The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-02-28

Dierx, the prince of the poets: retired from office-not from his office of poet but from that of a public official. It IS rather amusing that Republican trance should have kept up the cus- tom In everything but name of a poet Laureate. M Leon Derx for many years has drawn a salary which start ed at 1850 a year, and is now $720 a year, Tor purely nominal duty, that or cataloguing the letters exchanged between the Ministery of Public In- struction and few libraries in Paris done by boy of twelve in half an hour month, but in the Republic likes To have its Poet Laureate, and Is will ing to pay for the privilege.
 A strange tragedy has been enacted Tn prison cell at Nice. where a man In custody, who was about to be dis charged because no proof of guilt was forthcoming against him, committed suicide by garroting himself. He was Russian and had been formerly a guard employed by the Wagon Its Company. When the police had dis covered, or believed they had discover ed, plot to issue false coin on the part of some foreigners, he was ar rested because he had been seen in company with some of the suspected persons. Suspicious were slightly cor rooorated at first by the finding of a few Austrian nickel coins in his pos session which had been roughly gilt with brush and paint He explained that he had only done this to make a present of the coin to his children. He was, nevertheless, sent to prison, and an inquiry was instituted which turn ed out in his favor no proof being found that lie had really been implicat- ed in counterfelting plot. The order for his release was about to be signed when one of the prison warders, in making his rounds, found the Russian dead in his cell. The prisoner had loosened bootlace wound 1t round his neck and twisted it with spoonAuntil 1t chocked him to death. Perhaps the knowledge that he would soon be liberated would have saved his life. but 1t does not appear that he was aware of the inquiry having turn ed out in his favor. If he did know 1t. he may have doubted the assurances that had been given of a speedy de- parture from prison.
 The wine industry in Bordeaux seems to be a bad way. Ever since the phyl- 1oxera the quality of Bordeaux wine has left a good deal to be desired, and the doctors are all agreed now that claret Is almost as bad as port for bringing on gout and rheumatism. It seems that in the vineyards about
 
 seventy Tive per cent; properties are mortgaged to the hilt: in many cases associations of creditors have taken over the estates. Banks refuse any new advance, even on the finest vine- yards, and still the wine merchants cannot make up their minds to put down the prices.
 M Roy the Chief Judge of the Paris Tribunal of Commerce. who happened to be staying at Cannes, has just had the curious experience of having his pocket picked in full day light while walking in the street. He had been to the bank. and drawn a sum of $450 in cash and a letter of credit for some $2,000- when a we'll dressed young man run up against him, and, after d. pologizing very politely. walked away quickly. The judge was still ponder ing over the young mans effusive politness wondering at the hurry he was in, when he thought of feeling for his pocket t-book, which he had put inside his coat. The pocket was empty and the young man was already out of sight.
 Paris police station was invaded the other day by young lad. an old gentleman, a small dog. and the con- ductor and twenty-four passengers of an omnibus. The old man had been