The Washington herald., 1907-08-12
Foreign Notes OfInterest


began, the language Of the congress Has
been French French always has been
the language of diplomacy But II the
question were to be decided according 70
the number OF representative delegates
present, Spanish would curiously enough
have been the official tongue. This iE due
to the fact that the largest group OF
delegates present is sent by the Latin
American republics, whose representa-
tives all speak Spanish, with the excep-
ton OF Brazil. whose vernacular is Portu-
guese. But that language is sufficiently
allied to Spanish TO bring Brazil into the
same category. AprOpos OF this ques-
ton an interesting anecdote. not gen
orally known. was recently told by a
European diplomat Of The Iague Con-
ference Of 1899. That year French had
been adopted as The language of the con-
gress, which has been the custom since
the establishment Of the conference. with
out opposition. On this occasion, however.
this did not suit the taste OF the Germans,
Notwithstanding the usages Of universal
diplomacy, end the fact that French was
the language test known by all the pleni-
potentaries. So one fine morning a Ger
man delegate. Herr ZOTn. rose, and, to
general surprise, began his speech in Ger
man. When he was through the oppor-
tunity came 10 Italy 10 give Germany a
lesson: for her delegate. Count Nigra,
rose in his turn and replied to Herr Zorn
IN Italian. An explosion Of derisive
laughter from the solemn-faced delegates
followed this episode. 1t was apparent
to all the members that IL this was 10 be
allowed, and each delegate permitted to
speak in his own tongue, the Peace Con-
:. Il .
Babel, and the confusion that ensued on
the occasion Of the Biblical Babel be re-
peated. The Germans grasped the situa-
ton and accepted the rules in use
The formal announcement that Mr.. Wal
dorf Astor has been entertaining a dis
tinguished house party at Hever Castle,
Kent, England. is an authoritative intima-
ton OF the completion Of Mr.. Astor s
great work. For nearly four years over
1000 worBmen have been engaged In
divertlng the river, which runs through
the grounds. rebuilding the castle as a
monument OF Tudor times, and erecting
brand-new village OF the same period. Mr.
Astor. however had some authority for
the styla and manner of his up-to-date
twentieth century restoration. for Hever
was originally q Tudor mansion. for here
lived Anne Boleyn. and II was here she
met bluff King Hal. whom she was IN
fortunate afterward 10 marry. The rem
nants Of the fifteenth century masonry
on the site Of this historic house provided
Mr.. AstOr with a firm foundation for his
dip into ancient history and reproduced
by American dollars.
The Garibaldi scandal on the island OF
Capfera has assumed large dimensions.
Donna Francesca. widow OF the great
hero. and her daughter, Celia. went there
on a torpedo boat accompanied BY gov
ernmental authority. 70 demand the ex-
| pUlsion OF Ricciou Garibaldi from the
island. upon which is the tomb of the
/ creator OF united Italy. Riccioti was
watched by six carbineers. as he threat
ened 10 break his crutches-he uses them
on account OF his rheumatisnl-over the
( head Of any one who should try 10 touch
! him. The Italian government has ordered
the tomb 10 be restored as Il was orlgi-
nally, and the work is being done, bat
under military guard.
Whatever other occupations may be idle
at the present moment in England. the
insurance business is booming, thanks TO
the new compensation act, which went
into force on July / OF this year Rarely
| has an act OF Parliament given such a
sudden and enormous impetus 10 bust
ness. Business under the new law is
/ largely experimental The companies
which have fixed certain new rates for in
suTance have no idea yet whether they are
too small or too large. One company is
/ said 20 have taken in over e25,0o0 in one
week under the new methods. This IS not
/ TO be wondered at, since the tremendous
crowds who have rushed 20 insure their
| lives are composed al domestic servants,
/ clerks. shop assistants. seamen, theater
and music hall STATS, hotel employees, ON
nibus and tram car drivers. carmen; and
/ every sort and condition Of men have
4 availed themselves Of the benefits ensuing
/ under this new and liberal measure OF
Parliament to protect the insured.
Among the many interesting visitors 20
/ London this season. and there are scores
Of them every year has been Duke Carl
| Theodore Of Bavaria, who became the
/ head Of his house many years ago by the
! remuneration OF his elder brother OF his
rights. The duke who has a palace in
I Munich and another on Lake Tegernsee
/ has a European reputation as an ocu.
| list, being renowned for his science and
| HIS remarkable skill as an operator. The
/ duchess is a sister OF the Duke OF Bra
ganza, and one OF their daughters-her.
self, by the way, an expert in medical
science and an NJ. d. in Leipzig-is Prin-
! cess Albert OF Belgium. the future queer
Of that country. When she and her hus-
band. the nephew Of King Leopold, come
to reign in Flanders. better and happier
days viii be seen in the beautiful palaces
throughout their future kingdom.
The fickle weather has been as capri
cious and uncertain on the European side
of the Atlantic as Il has been on the
American side. Perhaps tickle Is not the
word to employ toward the summer Fl
Europe, FOR It has been persistently cold
cruelty cold for women with smart sum.
mer. fTilly gowns to show. The day King
Edward and Queen Alexandra went TO the
LeOpardstown races, in Ireland, was the
second summer day seen in the Emerald
Isle this year and that was in July
Even now. in Paris, the ladies who dom
the filmy muslin and lace blouses-knowr
in Europe as pneumonia blouses and II
America as peek-a-boos-to go to dine ir
the open air at the cafes in the Champ:
Elysees, take precautionary measures. anC
bring a feather boa or fur scarf alonl
with them. Snow fell in the British Isles
IN June. TO complete the paradox.