What is perhaps the most disquiet ting feature of all is that the elected representatives of the n:
not seem to realize the serious: ness of the crisis, They continue to treat it as a matter of party Politics rather than one calling for expert knowledge, and this attitude destroys confidence. The public Would consent to new taxation if it felt sure that the money would really be set aside for the redemption of the national debt, but, after last year's experionse ' with the Bank of France, which was induced by Governmental pressure to dissimulate the real position of the Treasury and the note, circulation, the country is inclined: to doubt whether there is any means of making the proposed sinking-fund management entirely independent fand autonomous. The Cartel the strongest of the political groups but its various factions are divided amongst themselves on the financial question, and the Socialists may desert at any moment, There does not appear to be any chance of any agreement which would pass a financial reform scheme through the Chamber with a respectable majority, and then the Senate and M. Caillaus would have to be reckoned with. A dissolution, seems the only way out of the muddle, but it would take time, and %|something must be done to provide for the redemption of the Frs. 2,000,000,000 worth of short-term bonds falling due next month. A dissolution, however, might lead to the formation of' a ministry of national union composed of men who have not identified themselves entirely" with party interests and who might stay in office ong enough to restore confidence. It must be confessed, however, that there' ig Hittle real hope of such a consum-motion, and that at present the outlook' is distinctly black.
The Decorative Arts A memorandum signed numerous manufacturers, business men and artists, urging' that the Decorative Arts Exhibition should be continued next year in a modified form, has been sent to members of the Municipal Council, It, poinbs out that this year's exhibition has roved a financial success, although it was scarcely advertised at all in other countries, with the result. that the big American buyers knew nothing about it and went to the Leipzig Fair instead, The signers of the memorandum, who represent. first and foremost the interests. of exhibitors, argue that, large as was the amount of money brought into the city by this year's exhibition, a continuation next year would da even better, if treated as a busi ness proposition, They. estimate the eventual profit to the city. at something like Frs. 20,000,000, The question requires a speedy answer, Jas the work of pulling down all the temporary buildings is to begin very soon. In all probability, the answer will be in the negative, The exhibition interferes to. some extent with stroct trafic in an important part of the city, and the large number of foreign and. provincial visitors increases the demand for all sorts of commodities and makes living dearer for Parisians themselves. "It is all very wall to Increase the profits of restaurants, Jeafés, shops, hotels ete., but, after all, the general body of citizens has something to say in the matter, and there is every prospect that thole views will be condensed by the Municipal Council into an emphatis Nor The Spirit of Gaiety In spite of taxes and other wor. ries, the Parisian spirit of gaiety is by "no means extinct. A new practical joke, which for a time waa very successful, was played on the Public the other day. Traffic policemen and passers-by on the boule. yards were surprised by the appearance of a driverless and Parently unoccupied" motor-car making its way through the crowded streets. The news quickly spread, and reporters, photographers and tions by well-informed perso are always to be found among the crowd on these occasions, floated through the air. Wireless waves. Wonderful days, these. Marvellous [what they can do with electricity. Inventor in a second car behind, controlling all the movements of ths mystery car, just like they do with torpedoes, you know, The es leertainly " she. the most markable docility. When others in front of it were stopped by the trafic policemen, it stopped When they moved forward agi went with them. fuges were passed on the proper side, and the controller of ite destiny sec mid to know every nicety of the tegulations. "But he was not perfect, and a slight slip ted to his undoing. Near the Madeleine the crowd beant Jan angry voice in the ear call out: "Not" that That's a one-direction street." The gods in the machine were two ordinary mortals concealed behind the seat, which was made of a material black enough to hide them from view but nevertheless sufficiently, transparent: to let Uiem seo whare. they. wer
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.