Justice, M. Trarieux has been chosen, a senator of great distinction, a member of the Peace and Arbitration League, and a man of the highest probity. His selection affords a guarantee that the

lation than of lasting and productive understanding. For the Department of effort. We have no regular and facile method of enlisting colonial governors; there are a great many men in the service who are seeking their fortune abroad because they have achieved no satisfactory position at home; and as government will unhesitatingly bring for the French public, neither they nor even the government sufficiently consider that a colony cannot be managed like a French department, and that commerce in the Far East or in Africa cannot be carried on under the same conditions and rules as European trade. One is always disposed to see abuses, extortion, and fraud in commercial transactions, where the risks are so great as to compel the trader to look for profits which in Europe would seem monstrous. Our colonial governors are too often the victims of thoughtless attacks, which the press is too ready to listen to, and of the political rivalries of Paris. Only recently, M. Lanessan, the governor of IndoChina, was suddenly recalled by M. Dupuy on account of some accusations of the truth of which no one knows anything, and in spite of the services which he has indisputably rendered. It did not seem to cross M. Dupuy's mind that so rough an act would injure our prestige among the peoples of the Far East. Our colonial interests are too readily subordinated to Parliamentary intrigues and party interests at home. Thus M. Ribot, in order to have a Radical in his Cabinet, has handed over the Colonial Office to Dr. Chautemps, who knows very little of such matters. This kind of inconsiderateness in the government, joined to the timidity of the capitalists, and the difficulty of getting able and honest men into the service, will for a long time to come render fruitless all the enormous sacrifices which France has made for her colonial possessions.

M. André Lebon, minister of commerce in the new Cabinet, was formerly a professor in the School of Political Science. He is a very capable and energetic young man, and brings to his work the strength of a complete political training, and a wide and clear

before the tribunals such electoral, financial, and journalistic malpractices as have of late too often been exposed. We learned with astonishment that there had been constant frauds in the elections at Toulouse. The Radical party, which had the control of the municipal offices, had systematically falsified the registers, and the prefects had not dared to resist. The complaints of business men and directors of clubs have brought to light a system of blackmail on which a portion of the Parisian press has been living. The sentencing of a few journalists has only revealed a small part of the mischief, and the arguments put forward in defence of the accused make it clear that journalism has a moral code of its own on the subject of financial advertising, a term which is used to cover blackmailing practices very close to rascality. The political world is in very close relations with the press, and is infected by the same evils as were conspicuous in the Panama affair. The greatest danger to the republic lies in the fact that the Parliamentary system is gradually losing credit amongst the mass of the people, the workmen and agricultural laborers. They are by degrees coming to the conviction that Parliamentarism is incompetent to ef fect reform, and is a mere conflict of ambitious and interests between ministers and would-be ministers; while the Chambers and the press are corrupted by venality and the love of pleasure. Only a strong moral reaction can avail to show that the evil is not so widespread as is believed, and that practical reforms will satisfy the legitimate demands of public opinion.

The ministries of war and marine have been committed to two competent men, General Zurlinden and Admiral Besnard. They have a serious task before them. For the late minister of

war, General Mercier, threw the regi- difficulties of our Parliamentary system, mental arrangements into confusion by the republic has already done a great proposing to send home part of the deal in this direction, not only by its contingent of recruits; and the neces-educational and military measures, but sity under which the government found by its direct legislation on labor quesitself of applying to an English firm to tions and on public charity. transport some war material to Madagascar showed that, in spite of our enormous naval expenditure and the heavy subsidies granted to our great shipping companies, France is far from possessing all the machinery for war which she requires. There is a routine and happy-go-lucky spirit in the military and naval departments which calls for some rude shock.

