PARISIAN LETTER.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume XXI, Issue 1064, 24 April 1890, Page 3

PARISIAN LETTER.

(From Odb Own Correbfondekt.) Paris, February 28. POLITICAL REWIEW. The salient feature of the German elections has been the enormous increase of the Social Democratic vote, not only in Berlin, but also in almost all other cities of Germany. Even in the country constituencies Socialist votes were given this time ivhere Socialists were never before known. In Munich, Magdeburg, and Elberfeld, Socialists have been returned. Their victory, although foreseen, exceeds all expectations. In Berlin the Socialist vote is 115,000, as compared with 94,000 in 1887. and that of the Liberal partv is increased by about 3000, the Liberal votes being 69,000, as against 66,000 in 1887. On the other hand, the Conservatives have to record a decrease of 34,000, having fallen from 74,000 in ISB7 to 3(1,000 the other day. Count von Moltke is among the defeated candidates in Berlin. The death of Count Andrassy removes one of the most influential men of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and again proves that a life of vicissitude, sandwiched with banishment, is an excellent apprenticeship for the Continental statesmen. Signor Crispi is another living testimony of this aphorism of " per crucem and lucem, " whilst French Republican statesmen can look back upon the time of their proscription aa the dark valley which has Kd them to what Lord Beacoiißfield would have called their "present historical eminence." Ho biography will quite give the side of Count Andrassy's career which was " behind the throne." He was one of the most zealous workers for the Berlin Congress, which was a gain for Austria and a loss for the Czar Alexander 11. One may almost say that the book of Count Andrassy's life was closed here. The outlook in Morocco is uncommonly ugly. • The authority of the Sultan has been undermined by insurrection ; but the rebels have, so far, been routed. The heads of the slaughtered prisoners have been sent to Fez, where they have been placed on the gates of the city. France and Spain have now come to a thorough understanding, and there will be no quarrel between the two Powers even if the former Power thinks fit to cross the Algerian frontier as a wholesome method of striking terror, and perhaps, too, of giving a helping hand to a sovereign whose embassies formed so conspicuous a feature during the Exhibition. Probably England and Spain may also agree that Tangier ought to have the benefit of British aid in the event of that seaport being a necessary element in the guardianship of the Straits of Gibraltar.

