MADAME SELMA LAGERLOFF new King is patriotic and independent, and he will have this, the only purely foreign problem of the country, to face, a task which may not prove an easy one, since King Albert is known to have strong German sympathies. It is not believed in the European capitals that the death of King Leopold can have much effect upon the politics of the continent. The general situation in Belgium, as the new King finds it, with some facts about the monarch and his Queen, and a brief survey of the career of the late Leopold II. are set forth on another page this month. It is believed in London and Paris that a change of rulers will be followed by new methods of administration in the Congo, since it is well known that the new King, understanding as he does from personal knowledge the true situation in Africa, is in favor of thorough-going reforms. Indeed, during the last hours of King Leopold's life the Colonial Minister introduced in the National Assembly a bill for the radical reform of the Congo administration. The Nobel Women have now won prizes in Prize Winners three of the five fields marked for of 1909 distinction by the bequest of the late Dr. Alfred Nobel, the Swedish engineer and chemist. In 1903 Madame Curie shared one with her husband and M. Bec (The Swedish authoress to whom last month was querel for her discoveries in connection with awarded the Nobel prize for literature) last, but only published in London within the past fortnight, suspends for three months "the recruiting of labor in Angola for San Thomé and Principe, cocoa plantations," and intimates a future "complete suspension.' The New Belgium the radium ray. In 1905 the prize for the greatest contribution to the cause of international peace was awarded to the Baroness von Suttner, an Austrian lady, whose book, "Ground Arms," made a deep impression throughout the world. At the distribution of prizes for the year 1909, made last month in Stockholm, Madame Selma Lagerloff, the Belgium begins the year 1910 Swedish authoress, took the honors in litRegime in under a new monarch. On De- erature. Her collection of Scandinavian cember 23 Prince Albert formal- stories, which have been described as "bright, ly took the oath of office and ascended the pictures of Northern optimism," has gone throne as Albert I. Belgium has had a long through several editions in Sweden and Gerperiod of peace and prosperity, and, secure many, and has made the authoress famous in in her neutrality and integrity, which is Europe and in this country as well. The guaranteed by the rest of Europe, the Bel- other Nobel prizes awarded last month went gians begin their new era with the best of to William Marconi and Professor Ferdiprospects. There has been a growing fear nand Braun, of Strasburg, for physics; to in recent years that German capital was gain- Professor Wilhelm Ostwald, of Leipsig, for ing undue influence in commercial and educa- chemistry; to Professor Theodor Kocher, of tional matters in Belgium, as well as in her Berne, for physiology and medicine, and to sister kingdom of the Netherlands. Against Baron d'Estournelles de Constant, one of this "peaceful penetration," looking event- the permanent members of the Hague Triually, it is apprehended, toward absorption bunal for France, and to M. Beernaert, forof the kingdom by Germany, many Bel- mer Minister of State of Belgium, for congians have protested in the public press. The tributions to the cause of world peace. A Minister to China at Last. The important event in our far ITALY TURKEY HUNGARY BRITISH ISLES SWEDEN AUSTRIA PART of ROUMANIA RUSSIA BULGARIA GREECE NORWAY SPAIN GERMANY FRANCE AUSTRALI. AND EUROPE COMPARED (Showing how all the countries of Europe could be placed along the "coastal fringe' of Australia, and there would be room to spare) Eastern relations during the past few weeks has been the appointment by President Taft of Mr. William James Calhoun, of Chicago, as Minister to China. Mr. Calhoun has accepted the appointment, and the Chinese Government has pronounced him persona grata. Upon several important occasions Mr. Calhoun, who is a prominent lawyer of Chicago, has demonstrated his fitness for such a diplomatic post as the Chinese mission. Just before the war with Spain, President McKinley entrusted him with the delicate and complex task of investigating the situation in Cuba. President Roosevelt commissioned him to perform a like service in Venezuela in 1905. On both these occasions he exhibited sound judgment, coolness, and diplomatic tact, qualities he will certainly need for his new duties in China. It is expected that Mr. Calhoun