It is 10 days since two large and valuable tapestries of the Louis XIV period were stolen from the Salon de Mercure in the Palace at Versailles by men who climbed up a pipe to the first floor, cut out a window pane, and removed the tapestries, in spite of their great size amd weight, without being observed The only evidence collected up to the present is that of a soldier who, returning late to barracks about 1.30 a.m. saw two men staggering under the weight of a bulky package. His mind being occupied with thoughts of what was likely to happen to him when he reported himself, he took no further notice of the men and went on his way. No one knows whether the burglars concealed their booty in ai house at Ver sailles or carried it off ina motor-car. Equally mysterious is the motive which could have impelled any criminal to steal works of art that are know to collectors and dealers all over the world and could not possibly be sold without imminent risk of arrest to the seller. The French publio is given to understand that the real responsibility for the loss must bs laid att the door of German. That country not having paid the reparations bill, the French Government cannot afford to pav a sufficient number of attendants to patrol its national museums thoroughly. The curators have asked for more money and, not getting it from Parliament, they go on as best they can. Apparently the Vereail'es official did not feel himself sufficiently independent to close part of the premises and say frankly that he would re-open them when he had enough men to protect them. This course is now being taken. The stable doer is locked after the horse is stolen.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.