Tiie six elections held last week in the Department of the Seine for the vacancies occasioned by the invalidation of Boulangisr members of the Chamber resulted in the return of five out of six of the general's candidates. From a political 'Sense, the most interesting contests were those at Nevilly and Sceaun, where it was scarcely expected that the Boulangists would gain so siprnal a victory. At Sceaun, above all, M. Goblet, ex-Prime Minister, and a former luminary of the Opportunist party, was the Bupublican candidate. But a change has lately come over the spirit of the political dreams of the fiery little lawyer. He presented'himaelf before the constituency with a pronounced programme of the Radical Socialist order. During the campaign he referred frequently to the necessity of cultivating the Russian alliance ; but was effectually squelched on one occasion by M. Laeruerre reminding him that his hands were still red with the blood of the Russians slain by French fire only about • a year ago near Obock. If Boulangism be -a snare, the result of these elections proves that, though it it may be " scotched," it certainly is not killed. THE DUC D'ORLBANS. The Due d'Oiieans has at last left the Paris Con-ciergenc-not, as was generally expected after hiß condemnation to two years' imprisonment, to be conducted to the frontier-but "to do his time" in tbe prison nt Clairvaun. This step was decided bv the Ministers in Council. They, although generally inclined to favor the pardon desired by SI. Carnot, came to the conclusion that perhaps the opinion of the Republican majority of the Chamber was correct, and that if the Republic made laws it must be prepared to enforce them without fear or favor. DI3PBXSION OF THE LENTEN PAST. The Archbishop of Paris, exercising the option given by the Pope, has dispensed with Lenten Fast and abstinence in his diocese up to March 23rd. The grounds assigned by him are that, though the influenza seems to have ceased here, many persons are suffering from debility after it, and that visitors are constantly arriving from other countries, where the epidemic still prevails. TWELVE MONTHS IN A CELLAR. A married couple named Delabre, living at Aubuaton, near Linoges, have been arrested for ill-treating their idiot daughter. This poor woman, who is thirty-five years of age they shut up in a dark, damp cellar for twelve months. They chained her to the wall, and beat her so unmercifully that when she was discovered by the police both her arms were found to have been broken ten months ago. The poor creature was in a most pitiable condition ; not only were her arms broken, but she was covered with bruises and sores, almost dying of starvation, half naked, and covered with filth and vermin. She was conveyed to the hospital, but her life is despaired of. THE PANAMA CANAL. The six gentlemen constituting the French Panama Canal Commission report favorably on the state of the works and on the prospects of pushing them forward to completion. The engiueer of tfee i§ll£ h .%.Kha, I ?.il'"eari , ?ui , iy investigated the position of affairs on the spot, and approves of the conclusions of the Commissioners' report. A MONUMENT TO JEANNE D'ARC. Mgr. Paqis, Archbishop of Verdun, who is now doing the tour of France, on behalf of the fund he is raising for the erection of a monument to Jeanne d'Arc, delivered a sermon at the Madeleine, which created an immense sensation. When the reverend prelate descended from the pulpit and commenced his collection, bank notes for lUOfr., 500fr., and even IOOOfr. were thrust into his hag, and he is stated to have received upwards of 60,000fr. LIBERATED FOR 000 D CONDUCT IN PRISON. Thirteen years ago Marseilles was startled by a terrible crime. A widow named Boyer was killed and cut into pieces by one Leon Vitalis, who had been her lover and subsequently engaged to her daughter Maria, seventeen years of age. The latter witnessed the crime, and her cynical demeanor during its perpetration was the subject of no little comment in court. Vitalis was sentenced to death and was executed, whilst Maria Boyer was committed to prison for the natural term of her life. She was Bent to the central gaol in the department of the Gironde, where her conduct was most exemplary. In the course of a series of epidemics she devoted herself to the interests of the siok. She has now been liberated. COMMERCIAL. Turkish commercial affairs are likely to make themselves greatly felt at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On the 13th March the Franco-Turkish Treaty of Commerce expires, and it will not be renewed. This laconic announcement is very significant. The application of the general French tariff to Turkey will cause something like an upheaval in that country, and the position of the French Ambassador will become very difficult for the moment, but it is almost sure that the commercial question between the two countries will finish to the mutual advantage of the two nations. The French Government have behaved with remarkable tact in the matter of tbe German invitation to the International Labor Conference. The Berne Conference stood in the way, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs has taken the diplomatic course of asking for further information, implying, of course, that as the question is merely adjourned so far as Switzerland is concerned, it is very difficult to give a definite answer. There is, of course, one possible hitch; it is no secret that German diplomacy is working very hard to obtain from tne Federal Government a submersion of her precedence. The arguments used by the German Ministers at Berne may be specious enough, but they are certainly vitiated by the way in which Germany holds aloof from the Swiss Conference. There is, of course, no reason for undue trepidation. The invitation of the German Emperor was never intended as a snare, and the French Government is perfectly correct in its strategy of postponement, for the simple reason that France ought to make sure of the attitude of the other European Powers before Jumping at an invitation which, if accepted, will be intrinsically a weapon in the hands of fustian patriots and rabid partisans. Possibly she may find that her-delay will beget delay, and that the conference of the Imperial Socialists will require as many preliminaries as an ecumenical council. A CO-RESPONDENT. There was a divorce case before the Eight Chamber the other day that was marked by the singular fact that the co-respondent fell a victim to his own testimony A wine seller's assistant named Darras, 41 years of age,' had the good, or ill-fortune, to lose his wife ; or, more strictly speaking, to be deserted by his wife, while he was serving his country as a conscript in. 1887. Although it cannot with truth be said that in " the highest, the lowest, the loneliest spot, the hus-. band sought wildly, but fourd her not," he certainlv did his best to find her, but without success. All that he could learn was that «he had eloped with one Naville. He accosted bim in a friendly manner, said he was well aware his wife was living with his old friend, but that he bore him no grudge on; that account. All he wanted was a divorce, and Naville would greatly oblige him if he would make a ration before a Police Commissary and thereby, enable him to obtain it. Naville, for the moment, did not see his way to comply with the request, but a friendly chat in the nearest wine Bhop over a glass of fine Bordeaux induced him to re-consider his position. On leavlhg the shop, the friends made off, arm-in-arm, to the nearest police-station, where the declaration was soon made. The result, however, was not satisfactory to Naville. The Commissary requested co be allowed to accompany him to his residence, in order to complete the evidence. This furtherstage, also, was completed to the satisfaction of all parties. But the sequel was anything but satisfactory to the good-natured Naville. Ho was " invited " to appear at the palace the other day, for the venial offence of " adultery," and both he and his paramour were provided with separate apartments at the expense of the State for the term of a fortnight. He left the Court swearing that he would take good care ho was not caught again. FEMALE DUELLISTS. Duels in France are very much en vogue, as you are aware, but the fair sex up till now kept generally aloof from that fearful game. Not more than two days ago, however, a singular duel between two married women took place under the fortifications at Romainvillc. They had had a long-standing quarrel to settle, and had duly appointed their seconds, who deemed an encounter absolutely necessary. The weapon chosen was an ugly one. It was the hammer which had been chosen by the two belles, and it wos brandished about with such terrific forco that blood flowed freely from the heads of the two combatants. Fortunately, the 1 \ police Interfered, but as honor etill seemed unsatisfied, ; the antagonists vowed their determination to " have it out" in some more convenient locality.