This Anglo-Russian imbroglio has come at a moment when home politics are especially thrilling, A week ago the Chamber of Deputies sanctioned in principle the separation of Church from State, though to come to any sort of agreement on the details, is likely to prove a very difficult matter; and within these last few hours there have been excited scenes at the Palais Bourbon on the subject of the administration of the Army. A ministerial organ accused the Minister of War, General Andre, of allowing all sorts of practices in the army whereby intriguers, whose only qualification was their supposed Republican sympathies, arrived at place and power and opp those who bxprossed or, by reason of their family connections, were supposed to hold views on political and religious matters which were not those of the Government of the doy. Numerous cases were given of young officers whose careers had been broken by reason of adverse "notes" given by prejudiced commanders, or who fad been spied upon and secretly reported to authority as officers whom it was undesirable to promote. The grand Gebate occurred last night and M. lo Ministre only escaped by four votes. It is not merely in the Army but in the Navy as well that politics has reared its head, menacing the true interests of the service. One of the great field days of the Chamber will be devoted to enquiring into the administrative conduct of M. Polletan, the Socialist head of the Flest. Both in the Army and Navy the intention of the Government is evidently to obtain a force of officers thoroughly in sympathy with the Republic; but unfortunately the methods employed to bring that about are ruinous for the services us_well as in themselves objectionable and degrading. Such, however, is the force of the present Ministry that it will probably survive the most ardent attacks upon it.
A Potentate's Marriage.
Ham Nghi, king "in parti bus" of! Annam and exiled from that country by the French, has married a young French girl, Mile, Laloe, belonging to one of the most honourable families in Algeria, Her father is a judge. Since his banishment from the throne of his fathers, Ham Nghi has occupied a charming villa in the French' North African colony, overlooking the bay of Algiers. There he has devoted himself to music and painting. Oriental art is apt to have the luxury and wealth of its veget tion, and the Prince's ideas run to vivid pressionism, to the despair of his professor, a confirmed disciple of the classic school. In music he devotes himself to the violin and the violoncello and sings in a sad sweet voice as if vocal art were to him the chosen medium for expressing the melancholy of his past. id. other victims of civilisation, the Prince has suffered much from: the interviewer who has recounted long conversations ith him when, to believe Ham Ng journalist has ever got past his gate. The Prince led his kingdom for three years in revolt against Fran he has not only submitted but his heart as well to Gallic A Revolution.
The word has a terrific import, but hardly too much to express the character of the present movement. Know all men that one of the greatest difficulties of moilern social lifo is about to be resolved. The ideal theatre hat has been invented and what is more, the wearers of it and the public which si behind it are both well pleased. This hat question has long vexed the souls of theatre-goers and of that sovereign race which designs the fashions. It was all very well to rail against the large hat, to call it names and appeal to the sporting instincts of the Indy, but her reply invariably was: "Monsieur, I have paid for my place and I must wear my' hat. I am not coiffed to appear without it" And so the unhappy man behind the rampart of aco and feathers: (who had also paid good money for seat) was obliged to grin and bear his lation. But now the queens of the mode have been putting their heads to-Gosigned a little theatre hat, very dainty, other, and the result is that they ha which nestles in the hair, allows a full view of the stage and yot gives the lady the sensation of wearing a perfect headdress. The new bonnet recalls in shape the children's caps known as " beguins". It is made of lace or guimpe or velvet; it may be quite simple or it may be handsomely embroidered and incrusted with real gems. The advantage is that a lady suddenly making up her mind to go to the theatre after dining in town has not the mortification of having to remove her large and superbly feathered hat, handing it over to the tender mercies of the quyreuse," well knowing to her sorrow that her hair has long since become waved, but she may at the beginning of the evening don the little theatre hat with the sure and certain knowledge that it is correct either for the restaurant or the theatre, The question of course is whether the managers in such places as the Opera for instance, where up to the present the hat in general has been rigorously debarred, will so far relax as to admit the new-comer. From what I can hear the managers re all well disposed towards the innovation. Well, well, there will be no excuse now for sightless evenings at the theatre.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.