The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-10
VEIL LIFTED FROM
 SEPARATION LAW
Condemnations of Apostolic
 Chair Are Explained
WOMEN TURN TO MUSIC
Society Element Give Up Study of Plano to Devote Themselves to Singing, Which Promises
 Greater Reward.

Special Cable to The Age-Herald. Copy
 right, 1907, by ". R. Hearst.)
 Paris. June s.--we are beginning to see the veils lifted which have hitherto covered the oondemnations hurled from the apostolic chair against the Church and State Separation law.
 It Is no secret that in this affair Pope Plus K did not conform to the desires for A cordlan understanding which were generally expressed by the upper ranks of the French clergy, but preferred to their advice that of three politicians who, in giving 1t, seems to have been much more concerned to satisfy their hatred of the republican regime than to consider the real interest of the church. As matter of fact, the men who took the lead in urging the Pope to resist the French government were Messrs. Grous- seau, Emile Oliver and Fleurens and they were the only ones he listened to. What title had these three men to be- come suddenly the pillars of the militant church7
 Grousseau Is only an obscure lawyer, and moreover. a provincial lawyer whose views extends over but narrow group of persons. Emile Oliver Is an old man who will soon leave behind him the repu- tation of the most inconsequential and the lightest political man who ever lived. Oliver 1t was, a matter of fact, who brought us into the terrible war of 1870.
 People asks themselves with conster- | nation how the Pope could seek advice e.. .A .f.... it to that of a nepiscopacy which alone is cognizant of the wants of the church in general.
 As for M. Fleurens he has no other pre- tensions to the Papal confidence than the fact that he Is the brother of one of the most violent communnards who In 1870 set fire to Paris.
 So 1t is that, devoted as one may be to the Catholic faith, one cannot but help but think his Holiness was ill-advised in the choice of his councillors. With doubt less the best intentions in the world these gentlemen have brought the Catholic re- ligon in France into an attitude of re- slstanoe In which they are forced shortly to feel themselves the weaker They have imposed on her a martyrdom for which she feels no taste, and at the end of this martyrdom brought about by men of such ascendency, and such a past there will be nothing left for her to do but to shed tears over her former greatness.
 I have already mentioned the growing taste of women of fashion for poetry, but this taste Is not the only one which Is at present enthralling them. Nearly all the society ladies have given up the study of the piano in order to devote themselves 1 to singing which is much more appreciat- ed and may become a source of much greater reputation for those who prac- tice 1t with effect. a
 Three ladies are at present contend ing for the honor of being heard In Paris, and even of playing in real operas for the benefit of the poor, which is certainly worth more than if it were for their per- sonal profit. These are the Vicomtese de Tredern. Comtesse de Cuerne and the Comtesse R. de Naupeon the first Is as well known to the musical public of Paris as Melba Is in London or New York.
 The second was the favorite pupil of Gounoud, whose works she did more than any one else to popularize with her sweet and flexible. if not remarkably strong voice.
 The third lady, now Mme. de Maupeou, is still in the heydey of her youth and beauty, and her voice, a superb contralto even if she had no talent-which Is not the case-would suffice to place her In the first ranks. These three ladies will
 
 Ing season at great musical functions An exhibition of pictures of peculiar in- terest has just been opened at that charm ing spot, Bagatelle. It is the exhibition of womens portraits by the best artists from 1870 until tho present day. but am sorry to say, the works seems to me to be very mediocre.
 Apart from a beautiful portrait by Cabanel of the Marquise de Vallombrosa, l will not say I saw only failures. but they are mostly dull and lifeless can- ] vases. I was not struck either by the portrait of a Comtesse de Pourtales by Carolas Duran, or a Mime. Gervex by her husband, or of the Empress Eugenie by Winterhalter, or Mme. Henri Schneider by Durufe.
 The sole thing accomplished by the ex- hfbition was to show that French are is in decline, and this decline Is all the more serious inasmuch as those who are the cause of 1t not only do not see itfi but are convinced that they belong to the greatest school of art the world has ever seen.
 A little less vanity and a little more | observation would become them better. Clara Ward, the famous American beauty who, after leaving her husband, the Prince de Chlmay, married the gypsy | Rigo, is destined to be talked of incessant- ly. This time, It Is true, IL IS not lFOfn | her own fault that she Is attracting the | attention of the public.
 | The question on the tapis Is the annul- ment of her first marriage by the Vatican. Tired of the celebacy imposed on him by the Catholic church. the Prince de Chi may Is trying to get his union with her who was his wife annulled and he Is being helped in the steps he is taking by his sister, the Comtesse Greffulhe. | ,io du haG xyif | in Rome, visiting the Cardinals, and doubtless reckoning on her beauty to charm them. But doubtless, just as the famous Queen Louise of Prussia failed in her attempt to captivate the Emperor Napoleon, so our pretty compatriot will 1 not succeed in her efforts to covert the Princess of the Church.
 | The time has gone past when, for few dollars, one could obtain the dissolution of matrimonial ties from the Roman Curia and Plus K Is particularly severe in such matters
 Clara Ward is, and will always remain in the eyes of the church, the legiti- mate wife of the Prince de Chimay. These restrictions are imposed by our Catholic l faith on those who are the victims of sufferings and privatlons from which the civil law of divorce would rid them; but the question is whether people are hap pier in those countries where one Is able to change ones partners as one does ones | garments.
 
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