will same problem for itself. Australia also is depart for his new post early in the present intent upon the creation of the basis of a real month. It is one of the peculiar requirements navy. A bill providing for one armored of the minister of any country to the Celestial and three unarmored cruisers, in addition to Empire that its affairs are generally more im- other small vessels of war, has already passed ́ portant in their relation to the neighboring its third reading in the Lower House of the nations of Russia and Japan than in them- Commonwealth. Within the past decade the selves. Mr. Calhoun will have to under- island continent of Australia has found her stand and deal with not only Chinese-Ameri- whole political environment suddenly and can relations but also with Chinese-Russian, radically transformed. More than Chinese-Japanese, and American-Russian- naval and military power power in alarmingJapanese relations. The tension between ly close proximity to her undefended China and Russia over the still unsettled coasts are apparently beginning to find in question of municipal administration in the her vast unpeopled territory a standing tempManchurian cities along the Siberian border, and the next steps in Japan's administration of Korea will be the immediate problems facing the new American Minister when he arrives at his post. In this connection it is interesting to note the fact that Prince Yamagata, one of the Japanese Elder Statesmen, has been appointed President of the Privy Council to succeed the late Prince Ito, who was recently assassinated by a fanatic Korean, and that almost simultaneously with the appointment of Mr. Calhoun to the post at Peking, Mr. Chang, the new Chinese Minister, presented his credentials at Washington, and Baron Uchida, the new Ambassador from Japan, succeeding Baron Takahira, arrived at San Francisco. Vast Australia. up While Canada has definitely made her mind upon the question of a national navy, another British commonwealth is considering the one tation for their national expansion. In reply to the contention of an English speaker in one of the recent imperial conferences in London, that Australia does not offer fertility of soil and natural resources in such profusion as to seriously tempt foreign aggression, the Hon. Bernhard R. Wise, formerly Attorney-General of New South Wales, replied, in a speech in the Federal Parliament, afterward incorporated in a recently published book, by saying: The coastal fringe of the continent alone, the fertility of which is universally admitted, is much larger than all the countries of Europe put together, if we leave out Russia. But there is even room on the maritime belt for a portion of Russia as well, while the whole of the interior does not make up an area one-half the size of the Czar's European dominion. In illustration of his point of view, Mr. Wise prints in his book an interesting map comparing Australia and the continent of Europe, which we reproduce herewith. THE READING OF THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES RECORD OF CURRENT EVENTS (From November 20 to December 19, 1909) PROCEEDINGS IN CONGRESS December 6.-Both branches of the Sixty-first Congress meet in regular session and adjourn as a token of respect to the memory of deceased members. December 7.-President Taft's annual message is received and read in both branches. December 10. In the Senate, Mr. Cummins (Rep., Ia.) introduces his bill amending the Interstate Commerce law. December 14.-In the House, the District of Columbia Appropriation bill is favorably reported, and bills are introduced for the establishment of a central national bank and the further restriction of immigration. December 15.-The House passes two bills to promote safety on railroads. December 16.-The Senate adopts a resolution calling on the Department of the Interior for information regarding mine disasters....In the House, Mr. Hitchcock (Dem., Neb.) makes a bitter attack on Secretary Ballinger. December 17-The House considers the District of Columbia Appropriation bill. POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT-AMERICAN November 20.-The United States Circuit Court for the district of Missouri holds that the Standard Oil Company, of New Jersey, is an illegal corporation and orders that it be dissolved. November 24.-W. Cameron Forbes, of Massachusetts, is inaugurated as Governor-General of the Philippines.... President Taft holds conferences with Attorney-General Wickersham concerning amendments to the Interstate Commerce law and the white-slave traffic.... President Taft appoints Benjamin S. Cable Assistant Secretary of the Interior, James L. Davenport Commissioner of Pensions, and Chief Justice William J. Mills Governor of New Mexico.... Governor Hughes, of New York, appoints Arion H. Cheney State Superintendent of Banks, to succeed Clark Williams. November 26.