The foreign affairs of France are certainly in better condition than they have been for a long time past. She is in a position to maintain without loss of dignity those cordial relations with Germany which all Europeans owe to each other in time of peace. No one is any longer found to deny the necessity of mutual interchange with Germany of intellectual and scientific thought. A In spite of internal difficulties the Parisian may applaud Wagner's operas situation has very markedly improved and even Sudermann's plays without since the elections of 1893. There is being taxed with unpatriotic conduct; distinct progress in the direction of a and, more than this, France will take governing majority and a like-minded part officially in the Kiel festivities, ministry, whose object it should be to while her artists will be represented at carry out principles and not to satisfy the Exhibition at Berlin, and Germany private interests and ambitions. There will join in the Paris Universal Exhibiis also a tendency to give to the presi-tion of 1900. William II. certainly did dent a real place in the management of much to promote this new turn in the public affairs. And there is also an relations of France and Germany by eager desire to bring about a more the cordial courtesy which he showed healthy tone of morality, both in elec- on the deaths of President Carnot and tions and in the press. I do not think Marshals MacMahon and Caurobert. the strength of the Socialists in the He has helped to deprive the Triple Chamber or the spread of Socialistic Alliance of its aggressive and offensive ideas in the country presents as yet aspect towards France. But it must any real danger. On the contrary, I am be recognized that the improved state convinced that the exaggeration and of things is in no small degree due to violence of most of the Socialist depu- the persevering prudence of the French ties, their ignorance, their childish pro-government, and even to a gradual posals, the profound schisms which change in public opinion. Spite of the divide their party, the habits which its harmless violence of a few newspapers members have of suspecting and attack-which use patriotism as a means of ing one another, and finishing nearly advertisement, the great mass of the all their meetings with fisticuffs, will French people have at length come to for a long time to come exclude the see that it was childish to sacrifice all Socialist party from direct influence the benefits which France might dein politics. On the other hand, the strength and claims of that party are having the excellent effect of compelling the Moderates not only to combine to resist impracticable theories, but to apply their minds to practical measures for relieving the sufferings of the laboring classes, and infusing into society and law a higher spirit of humanity and justice. In spite of anything the Socialists may say, and amid all the

rive from intellectual communion and political intercourse with Germany to territorial claims which she cannot presently realize, and which she may notwithstanding cherish as indestructible in her heart. She will have a much better chance of obtaining them some day if she takes an active part in European politics; and at all events she will gain more by taking up a frank and pacific attitude than by maintain

ing a sullen air which would be a confession of weakness and expose her to the general taunt of being a kill-joy. In close accord with Russia, anxious to smooth away her misunderstandings with England, and allied with Germany on African questions, France would affect a humiliation which is out of date if she did not believe herself able to play her part on all great European occasions without risking any loss of her diguity.

From Longman's Magazine. "SOME MISCHIEF STILL."

66

I.

Hear, hear!" said an unmistak ably masculine voice from the doorway, and a young man with an impassive and self-satisfied countenance entered the room. "And what is the particular crime which causes that general indictment, Miss Fletching?"

IT was a thoroughly wet afternoon. Even the most sanguine person had ceased, in the face of the steady downpour, to talk hopefully of a rising barometer and a clearing-up shower.” Sylvia eyed him with obvious conTwo young ladies were mournfully tempt. "Oh, I wasn't thinking of you, regarding the view from the drawing- Mr. Dixon," she said shortly, while room windows of Desborough Hall, the other two young ladies looked with its depressing prospect of dripping meaningly at one another. bushes and tennis-nets hanging limply over the sodden lawn. Mrs. Desborough herself was placidly knitting in a large armchair, while her daughter Ethel was combining a languid perusal tentions that were as marked as they of the Queen with philosophic remarks directed to the more restless couple by the window.

"Nonsense, Ethel," remarked one of these, whose name was Sylvia Fletching, "you can't possibly tell that it's going to be fine to-morrow. Besides, we were asked to the Galloways' tennis to-day, and not to-morrow."

