The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-01-31
WHAT IS ORIGIN
 OF NOON ANGELUS Moreau and Flam a 'iaa In
 Warm Dispute FEAR OF COM IFS TAIL Is Said to Have Inspired Ordering of custoni-Morean Says Fear of
 UnspeakabIe Turk Is Rea-
 son-Encroachment
FEAR OF COM IFS TAIL
By MARQUIS DE cAsTELLANE.


 esting discussion has arisen between Camille Flammarian. the astronomer, and Abbe Moreau regarding "The Noon An gelus" F1ammarian claims it was ordered by Pope Calixtus III because his Holi- ness was frightened by the Haley comet. And In all conscience the good pope might well have been frightened, for the tail of the comet of 145s was well nigh 60 de- grees in length. In other words this ter rible comet had a tail as long as one sixth of the circumference of the planet we inhabit
 So, according to "Flam Gas the de- 1ightful Madame F'lammarian endearing- ly calls her celebrated husband), the Pope ordered all the church bells to be rung at noon and the angelic salutation to be said in honor of the incarnation. Hitherto 1t was only said morning and evening.
 Abbe Moreau contends that the mid day angelus was due, not to fear of the long tailed comet, but through fear of the unspeakable Turk. The Pope was in dread of the progress of Mahommet II, who boasted he meant to stable his horses In St. Peters in Rome. The Abbe Mo reau denies Camille Flemmarian's asser- tons and quotes from many books to plJ,e nls cese. The astronomer. on the other hand, filings at the abbe's tonsured
 
 which contains 1926 pages and is three feet and a half high.
 My own opinion is that both the abbe and the astronomer are right, for It seems the Pope feared the head Of the Turk quite as much as the tail of the comet At all events it was from the midday angelus that Millet drew his in- spiration for his famous picture, and that was well worth while. Whether the Turk ncth fs a m at- ter of small moment now.
 King Albert of Belgium, who has al- ready made very good impression among his newly acquired subjects, chiefly by his oratorical powers, inherits many of his talents from his mother, the Duchess of Flanders. This remarkable woman, in addition to her knowledge Of statecraft. is an artist of no mean ability. Among other famous paintings, she has just completed series of sketches of the beautiful forest of Arden, where Rosa lind" Sylvia" and "Touchstone' wan dered in search of adventure. These sketches she is about to publish in an album in direct competition to many of her sons subjects, who have done the same thing. Now, is this quite fair, I wonderf Sup pose these subjects should set themselves
 
 mere painters? What then? Would not royalty protest and with good reason? I think so. My own humble opinion k our kings and queens should be satisfied i to fulfill the functions of their royal pro- ! fession and not encroach upon that or their faithful subjects.
 AS an inducement to would-be pur- chasers, the Countess of Flanders at taches her royal signature to each book. A1ava nd nf EnRfa nd did the same thing. She published sim liar album and on each book appears her royal handwriting. Now who will save the painter folk from these commer- cial kings and queens? Already the suf- fragettes are citing the talents of these royal ladies as an argument In favor or votes for women. I myself don't see ths connection. Tennyson says Woman Is the lesser man." All things and all coun- tries considered, think 1t begins to look as though she might become the Great CT man."
 Prince Hans of Denmark is seriously H. Should he die his demise will mean mourning for nearly every Kingdom or Europe. So wide are his connections he is familiarity known as "The Uncle or Europe" For @ similar reason his broth er. the late King Christian, was known
 
 Prince Hans is Uncle of Queen Alex andra of England, of the Dowager Elm press of Russia, of the Duchess of Cum berland, of the King of Denmark and of King George of Greece. He Is the great uncle of King Haakon of Norway.
 Prince Hans de Glucksbourg Is S6 years old. Though he has children of his own. Uncle Hans Is a great favor1te with his nephews and nieces, and they never for +~ brfa and New Years gifts. He breaches the simple doc- trines of the Danes to his illustrious rel atives. but King George of Greece pre- fers more complicated French civiliza- l ton. Well, everyone to his taste. 1 It was a good omen for Ambassador Bacon that he presented his credentials l to President Fallieres on the same day 1 as the minister of Siam, of the land Of 1 the Morning Calm But experience proves | that America does not really need any ambassador. First secretaries are sufi- cient Colonel Bailly Blanchard has done al the work oI the embassy sinos Henry White went home. Ridgely Cartor did | 1t in London while Whitelaw Reid went ] visiting. Ambassador Leishman spends | as much of his time in Paris as in Rome. Young Hit did the work admirably In 1 Berlin for three months during Dr. David l Jayne Hills absence in America and in Paris during . period of Sb years. International questions are settled in Washington leaving to embassies chiefly | the making out of passports and engin- | eering social functions
 | The former falls to the office of the | first secretary; the latter is mostly the l ladies' office. President Taft would do l well to consider the attainments, not so much of ambassadors as of their wives.