-President Taft approves the regulations for the collection of the corporation tax submitted to him by Secretary MacVeagh. November 28.-It is announced in Washington that the number of federal employees in the country is 370,065, as against 306,141 in 1907. November 29.-The Secretary of the Navy promulgates a plan for the reorganization of his department....The prohibitory amendment is defeated in Alabama by a majority of 20,000. December 9.-President Taft confers with Speaker Cannon and Vice-President Sherman on the legislative program in Congress....At a caucus of Democratic Senators, Senator Money, of Mississippi, is elected minority leader. December 13.-President Taft nominates Judge Horace H. Lurton, of Tennessee, for Justice of the United States Supreme Court. December 15-Secretary Dickinson announces the selection of Major-Gen. Leonard Wood for Chief of Staff of the Army to succeed MajorGen. J. Franklin Bell. December 18.-Secretary MacVeagh issues an order eliminating State, city, and railroad bonds from securities which may be accepted for deposit of public moneys in national banks. by a vote of 350 to 75, adopts the motion of Lord Lansdowne suspending the Finance bill. ....The German Reichstag is opened by Emperor William. December 2.-The British House of Commons indorses the budget by a majority of more than 200, after its rejection by the Lords.... The Italian cabinet, headed by Premier Giolitti, resigns. December 3.-The British Parliament is prorogued. December 5.-High Belgian officials issue a protest against the charges of maladministration in the Congo. December 7.-John E. Redmond issues a manifesto in behalf of the Irish party....The Danish Folkething adopts a resolution that exMinisters Christensen and Berg should be prosecuted. December 10.-Baron Sidney Sonnino succeeds in forming a new Italian cabinet.... Premier Asquith commits the Liberal party to Irish self-government in all matters relating to home affairs. December 12.--The Spanish municipal elections result in Liberal victories. December 13.-Judge Cannon, of Montreal, makes a report urging the prosecution of fourteen municipal officials on charges of graft. December 14.-The Canadian budget is introduced in Parliament. December 15.-The Russian Duma censures the Minister of Justice for issuing an order barring lawyers from visiting their clients in the HON. JOHN RAINES, OF THE NEW YORK STATE prisons....The Irish Nationalist convention SENATE (Senator Raines, who died on December 16, had been for twenty years a dominant figure in New York Republican politics) POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT-FOREIGN November 22.-The British House of Lords begins debate on the budget; Lord Loreburn outlines the policy of the Liberals. November 23.-In the French Chamber of Deputies a motion to put an end to the military occupation of Morocco is defeated by a vote of 436 to 71. November 24.-Lord Rosebery makes a notable speech during the budget debate in the British House of Lords....The Octobrists introduce a bill in the Russian Duma to restrict the powers of the political police....The Australian Parliament approves the government's naval proposals. November 26.-The Australian Senate passes a bill confirming the selection of the Yas-Canberra as the site of the federal capital....The French state employees, representing 181,000 civil servants, decide to form a national federation. November 27.-The Spanish cabinet decides to withdraw the troops from Morocco. November 29.-Lord Morley and Lord James, of Hereford, make notable speeches in the House of Lords, warning the peers of the serious consequences likely to result from the suspension of the budget. November 30.-The British House of Lords, pledges support to the Liberal party in the coming election. December 16.-President Zelaya, of Nicaragua, sends his resignation to Congress. December 17.-The legislature of New South Wales passes a bill rendering employers or employees who instigate a strike or lockout liable to a year's imprisonment. December 19.-Belgian Socialists issue a manifesto demanding a republic. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS November 29.-Great Britain, Germany, and Belgium reach an agreement on the boundaries of British Uganda, German East Africa, and the Congo Independent State.... The United States and Chile request King Edward to act as arbitrator in the case of the Alsop claims. November 30.