the historian, economist, and politician, died the year. A state funeral was awarded him. public demonstrations of grief on the part of of Paris showed the strong hold he retained rd. tes before midnight, on the last day of the the death of Léon Gambetta. Born in 1838 enoese extraction, Gambetta was educated for afterward became a lawyer. In November, I the leadership of the Republican party by Deleschuze, a noted Republican. He showed ilable against Louis Napoleon and his imin particular against the policy which led to ussia. All the power of personal magnetism ng the latter part of the war, when he organvain resistance against the invaders. After office in several short-lived Ministries, and in 1, accepted the Premiership. The sweeping d by him speedily rallied a majority against ix months he resigned. On the death of the mbetta's once so formidable party collapsed. Death of Rebel Leader-William I Unveils ( T HE friendly offices of England France and Madagascar were Soon after this the French n carrying the flag of Admiral Pierre, ar An ultimatum, demanding the recogn claimed by the French, was forwarded to at Antananarivo. On June 10, after a French fleet of six vessels opened fire afterward the Hovas withdrew, and on hoisted their flag and declared martial la During several months the Tonquin abeyance. Despite the protests of the fighting between the Black Flags and th resumed. In May Commandant Rivère Hanoi with but 150 men. He met the e ered with bamboo, from which the A Rivère and his troops. After this disa were despatched from Quiberon, Brest, a lowed by other vessels. Reenforcement quin by the Governor of Cochin-China, despatched from New Caledonia. 1883 DEATH OF WAGNER On February 13 Richard Wagner, the most original dramatic composer of the nineteenth century, died at Venice. His first opera to be performed was "Rienzi," at Dresden, in 1842. Its success was so great that the management was induced to bring out the "Flying Dutchman" early next year. The originality of this opera raised a storm of opposition, which raged from then on throughout the civilized world, as one after another of Wagner's new works appeared. Among these may be mentioned "Tannhäuser," "Tristan und Isolde," "Lohengrin," "Die Meistersinger," and the cycle of “The Ring of Niebelungs." The turning-point of Wagner's career came in 1864, when the young King Louis II of Bavaria invited him to Munich with promises of royal aid for all his projects. In 1870, having divorced his first wife, he mar ried Cosima, the daughter of Liszt, after her divorce from Hans von Bülow. In the meanwhile the King of Bavaria built for him the famous opera house at Bayreuth. Wagner's last years were spent in the completion of his last dramatic composition, "Parsifal." In novelty of effect, rhythmic variety and thematic treatment, Wagner's music stands unexampled in the history of music up to his time. During the latter part of March an insurrection broke out in Haiti, and the outskirts of the town of Miragoane were seized by the rebels. They in turn were attacked by the Government troops, but the latter were defeated. The place was subsequently bombarded, but again the regular troops were repulsed with the loss of two vessels and many men. The rebels then seized Jacmel and held nearly the whole of the western coast. In the United States, during this interval, popular rejoicings were held over the opening of the great suspension bridge spanning the East River between New York and Brooklyn. The cost of the bridge had been $15,500,000. Measuring 5,989 feet, it exceeded the length of all other sus CORONATION OF ALEXANDER III 1883 pension bridges then in existence. When the bridge was thrown open to the public, such crowds attempted to cross it that a number of persons were killed in the crush. Peter Cooper, the great philanthropist, died in New York, where he had served as Mayor. His fame is commemorated in the great mechanic institute of New York bearing his name. The year was otherwise notable for the successful labor strikes of American telegraph operators and glass blowers. The construction of the Panama Canal went on so steadily this year that De Lesseps and others of its promoters predicted the completion of the Canal within five years. Prior to this the engineers had been chiefly occupied with preliminary labors. Now more than 10,000 laborers were engaged, and this number was soon increased to 15,000. Complete anarchy prevailed in Armenia. The Turkish authorities lost all control over the province. Trade caravans were persistently pillaged and foreign consuls were insulted. The tribe of Malisson, numbering 60,000, made a raid on Scutari, but were repulsed by the Turkish troops. In Russia the long-delayed coronation of Emperor Alexander III was celebrated in May at Moscow. All the sovereigns and Governments of Europe were represented at this magnificent display, which lasted from May 27 to June 2. The event called forth manifestations of loyalty from all parts of the Empire. In liberal circles keen disappointment was felt at the new Czar's silence on the subject of liberal reforms. On the day after the coronation, riots broke out at St. Petersburg. In the meantime the Comte de Chambord (Henri V) died, on August 24, at Frohsdorf. As the son of the Duc de Berri, and grandson of Charles X, he was the head of the elder branch of the Bourbons. No princes of the House of Orleans attended his funeral, owing to the refusal of the Comtesse de Chambord to recognize the Comte de Paris as head of the reunited Houses of Bourbon and Orleans. ed as opportune by the supporters of the weak year the colossal bronze figure of Germania, tional monument on the site of Arminius's ver the Romans near Rüdesheim, was uneror William in the presence of 8,000 spectaument, rising to a total height of eighty feet, 2,000,000 marks, part of which was raised riptions. Immediately after the ceremony, hown that the police had barely prevented a to blow up Emperor William and his comwere about to unveil the great statue. er 6 the Parliament Houses of Belgium at down. The Parliamentary library, with all as destroyed in the flames. America the war of Chile against Peru and had been waged since 1879, was brought to a essentially a naval war. Though Peru and ies of 88,000 men in the field, a Chilean ex00, with the aid of their navy, could strike at achments and destroy them in detail. In the sue for peace. The province of Tara Paca aile. The Department of Tacna was likewise ile. It was agreed that, at the expiration of |