of Ramadan IN comparative seclusion in
his palace at Montaza. near Alexandria
November IS the ideal month in the Nile
region. but most visitors defer their ar
rival until the end Of December, when AT
times biting cold evenings occur and oc-
casional rains during the day.
Mr.. and Mrs. Willie James have been
entertaining King Edward at the Manor
House, West Dean Park, Chichester. The
original manor house was built by one Of
the LewknOrs in the reign OF James l.
The fine old hall 10 the house has a
paneled oak ceiling and a minstrel gallery.
Woods ana down around West Dean Park
offer some OF the most delightful walks
In the whole Of Sussex. Nr. Willie James
is one Of three brothers who inherited
large fortunes from his father. a Man
chester merchant. Their mother was an
American.
The two men recently mentioned in
this column who were sentenced 70 FIVE
years each by the recorder Of Bedford,
England. for window breaking have had
their terms reduced. Mr.. Herbert John
Gladstone, the home secretary, stated in
the House OF Commons, in reply 10 Mr..
Thorne, that the offense was committed
with great delberation, and was aggra-
waited by misbehaviOr in court At the
same time, the sentences passed were too
severe, and have been reduced 10 six
months In the case Of Hutchinson and
three months IN the case OF Woods. Pub
lie opinion moves swiftly in England.
and is a force that copes successfully
with even the anuquated judiciary
methods
A deputation Of seventy or eighty men,
bers OF the House-both Liberal and
Labor OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES on Sir
Henry Campbell -Bannerman one evening
last week to speak on the subject Of old
age pensions. Mr.. Burt introduced the
deputatio1. and stated the case. The
English prime minister said in reply that
he entirely agreed with the deputation in
behalf of pensioning the aged. He was
only prevented by limits of time and
money from acceding to their requests.
Far from g pension sapping independence
or undermining thrift. il would do the
opposite. Il would, in his opinion. give a
sense of security to a man or woman to
know that some provision was secured
against a day Of feebleness
A sign Of the times is the report which
comes from Manchester that Japan is
endeavoring to place n stupendous order
for spindles among the Lancashire en-
gineering firms 10 run her increasing cot
ton mills. The rumOr that 500, 600 spin
dies are required is regarded as an exag-
geration but one firm at Oldham has
been asked to supply 100000, which, on the
basis of the present mills in Japan would
mean an addition OF twenty new factories
In that country. What wis predicted
has come true, and the frugal Japanese
are now on the road to excel in the arts
of commerce. Instead Of the japanese
becoming the purchasers of European
and American products, they are more
likely to be the successful rival of the
rest Of the world in trade.
The shy. unsophisticated little town of
Vervins, in France, is distraught by a
fearful scandal. The local pTocurator
and the deputy of the department OF
Aisne have shocked Vervins beyond meas
ure The 5000 inhabitants of Vervins
are Mortified, and club salon. and cafe
are breathless with Indignation. The
deputy accuses the procurator Of trav-
cling on the railway with free passes.
Thus at one time he saved Il francs. at
another 3. and once actually 30 francs,
which he should have paid. Moreover,
he constantly received compensation for
loss of parcels. For instance. a basket
OF eggs arrived in a stale condition: he
actually received 3 francs damages. Add
ing TO this appalling list OF crimes.
amounting to about so all told. he took
advantage of the failure of a grocer to
buy Up boxes Of sardines cheap. and
casks of wine. All these scandalous
transactions were published by the dep