The great ladies of France were interested in it, and its opening was one of the fashionable events in Paris.

One afternoon during the progress of the bazaar, when the place was full of visitors, and many of the greatest ladies in French society were in the building, buying and selling, a cry of fire was raised, and it was found that one of the stalls was in flames.

Unhappily, there was but one exit to the building, and the fire spread so rapidly that it was impossible for all to escape.  A number of the ladies were burned to death.

All Paris, indeed all Europe, is in mourning because of the disaster, for there is hardly a noble family in Europe which was not represented at the bazaar.

The Duchess d’Alencon, one of the unfortunate ladies who perished in the flames, was not only the niece of the Duke d’Aumale, but the sister of the Empress of Austria.

This same duchess came near being a queen herself, for at one time she was betrothed to the King of Bavaria, the same King who first understood and appreciated Richard Wagner, the famous composer, and encouraged him to write the wonderful works which have changed the whole history of music.

* * * * *

Li Hung Chang has not forgotten us, though he is far away in his own country.

His regard for General Grant was well known, and when he came to this country he expressed a wish to visit the tomb of his dead friend.

While paying this visit he said that he would like to show his regard for the great man in some permanent way.

It was suggested that he should plant a tree on the site of the old tomb, and he seemed greatly pleased with the idea, but nothing further was said on the subject at the time.

The other day Mr. Yang Yu received a letter from the Viceroy, asking him to plant the tree before he left the country.

Mr. Yang Yu is the Chinese Minister who has just been recalled from Washington, and sent on an important mission to St. Petersburg.

When the Minister received the order from the Viceroy, he sent word to the Park Commissioners asking them if the matter could be arranged.

It was not possible for Li Hung to send a tree from China, but he wrote Yang Yu that he would like him to select a tree that was a native of China.

A tree was obtained which is a native of Japan and China.  It is called the Maidenhair tree, because its leaves resemble those of the Maidenhair fern.

Its botanical name is Gingko Biloba.

The tree was partly planted by the gardeners, and then the Chinese Minister, accompanied by some members of the Grant family, proceeded to the spot to perform the ceremony in the name of Li Hung Chang.

The Minister threw a few shovelfuls of earth on the roots of the tree, and then read some words in Chinese from a scroll he carried.

The words were translated by the Secretary, and proved to be: