On February 10, Miss Mattie Mitchell, daughter of Senator Mitchell, of Oregon, was married to the Duc de la Rochefoucauld, an officer in the French Army, and the head of one of the historic families of France.

M. Guy de Maupassant, the well known French author, who recently became insane, attempted suicide on New Year's day, and was subsequently committed to an asylum. The latest reports are that his condition is improved.

About the middle of February, Mr. Parker Deacon, an American banker, shot and killed a Frenchman, M. Abeille, whom he found in Mrs. Deacon's apartments at a hotel in Cannes, and whom he suspected of criminal intimacy with his wife. Public opinion generally absolves Mr. Deacon.

SPAIN.

Spain has lately suffered, even more severely than other European countries, from the plottings of Anarchists, the troubles being fostered largely by foreign Socialists. The economic condition of several of the provinces, notably Andalusia and Malaga, is depressed; and many thousands of workmen are out of employment owing to recent strikes. In these circumstances, the agitators have found little difficulty in inciting the disaffected to acts of wanton outrage. The spirit which a few years ago animated the famous association of the "Maia Negra" (Dark Hand) is even more widespread now than it was then, and it is a noteworthy fact that it still affects the same districts.

On January 9, a mob of about 1,000 armed men, most of them workmen from the surrounding country, attack. ed the town of Xeres, in Andalusia. The authorities were forewarned, but had not taken sufficient precautions. The town jail was first attacked, but the mob fled before a volley of musketry from the guards. They then at tacked the infantry barracks and town hall. The military were called out; and, after several charges of cavalry, the rioters were dispersed. Some 70

fending citizens were killed. Similar trouble occurred at Bornos, another town in Andalusia, January 14. In the Province of Malaga, also, the Anarchists had organized; and so serious was felt to be the danger, that troops were concentrated at La Roda.

There does not seem to be any evidence connecting these troubles with the recognized Spanish Republican movement.

On February 10, four of the anarchist leaders, who had taken part in the attack on Xeres, were publicly garroted in Madrid. Many threats of vengeance were sullenly muttered; but extra guards had been placed about the prison, and along the route to the scene of execution. The military were also held in readiness, and there was no disturbance.

In other towns, however-in Barcelona and Reus-the suppressed rage of the Anarchists broke forth at the time of the execution. In Barcelona, a bomb charged with grape-shot and dynamite was exploded; but the gendarmes effectually held the agitators in check without the aid of the military. The Anarchists of Paris strongly protested against the execution; and in Lisbon an attempt was made to blow up with dynamite the Spanish Consulate; but, beyond the smashing of windows in the Consulate and surrounding buildings, no damage was done.

The Government, learning that the agitation was chiefly incited by foreigners, has taken steps to prevent Anarchists from entering Spain. In the various disturbances, 192 arrests were made. The accused were tried by court-martial at Cadiz, but were all acquitted March 10.

The deficit in the Budget, as presented February 6, was $302,600. A policy of retrenchment has consequently been decided upon, in the expenditures of the different Departments of State; and the Premier has intimated his intention of resigning if his proposals for balancing the Budget be rejected.

ITALY.

In common with other European

Governments, Italy has been awakened to the very serious consideration of the Labor problem. The restless attitude of the unemployed workingmen, particularly in Rome, has caused great anxiety, which the socialistic and anarchical demonstrations elsewhere have not tended to dispel.

A few years ago, building operations were very active in Rome, and, as in every such case, large numbers of workingmen crowded thither. The suspension of operations threw them out of employment. As long ago as January, 1891, the Government felt itself called upon to deal with the situation, and some 22,900 workmen were sent back to their native places at the public expense. Thousands, however, still remained. On February last, being disappointed in not getting work on several public buildings, which had been expected, the men made a demonstration in the streets. The next day, they met for discussion, and resolved to wait a few weeks, when, if work were not forthcoming, they would hold a mass meeting to discuss what should be done. By the 15th of the month, they had become so threatening in their attitude, that the Government made all preparations necessary in the event of disturbance, the troops being kept in their barracks in readiness for any emergency. The trial of Cipriani and the others arrested for rioting on May Day last year, aggravated the excitement; and it was no doubt due to the fact that proceedings against the prisoners were ordered to be suspended for a time, and to the precautionary measures taken by the Government, that serious trouble was averted in February. The trial of the Anarchists was subsequently resumed; and, on March 24, Cipriani was sentenced to two years' imprisonment; and the others, some 50 in number, to various fines and imprisonments.

