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PRINCE FERDINAND.
WILL NOT MARRY, AND AUS¬
TRIA IS EXCITED.
The Decision Leaves the Throne to Be
Willed by Him to a Unloved Nephew,
Son of Archduke Otto — Hungary
Would Object,
. According to a cable dispatch from
Vienna the Archduke Franz Ferdi¬
nand, nephew of Emperor Franz Josef
and heir to the throne of Austria-Hun¬
gary, has announced that it is his
final determination not to marry, and
that he wishes the succession to pass
at his death to Karl, the 12-year-old
son of his brother, the Archduke Otto.
This news is certainly surprising, and
for various reasons. It Is interesting
to learn that the Archduke Franz Fer¬
dinand has determined to remain a
bachelor. Europe was amazed some
time ago at the rumor that he had
married a woman very much beneath
him in rank, and assuredly great will
be its pleasure at learning beyond the
shadow of a doubt that there was no
truth in the rumor. Whether Europe
will be equally pleased at learning
that the heir to the throne of Austria-
Hungary is resolved never to marry
is another question. After all, how¬
ever, it Is not easy to see how the
Archduke Franz Ferdinand can have
any voice in the matter of the succes¬
sion. Emperor Franz Josef is still
alive, and while he lives he will re¬
main the sole arbiter in this matter.
It is possible that he may accede to
a wish expressed by his nephew Franz
Ferdinand, but it is far more likely
that he has already made up his mind
in regard to the succession, and if so
It is extremely improbable that any
wish expressed by any member of his
family will have the slightest weight
with him. Even the emperor, how-
everbis not free to do as he pleases. It
Is said that his desire to have the
throne descend at his death to his
daughter, the Archduchess Marie
Valerie, wife of the Archduke Francis
Salvator, or to some one of her chil¬
dren, but this would necessitate a re-
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PRINCE FERDINAND.
vision of the pragmatic sanction, by
virtue of which in 1723 Emperor
Charles VI. settled the crown on his
daughter Maria Theresa and her heirs.
The rule, then, being that the Austro-
Hungarian throne shall always de¬
scend to direct male heirs, the succes¬
sion at present lies between the sons
of Archduke Charles Ludwig. Of these
neither Franz Ferdinand nor Otto is
very acceptable to the emperor, ana
this was clearly the main reason why
he was recently thinking of following
Charles VI.’s example and settling the
crown on his daughter or on his
grandson. That Franz Ferdinand
should voluntarily resign his claims on
the crown in favor of his little nephew
Karl will seem strange to those who
know how elated he has always ap¬
peared at the conviction that he
would succeed the present emperor.
This conviction was first weakened
when he became seriously ill a few
years ago. All Austria thought that
he would die of consumption, and quite
nuaturally his brother Otto took his
place at court, Franz Ferdinand,
however, recovered and he very soon
made it quite clear that he was not
willing to resign his claims to the
goodly heritage in favor of anyone. In
•very possible way, both at home and
at foreign courts, he let it be known
that he and he alone was to be ruler
of Austria-Hungary after the present
emperor’s death. Now, it is claimed
that neither he nor the Archduke Otto
is qualified to hold the reins over this
vast and heterogeneous empire, and
that the emperor would be much oet-
ter pleased to have as his successor
his youngest daughter, the Archduch¬
ess Marie Valerie, or one of her chil¬
dren. On this latter point he does
not seem to have quite made up his
mind. At first he planned to have his
daughter appointed empress after his
death, but the latest report was that
he desired to have her son, the Arch¬
duke Francis Charles Salvator, ap¬
pointed as his successor. As the arch-
Hungary for some years would be the
Archduchess Marie Valerie, who
would presumably act as regent. If it
be asked “Can the emperor safely
break the Austrian law of succession
in this manner?” The answer is
that the consequences of such an act
may be more serious than is at pres¬
ent supposed. True, the great powers
would not raise any objection, and the
outlook is that the Austrian parlia¬
ment would assent to any such change
in tho law, though possibly not with-
out some murmuring. In Hungary,
however, there would assuredly be
some strong opposition. The consent
of two-thirds of the members of the
Hungarian parliament would be neces-
sary in a case of this kind, and to gain
their consent would not he easy. In-
deed, there are some who think that it
would be a well-nigh impossible task.
