Year: 1869

this grain did not have to leave the United
States and then re-enter it-thus crossing the
frontier twice on its way to Portland-the
labor OF the president would be easier.


Wild Beasts for ItaIy-CompIImeuts from


The viceroy of Egypt has rendered special
and most peculiarly marked compliment to the
King OF Italy. His Highness few days since
placed his ine steamer Masz in complete order
and despatched her to the Mediterranean, the
commander having in charge to deliver several
decorations Of the Medjidie to distinguished
persons at the court in Florence, and to pre-
sent at the same time to Victor Emanuel eight
fine horses and several wild beasts This
appears at first sight to be q rather extraor-
dinary blending Of dignity, utility and danger;
and that, too in q manner likely to recall to
mind many Of the most remarkable and excit-
ing events narrated in the most hoary histories
of the East


The medals and ribbons we understand easily
as tokens Of fraternal sovereignty. The
horses can be explained on the ground that
King Victor Emanuel pays great attention to
his stud, that he has an ample and excellently
well regulated one, that he is first rate
horseman, and that the Egyptian steeds will be
quite at home in his stables, as he already
maintains an Arab groom, turbaned and on
suite In his nasnage. We are puzzled, how
ever, about the wild beasts. Are they really
still wild or only partially tanned, and If so are
they intended merely for exhibition in the
geological garden at Florence, or for a more
direct and really alarming purpose2 Has the
King appealed to the viceroy in the matter of
the rapidly approaching events of the Papal
Council and the threatened bull Of excom-
munication against him and obtained the 'swid
beasts" s"-royal tigers and lions we presume
with the intent of slipping them sud
denly on the assembled prelates Of
the Church and thus causing them
to ''break up" In hurry and adjourn
sine die? 1t may be SO, as we live in an
era when recourse is had daily to the most
extraordinary agencies-'sgold rings" 'spoli-
tical rings" stone giants and specie from
Wales-to effect certain purposes Of gain,
ambition or surprise. King Victor Emanuel
is we'll read in everything relating to Daniel
and how pleasantly he Jared with lions and as
his Majesty ranks in the "Index Expurga
torious" as a pretty prominent doubter in
church matters it may be that he proposes to
try if the faith Of the prophet still lives In the
Church as 1t did at that time, in the period Of
the wild beasts at Ephesus, or the moment Of
the martyr struggles of the early Christians
In the Roman Coliseum.


A most extraordinary revolution, both in
public sentiment and matters Of faith, is pro-
crossing in the Old World The mind of the
millions is turning to the East. The Empress
Of France has had homage on foot from the
Sultan of Turkey, visited the harem, attended
mass and patronized Catholic schools in Con-
stantinople. She is determined to pioneer the
revolutionary current Of travel and trade
through the Suez Canal the male crowned
heads are journeying towards the land Of the
Pharaohs; mitred patriarchs are moving from
the East towards Rome; princes are ambi-
tious to sit amid the ssbricks of Nineveh !"
the telegraph is coiling the eastern peoples in
one and resurrecting the great mind which has
never really died in these old lands. SO, per-
haps, is the King Of Italy about to return to
first principle and test the faith Of the modern
ecclesiastics as Il was il the moments when
holy Job failed not in hope, when Daniel felt
no fear, and when their more immediate pre-
decessors were assured that they ''could walk
on the waters" If they only possessed faith.
King Victor Emanuel is just the man to apply
an original crucial test, and the ''wild beasts"
may, therefore, be very useful and in place
near Florence. The Viceroy Of Egypt is both
thou ghtful and courteous.