The Washington herald., 1906-12-23
SEEK WORK
Separation LaWLeaves Them
Without Livelihood.
NO CHANGE IN SITUATION
Question of the Financial support
Is Now Becoming 81 Most Serious
One, which Has Not Been Touched
Upon Herefofnre-Finds Rare Fres-
cOeS-TOmb of RicheIieu.

Paris. Dec 22--The governments church
bill, which passed the Chamber of Depu-
ties yesterday, will go to the Senate on
Wednesday. 1t is expected it will pass
there promptly with even less debate than
in the Chamber for the right is not strong
in the Senate though there is a possibility
of amendments being made by the Senate
If it should be found to be desirable. The
Temps this evening points out that certain
unspecific passages in the bin ought to be
clarified by the Senate
There is an aspect Of the whole subject
which has been little dealt with as yet by
the local press whicn touches the heart
Of the church body near and deep. That
is the question of financial support. A re-
port from one section of the country,
where 5000 was formerly appropriated by
the church budget, says the utmost eff
forts now indicate that only $3.50 will be
raised
Already the priests Of some poorer par
fsbeS are applying for work at lay occu-
patons. one who had gone 10 woOd-turn-
ing promises his Pensioners to return 10
them for any ministrations they may
need, or when they are able to support
a church.
Means of Livelihood Gone.
But laymen. as well as clergymen, are
already finding that their means of liveli-
hood have been taken away through the
reduction of the church's financial posi-
ton, and some of them, who are direct
sufferers by the religious war, are al
ready making their voices heard. Re
ports from Nancy state that manufac-
turers Of church ornaments have been
driven to open factories abroad. bell
maker whose business dates back for
centuries has moved to Switzerland The
effects OF "a maker of church statuary,
who died recently. were sold at auction
the other day. and statues which would
ordinarily bring 800 francs were sold for
70 francs. Employers are dismissing
hands employed in ombroidering chasu
bles. stoles. and banners. These employ
ers are quoted as saying that their sales
have diminished at the rate Of 5000
year. In the last two years they have
dismissed no workers except two errand
boys.
The mayor of Avignon made an
artistic discovery Of the highest i'm
portance the other day while visiting
the ancient palace of the Popes, which.
until recently. had been used as bar
racks Struck by the beauty OF the
decoration IN "A room which was form
erly the papai bedroom. he thought the
walls must have been decorated with
freseoes, though they had long been
covered with several coats of white
81 hat % Iva no
that the rich hangings covered the base
walls.
The mayor. however. experimental
and found that wonderfully preserved
frescOes Of the fourteenth century Law
under the whitewash. and that the
ColOrs. except green, retained all their
original brightness. So far, six human
figures and one OF a dog have been
brought to light.
Tomb of RicheIieu.
Able Pasquier. administrator Of the
Church of the Sorbonne, has received Of
ficia! notice that his services will no
longer be required. II is generally be
lieved that the government intends TO al
low the sacred character Of the building
to lapse, and this causes much regret
The church was built in 1895, and is a
perfect example of Louis XII1th style
and It contains the tomb of Richelleu,
which is the work Of Girardon.
The attempt of French suffragistS to
initiate their English sisters and besiege
the Chamber of Deputies in a crowd yes
terday before the opening OF the big
church debate proved a fzzle a mass
meeting was summoned for II O'Clock
in the morning. before the chamber met,
but at that time only five women were
present. and at the end of the hour only
fifteen had made their appearance. Most
of these We're sexagenarians, according
TO an Ungailant reporter. But their nu-
merical weakness proved 10 be their
strength. They were Immediately allowed
to enter and confer for an hour with the
Socialist group, who were the sole occu-
pants of the chamber. They departed
apparently satisfied with the impression
they had made.