Omaha daily bee., 1906-09-15
orHER LANps rHAN Ours.

a. HtAo VI W" oNNiNNs -
Jesus Is considered IN many quarters sig
nincsnt evidence OF increasing friendly re-
iations between the Church OF Rome and
the German government. The kaiscr's
anxiety TO be on good terms with the
spiritual powers Of Europe" comments the
Philadelphia Ledger, will inevitably be as
ISOLATED, whether Justly or not, with the
arrangement between France and the
Vatican. II by no means follows that be-
cause France has relinqulshed its historic
place as the 'irst daughter Of the church
II is incumbent upon the pope to bestow
upon Germany the favors hitherto enjoyed
by France. Yet there are those who Geek
to convey the impression that every ex-
change OF courtesies between Berlin and
Rome must have its explanation in some
deep politico-religious design Nevertheless
the change for the better in the relations
of Germany and Rome is a striking sign of
the times. The investiture OF the emperor
with the order OF the Holy Sepulcher at
Metz In May OF last year was the not UNI
natural response OF the church to the OBJ
ligh lions under which the kaiser placed the
German benedictines in Palestine. Still
more recent evidences of good feeling are
to be found in the bestowal-for the first
time In it's history-of a high Prussian Or
der upon a German cardinal, in the pres
ence OF Cardinal Vanutell at the conven-
ton of German Catholics at Essen and in
the selection a German as the general
Of the Society of Jesus. The anti-rellgious.
interests in France will see in all these
manifestations evidences Of hostility to that
country, but such a spirit is no more jus
tifiable than Is that dog-in-the-manger
feeling in Germany. which demands the
termination of the Anglo-French friend
ship as a condition of a better understand
ing between Germany and Great Britain.
Whatever politicians may do. or whatever
may be the effect upon diplomatic develop
ments, the world. at large will rejoice at
and hope for the continuance of friendly
relations between the secular and spiritual
forces OF the world. Such relations in the
ordinary course OF human events cannot
but make for the advancement of mankind.
and the Political forces which would twist
them from the object are agencies Of evil,
not Of good"
The Italian governments proving grounds
at the Spezzia Military arsenal have just
witnessed some tests of American armor
plate for battleshps, tests on which the
minister OF marine. Admiral Mirabello.
places great faith. having an idea that the
American article is superior to that manu-
featured by the TERM Steel company. which
hitherto has supplied plate employed on
italian vessels.
The tests were carried out in secret, only
naval officers Of high rank and their tech
nical advisers being present The plate,
which was supplied by the Bethlehem Steel
company of South Bethlehem, Pa. was
identical with that employed in the con-
struction Of the United States battleship
Connecticut. 1t had a thickness of 1853
millimeters, a little over six inches) and
was subjected to eight shots from six
inch gun loaded with Krupp projectles
and Pold-Schutz powder. The plate was
perforated twice, the other six projecties
having been broken upon impact
The object of the tests was to ascertain
whether suitable armor plate for italian
warships could not be obtained from a for
eign source and thus break the monopoly
at present enjoyed by the Italian Steel
trust, which Is said to have strong af-
hliations with the German Krupp works.
Is Ireland at the end of the long
period of declining population? Statistics
of highly interesting nature, bearing
upon this point, are published In the
registrar generals last annual report The
excess Of births over deaths was 27.7s1.
but 30.676 persons were lost to the coun-
| ~ W ciliBTdtiOH leaving an apparent
shrinkase Of 2,9l5 in Ireland's population,
1t is confidently asserted. however, that
there has been an immigration into Ire
land the past year more than enough to
balance the apparent net loss: and II
that be true the year may be said to
mark the turning OF the tide. From other
sources we may draw information sus-
| tanning this view. There has certainly
been heavy decline in Irish emigra ton
4 of late. The registrar generals report
just Issued shows loss by emigration
the past year of 30.676, yet in 1902 the
loss was 70, 401. BY checking this drain
from the country, the future of Ireland
may be made promising. indeed. Never
was more being done for the Irish king
dom by the British government than now,
and the long series OF land purchase bills
and other measures of amelioration are
evidently having an effect.
Picture post cards were invented in Ger
many about a decade ago, and for some
years they remained a German speciality
at which foreigners were inclined to smile
| as an ephemeral fad. Today these cards
are made in enormous quantities in Eng
land. France and other countries, but
Germany still remains their headquarters;
last year about 100. 100000 OF them were
mailed I'm the postoffices OF that country.
They represented a value OF over 81, Co., =
0O0 and at least thirty different occupa-
lions are benefited thereby If any fresh
| stimulus had been needed, 1t would have
been supplied by the extraordinary inter-
est of the kaiser in these cards. The other
day he spent two hours in having a series
of photographs taken of himself In his
divers uniforms, TO be reproduced in col
ors. This was done at his own suggestion.
He also ordered series of views ill:Is-
trating his last Mediterranean cruise. For
these "kaiser pictures" there is an enor-
nous demand. OF the reproduction OF Kel-
ler's imperial family painting on tho &C.
casion of the silver wedding over 1000 900
have been sold. None of the kaiser cards.
however. has quite reached the popula rity
Of the pictures OF some popular stage
folk, Cleo de Merode for example. 10000 =
900 copies OF whose pictures have been
sold; a single Berlin firm makes 200 900
year Of them The most advanced and
expensive artistic processes are employed
in making these pictures OF persons and
scenes; IL is noted as curiosity that
while Italy orders the cheapest kinds,
japan wants the most expensive, a recent
order from Toxic being for 900 cards at
lb0O marks Wholesale Among auntnant