CONTINENTAL SENSATIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 161, 9 July 1910, Page 15

CONTINENTAL SENSATIONS.

UNPOPULAR TT.S. CItUISER AT ' TOULON. Exaggerated /reports wjere current an Toulon on May '.19111, of the "brutal illtreatment" of a boatman by officers of the United States cruiser New Xork, which, has been In the port for the last few.days; telegraphs a mail correspondent on May 20th. The fact is that since her arrival, the Americans have been disgracefully exploited by the Toulon boatmen. Two officers, before hiring a boat to return to the ship, agreed on a price, but as soon as the boat was out in the roads* the boatman and His mate demanded double, and on the Americans refusing to pay threatened themV The officers detteriidea themselves to very good purpose, and the boatmen on reaching land; in a feomewhat battered condition, endeavoured to excite popular feeling against the visitors 'by spreading stories of an unprovoked aU tack, The result was that later on the men of the New York, on landing, had a hostile reception, and were ordered Back to the ship by their officers. SISTER CANDIDE'S CASE. Sister Cattdide's case (reported in aflother column in this issue of the supplement) fascinates the imagination of. Parisians. Is It another instance of a monstrous piece of trickery engineered by a clever woman? Is, indeed, the sister but a charlatan In nun's clothes, gaining vast sums from a charitable public, and spiriting them away in some mysterious fashion? It is early days to speak of her guilt. Some of the newspapers declare that she has confessed to the magistrate, but such statements shouid be received with caution. The "Instruction." is—theoretically, at all events —a secret investigation* and until the facts are ventilated in the Assize Court there is no control—neither is there any "privilege." Yet It is certain that this wonderful woman, Who was at the head of some remarkable enterprises for the vellef of the indigent sick, gathered together very large revenues of which but a small portion found its way into the hands of those for whom the sums were destined; Officially authorised lotteries and subventions brought In half-a-million of money; and, besides this, there were the private donations. Every one reposed confidence in the Soeur Candide, from M. "Waldeck Rousseau, who detorated her, and M. Lonbet, who presided over one of her Institutions, to the humblest person who contributed the widow's mite. In the prison cell Of St. UazaTe, the nun appears to be quite resigned. Bhe has modified her garb of the Order of St. Anne by changing the wliite-stafched. cflrneite, fbr-. a black mantilla, rind seems ashamed of her position. She passes a part of each day in the chapel attached to the peniteiitiary. Is she really guilty of malversation? Is she merely the religious humbug operating on the scale of Mmc: Humbert? It Is difficult to say; but the assumption at this hour is that she Is more sinned against than sinning. Her methods were shockingly unbusinesslike. When she paid away large sums she required no receipt, and she carried about notes stitched, into her clothes. REMARKABLE BANQUET. A ragout of boa-constrictors and pythons, set off by a fillet of African gazelle, figured on the menu of a remarkable banquet given in Paris by the "Society of Super-Gour-mets," which makes a speciality of introducing rare and strange dishes into the national bill of fare. Side by side with the succulent serpents figure an omelette of ostrich eggs, Algerian .turtle, roasted porcupines, and rook pasties. The sweets were hearts of date palm and cactus leaves, followed by a prosaic rhubarb pudding. The gazelle, it appears, was found to be more tender than lamb, but thigh of tortoise Is declared not to be as good as the drumstick of chicken, and the company decided that in future the turtle shall stick to his soup. The python had an Immediate success with the numerous ladles present, for, as one fair guest declared, "■Woman could never resist the serpent!" FRENCH AKMY MUTINY. A mutiny broke out on May 26 in the 240 th Regiment of Infantry at Massillan, near, Iviiues. Eighty,-four reservists refused to sleej) under canvas, alleging that the ground was damp; and marched out of camp with their arms. Later In the evening the mutineers inarched through Nimes singing revolutionary songs and caused great disturbance. The officers went about among the men vainly ordering them to return, and the Inhabitants of the town were in a state bordering on panic. Ultimately, the mutineers were surrounded and ntaken prisoners by two companies from another regiment SCHOOLBOY SUICIDES. The great number of suicides among schoolboys on the day of the distribution of the haf-yeafly certificates lit the Austrian secondary schools has, says the Vienna correspondent of the "Mail," seriously alarmed the Minister of Education. The day is an ahxioiis - one for both parents and children, who await the decisions of the examiners with bated breath. A boy's failure to pass his examination always suggests failure in the final matriculation, wWcn means that the boy is forced to perform the fnil term at .three years' military serritfe. Bather than face their parents after failure many boys go out int6 the country and shoot themselves; An inquiry opened 'by the Minister has resulted in orders being issued for *he relaxing of the strain in the schools. ■naif-holidays are to foe granted each' week, to Be devoted to games, rowing find shooting being specially recommended. BOY BANDITS* EXPLOITS.' , . 'A wen-organised band of boy fobßerfi, ied by a ferocicrag chieftain, agea thirteen, have just been, cap'tufed by the ptidice at Sopron, Hungary (telegraphs a "Daily Mail" corresjsbndeht oh May 19)» The baid consisted of eleven ladsj aged from eight to thirteen j-gfirg, wh6 h&4. left their" garents fof & ; Uie of adVeature. Tney lived In & large edveV aha during the last threVe niontM hav6 c"6nihiit!ted n» fewer tHdfl i≥ 3 fdbbeTles fliid one mardt*. is the eavfe Bosty to the vaide of £3000 WHS f bund. ■ The young enleftarn, who shot and serloasly wounded the pblicemaii WH6 was sent td ertast ■ hits, u&tt Beennefltstietd to :jea years' conftaemeatJa ft. jelflsßntorjiu,-. y ■■■ ■