The Washington times., 1906-05-27
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VISITING FRANCE
Political Circles Stirred by
Arrival Of Monarch.
THE OBJECT OF HIS TRIP
British Majesty Intends to Prove That
He Is vexed With His Ger
nan Nephew.
THE OBJECT OF HIS TRIP
By the MARQUIS DE cAsTELLANE

PARIS. May 2s.-The King Of Eng
land has come to Paris TO compete with
the strikers in stirring up the emotions
OF the population.
In political circles the arrival Of his
majesty has given rise to a good deal
more interest than have the doings Of
the labor agitators. What has King Ed
ward come to Paris for? What is the
need OF further emphasizing the entente
cordiale by an exchange Of toasts be-
tween the two heads Of state? Consid-
erable curiosity is expressed regarding
this visit which no apparent motive
seems to have prompted.
Judging from a conversation which
have had with an English diplomat who
is not in the habit OF being mute on
subjects of international politics I
should say that the reason Of King Ed
wards presence in Paris at this time
is a desire TO show that he is really
serious with regard 10 the alliance which
budded under the regime Of NJ Del
casse at the ministry Of foreign affairs
BIS British majesty intends TO prove
once more 20 France that he is extreme
ly vexed at the behavior Of his nephew,
Emperor William Il This, then. xould
be a sort Of reply from England to Ger
many with regard to the incident caused
DV lUe inter II lL6 OlI1l peninsula.
King Edward seems TO say 10 William:
80 young man. you Will be mischief
makingi You incite Turkey 70 encroach
upon Tabah. in Egyptian territory?
Well, you had better behave. or I will
show you what for. My entente with
France is no joke. as you viii discover
II you aren't careful" Such. at least is
the impression which prevails among
Englishmen with regard to their SOW
ereign's presence in Paris at this time
Not only has King Edward clear no
tIon OF how TO form alliances. but he
knows better than any one else how. to
strengthen them.
Commonplace Art Exhibit.
The doors OF the Society des Artistes
Francais were thrown open 10 the public
this week. I am sorry TO have TO say
that the exhibition is deplorably com
monplace. Not a master canvas IS to be
seen, not a portrait which is distin-
guished by strength or originality of ex-
ecution.
Bourgeois art in all its horror is here
exemplifed- Nothing more stupidity con-
ventional could be imagined than these
hundreds Of paintings which are exposed
10 our view. There is not a spark Of
genius visible anywhere; at most are
there a few pictures which can lay claim
to having been executed with a certain
degree Of talent. A few artists can
boast Of having faithfully copied nature
but sordid Photographic copying, unre-
neved by breedth Of treatment or con-
ceptiOn. The striking characteristic of
this salon is the predominance of the
English school Of art, which seems for
the present at least TO have usurped the
place Of the native.
Var
Bonnat. Chartran. Roybet and Humbert
are not dead. Is It possible that they
are suffering from a malady which is
making terrible inroads in our country?
/ mean laziness. 1 am inclined TO think
our best men have fallen victims TO this
scourge. It would seem that laurels, like
all other plants. can fade.
An Aristoc1atic Scandal.
The aristocraIic Faubourg St. Germain
Is scandalizedl The walls OF all the va
cant buildings, and every available fence
along the Champs E1ysees are placarded
with the posters bearing the following
inscriptions: Matthew de Noailes, Rad
ical-Socialistio Party's Candidate. &"
Wishing to Judge for myself what are
the qualifications OF this aristocratic
candidate for enrolling himself under the
banner OF such a party, 1 took the
trouble TO carefully read his declaration
OF faith as set forth on the poster.
I read nothing which struck me as
extraordinary. His ideas are such as
any sane man might possess The only
fault to be found with them Is that their
author IS prompted by sentiments of an
ultra republican nature, which seems in
consistent with the distinguished name
which he bears
a
Noallles has said 10 his electors in the
public or private meeting to which he
may have convened them, but on his Of
fetal declaration Of faith L found not a
single word which denoted an anarchistic
or irreligious spirit. His only wrong is
to have associated himself with a party
made UP mainly OF people of violent and
rebellious tendencies. with the result
that he Is likely to ALLEVIATE himself from
the society OF supporters Of the Due
d'Orleans, or the descendant of the First
Napoleon, TO which his position In the
ranks Of the nobility entitled him. Peo-
pie are so apt TO throw up TO him that
old adage, SHOW me your friends and
viii tell you what you are"
Religious Circles Excited.
Religious circles are also in state
OF upheaval. They have just been
given proof that the Pope does not
approve OF the violent measures en-
ployed by some of the princes OF the
church, and that his holiness is much
more inclined than they to show toll
Grafton toward modern methods of
thought Less hasty than certain car
dinals who have shown themselves dis
courteous, TO say the least. toward
well-meaning Catholics who have had
the impudence TO meddle IN church mat
tiers. the Pope has not only refrained
from associating himself publicly with
the church dignitaries in their con-
demnation of the faithful, but he has
just given one Of these gentlemen, NJ
Brunetiere, an eminent writer upon the
staff Of the Revue des Deux Mondes. a
proof Of his esteem. If his holiness
has not shown gratitude. he has as
least expressed his appreciation OF NJ
Brunetiere's intentions, however mis-
taken