The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-10
NEW ACADEMY OF FASHION PROPOSED Men And Women Of Fashion
 As Teachers IDEA OF A COUNTESS Artificial Diamonds of Great 6riliancy Are Manufactured by Electro
 Chemical Process by
 M. Charette.
IDEA OF A COUNTESS
BY PAUL VILLlERS.

Paris, November 9.--(Special Cable>)- The Countess d'Andigne had very brill liant idea the other day. She often has them. Her notion was to form new academy, an academy of fashion. in which letters, the arts, elegance, beauty and wit should be recruited by 40 mon and women of fashionable circles. The idea took on rapidly and all the ladies who have anything to do with literature sent in their adhesion to the new acad- emy.
 The Duchess dc Rohan was at the head of them. Several gentlemen of a certain age also promised to be of the academy, among them M. de Saint-Genes, who, In the newspapers. signs himself Richard O'Monroy. Others of a certain age, but very well preserved, made it understood that they would not be displeased to be received in the beauty section," and Count Recope himself constituted the science section.
 Everything was going all very well and only the most important of all members was waited for. Without her there could be no fashionable academy.
 But she did not come forward and so she had to be asked. This was her reply: T am femme de monde as rarely as pos sible. In literature never Countess Mat tieu de Moailles" Before this snub the academy crumbled away and has been heard of no more.
 Artificial diamonds have been manufac- tured by a new electro-chemcal method by M. Charette, a chemist. the result of whose experiment in scientific alchemy was exhibited at the Academy of Sciences by the secretary. M. de Bapparent. The manufactured diamonds, which were small crystals having all the brilliancy of real stones, were adhering to the inside of a glass tube.
 The process of manufacture Is described as follows: A real electric current had been established in vacuum by placing liquid sulphuret of carbon in contact with metals such as iron. Thus electro chemically the Iron transformed itself into sulphuret, and the freed carbon, not being able to combine with the oxygen of the air on account of the vacuum, crys- tallized, depositing itself on the inside of the tube.
 The lustre of the crystals thus pro- duced is equal to that of the purest dia- monds.
 An amusing story is told by NJ Catulle Mendes the eminent peet and theatrical critic, who has been visiting E1ba to ob- tain focal color'' for his new Napoleonic play.
 On arrival M. Mendes and his wife called on the French consul. They sent in their cards and were received by somewhat ragged and unkempt Italian gentleman who explained that the con- sul was bedridden, but that he was the vice-consul. and that his profession was that of guide and furniture mover. He added that he would be pleased to be of any assistance to the visitors.
 Very we'll" said M. Mendes, "you might let us know where to find souven- ITS of Napoleon Bonaparte's stay on the island'
 The vice-consul paused moment An Napoleon; yes, have heard of the name Let me see. do not remember anything about him. Perhaps he is dead now I will try and find out for you"
 The tuition of Paris policemen In for eign languages-a scheme of NJ Lepine, the famous prefect. in order that they may be useful to foreigners-is proceed ing very brightly. At we'll known school Of languages fin Paris some 50 members of the polee force are taking lessons in English, German and Spanish
 Some 60 of them joined two months ago but ten have dropped out. finding they had no aptitude for languages Those re- maining are divided, for English, at any rate, into three classes-the elementary those who are getting on, and those who have already made good progress. They come every day in their uniforms and cause no small excitement among the neighbors, who on their first appearance thought some terrible crime must have been committed in the school.
 The advance class, led by young lady. have now got to the stage where they can hold little conversations with each other, and this Is how it is done. One policeman addresses another. "Who arc you|' The other answers "John p Smith of New York" ''where are won stopping, sir" "At the Grand Hotel" .Have you been to Paris before?" 'No. this is my first trip And so on.