The opposition party is strong in Hun¬
gary, and the fear is widely expressed
that in case of any controversy over
the question of succession those lr-
reconcilables may seize the opportuni¬
ty either to bring about a complete
separation of Austria and Hungary or
to transform the present real union of
the two countries into one that would
be merely personal. Franz Josef sees
this danger clearly, and it Is possible
that he has given up his cherished idea
of having his daughter or grandson
succeed him and is willing that the
throne should go to little Karl, his
nephew's son. Since the empress’
death he has given much thought to
this subject, and it may be that he
sees more and more the danger of
violating the recognized law of suc¬
cession. Yet there are many who in¬
sist that the danger will be much
greater if he does not violate it.
The emperor’s popularity Is very
great, they point out, in every section
of the empire, and the likelihood is
that his direct descendants—the Arch¬
duchess Marie Valerie and her son—
would be equally popular, On the
other hand, neither F?anz Ferdinano
nor the Archduke Otto is in any
marked degree a persona grata to the
people of Austria or of Hungary, and
there is no reason for believing that
the accession of either to the throne
would be greeted with much enthusi¬
asm. Karl, Archduke Otto’s son, is
still a minor, and all that the people
know about him is that he is his
father’s son and that, if he is des¬
tined to be the heir, his father will
doubtless act as regent until he at¬
tains his majority. If Otto were am¬
bitious this would in some respects he
a simple solution of the problem. It
is said,, however, that he has no de¬
sire to be emperor or regent, and that
this is one of the reasons why Franz
Josef is so anxious to have his daugh¬
ter or his grandson succeed him. The
aged potentate is satisfied that neither
Franz Ferdinand nor Otto possesses
the qualities necessary to make a
successful ruler, and no one knows
better than he that only a tactful and
diplomatic ruler can hold the empire
together. Yet he, too, knows well i-idt
Hungary is strongly in favor of re¬
taining the present law of succession,
and this may have influenced him to
select as his heir little Karl. In this
way the present law could be main¬
tained in force, the only persons who
have a prior legal claim td the crown
being the Archduke Otto and Franz
Ferdinand, and it can readily be con¬
ceived that the emperor may have
found means to induce them to waive
their claims.
Moreover, Franz Josef has of late
years shown himself very much at-
tacher to his daughter’s and his neph¬
ew’s children, and it has long been
evident that he would like to have one
of these as his heir. If he were un¬
hampered in- any way he would almost
certainly designate his little grandson
as his successor, but under present
circumstances it Is probable that he
has selected the Archduke Otto’s son.
The elephant beetle of Venezuela is
the biggest of its species. An average
specimen of this insect, when full
grown, weighs half a pound.
man of the people.
-
LOUBET IS THE LINCOLN OF
FRANCE.
HU Modest Hearing During the Election
DUturbances Hoe Won Him Many
Frlenda—• Hie Aged Mother Still Works
on the Farm.
Emile Loubet is the Lincoln of
France. He is a man of the people
and a SO n of the soil. His father was
a glna n farmer, almost a peasant, and
hls aged mo ther still works on that
farm Un i ike ot her Presidents of
Prance> he is ne ither a half-hearted
monarclllst nor a representative of the
capitalistic upper-minded classes. He
is a man who thinks a republic the
only form of government possible in
France. It is remarkable that such a
man should have been elected when
the prospects of imperialists, royalists
and other adventurers seemed brighter
than they had been for twenty years.
It seems republicanism is under the
protection of the Divine Providence or
common sense. One incident of this
illustrates charmingly the humble ori¬
gin and unaffeted ways of the new
President. His first act after he was
elected was to send a telegram to his
mother, who is now 86 years old, hut
still capable and able-bodied, The
postman who delivered the dispatch to
her found her in the poultry yard of
her farm gathering up hens’ eggs. Sue
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EMILE LOUBET.
showed the telegram to the first friend
she met and said: “Mon Dieu, mon
Dieu, what a misfortune to my poor
boy! As it was I saw but little of
him, and now that he has gone still
higher, I shall see him no longer at
all.” It was on this farm that Emile
Loubet was born on Dec. 30, 1838. It
is called "La Terrasse,” and is about
two miles from the little town of
Montellmar, in the department of tne
Drome, in the south of France. The
people of the south are noted for their
superior intelligence and often for
their laziness as compared with the
people of the north. Young Loubet
was both intelligent and industrious.
