OUR EUROPEAN LETTER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1408, 22 October 1885, Page 3

OUR EUROPEAN LETTER.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Paris, Aug. 15, 1885. SCIENTIFIC. The French Academy of Sciences has received from Dr Vidal, owner of vineyards at Hyeres, an important communication relative to a remedy for mildew in vines, which be has practised with complete success. His system was to bum sulphur at the end of a stick and pass it round the plants attacked. But, as the vines might be damaged by the heat, lie proposes to burn the sulphur in a retort carried on a small barrow, and to smoke the leaves and stems with fumes of sulphuric acid by means of a small handpuuip provided with a hose and nozzle. HARMONY OF COLORS. M. Chevreul, the veteran chemist of tbe Academy of Sciences, who will attain bis hundredth year in a few days, made, as is well known, the harmony of colors one of his special studies, and applied his theories to women's wearing apparel. His observations on the head-dress are curious, and may guide ladies in their visits to the milliners' show-rooms. A black bonnet, he says, with vhite, p'nk, or red feathers or flowers suits a fair complexion. It does not go badly with brunettes, although the effect is not so good, but they may add orange or yellow flowers or feathers. A dead white head is only suitable for florid complexions, whether blondes or brunettes. Gauzecrape or tu'le bonnets suit all comnlexions. A white bonnet for a blonde should have white or pink flowers —blue is still better. Brunettes should avoid blue, and rather choose red, pink, or orange. Light blue bonnets are espeiially suitable for fair persons. They may be trimmed with white flowers, or even yellow or orange but not pink or violet. For dark persons who venture to wear a blue bonnet yellow or orange is A green bonnet sets off a pale or slightly colored complexion. It may be trimmed wi'h white, red, or pink flowers. A pink bonnet should not be too near the face, but should be separated by the hair, or by a white or green inside trimming—the latter colour especially. White flowers, with an abundance of leaves, produce a good effect on pink. A dark red bonnet is ouly suitable for persons with a highly colored complexion. Avoid yellow or orange bonnets. Violet is not to be recommended, unless separated from the face, not only by tbe hair, but by yellow accessories also. The same precaution should be taken for yellow bonnets, which can only be worn by brunettes, with blue or violet irimmings. TPSB LAT& ADMIRAL COURBET.' The Bayard, bearing tbe remains of Admiral Courbet, is expected to reach Toulon about tbe 20tb inst. (August). Tbe construction of the csuotapb is being pushed on. It will represent a vessel's deck—the sarcophogas being placed on a grand bier erected on tbe quarter deck. A mizzen-mast, complete with its rigging, yards, spars, and sails, will complete the monument, which has been approved of by the Minister of Marine. Instructions have been given for the Bayard to enter the Koads by day, and a general salute from the guns of the forts and vessels in port. A tremendous concourse of people is expected to be present at the disembarkment of the remains. Tbe preparation for the funeral ceremony at the Church of Saint Louis des lnvalides have been already commenced by tbe Administration of the Pompes Furebres. The Church will be illuminated by 2000 candles, besides numerous braziers of green fins. To tbe sable hangings will be attached many trophies of flags, alternating with the deceased Admiral's initials in jvreaths of laurel. The catafalque*, about seven metres in height, will be surmounted by an immense) baldcquin. On the left of the chancel place will be reserved for the representative of the President of the Republic, officers if the Naval Staff, the Governor-of the Inva'ids, etc., while the right side of ih« building is set apart for tbe clergy, and Presidents of the Senate and Chamber. Th'= choir will be occup'ed by the Ministers, Marshall of France, Grand Chancellor of the Legion of Honor, Under Secretaries of State, Diplomatic Corps, and deputations from tbe Senate and Chamber. The,

elatives of ihe ueeeased, Hie family of the Qovornor of Invalids, the ladies, and other invited gnosis will be installed in the galleries, the two first o p which, however, are reserved for the Band of the Municipal Quard. Rennrd'a Maps, known as the Mease des Masech-mx, will be conducted by M. Blouse. The attendant troops will b*. massed oh the esplanade of the lnvalides. THE BLANQTJI MONUMBNT. The unveiling of Blanqui's statue at the Pere Lacbaite Cemetery took place on the 9th inst. (August) at 2 p.m. By half-past one about a hundred of the Revolutionary party had already assembled round the grave, while a few policemen, together with M. Outwent, Commissary of Police, held themselves in readiness in the neighborhood of the cemetery gates in case their services should be required. At two o'clock M. Oldment entered the cemetery, and reached the tomb just as a patty of Demonstrators wer< j unfolding a red flag, bearing the inscription: "The Revolutionaries of the 18:h Arrondiseraent to Blanqui," Some cries of " Vive la Commune" were raised, and M. Cement intervened