The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-10
CHURCH RED TAPE
 DISPENSED WITH Priests Are Instructed to Marry
 All Couples MEET CIVIL MARRIAGE Belgian Court Order Has Suspended All Gambling at the Casino in ostende-Zoologica Gar
 den at Paris.
MEET CIVIL MARRIAGE
BY PAUL VlLLlERS.

Paris. May 9.-To check the growing tendency of the people of France to be content with a civil marriage ceremony, and so without the blessing of the Cath olic church, Mgr Annette, the new arch , bishop of Paris, has decided to do away with all the unnecessary red tape now connected with religious marriage cer- emony in France. AS it is, two young people wishing to be married by a priest would have to declare their intention of so doing four weeks ahead for three con- seeutive Sundays. their names be read aloud from the pulpit, together with their ages and mass of other details.
 An order from the archbishop has now instructed all the priests of his diocese to marry any couple who desire to be married when satisfied that there are no legal obstructions to the ceremony.
 Americans who have planned to spend part of their time while in Europe at Os- tende will find the famous resort practi- callv deserted, because of a Belgian court order suspendng all gambling at the Ca- sino.
 The proprietor of the gambling palace at the Belgian Monte Carlo, M. Maquet, has been sentenced to three months i'm prisonment and must pay fine of s6OO for running a gambling resort. He will, of course. appeal, but he dares not open the Casino; and as he was heavy sup sidizer of the races and has refused 10 pay any money to the Jockey club this year. there will be no horse racing at Ostende this season.
 Thousands of business people who had
 rrarfp 1ch be ruined by the courts decision, for with no attractions left but those of the beach and surf. swell society will, of course, keep away.
 The municipal authorities of Paris have planned a zoological garden outside th.s city, laid out on the lines of the Zoo at Bronx park in New fork. The famous old rarks, "Jardin des Plantes" and Jar din d'Acei,matation," are doomed to dis appear, at least as homes for wild ami mals. and three miles outside of Paris "zoological oasis" is to be constructed where the animals can have comparative liberty.
 Large inclosures, containing trees, lakes and watercourses, are to be constructed, so that the animals may obtain exercise under conditions approximating to the normal, instead of being confined as at present in cages.
 One feature of the "oasis" will be large hothouse in which all kinds of but terflies will be reared.
 | American tips are said to have cor rupted the stern customs officials wno | keep watch at the Care du Nord- It Is { well known that the average wealthy ! American tourist has deep aversion against the cigars manufactured and sold under the French government monopoly 1 and an equally deep aversion against l paving duty, and during the travelling i season the customs officers at the Paris i depot get the benefit of this. Once having become used to living in | afhuence their salaries appeared too i small during the past winter and they 1 then entered into a plot with professional l smugglers and let great quantities of Bel ! gian tobacco and lace through without i duty.
 i Government spies found them out, and l the other day they were all arrested and ! confessed to having passed $4OO worth of 1 tobacco matches throuEf- every day dur ing the last six months, their only excuse being that American gold had proved too ;. n,nch for them and caused their first 1 downfall
 American tourists will please take prop
 CT warning, or they may find themselves ! facing serious charges.
 The young Queen of Spain becomes
 more and more popular among her hus-
 bands subjects, and the fearless way m
 which she walks practically unattended,
 about Madrid has pleased the people inn
 mensely
 Her majestys bright complexion and
 beautiful golden hair are greatly ad-
 mired. and she often hears praise for her
 charms expressed aloud in lowly Span-
 ish fashion, Quaint exclamatons, such
 as blessed be your mother" great Queen i Victoria Eugenie wherever she goes' ] and before she understood Spanish GUS l toms she one day caused great amuse- ment to King Alfonso by remarking on 1 returning to the palace after a shopping 1 expedition How fond the people seem 1 to be of mammal