As a boy he worked on the farm and
went to school. Later he went to a
college in Montellmar and worked on
the farm during his vacations. He be-
came a member of the bar of Montell-
mar. At 37 he was elected a member
of the Chamber of Deputies. In 1887
he was minister of public works, later
minister of the interior, and in 1892
president of the Council of Ministers,
or Prime Minister. In 1892 he be-
came President of the Senate, and
three weeks ago, on the sudden deaui
of Felix Faure, he was elected Presi¬
dent of the republic.
President Loubet immediately im¬
pressed the world by his strong char¬
acter and simple, unaffected manners.
He has shown himself very different
i from M. Faure, a bourgeoise, who aped
the manners of royalty and aristoc-
racy. Wlien the Spanish collar of
the Golden Fleece, which had been
conferred on M. Faure, was being
packed up in order that it might be
sent back, some one remarked to
him: *
“It will probably come back to you
before very long.”
“I hope not,” replied M. Loubet.
“The opposition papers would be sure
to say that my collar was in bad
taste. Besides, I would rather not
wear anybody’s collar.”
President Iglesias of Costa Rica, who
visited M. Loubet immediately after
his election, gave an interesting
sketch of the new President. “Our in¬
terchange of views was formal, but
simple,” said President Iglesias. “I
was accompanied by M. Peralta. Pres¬
ident Loubet came here with a little
old man, General Baillard, in an open
carriage. There was absolutely no dis¬
play.”
“How does he strike you compared
with other rulers you have met?”
“He struck me as being what you
call a sterling man, and his election
at this serious juncture affords the
highest testimony to the patriotic in¬
sight of the French people. “We
talked of the agricultural show now
open here. We had both been there,
and if there is anything of which Lou¬
bet is fond it is farming. He said he
regarded agriculture as one of the
noblest callings a man could follow.
‘I am proud,’ he said, ‘of being born on
a farm, and hope one day to go back
there. It is my ideal to close my days
among my own people on the farm
where I was born.’
“His family sentiment,is strong, but
his attachment to the state which he
is called to govern can be relied on.
Still I never met a man in a great po¬
sition who evinced less appearances of
being actuated by ambition. Destiny
has made him President, and he will
do an honest, able man’s part to ae-
quit himself worthily. Loubet is a
man you instinctively respect.”
M. Loubet has a strong, clcar-cut
face, set in a thick beard. He is rather
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skin is permanently tanned 18 by the |
sun. His wife, who was only yean
old at the time of her marriage, was
the daughter of M. Denls-Dit Picard,
an ironmonger of Montellmar. She
loves her home and a quiet life, but
acts with dignity when called upon to
take part in official entertainment*
She has a son and a daughter, both of
them grown up.
THE WHITE HOUSE.
Few Presidents Were Eiithueiaslle for a
Now one.
“The erection of the new rplace oi
justice for the United States supreme
court and department of justice, will
do more toward the enlargement ol
the white house than anything that
has ever happened,” remarked a well-
known architect to a Washington Star
reporter. “It may also bring about a
new executive mansion fop a residence
mansion, though the present white
house will probably be used as the of¬
ficial residence of the president and
for all state functions. It will, in the
end, however, be enlarged, I have
conversed with several senators who
are members of the committee on
public buildings and grounds and find
that they are thoroughly convinced
that such a separation should take
place, as it would tend to make the
family life of the president much more
agreeable. The difficulty in the case
is that, with the single exception of
President Grant, no president has ever
officially written a single word in favor
of a new executive mansion, and even
Grant was not as enthusiastic on the
subject as was desired. Gen. Garfield
would have strongly indorsed the
proposition officially had he lived long
enough, though President Hayes was
but lukewarm on the subject. He fa¬
vored the separation of the official res¬
idence from the private residence, pre¬
ferring that the latter should be some¬
where in the suburbs, but he never put
his ideas into writing. President Ar¬
thur never made any expression on
the matter, while President Cleveland
openly opposed the plan and settled
the question so far as he was concern-
ed by purchasing a private residence
one of his terms and leasing one the
last term. Mrs. Harrison was, on the
other hand, enthusiastically in favor
of an enlargement of the white house,
though she did not concur in the plan
of separating the official from the pri¬
vate residence, except so far as separ¬
ating them in the same building. Gen.
