12 MAY 1900, Page 2

Omens, we suppose, have ceased to impress Frenchmen, or we

should have heard more of one which was visible this week. A great storm threw down the Exhibition statue of the Republic, which again in its fall broke the statue of Icarus to fragments. That indicates, a Roman augur would, we think, have said, that the Republic is doomed, but that in its fall it will crash the ambitious man who strives to mount the car of the gods.