Operations against the Mala Vita, a society whose main object is brigandage, still go on. In April, 1891 (see Vol. I., p. 253), 179 suspects were arrested, 165 of whom were subsequently punished; and again, early in March of the present year, the police of Taranto arrested 138 persons suspected of membership.

About February 1, General Menabrea resigned as Italian Ambassador to France; and the incident may result in the adoption of an Italian law of divorce. There being no divorce in Italy, the General's son, in order to secure a separation from his wife, was obliged to renounce his nationality, and to become a naturalized Frenchman.

Several severe earthquake shocks caused a panic, but no damage, in the crowded quarters of Rome, on the night of January 22. In several towns in the Province, however, serious damage was wrought in the collapse of houses; but no lives were lost.

PORTUGAL.

The financial problem is the most pressing of all matters absorbing the attention of the Portuguese Government. In opening the Cortes on January 2, the King, after briefly stating that the foreign relations of Portugal were cordial, made a lengthy reference to the economic crisis, intimating that proposals would be submitted for a restoration of the national credit.

These proposals were embodied in the report, remarkable for its frankness, presented on January 20 by the new Minister of Finance, Señor Oliveira Martins. Practically, Señor Martins confessed that Portugal could no longer pay her creditors; and, after the manner of ordinary bankrupts, he proposed a compromise. The country labors under an accumulated deficit of 23,012 contos of reis (1 conto of reis = £222 4s. 51⁄2d.), i. e., over £5,o00,000 sterling. In 1890-91 there was a total deficit of over £2,500,000; and the estimates for 1891-92 show a deficit of £2,220,000, equal to one-fifth of the total revenue-a condition of affairs, which, the Minister says, "is enough to frighten the strongest

man.

To remedy the situation, most vigorous measures are proposed. All public officers are to be subjected to an income tax ranging from 5 per cent on small, to 20 per cent on large salaries. The supplementary tax of 6 per cent is raised to from 10 to 20 per cent on the amount of taxes payable of every kind. The income tax on all bonds, in

cluding the internal public debt, and also the external when interest is paid in Portugal, is raised to 30 per cent. But bondholders of both classes may escape this tax by agreeing to a convention with the foreign creditors. It is proposed to guarantee payment of the interest on the external debt in gold, but the holders of bonds may have either to assent to a conversion of them into a maximum of half their capital, receiving interest at the old rate, or to retain their nominal capital and receive interest at half the former rate. These proposals involve serious sacrifices upon taxpayers, civil servants, and creditors of the State; and, in so far as they affect foreign creditors, who cannot be expected to be animated with those patriotic sentiments which are willing to suffer serious privation, they seem hardly calculated to improve Portuguese credit abroad. The King has set his subjects an example by relinquishing one-fifth of his civil list, this contribution amounting to £23,000 a year.

Toward the middle of February, the Chamber of Deputies finally adopted the financial proposals of the Government, and, on March 20, the Finance Minister, signed a scheme to be submitted to the foreign holders. The plan includes a reduction of the interest by 50 per cent, the raising of a loan of $20,000,000, redeemable in fifteen years, and the assignment of the customs revenue to the service of the debt.

A proposal to raise funds by a sale of Portuguese possessions in Africa, was dismissed without discussion, February 3 (see p. 23).

On February 5, a motion was made in the Cortes, to impeach Señor Carvalho, formerly Minister of Finance, for his action, while holding his portfolio, in advancing to the Royal Railway Company, the sum of 13,000,000 francs, on his own responsibility and without the knowledge of his colleagues. The Council of Ministers had declined to accept responsibility in the matter. The following day (February 6), a decree was issued, dismissing the ex-Minister from his office as Administrator-General of the Customs.

AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

The Hungarian Diet was dissolved January 5; and an exciting and somewhat turbulent electoral campaign followed, ending January 28. As a result, the Liberal Government was returned to power, but with a slightly diminished majority. The Liberal party was founded seventeen years ago, by M. Tisza; and its policy is to maintain the unity of the Dual Empire. Its leader is Count Julius Szapary, who has now come forward with a program of important administrative reforms. The Opposition, consisting of the Nationals, under Count Apponyi, and the Independents, or Kossuth party, has a stronger showing in the new House than in the old, but the Liberal Government still has a large majority.