The fact was that in the first days of Alfred Dixon's stay at Desborough Hall he had been much attracted by Miss Fletching, and had paid her at

were unwelcome to that young lady. But the most spiteful of her enemies could hardly have alleged that she gave him any encouragement; on the contrary, from the first stage of conventional politeness she passed, when she perceived stronger measures to be necessary, to suubbing him unmercifully. Dixon was blessed with a more than ordinary amount of conceit, but at length it began to dawn even upon him that Miss Fletching, whom he had actually condescended to honor by his preference, was being intentionally disagreeable to him, and having at length realized this, he also quickly assumed a hostile attitude, with the charitable intention of revenging himself on that young lady at the earliest possible moMrs. Desborough looked up from ment. Fate had not yet been kind to her needlework with mild reproach. him in this respect, but, in the mean "You would be sure to break some- time, whenever he and Sylvia were in thing in the hall, Mabel. And I'm a room together, there was certain to

"Well, it's no use standing here like this," said her companion. "What are we to do till tea-time? Sylvia - Ethel - for goodness' sake suggest something, or we shall begin to fight. Mrs. Desborough, what do you recommend for three distressed girls out of occupation ? Shall we play cricket in the hall, or shall we try to mesmerize the

cat?"

be some

very pretty conversational | is great fun, especially as you can gensparring, to the huge delight of the erally guess who the painter really is." other guests, and the deep alarm of Mrs. Desborough.

At the present moment, however, they were not destined to come to verbal blows, for Ethel Desborough created a diversion by flinging down the Queen impatiently.

"There!" she exclaimed, "I've read the whole of a long article on How to Dress on 50l. a Year.'" "If you intend to act upon it, Ethel," remarked Mrs. Desborough, "your bills will indeed be reduced!"

"Well, well," said Mrs. Desborough, who had listened to this voluble explanation with some bewilderment, "it's all very nice, I dare say. Only we didn't have such things in my young days, and I don't think we were any the worse for it."

But the old lady's eulogy of that distant period was broken off by the reappearance of Sylvia, bearing in her arms a bulky paper parcel. "Here you are,"

she said. "Come and sit round this table," and she cleared a space by "Nonsense, mother; of course I sweeping away the untidy litter of don't mean to act upon it, unless you magazines and papers that lay on it. want me to look like a scarecrow. But 66 Now then, you'll all be quite serious, I like to read that kind of article, it please. No, Mr. Dixon, we don't want makes one feel quite wealthy, and your help, thank you." wealth is always a pleasurable sensation. But what are we going to do now? Mr. Dixon, what do you suggest?"

"I shouldn't have thought it would have been possible for you to be at a loss while you can enjoy Miss Fletching's charming conversation," answered that gentleman blandly.

Sylvia ignored this remark. "I have it," she exclaimed; "there are my sketching-club pictures, which came this morning. Ethel, and you, Mabel, can assist me in making my criticisms. I will fetch them for you."

"May I ask what this is is it some kind of round game? Not a noisy one, I hope ?" inquired Mrs. Desborough anxiously.

"Much obliged, Miss Fletching, but I didn't propose to offer my services. To study a succession of young ladies' attempts at art would be a pleasure, to me at least, of a rather painful kind. And I'm quite aware that since Mr. Porchester's arrival you value his opinion alone in art, as in other things," and the speaker settled himself comfortably in an armchair and took up a novel.

Possibly it was the soupçon of truth in this remark that made Sylvia flush somewhat, for it was quite true that she had been as friendly towards the young artist as she had been distant to Alfred Dixon. As before, she chose to take no notice of his words, and seemed to be engrossed in undoing the parcel. "Here we are," she said at length, producing a florid water-color drawing of a very red brick cottage, flanked by a very green garden and a bright yellow haystack. "This is called 'A Rural Scene.' What do you think of it, Mabel ?”