on seeing that the flag was already hoisted on the statue. The persons holding it protested that it was only a banner, but, after aomo discussion, the emblem, whatever may have been its exact denignation, was withdrawn, and temporarily disappeared. Citizen Winaut soon after commence! a speech and the flag was again displayed, draped this time as a banner. The police did not inter- j fere, and the orator wss enabled to con- | tinue his discourse, in which he tbsnked the organising committees, the subscribers for the erection of the monument, and the sculptor Dalou in particular, as having admirably carried out their intentions, and handed down to posterity a faithful reproduction of the personality of the great revolutionary. Citizen Grange afterwards addressed the meeting, which was increased in numbers every moment, and amongst other prominent persons noticed was M. Micholin, President, of the P.u'is Municipal Council. Only one arrest is reported, that of a man named Vaillanr, who bore the red flag of the Soci dint Union, and was nt once taken into chaise. Two other flags of tho same seditions hue were seized by the police. MISCELLANEOUS. A short calculation in physics as applied to mi rals :—An insignificant word reaches the ear at 340 yards per second ; praise attains a speed of 1500 yards, while flattering goes at. the rate of 1800 yards. The truth scarcely covers two yards in the same time. A telegram from Copsnhagen announces the betrothal of Prince Waldemoor, youngest son of the King of Denmark and brother of the Princess of Wales, with the Princess Marie of Orleans, eldest daughter of the Duke da Chartres. The Prince is aged 26, and the Princess 20. An extraordinary accident, which is exciting the curiosity of the surgical profession, is related by the Lyon M-dieal. A mountebauk, who exhibited among other feats thai of swallowing swords, broke the blade of one by a sudden movement while it was still in his throat. After the portion remaining free had been withdrawn he was seized with »ymtoms of suffocation, and <vas only relieved by pushing another sword of greater length down his throat to remove the obstacle. A strong emetic was then administered to him, but did not produce the expulsion of any foreign substance. The tesophagus was found to be free, and a probo introduced into the stomach while the patient was under the influence of chloroform, combined with researches by feeling with the hand, did not reveal the position of the fragment, which, according to the patient, is about eight inches long and nearly an inch broad. The French military au'horities have under consideration a regulation to impose on all soldiers on service the obligation of writing at, least once a month to their parents or relatives, their letters to be sent through the Posto-ffice free. This would relieve commanders of regiments of the numerous enquiries from families about young men in the ranks. A very elegant toilet was recently completed in the establishment of one of the gteat/cusews of Paris, and which was intended for the Archduchess Louise, of Bavaria, nee the Piincess Paz of Spain. The train and corsage were in satin of a new and exquisite shade of green. The skirt had aide panels of white satin, embroidered by hand with lillies of the valley, tho stems and foliage of the flowers being in shaded greeo silks, and the blossoms formed of pearl beads. The skirt front was in white lace embroidered with seed pearls, very gracefully draped and intermixed with pearl fringes, The corsage was ornamented with a vest and revers of the embroidered whit® satin. M. Jules Ferry was the objoct of a hostile demonstration on his arrival the other evening at Lyons. About 2000 persons had assembled outside the station for the 10.30 train, aud on his driving from the station he was greeted with cries " Down with Ferry.Toaquin ! " He was followed to his hotel, and the police had some difficulty in dispersing the crowd. The engineers of the St. Gothard Railway are said to have reported that it is impossible to transport the 200-ton guns the Krupp manufactory at Essen has engaged to manufacture for the Italian Government, and of which one is now ready, as the line and bridges would sink beneath such a weight. The President of the French Republic has received a letter from the King of the Belgians, who announces that he has assumed the title of Sovereign of the Independent State of the Congo. The estimated cost to the city of Paris of the approaching elections to the Chamber of Deputies, under the Sorutin de Liste system, amounts to nq less than 400,000 francs, equivalent to 10,500 francs for each of the. 38 Deputies. The only items provided f>r iu thi* seemi'itj'y enormous sum are »'ne hire of the necessary materials, etc., for the voting stations, and the payment of the deiks employed at the Mairies fir verifying the lists. The number of voting stations is set down at G 52, at each of which there will be six tables, attended to by a staff of seven persons, The vote laid down bcforo tho Municipal Council is divided as follows :—Hire of heavy material, tables, chairs, etc., 150,000 francs; lamps, purchase nf sundry articles, unforseeu expenses, etc., 50,000 francs ; payment of staff, 200,000 francs. ; (To be continued.)