Harrison, however, did not go so far
as she did, though he did not make
any expression against her ideas.
President McKinley, I am told, thinks
as Mrs. Harrison did, that the build¬
ing should be enlarged, and as prog¬
ress is made upon the new depart¬
ment of justice building his impres¬
sions are likely to grow, so that he
will in the end officially recommend
the enlargement. Should he do so,
that will bring up the entire question
and I would not be surprised if some
time in the near future, speaking in
a general way, not only the enlarge¬
ment will be made, but, in addition,
there will be a separate private resi¬
dence provided for. The only thing
that can defeat the latter proposition
is that there may be a wrangle about
where the private residence shall be
located, for, of course, the various in¬
terests that will be effected will have
considerable influence one way and an¬
other. The first thing that will be
done, though, will be the enlargement.
That is as sure as anything can be,
and, as I have said before, the new pal¬
ace of justice will emphasize the ad¬
vantages and absolute necessity oi
it.”
ALL JAPAN WILL REJOICE.
The crown prince of Japan and hiq
betrothed wife, Princess Teiko, will
soon be , married . . with ... all „ the ., , .
of an Oriental court wedding. The
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CROWN PRINCE AND HIS BE¬
TROTHED.
wedding will cause much rejoicing in
Japan, as both bride and groom are
much admired.
Logging with Automobiles.
In its logging operations this winter
the H. C. Akeley Lumber company is
using a new power for hauling logs.
The Mississippi Valley Lumberman
says that F. S. Farr has designed and
constructed a log-hauling maemne,
which consists of a boiler and engine
mounted on an ordinary sled. The
propulsion is by means of four heavy
calked wheels, two forward and two
back, which run in about the same
tracks as horses would. The runners
of the sled run in the ice ruts of the
logging road, and the calked wheels
are so arranged that they rise or fall
to accommodate themselves to uneven
places in the road. This engine is
made to do the work of four teams, as
it will haul four loaded sleds of logs.
The machine is roughly gotten up this
year, but Mr. Farr believes he has the
correct idea, and will improve on it
for the next season in the woodt—
Minneapolis Journal.
1>K-EDWARDS, H EALER
PARIS HAS GONE WILD OVER
THE AMERICAN.
Seem* to Poiaegs thn Power of Caring
by the Laying On of Hands—-State¬
ment of an Kyo Witness, Who Is a
Sceptic*
Dr, Edwards, the American magnetic
healer, has been busy performing so-
called miracles in Paris. The noise of
his reputed cures has caused a sensa-
tion, and people flock to his apartment
in the Rue Cadet, near the Boulevard,
The doctor is an amiable old man, full
of admiration for himself and his
works. He is well versed in adapta-
bility, and although when in Spain
found a monk’s beads and cowl use-
ful, has adopted a “redingote” for
Paris. It is better suited to his cli-
ents. It was to Dr. Edwards that Loie
Fuller, the famous American dancer,
went for relief when the bright elec¬
tric lights, in the glare of which she
gyrates, had caused her almost total
blindness. La Loie says she has been
benefited. His consulting rooms I
found crowded with men, women and
children. Women predominated. Many
of them were young and pretty. Some
were well dressed, but, on the whole,
they resembled a group of fanatics
such as one notices at a Paderewski
matinee, or, to be strictly up to date, a
Persi recital. No one looked particu¬
larly ill, but each patient evidently had
a reason for coming. I was met by an
attendant, who took my card and dis¬
appeared into an inner room, where
the doctor was engaged with a pa-
tient.
“Show them in,” I heard a deep voice
say, and my companion and I were
ushered into the sanctum of sanctums,
where the miracles are performed. The
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doctor seemed pleased with our visit,
and at once presented us with his pic¬
ture—and a very handsome picture it
is. He had effected many cures, he
said, and was happy to be able to ren¬
der such service to the suffering world.
