NEWS OF THE WEEK.
AS usual, the scare about the Labour Demonstration on May Day, which pervaded the whole Continent, proved -to be unfounded. There is some reason to believe that riots were intended in Paris, Rome, Vienna, and some other cities ; but the great preparations made by the Governments, and the certainty that in the present condition of opinion violent repression would be popular, cowed the active Anarchists; and orders are said to have been issued postponing all out- breaks, either with dynamite or without. The great cities were, therefore, unusually quiet and dull, the depression being increased in Berlin by heavy showers of sleet. In London, an unusual concourse assembled in Hyde Park to support a legislative Eight-Hours Day ; but the majority of the crowd consisted of idlers, observers, and holiday-makers, and every- body was unusually good-humoured. Bombs were found laid about in different cities, notably Rome and Barcelona, but the only serious explosions occurred at Liege. There the Anarchists tried to blow up the house of the General in com- mand of the "Guard," but mistook it, and shattered the entrance-halls of two neighbouring houses. They also tried to destroy the Church of St. Martin, and shattered an antique window of stained glass which was an ornament to the city. It is asserted that the authors of this outrage have been discovered, and have peached ; but the police are rather fond of spreading the latter rumour. Upon the whole, the forces of order throughout the Continent must be held to have carried off the honours of the day.
