The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-02
FRENCH WOMEN
 WANT SUFFRAGE Constant Interchange Gof Views
 With English Women HAVE HAD EXPERIENCE
Paris Is Confronted With Unique Situ- ation-Cannot Tear Down Old Hos pital for Fear of Millions
 of Disease Germs.
By PAUL VlLLlERS.

Paris August 1-Spurred on by the en- ergetic warfare waged by the suffragettes of England the French are now beginning to demand the right of suffrage, and there is, indeed, already constant interchange of views between the women of the two countries.
 One of the strongest arguments put for ward by French suffragists is the state ment that they are only claiming right which their sex exercised in the past and which their training and capacity fit them to exercise in the future. In France, as a matter of fact, women nave not only had the vote but have stood for election as candidates and in some cases have had seats in legislative assemblies.
 At the last municipal elections in Paris a woman candidate, Mile. LaLoe, obtained several hundred votes. She was not the first to stand up for the rights of her sex in this way. Mme. Leomie Rongade offered herself as a candidate at the muni- cipal elections in 1SS1 but received only DO votes.
 The French suffragists point out with some effect that under the Loi Beaumont of 11S2 women were allowed to take part in deliberations on municipal affairs. In lS62 when the first Etats Generaux met. women holding tiefs were duly represent ed by nobles and ecclesiastics Two cen turies later there were actual women delegates and deputies and no less than g. widows held seats in the provincial as- seinbly Of Franche Comte.
 The capacity of women to hold the moIJ responsible administrative posts is held to be proved by the fact that in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries female judges sat in the courts of law and it is stated that their decisions were fully equally to those of the best male magis- trates.
 Women have served with distinction even as ambassadresses and generals. Francoise de Cazelly during her husbands absence made such a fine defense of a fortified place entrusted to her care that Henry " appointed her governess of the city. During the French revolution sev- eral women served in the ranks and took parts in several campaigns with marked bravery.
 Such are the answers of the French suffra gists to those who deny the ca pacity of women to participate in the affairs of state. They call on the great nations not to lag behind the smaller countries and point to the fact that wom- en in Norway have had the vote for five years. In 1909, when the next general election takes places for the Storthing, 3oo,G0o Norwegian women will have the right to vote.
 Lastly, it is maintained that women have earned the franchise by virtue of their general progress and political educa- tion during recent years. In 1889 the doors of the universities were thrown open to women. Twelve years later they were given access to all the public offices in- fallf i7le law In, .frfh,+ to vote at municipal election was con- ceded and it is because this right has been well exercised that the full right of suffrage is being asked for.
 The city of Paris has decided to tear down the annex of the Hotel Europe, the oldest hospital in the city, but the wise city fathers are afraid to tackle the job because eminent medical authorities say that if the building is torn down in the ordinary way millions of baccili capable of killing off the whole population of the city would be liberated.
 The safest way would evidently be to burn down the building, as the walls, ceiling and other parts of the hospital are contaminated with microbes representing every illness and disease known to man. kind. A fire, however, would be attended with grave danger because it would be impossible to burn down the building SOiHPlctciJ NilHOul lllt ilIG SpT6dQluS 10 the surrounding buildings.
 special commission has, therefore, been appointed to find way out of this unique dilema.
 Two years exile in Portuguese East Africa has not queled the spirit which caused the crews of two Portuguese war ships to mutiny and it is through no fault of their own that they return to their home country alive.
 The mutineers were included in the am- nesty proclaimed at the accession of King Manuel and the government sent the steamship Portugal to bring them home Soon after leaving Beira gambling dis pute broke out and led to a general fight in which knives and pistols were used and a large number of men were wounded.
 The captain and officers of the Portugal descended among the fighting men and drove them below decks with their re- volyers, but not until one man was dead and several others mortally wounded. Now they will be courtmartialed and probably sent back into exile