of the society is published. In England the organ of the Zionites is Palestine; and among their leaders is Colonel Albert Goldsmid, who at one time was at the head of Baron Hirsch's Argentine colonization scheme, but who returned to England in order to advance the interests of the Zionite agitation. The German Zionites are organized into a society, with headquarters in Berlin, called "Ezra." In Austria there are two distinct factions, one in western Austria, another in Galicia, but both originating among the Jewish students, and both uniting home political purposes with the Palestine project. The Roumanian Zionites are also well organized, and control two papers. In fact everywhere the power of the press has been invoked in favor of this new crusade. SPAIN. A new cortes was elected in April, the result being an unqualified victory for the present conservative government of Señor Canovas del Castillo. At the elections for deputies, April 12, a conservative minority of about fortyeight in the last cortes, elected in March, 1893, was turned into a majority of about 250 in the chamber of 431 members. At the senatorial elections also, April 26, a large majority of supporters of the government was returned. The result is of rather gloomy portent for Cuba. It means an overwhelming indorsement by the Spanish people of the present policy of the government in the island, and the continued prosecution of the war on the lines laid down by General Weyler. After a period of comparative quiescence, the anarchists early in June suddenly resumed activity in Barcelona. As a religious procession taking part in the festival of Corpus Christi, on June 7, was about to enter the church of Santa Maria, a bomb was thrown into the crowd. Eleven persons were killed and forty wounded by the explosion, all of them belonging to the working class, and most of them women and children. The assassin escaped in the excitement. Over thirty arrests of suspected persons were made; and, as a precaution against further outrages, the authorities proclaimed martial law in the city. As a result of a heated discussion over Cuban affairs, a duel was arranged between Marshal Martinez de Campos, late captain-general of Cuba, and General Borrero; but the encounter was prevented by the authorities, the principals being placed under nominal arrest. DENMARK. On May 5 Princess Louise, eldest daughter of the crown prince of Denmark, was married to Prince Frederick of Schaumburg-Lippe, eldest son of Prince William, brother of the reigning prince of Schaumburg-Lippe. The princess was born at Copenhagen, February 17, 1875. Prince Frederick, who is a great-nephew of the queen of Denmark on the maternal side, was born in 1868, and is a captain in an Austrian hussar regiment. NORWAY AND SWEDEN. On May 12 the 400th anniversary of the birth of Gustavus Vasa, king of Sweden and her liberator from the sway of Denmark, was enthusiastically celebrated throughout Sweden. Gustavus Vasa was grandfather of King Gustavus Adolphus, hero of the great battle of Leipsic. GREECE. Several circumstances have made Greece a centre of more than ordinary interest during the past few months. These things are the revived Olympic games, the recent archæological discoveries, the agitation of the Eastern question, and the political changes caused by the death of the ex-prime minister, M. Tricoupis. The death of M. Tricoupis has decidedly changed the aspect of politics. There are now three parties, called respectively after the three leaders Delyannis, Tricoupis, and Rallis. The Delyannis party is strongest for the following reasons: Its leader is prime minister; the Tricoupis party is held together only by loyalty to the policy of a dead leader; and the head of the third party, although a man of ability, lacks many of the qualities of a successful party champion. Meanwhile party dissensions have given the throne added power. The king is stronger in Greece to-day than ever before. The Revived Oympic Games.-The revival of the Olympic games recalls to the student of classics many things associated with these contests in antiquity-the beautiful spot in the plain of Olympia, on the river Alpheus in Elis; the temple to the Olympian Zeus, containing Phidias's noble statue of the god; the legend of the founding of the games by Hercules; the peace proclaimed throughout all Greece during the progress of the games; the contests of intellect and physique; the reciting of poems; the acting of dramas; the chariot races; the foot races; the boxing; the wrestling; the throwing of the diskos; and the simple wreath of wild olive or laurel which the victor wore. The object of the games in antiquity was to promote good feeling and unity among the different states of Greece, and to give conspicuous expression to the Greek longing for a perfect symmetry of body. The object of the games as held this year, April 6 to 15, was as nearly identical with that of the ancient Greeks as the difference in time, customs, and spirit would allow. It was the purpose of those who gave so generously to establish again these contests, to bring together representatives of the leading nations of the world to compete in an honorable and friendly way for the olive wreath of the athlete, thus to promote harmony among the peoples of Europe and America, and to exalt amateur sport as sharply contrasted to professional sport. Having conceived these ideas, and being eager to put them into practice, Baron de Coubertin, a French gentleman who has done much for athletic sports in France, undertook in conjunction with some other members of the French Union of Athletic Clubs, the