ace in Paris as a result of
the Dreyfus affair, it would probably bring forward a popular military
man as a candidate for leadership. Such a man is to be found in General
Boisdeffre, who figured in the Zola trial and made a bombastic speech
glorifying the army.

A revolution would also, of course, bring up the rival claims in France
of the Royalist and the Napoleonic parties.

The Royalist party is at present headed by the young Duke of Orleans,
who thus far has done very little to distinguish himself. In the event
of a crisis, however, France might recall the fact that a few years ago
the Duke, though exiled from his country, as all the pretenders to the
French throne have been in recent years, forced his way into Paris and
demanded that he be given the right to join the army. This was a very
youthful and theatrical attempt to excite the enthusiasm of the French
people. It failed, however, for the republican Government succeeded in
placing the Duke in a rather ridiculous position. He was kept in prison
for a few months, and then quietly released.

The Bonapartist party has for leader Prince Napoleon Victor Jerome
Bonaparte, grandson of Prince Jerome, youngest brother of Napoleon the
First.

Prince Victor has had almost no chance of making himself known to the
world, and at the present time his chances of succeeding to the throne
of France seem very slight.

* * * * *

Our Government has been quietly making provision for strengthening our
navy and coast defences in case of war.

This fact does not mean that the governmental authorities believe that
war is sure to break out. It means simply that they are taking
precautions to be prepared for any circumstances which may arise.

The Department of the Navy has been hampered by being obliged to wait
for the approval of Congress before it can carry out certain important
work. It has, however, lately put two more vessels in commission without
the approval of Congress and on its own responsibility. They are the
monitor _Miantonomoh_ and the harbor-defence ram _Katahdin_.

Since the disaster to the _Maine_, the Government has received a great
number of applications for the regular army and for the naval service.

* * * * *

During the past few months some very rich "finds" have been made in the
Klondike, and a great deal of excitement has been created there. The
facilities for carrying on the work are now