The Warwickshire Herald. — 1894-03-08 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

LIFE OF CHANGE AND INCIDENT.  Some inteiesting passages from the life of a provincial singer were revealed to the public the other day during the hearing of a case in the Paris Courts. Maitre Chenal applied to the Civil Tribunal for authority to submit M. Renault, who is a tenor in the Theatre of Toulon, to the tutelage of a commit judiciaire. The application was made at the instance of the young man's mother, who objects to the caprices of her son, as he frequently changes his profession, and manages to get through a great deal of money in a hippy-go.lucky way. M. Renault is now 33 years old—a fact which was dwelt upon by his lawyer, M. Ledebt, as chewing that the tenor had arrived at an age when he might justly be supposed to be able to take care of himself. He receives £BO monthly at Toulon; has been rapturously received by the habitues of Monte Carlo; and may yet be heard in the Paris Opera. His mother, however, would evidently prefer to have him settled down at a less hazardous profession. as her legal adviser pointed out, M Renault never remained long at anything. While a youth he entered the Beaux-Arts and was sent out as a Government architect to Saigon. He had a capital of £960, which he spent in Cochin China, returning to France with a collection of Eastern curiosities, which' ha sold at a loss. Then he tried to commit suicide, and was cured of his injuries. lie joined the Panama Canal Company as an architect, but had to resign. He went to the Conservatoire to be trained as &singer, but found the course too long, and accepted an engagement in a music-hull. Finally he mortgaged his rights to a property for a small sum. These were the grievances of the soother. The son's lawyer pointed out that his client was an efficient architect, that he had believed too much in the Panama enterprise, and that he had been induced to take to the lyric stage by the late M. Talazac and by Madams Richard, who were both competent judges ot his voice. He was now successful as a singer—thanks to his enterprise and energy—and nothing in his history warranted the appointment of conscil judieiairs. The court reserved judgment for a week.  The Royal carriages for the use of the Queen during her visit to Florence were despatched on Saturday by the Folkestone and Boulogne route to Italy. They consisted of a landau, barouche, and pony chaise, each vehicle bearing the addrees, "Her Majesty the Queen, Villa Fabricotti, Florence, Italy.' Her Majesty's favourite donkey was also sent to Florence. Italian horses will be used with the Royal carriages. An exciting scene was witnessed at Hereford the other day. During the afternoon one of the prisoners, whilst engaged in working in the back. yard of the gaol, determined upon escaping. Although dressed in prison garb, he was successful in raising • plank against the wall, scaling it, and, dropping into the garden beyond, attempted to reach the open country. He was, however, seen as he crossed a railway near, and several officials and others at once started in pursuit. He was at length traced into a cottage, whence he ran a mile to the back of • solicitor's house. The gardener allowed him into a stable and locked him in. The prisoner was eventually pulled out of • crate of straw by his pursuers at 0 o'clock, and conveyed back to prison. The (lemma Emperor has sent £lO to the Jubilee restoration fund of Holy Trinity Church, Windsor. Canon W. J. Mutely has announced his resignation of the rectory of Rise, near Hull, which he has bald 44 years. The Clergy Orphan Corporation have receivad 50 guineas from the Mercers' Company in aid of their schools at Canterbury and St. John's Wood. One of Mr. Ohidstone's last °Motel acta was to recommend • grant from the Bounty Fund of 05 to the daughters of the late Lloyd Jones, a Chartist and Radical agitator.  HENRY MEE AND  SONS,  YEW TREE INN, WITTON, AND  k' r E INN, BOLDMERE ROAD, WYLDE GREEN  cri.