General News.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVI, Issue 13, 20 July 1888, Page 29

General News.

During hia visit to Rome the King of Sweden spent three hours in going in detail and with great attention over the Vatican Exhibition. Curiously enough his Majesty— the only sovereign who did not contribute to it (except, of course, King Humbert)— is the only one who has seen it. The King expressed with great feeling hi« pleasure to Mgr. Macchi. On the daj following the visit to th» Pope. Cardinal Rampolla, representing Leo XQI , called on hia Maiwty — Weekly Register, '

A big tiger made his appearance recently on the verandah of Mr. Nanabiioy Byramjee Je jeebhoy's bungalow, " Springwood," at Matheran. Mr Nauabh >y and several of the members of his family returned to their bungalow after an evening ride, and when tbey were making preparations for dinner a large tiger was observed prowling on the veranlth of the bungalow. An alarm was raised by the children, and such was the panic caused by the presence of the most unwelcome visitor that they all lost their presence of mind, and forgot to close the main door of the draw ins;- room. A number of servants, armed with sticks then, came out of th«ir quarters, and created a great noise which frigh'en^d away the brute. There are at present sixty-one Cardinals and nine vacancies in the complete roll of seventy. The oldest member of the Sacred College is Cardinal Newann, who is 88, and thy youngest, Cardinal di Rende, is less than half tkat age by three years. High teen of the number were created by P;ua IX., and the remaining 43 by Leo XIII. No fewer than 55 Cardinals have died under Leo's Pontificate, during which time the Holy Father has created one patriarch, 13 archbishops, 57 dioceses, 34 apostolic- vicariates, one apostolic delegate, and 11 apostolic prefects. Tha whole Catholic hierarchy now numbers 1,254.

Mr. Gladstone's criticism of " Robert Elsmere "—the novel of the day by Mrs. Humphrey Ward— which appears in the current number of the Nineteenth Century, will remain valuable for the free and full expression it contains of the great statesman's faith in the Divine Redemption as the essence of Christianity. According to his belief it supplies -" the most powerful remedial agency ever known in teaching how paiu may be a helper, and evil transmuted into good ; and in opening clearly the version of another world, in which we are taught to look for yet larger councils of the Almighty wisdom. To take away tne agency so beneficent, which has softened and reduced the moral problems thnt lie thickly spread around us, and to leave na face to face with them in all their original rigour is to enhance and not to mi'igate the iifficul iea of beliaf." Concluding his singularly able review, Mr. Gladstone thinks that they must have a low estimate both of the quantity and quality of sin who desire to retain what is manifested, yet thrust aside the manifesting person and all that His living personality entails — Catli*lic Tines.

O.ie is so accustomed to Blench duels in which, after a miss or a scratch, the antagonists abandon their pistoh or swords, as the case maybe, that toe fatal end of the contest on Sunday between MM. Dupuis and Habert id a shock. Both duellists were artists, which may account for the correctness of their sight and the result of the conflict. M. Habat, a critic as well as a painter, sneered in print at the picture in this year's Saloo of his artistic master, and has proved himsslf superior to M. Dupuis in the use of firearms, who was shot dead, was over fifty, and leaves a widow and family ; and M. Habert, who seems to possess no other distinction, now wears for ail time the brand of Cain. A more sorry and melancholy end to a trifling squabble could hardly be sought, and it only makes once more apparent the inherent folly and cowardice of the evil practice of the duello.— St. James's Gazette.

The critical condition of Don Pedro, the Emperor of Brazil, who is at present lying dangerously ill at Milan, is creating no ordinary uneasiness ia Vatican circies. His Holiness received a few days ago a touching lettei fiom the Empress, in which that august sovereign requested for her husband the favour of the Apostolic Beneniction, which was immediately transmitted to the Imperial patient. Don Pedro is one of th^ most enthusiastic admirers of Leo XIII. and his policy. Thanks to the Emperor, Catholicity is making rapid progress in Brazil. By order of the Pope, his Imperial Majesty was visited by Alonsignor tSealabrini, a learned and zealous prelate, whose name has been associated with the project of Italian emigration— a religious enterprise that has alrpady received the blessing and encouragement of the Sovereign Pontiff. His Lordship is fortunate enough to have secured the protection of the Emperor for the emigrants who are about to proceed to Brazil. Emigration from Italy is, by-the-bye, assuming alarming proportions. Statistics inform us that 56,000 persons have left the peninsula for France or South America during the first four months of the present year. Is not this exodus a startling commentary of Italy's prosperity under the new regime ?— Natitn t Some highly important and edif iag conversions have taken place in Rome daring the celebration of the Jubilee. Among those who have embraced the CathoLc Faith were eminent icholars, several English pastors, and Russian and German ladies of wealth and distinction. The latest neophyte is a Bavarian dame — the wife of an officer in the lialinn army. This lady was a governess in the family of the late Premier, Sigaor Despretis, and married an aide-de-eampot the General attachi-d to the Ministry. The religious ceremonies which she witnessed in several of the Roman churches had snch a salutary effect on her imagination tbat she finally abjured Protestantism, and was received a week ago iuto the Catholic fold. Apropos of Germans, it may bs remarked, that the leading Italian families have, to a large exteut, lately given up French for German governesses of the Catholic creed. Signor Crispi, himself, has his daughter trained under the supervision of a Catholic lady from Munich. Tais penchant is due to the respect which h:<s grown up in the peninsular of late years, for the Vaterland, which has become, as you are aware, the close ally of young Italy. Sevility of this kind is characteristic of Umberto'a subjects.