The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-09
THE AMERICANS
 WANT INVITATION To Grand Reception and Ball of
 President F'aIIiereS HOPES FOR M. JEAN CRUPPI New Member of clemenceau Cabinet Is Very Ambitious Man and a
 Great Admirer of Presi-
 dent Roosevelt.
HOPES FOR M. JEAN CRUPPI
BY PAUL vILLIERs.


 Paris, February S-To get an invitation to the grand reception and ball which is to be given by President and Mme Fai- Heres on Thursday next al the Palais Elysees Is the ambition of all Americans here at present, but they are evidently doomed disappointment for so far only the members of the American lega- ton have been invited. and with the af- fair only a few days off there is little hope left for the many who had count ed on being present at the most bril- liant affair of an unusual gay season, but as there may be another reception at the Elysees when King Edward comes. and as King Edward is always pleased to meet Americans there is hope that the ambitions of at least some of the most prominent Americans may be gratif1ed then.
 NJ. Jean Cruppi the new member of the 5Clemenceau cabinet, is a man of whom great things are expected, al- though he now holds only the rather un- important portfolio of minister of com merce.
 He is a great admirer of President Roosevelt and like the American pres ident, he Is man of boundess amb- tion.
 He has openly declared that he is in favor of laws benehting the masses of the people rather than the party lead CTS and entered the government unbound by any pledges.
 Before he became minister of com merce, Jean Cruppi has been a journalist an author and a lawyer As public pros ecutor he had much to do with the Drey- fus affair and won many friends by his absolute fairness.
 One of his books. "Un abocat journal iste an dix-huitieme siocle,' won for him the gold medal of the French academy.
 The artists of Venice have taken up arms against the municipal authoritieS of that city. who are about to deprive it' of one of it's most romantic attractions the moonlight on the Canale Grande-by Illuminating that famous waterway with incandescent gas lamps.
 The mayor of Venice insists that only by Illuminating the canal will it be pos sible to put an end to the many rob berries which have been committed by pirates in gondolas, but the artists feel assured that the majority of tourists will run the risk of being held up than lose the sight of the moonbeams playing on the silvery water and enveloping the old palaces in a romantic clair obscure which is one of the attractions of the city.
 A petition has been sent to the city fa- thers begging them to abstain from foul ly murdering the moonlight
 Siberia is the easiest road to Paris" said the judge of the Saratoff court in sentencing two men to ten years exile He supported his opinion by the state I.xrl h ft,, f& Siberia, at least 20 escaped within a, year, and found their way to western Europe.
 year ago all the leaders of the rev olutlonary council of Workmens depu- ties were sent to Siberia All out three have already escaped. M' khrustaloff. the chairman, escaped within three months. and got safely to Paris, and be- fore a few more weeks had passed his two chief assistants got away.
 Last week 23 successful escapes were reported. Only two men were rearrest- ed The whole population of Siberia, in- cluding the prison warders and railway officials, helped the fugitives. The con ductor of the Irkutsk- Moscow express gave up his uniform to one fugitive, who in the guise of conductor travelled on the train 4000 miles. and even made daily re- ports to the state railway officials.
 All over Siberia the Committee of Help to Fugitives is extending it's ramihca tions Its members pledge themselves lat the cost of wealth, security, and, if need be, life, to assist all exiles to es- cape, whatever be the nature of their crimes.
 Caught while being interviewed at Czarskoe Selo hotel by representative of the French Review of Reviews. whom she was telling of the attempts made by certain persons at the Russian court to influence Czar Nicholas by working upon his tendencies to mysticism and spirit ism, Princess Lydia Goluitzin, sister of the Czar's favorite' ajadent, will un- doubtedly be sent to Siberia if Baron Frederics, minister of the imperial house. hold has his way.
 The Baron has already brought suit for defamation of character against the Princess, who has been ordered to re- tire to her estates near Kasan, and it is evident that it is to be fight to the finish between the two.
 The Princess, who made a vain at- tempt to flee to Paris instead of going to Kasan, has written a letter to Admiral Abaza. one of the Czar's favorites and private secretaries making a long list of charges against Fredercs.
 She alleges that three years ago, Fred cries, afraid of losing his influence, con spired with Count de Witte to frighten the Czar by making out that the revolution movement was much more serious than was actually the case. At the same time he was giving reactionary advice to the Czar who finally consented to arrest the leaders of the revolution and who has since then repeatedly distinguished Baron Frederics. The Princess says that Fred cries has filled all court offices, even the lowest, with his creatures, and has ere ated an organization which would rather obey him than thN Czar if a crisis should come.
 Frederics declares that these accusa- tions are invented by the Princess as a revenge, because he has interfered with her plans, and demands that she shall be sent to prison or banished to Siberia.
 The Seats Were Safe.
 From inc Catholic Standard and Times