I asked him how he performed his mir¬
acles, which no way ruffled his good
humor. “I will give you an illustra¬
tion,” he replied with dignity, and
forthwith ordered his patient—a young
and pretty woman—to stand up and be
cured He then placed hinlself , n
| front of her and the “curing” com¬
menced. First the doctor laid his hand
on her head, then on his own. He mut¬
tered a few prayers, and, still praying,
began viqlently gesticulating in Sven-
gali fashion. I doubt if poor Trilby
ever submitted to more hideous ges¬
tures than those of the miracle work¬
er. Sometimes he would thrust two
long, bony fingers right into the face
of his patient. This performance con¬
tinued some little time and was fol¬
lowed by a light rubbing, during all of
which the young woman seemed as u
under a magnetic influence of some
sort. When at last the “curing” ter¬
minated the doctor asked her how she
felt, and she replied “Much better,”
and laid a gold piece on the doctor’s
donation plate. The doctor seemed
contented and called the next patient.
One after another was treated in the
same fashion. As I took my depar¬
ture I was struck by the pathos of the
scene—the old man surrounded by
hopeful crowds of sufferers, X could
not help sighing over the credulity of
mankind. GRACE CORNEAU.
U the San Getting Hotter?
Dr. T. J. J. See suggests, in the As-
tronomische Nachrichten the some-
what startling conclusion that the sun
is still getting hotter. The process,
however, is too slow to have any but
a scientific interest for the present in¬
habitants of the earth. Another result
of Professor See’s researches, which is
contrary to the generally received
opinion, is that Jupiter and Saturn, in¬
stead of being cooling bodies may
also be increasing in temperature, and
that eventually they may become self-
luminous like the stars. But if Jupiter
were self-luminous, and its intensity of
radiation were as great per unit of sur¬
face as that of the sun, it would give
at night two or three hundred times as
much light on the earth as the full
moon gives!
A MARVELOUS PALM.
Its Trank, Laavea and Roota Arc Da«A
for VurlouH Pnrpoaea.
The most marvelous tree undoubted,
ly grows in Brazil, says Philadelphia
Record. It is the Carnahuba palm,
which grows uncultivated in the states
of Parahiba, Ceara, Rio Grande do
Norte, Piauhi and some of the neigh¬
boring states. The descriptions given
of it seem incredible. In no other re¬
gion of the globe is a tree to be found
that can be employed for such varied
and useful purposes. It resists in¬
tense and protracted droughts and Is
always green and vigorous. Its roots
produce the same medicinal effects as
sarsaparilla. Its stems afford strong,
light fibers, which acquire a beautiful
luster, and serve also f ■ joists, rafters
and other building materials, as well
as for stakes for fences. From parts
of the tree wines and vinegars are
made. It yields almost a saccharine
substance, as well as a starch resem¬
bling sago. In periods of famine,
caused by protracted droughts, the
nutritious substances obtained from it
are of Immense benefit to the poorer
classes. Its fruit is used for feeding
cattle. The pulp has an agreeable
taste, and the nut, which is oleaginous
emulsive, is sometimes used as a
substitute for coffee. Of the wood of
the stem musical instruments, water
tubes and pumps are made. The pith
is an excellent substitute for cork.
From the stem a white liquid, similar
to the milk of the cocoanut, and a flour
resembling maizena may be extracted.
Of the straw, hats, baskets, brooms
and mats are made. A considerable
quantity of this straw is shipped to
Europe, and a part of it returns to
Brazil manufactured into hats. The
straw is also used for thalching
houses. Moreover, salt is extracted
from it, and likewise an alkali used
in the manufacture of common soap.
MINISTER TO BELGIUM.
Lawrence Townsend of Pennsylvania,
our newly appointed minister to Bel¬
gium, holds at present the position of
minister to Portugal; and he will enter
upon his new duties with the prestige
of ripe diplomatic experience., Mr.
Townsend is one of the youngest rep*
resentatives of the United States gov¬
ernment in foreign diplomatic fields,
but he stands high upon the list of
American envoys. He is widely read
in international law, and is thoroughly
familiar with political affairs on both
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LAWRENCE TOWNSEND.
sides of the water. In the recent war
with Spain he was called upon to servo
the United States government in sev¬
eral delicate matters of diplomatic pol«
icy.
New Remedy for Ineomnla.
A Russian remedy for insomnia is
to have a dog sleep in the room, and
preferably in the same bed. It may
through a sense of companionship, or
one of security, or it rfiay act sugges¬
tively; at any rate it is said at times
to prove of value when other means
fail.
An Argument for Expansion.
He—There are millions of people In
this country who don’t piay golf. That
proves that we need more territory.
She—How? He—Because when they
do play golf we won’t have enough
room for links.