The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-10
GIRL STRIKE FOR MARRIAGE DOWRY Old Time Custom Has Been
 Changed J. K. HUISMAN'S DEATH The Great French Author Faced Death With Phllosophlc Calm That Is
 Rare-Planned Ills
 Own FuneraE
J, K. HUYSMAN'S DEATH

EaFiSp June p'--Strikes are spreading in France. In the charming little borough Of Granses-le-Roi, near Paris where 1t Is the annual custom to elect "Resoiere' or queen of the Rose Gas in many other French townsJ, the girls have gone on strike because the marriage dowry offered was too small.
 The "Rosiere" Is selected from among the most virtuous, hard-worlxing unmar- Hed women of the town, who must not be over & years of age and the elected Rosiere receives a sum of money varying with the size and wealth of the commu- nity.
 At Granges-le-Ro the sum offered was 50 dollars, and this year the young girl elected refused to act as Rosiere giving as reason that the sum offered by the municipality was a ridiculous reward to offer to young woman of 20 for so much virtue and good quality.
 The town council was astonished at this refusal, and 1t was decided to elect an- other Rosiere, but to their intense indig- nation, the second girl also refused the honor, saying indignantly, T have no wish to parade about the streets of the town as 'Rosiere' for the paltry sum of $50. It is for this certainly not for the prospects of receiving this money that I have remained vlrtuous all these years"
 The Mayor called the town council to- gether again and, addressing them, said: "Gentlemen l do not know what has come over the girls of the present time. Never in my life have heard of young woman refusing the honor of being Ro- siere. We must choose another one."
 To their intensest surprise, this one re- fused, and so to the fourth, fifth and sixth, and in disgust at this modern com mercial spirit they have passed vote abolshing the annual grant of the dowry. The annual fete will be held as usual, but without the Rosiere.
 J. K Huysmans, the great author, who is just dead, faced his coming end with a philosophical calm that is rare indeed His malady was cancer In the mouth, and his sufferings had for a long time been atrocious. Latterlya the tissues of the mouth had been falling away under the ravages of the terrible disease, so that 1t became increasingly difficult for him to eat and finally almost impossible for him to swallow.
 The doctor had told him he was hasten ing his end by smoking cigarettes, but he did not desist from smoking.
 T am not afraid of death," he said, with smile. When his literary friends had called to see him latterly, he had seemed to like to discuss the great mystery like some scholast of old, whom indeed he in many ways resembled.
 When Poireir, the distinguished Paris surgeon, was buried week before Huys- mans own death, the latter said to one of his friends who came to see him after the funeral. "Ah. you have been to Poirier's qh null will to take down my wishes with regard to my death and funeral"
 He thereupon dictated not only his will but the simple inscription he wished to have placed upon his tomb recording that he was member of the Academy of the Goncourts. His funeral was attended by an extraordinary assemblage of the most distinguished literary men in France side by side with a large gathering of priests, monks and nuns, among whom he had many friends.
 A pretty dispute has just broken out fin the company of Dr. Richard Strauss, who is directing the performances of the opera "Salome," which is meeting with such tremendous success in Paris
 Nile. de Trouhanowna, the famous dan cer of the Monte Carlo opera, takes the part of Salone for the celebrated dance of the seven veils, and sees it with enormous success. Dr. Strauss has now prohibited this lady from appearing be- fore the curtain at the end of the dance to receive the plaudts of the audience.
 The composer maintains that dancing Is an art inferior to music or acting and should not be packed on an equal footing with these. The ballerina has thereupon resigned her position in the opera, which will place Dr. Strauss In somewhat of fix, and she has retorted to his observa- tion with the following somewhat feml- nine remark:
 ''If there is anything inferior and un- dignifed In the affair 1t is the posturing of gifted musician, who at the fall of the curtain runs round the wings and receives the applause of the public. side by side. with Destinn or Fremstad unasked and uncalled for.'
 This rather spiteful little remark is not quite true, because at the end of each per- formance in Paris there have been vocifer- ous cries for Strauss! Strauss! until he appeared. And on the first two or three occasions the composer and the leading lady were recalled six or seven times. Nut however that may be the dispute is not helping the popularity of the opera house.
 A short while ago 1t was Mile. Carler. the beautiful and talented French actress, who brought action against Moutran Pasha, living in a Champa Elysees, Paris, for having abused her confidence in fraud ulantly keeping her jewels. The defendant was sentenced to a weeks imprisonment.
 Now 1t Is the turn of the Moutran Pa sha. He appealed against the sentence and won his cause. Now he has brought an action against Mile. Carler for islander. He claims damages of one franc, and the insertion of the Judgment in fifty French and foreign newspapers to be chosen by himself. He says he does not act thus in order to annoy Mile Carlier in any way, but he Is anxious to clear his name of any scandal attaching to 1t, and this is the most effective way.
 Tn France the position of chauffeur is now considered to be one tffat younger and impecunious sons of good families may accept without compromising their social position. The pay Is better than that which they could earn in any other occupation. and as they always have a subordinate to do the rough work of nermous success Dr. Strauss has now quite an agreeable occupation.
 A young baron who recently got rid of the whole of his fortune in very short time after obtaining his majority has now accepted the position of chauffeur to the Princess Guy de Faucigny- -Lucnge, and declares he is very happy and comfort able.