task of reinstating the Olympic games. For a time it seemed as though outside nations were more interested than the Greeks. But soon the national pride of the Hellenic race awoke; and many rich Greeks in London, Paris, and Alexandria made generous contributions to the cause. M. Averoff, an Alexandrian Greek, paid for the restoration of the ancient Stadion at Athens; and it was then decided to hold the games there rather than at Olympia. The privilege of entering the games was open to the whole world. Professor William M. Sloane of Princeton was the American member of the committee of arrangement, and made strong and successful efforts to have the United States well represented. There were 150 competitors, representing, for the most part, Greece, America, France, Germany, and Australia. It will be remembered that the Olympic games were first held in honor of Zeus in the year 776 B. C. They were finally abolished by the Emperor Theodosius in 394 A. D. It was of course impossible to revive the games as they were played in antiquity; nor was it possible to recall the Greek spirit, or to invest the victor with the favor and importance that were accorded the victor in the first Olympiad. For in the earlier games the olive crown was the open sesame to the greatest honors and privileges. It was possible, however, to repeat many of the old games, to reproduce much of the ancient enthusiasm, and to do all in honor of the Greek spirit of harmony and symmetry. There was no chariot racing, but the diskos was thrown; there was no wrestling, but the foot races were held as of old. Then there were the following contests which the old Greeks knew nothing of, a "hop, step, and jump," a bicycle race, a shooting competition, and fencing with foils. The most notable event of all was the run from Marathon to Athens. It will be remembered that in 490 B. C. a runner brought the news of the battle of Marathon to Athens. When just within the walls, he uttered the blessed words, "Rejoice! We conquer!" and fell dead from exhaustion and excitement. Over the same course that this runner pursued, a race was held. It was fittingly won by a Greek, a peasant, whose name was Loues. The distance is 26.1 miles, and this modern Greek came in fresh and vigorous: time, 2 hours 48 minutes. At The games were honored with the presence of the king and crown prince of Greece, and the king of Servia. the close of the games the king distributed wild olive wreaths as first prizes, and laurel wreaths as second prizes. Then the king gave a banquet to the athletes. In his speech to them he said: "Let me express the pleasure that all feel in seeing you come here to take part in the Olympian games. Your reception shows how the Greek people rejoice to receive you. I seize this occasion to extend my warmest congratulations to the victors. Soon you will return to your homes. I will not say adieu to you, but au revoir. Keep a good souvenir of us, and do not forget the enthusiastic welcome we have given you." There were forty-four victors. It is estimated that 100,000 people saw the games. The following is a list of the victors in the most important events, and their records: Hop, step, and jump-J. B. Connolly, American, 13.71 metres. Throwing diskos-R. Garrett, American, 29 metres. Long jump-E. H. Clark, American, 6.35 metres. Race, 400-metre-T. E. Burke, American, 54 1-5 seconds. grams. Race, 1,500-metre, E. X. Flack-Australian, 4 minutes 33 seconds. Fencing contest-M. Gravelotte, Frenchman. Bicycle race, 100 kilometres-M. Flamant, French, 3 hours 8 minutes 19 seconds. Race from Marathon to Athens-Loues, Greek, 2 hours 48 minutes. TURKEY. Mavroyeni Bey, for about twelve years Turkish minister at Washington, was recalled in May. The reasons were not officially published, but were said to be connected with the displeasure of the Porte at the passage of the Armenian resolutions in congress. Mustapha Tachsin Bey, chief assistant in the Turkish foreign office, was appointed to the vacant ministerial post. To the foreign troubles of the Porte over Armenia and Crete, there were added in June two rather serious domestic complications-a revolt of the Druses in northern Syria, who were reported, June 20, to have cut to pieces. four companies of Turkish troops and captured a number of guns; and a mutiny at Jiddah in Arabia, of troops who were angry at the delay of the government in making up their arrears of pay. A startling case of brigandage was reported, June 7, only twenty miles from Constantinople. The wife and child of a rich Armenian living in the capital, were taken from a carriage in which they were driving, and were carried off. A ransom of $10,000 has been demanded. INDIA. IN spite of all the efforts put forth by the Portuguese, the rebellion in Goa, which began in September last, still continues (Vol. 5, p. 950; Vol. 6, p. 197). After the recall of the Portuguese governor in February, his post was assumed by Prince Alfonso, Duke of Oporto, brother of the king, who had been sent out with a military force to crush the rebellion. However, the insurrection seems to have passed from a mere military revolt into a determined rebellion of some of the native chiefs and the people, and to be connected with a widespread dissatisfaction owing to maladministration of the affairs of the colony. Not only the troops, but even the local civil administrators of Portuguese India, are said to be disaffected. The recent uprising among the fanatical Mussulman sect of the Moplahs against the Hindoos in the coast districts of British southern India, is in part attributed to the example of long-continued revolt in Goa. |