-Emperor William of Germany, in opening the Reichstag, expresses the opinion that the Triple Alliance will continue to stand together for the world's peace. December 1.-Secretary Knox recognizes the Estrada government in Nicaragua, dismisses the representative of Zelaya in Washington, and informs him that the United States will hold those responsible for the execution of Cannon and Groce personally accountable. December 5.-China issues a protest to the powers against Russia's attempt to control the administration of Manchurian railways. December 6.-William J. Calhoun, of Illinois, is appointed American minister to China. December 9.-The protecting powers deny ་ Turkey's request to interfere with the status plorers in the St. Paul mine at Cherry, Ill., quo in Crete. find twenty survivors still alive (see page 102). November 22.-Teneriffe experiences an earthquake. December 10.-The German Chancellor refers during the budget debate in the Reichstag to affairs in Morocco, Germany's relations with Great Britain, and the Triple Alliance. December 13.-Nicaragua threatens to make reprisals against Costa Rica in case of further attacks on the frontier. December 15.-China refuses Portugal's proposal to submit the dispute over Macao to arbitration....The French Chamber of STATUE OF JOHN C. CALHOUN TO BE PLACED IN THE OF SOUTH CAROLINA (F. W. Ruckstuhl, sculptor) November 26.-Dr. Brenckmann and Hugo Francke, members of the Aero Club of Berlin, are killed by the collapse of their balloon near Fiume. November 29.-The Berlin Aero Club appoints a committee to gather information for air charts. November 30.-Two Japanese steamers founder in a gale off Korea and Japan, with heavy loss of life. December 1.-Hubert Latham makes an ascent in his aeroplane near Mourmelon, reaching an estimated height of 1600 feet.... Several small villages near Bitlis, Asiatic Turkey, are destroyed by an earthquake.... As a result of a switchmen's strike, practically every branch of trade in the Northwest is affected; a coal and food famine is threatened....A Yoakum-Hawley syndicate buys control of the Frisco system from the Rock Island. December 3.-The British steamer Thistlemor founders in Biddeford Bay, in a gale which sweeps the British coast. December 6.-Antonio Fernandez makes too sharp a turn in his aeroplane at Nice and the machine falls and crushes him. December 7.-The Norfolk & Southern Railway is sold at auction at Norfolk, Va., to representatives of the reorganization committee for $8,500,000....A special train makes the run from Chicago to New York in seventeen and a half hours, a new eastbound record for the distance (980 miles). December 8.-President Taft makes the opening address at the meeting of the National Rivers and Harbors Congress in Washington. .The National Monetary Commission makes public reports of all the financial institutions of the United States....Secretary MacVeagh speaks on the tariff before the bankers of Boston....The New York Board of Education forbids the playing of football after January 1, 1910....Announcement is made that the American Academy at Rome has received as a gift a villa worth $500,000, to be used as a home for the institution. December 10.-The American battleships Georgia and Nebraska are in collision off the Virginia capes....A report showing the extent of and evils of the white-slave traffic is presented to Congress by the United States Immi Deputies votes to increase the duties on Ameri- gration Commission.... The American Ice Comcan agricultural machines. December 17.-The Buffalo, with 700 marines, is ordered to sail from Panama for Corinto on advices that American citizens in Nicaragua are in peril. OTHER OCCURRENCES OF THE MONTH pany is found guilty of creating a monopoly. December 11.-The total number of deaths reported on the Great Lakes in a single week is fifty-eight, in comparison with sixty-three lives lost during the rest of the season. December 12.-The General Assembly of the International Institute of Agriculture, representing forty-six countries, meets at Rome, Italy. November 20.-The American Federation of Labor re-elects Samuel Gompers president, John Mitchell vice-president, and Frank Mor- December 13.-Fire in Valdivia, Chile, rison secretary....M. Paulhan makes an aero- destroys eighteen blocks; thousands of persons plane trip from Mourmelon to Chalons and re- are homeless and the loss is estimated at turn, sixty kilometers, in fifty-five minutes; $2,500,000.... Capt. Thomas Franklin, U. S. A., he reaches an altitude of 1000 feet....Ex- is sentenced to two and a half years in the |