Mabel laughed. "No, not quite that," she said. "Sylvia is under the impression that she can sketch, you see. She and five or six other girls who are suffering from a similar delusion undertake to paint a picture every month. They are not signed, but they are all done up in a parcel, and sent round to each of the members in turn. Each votes for the one she thinks best, and the person who wins most votes gets a prize. You can't tell for whom you are voting, you sec, as there are no names on the pictures. Besides "And a very new haystack," added this, each member writes a criticism of Ethel. "I never saw one that color the other pictures on the back, which yet."

"It's it's rather bright, isn't it?" hazarded that critic dubiously. "I mean," she added, fearing that she had perhaps betrayed her ignorauce, "it's very pretty but it's a rather new cottage !"

"Very well, then," said Sylvia, "we | it doesn't matter in the least," and he will give judgment accordingly," and turned and left the room.

she turned the picture over and wrote Sylvia uttered a sigh of relief. in pencil on the back, "Will improve" That's all right; now we can rewith age." Then she took out the sume our work. I couldn't dare to show him our efforts, you know."

next, a marine sketch.

"I believe the wretch did his best to see them," remarked Mabel. "But, goodness gracious, Sylvia, what have you got there?"

Well, I never!" exclaimed Ethel, with much meaning. "Just look at that great clumsy ship, drawn all out of proportion, too, and those waves they look like a row of green sofa- Sylvia held out the picture at arm's cushions! We'll write something hor-length in speechless astonishment. ribly scathing on the back of that, "What an awful daub!" she exclaimed Sylvia !" at length, "and what's it all about? And which is the right way up? Whose can it be? haps."

"No, I don't think we will," was the calm reply," because, you see, my dear Ethel, that this happens to be my own picture."

แ

Clara Myles's, per

river -or is the river the sky? And there's a dirty something which looks like a bridge, unless it's a house. Mr. Dixon !"

"Your marine sketch is better "Yours? Oh, Sylvia, you ought to than that, anyhow," laughed Mabel. have told us! I'm so sorry - and I"Look, there's a black sky, and a black know nothing about painting · I'm sure the waves are beautiful, dear." "Criticism is worth nothing if it is not impartial," said Sylvia gravely; "we will pass on to the next. Oh, I know who did this-it's that horrid girl, Dora Hastings. Well, of all the ugly, awful, terrible things Why, Mr. Porchester, I didn't know you were in the room. No, please, you mustn't look !"

"Eh?" said that gentleman lazily, from his armchair.

"Come here, please, you're wanted. What do you think this is like ?" and she held out the unfortunate work of art towards him.

"Like ?well, like a bad dream, I A young man with an artistic face should say. Wants washing, too." and attired in a velvet coat was stand- "It does, certainly," agreed Sylvia. ing irresolutely a little way from the" Mr. Dixon, you've deviated into table, with a look of some perplexity. sense for once in a way. I don't want "Don't let me disturb you," he said, to hurt the poor girl's feelings, but "but if you would pardon me one really it's too terrible." She turned it moment " and he came a step over, and wrote on the back: "A ridiculous picture," and, underneath, "Try Sunlight Soap !" "So much for that," she remarked, surveying her criticism with some satisfaction. "Now we'll go on to the next."

nearer.

Miss Fletching made a dart at the pictures and swept them all beneath the protection of the brown paper. "Not on any account!" she cried. "Mr. Porchester, you're not Mr. Dixon; can't you see you're not wanted? I'm not going to let our efforts come under the critical eye of a professional artist! "

"Not now, Sylvia," said Ethel, "for here's tea. The rest can wait until tomorrow morning."

"Well, we've got through an hour, anyhow," Mabel said, "and that's The young man retreated in confu- something on an afternoon like this. sion, while Dixon surveyed the scene Mrs. Desborough, I feel exactly like a with some satisfaction. "She's not so member of the Hanging Committee !" sweet on him after all," he reflected. "My dear!" remonstrated Mrs. "I'm very sorry, I'm sure," said Por- Desborough, holding up her hands in chester apologetically. "I was only horror, being evidently of opinion that looking for something I thought but the body in question was connected