It is announced that the Government has decided to accord to Hungary, separate representation at foreign Courts.

Toward the end of February, the authorities of Vienna were awakened to a knowledge of the serious character which the Labor question has assumed. The unemployed workingmen of the capital assembled, and formulated demands for work. Though there is no evidence directly connecting the incident with the Berlin riots, nor with the socialist movement, the problem it presents is very much the

same.

It is estimated that fully 40,000 laborers are out of employment in Vienna.

Several thousand men have been supplied with work under police supervision, and active measures have been taken to distribute relief. The Emperor has subscribed 5,000 florins, and public benevolence is doing what it can to afford help-a noteworthy feature of the case being that it is by the bourgeoisie and middle classes, not by the aristocracy, that charity is most exercised. In some of the districts of Hungary, greater distress exists than at any other time since 1846.

The Methodist church in Vienna has been closed by order of the Austrian authorities, on the ground of the spirit of intolerance and hatred of the Roman Church, which the authorities

profess to discover in the articles of the Wesleyan faith. The appeal of Dr. Stephenson, President of the Wesleyan Conference, for a removal of the inhibition against the Methodist pastor, has been rejected.

The Austrian capital has recently, in accordance with the plans of the Emperor, and in spite of the opposition of those living in the outlying districts, annexed its various suburbs. Its area is thus multiplied more than three times, making the city now half as large as London, more than twice as large as Paris, and almost three times the size of Berlin. Its population has been increased by about 400,000, and, in round numbers, now reaches 1,300,000.

On March 17, Franz Schneider, who had been convicted, on his own confession, of decoying eight servant girls into his house, and there outraging and strangling them, was hanged in Vienna. His wife, who was an accomplice, was similarly sentenced; but her sentence was commuted, owing to the Emperor's repugnance to the capital punishment of women. Since 1808 no woman has been executed in Vienna.

In connection with an attempted celebration, by the Czech National party, of the third centenary of the birth of Comenius, the noted educational reformer, serious rioting occurred at Prague on March 28. The Government had forbidden the celebration; but the Czechs were persistent in their determination to carry out the preparations they had made; and it was only after being repeatedly scattered by the police, that the angry crowds finally dispersed. In Hungary, the centenary was celebrated without any outbreak. Comenius was Bishop of the Czecho-Moravian Brotherhood, composed of the last adherents of John Huss.

RUSSIA.

With the lapse of time, a better knowledge of the conditions of the faminestricken districts of Russia, and of the causes of distress, has been acquired. Since 1858, the peasants have increased in number by 40 per cent, while their land has been steadily deteriorating.

This is due largely to the primitive agricultural methods, which exhaust the soil without replenishing it, and to a general improvidence which is content to live from hand to mouth. Moreover, for over 25 years, a reckless destruction of the forests has been carried on; and, added to this, Russia has lost, through foreign competition, the commanding position she once occupied in the grain markets of Europe. To these general causes, combined with the poor crops of the last few years, is due the culmination of distress which has awakened the sympathy of a horrified world.

To some extent, distress in certain districts is part and parcel of the national existence. In the present instance, there has been no absolute famine in any one district; but so sharp is the distress, and so wide its area, that words cannot describe it adequately.

Naturally enough the Russian authorities are anxious that reports shall not be exaggerated. The Czar is said to have abruptly refused an offer of 2,000 roubles made him by the Colonel of a Finnish regiment, for the work of relief, giving as his reasons that there were no people actually starving in Russia, and that the Government would be able to cope with the distress. And Count Tolstoi, has been ordered to return to his estate, where, though not under arrest, he is more or less under surveillance, on account of his letters to the London Daily Telegraph, frankly expressing his incredulity as to the efficiency of the means taken by the Government to relieve the distress. It is even declared that the medical inspectors have, under official pressure, been forced to make lying reports.

All this seems quite credible in the light of the recent revelations of official frauds in the distribution of relief. Some of the officials charged with the relief work, have taken advantage of the general wretchedness to satisfy their greed for gain. At St. Petersburg, Odessa, and elsewhere, consignments of grain for the distressed regions, have been found to be largely adulterated with sand, earth, chalk, and other alien matter, the frauds being the work of middlemen. The general honesty of the Imperial efforts is, how