The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-03
BY MARQUIS DE cAsTELLANE.

Paris, May "A rumor of exceptional gravity is beginning to circulate in dip lomatic circles here: Wilhelm II. is at tempting to bring about an entente cor diale between Germany and the United States. As proof of this imperial pro- ject, diplomatists cite to me thousand | and one friendly advances which the Kali ser has made to your President.
 One of these delicate attentions you have not forgotten was the presentation of enormous volume, seven feet tall and nearly two feet in thickness, filled with water color paintings due to the im- perial genius for that sort of thing. And then there is the theatre-half- German, lf-American-which the Kaiser has es- tablished and fostered in his imperial city.
 Last of all, it is announced that the German Emperor will certainly pay vis- it this summer to the chief of your great Republic.
 From this imperial attitude of cordi- ality to an ententeJ-even an out-and- -out alliance-is only step.
 Will that step be taken? If one may judge by MT. Roosevelts latest message to Congress, Wilhelm II. Is on the point of accomplishing his purpose. Jealous of the laurels gathered on the diplomatic field of Europe by Edward VII. his uncle he hopes that his success in gaining the friendship of the United States will undo that Majestic monarch's work.
 In addition to the Emperor's personal ambition to checkmate his successful un- cle he is urged on by the dynastic neces- sity of finding counterpiece to the three powers England, France and Rnssia, now allied against Germany
 Be assured the Kaiser's project is in- spired not by a caprice, but by the mighty impulse of the economic interests of his country
 My readers are aware that l have al ways said of Monsieur Clemenceau that he was, in spite of his savage and de- conservative statesman at heart He has given a new proof both of his courage and Of his conserva tiSm.,
 Yearly for the last thirty years there has been held religious service in hon. or of our soldiers killed in battle Up to the present day neither the President of the Republic nor his ministers had dared attend this ceremony, so much did they fear the anti-clerical clamor of the pol- ticians
 Now this year Monsieur Clemenceau determined to show the world that if his Government was saturated with the Free Thought 1t was not wholly deprived of good manners. So in the basilica of the Madeleine President Fallieres. Monsieur Briand and Monsieur Clemenceau knelt at the foot of the altar, while the service for our dead soldiers was said.
 And this was the first time for a quar- ter of q century that the political direc- tors of France have paid this respect to our national day of mourning and prayer Of course, Monsieur Clemenceau Is still ferocious enemy of the clerlcals, but those who know him best would not be surprised to see him, now that he is old, take refuge in the bosom of the Church. Stranger things have happened in this France of ours.
 Until the 16th century never a tailor had the happy thought of putting a pock- ct in a coat. Men fastened their hand- kerchiefs to the left <arm. Bishops wore them in their crosiers. Prosecutors tied them to their batons. The common peo- pie did very well without. As for the women of that day--aS of ours-handker- chiefs were an unnecessary ornament. Now the Chinese, you know, consider that piece of white linen a horribly inde- | cent object to carry about without and a very haunt of microbes. Instead they use little squares of tissue paper, which l they throw aside when once used. | Now 1t appears that we are going to l initiate those Oriental folk. A supply of | paper has been sent to all the public -tstII ~..s4t Ixl- f,x+ l,nt~ l heads help themselves as they go in. | I am pleased to call your attention to l this reform, Test you should fancy France | lags behind in the way of reform,