OUR LONDON FLANEUR. NEW BOOKS.

Evening Star, Issue 7017, 25 September 1886, Page 2 (Supplement)

OUR LONDON FLANEUR.

NEW BOOKS.

London, July 30. COMMENTS ON THE DILKE CASE. Walking along the Strand about two o’clock one afternoon last week my attention was attracted to a large crowd waiting outside the Gaiety Restaurant. Crossing the street, I made inquiries, and learnt that Mrs Crawford was lunching at the restaurant in company with Mrs Ashton Dilke and Mr George Lewis (of Old Bailey renown), and that the three were expected downstairs immediately. In a few minutes they came, the estimable Mrs Crawford (smiling and frolicsome as a grig) on Mr Lewis’s arm with Mrs Ashton Dilke (thickly veiled) bringing up the rear. A four-wheeled cab was called, and the “heroine of the great divorce case ” tripped lightly inside. As the vehicle drove off the crowd aemi-deri-sively raised a cheer. Mrs Dilke aud Mr Lewis looked profoundly disconcerted. Not so Mrs Crawford. Accepting the applause as a popular tribute to her notoriety, the lady smiled affably at us, and, waving a delicate lace handkerchief from the cab window, departed in triumph. This is a fact.

Sir Charles Dilke's lamentable folly in not tendering himself as a witness at the first trial has proved his ruin. The outcome of the recent hearing would, the AttorneyGeneral declares, have been very different if Sir Charles had had any locus standi. Sir Charles's friends still express unalterable faith in his -innocence as regards Mrs Crawford. The attitude they take up with regard to the late trial is intelligibly indicated by the' PallMallGazette,'which, having successfully liounded down the poor man to his ruin, now turns suddenly round and argues that his innocence (re Mrs C. only) is a perfectly possible and even probable hypothesis. "We confess, for our part," writes Mr Stead, " we have looked in vain through the voluminous reports of the proceedings for the 'lots of corroboration' which Mrs Crawford promised her husband, while the evidence as to the character of Mrs Crawford and the reality of her guilty amour with Captain Forster stand out only too clearly. The trial deepens the general conviction as to the worthlessness of the word of the chief witness against Sir Charles, and brings out some curious additions to and variations on her original story. »She stands before you,' said the Judge, ' not as a witness of truth—that is to say, she has been guilty of telling a falsehood under circumstances of such solemnity that her husband believed it and act upon it.'" The writer makes a keen analysis of Mrs Crawford's evidence, and shows its improbability, I quite agree with Mr Stead that Mrs Crawford's story bristles * - ifch improbabilities. The closer you examine it the more incredible the details appear. Take the account of her amour with Captain Forster, for example. The woman says she denied having immoral relations with Forster to her husband because she knew he was going to be married, and feared if he were made a co-respondent in the case his engagement would be broken off. Is this, think you, the way a vindictive woman (such as Mrs Crawford has shown herself all through the recent trial) would behave towards a man who had seduced and cast her off, and was going to marry another woman ? I say no. Forster tells us that at the time Mrs C. left her husband his engagement with his present wife was broken off owing to money difficulties. I say Mrs C. knew this (though she says she didn't), and that she hoped and believed he would marry her if she could obtain a divorce without compromising him. To those who know what a Cabinet Minister's house is like at eleven in the ! morning— messengers, visitors, secretaries, etc., coming and going every few minutesMrs Crawford's description of her frequent clandestine visits to 76 Sloane street sounds simply preposterous. She says she invariably drove in a hansom to the corner of Pont street, and then got out and walked the rest of the way—a few yards only. If this were true, we should have had two or three of the score of cabbies who took Mrs Crawford there, and must have noticed her peculiar method of calling at a well-known Cabinet Minister's house, put in the witnessbox to give corroborative testimony. But they were not forthcoming ; neither could the local police nor the detective (who during the eight months' dynamite scare was responsible for the safety of Sir Charles's house and person) confirm Mrs Crawford's story. The evidence that did Sir Charles most harm was Madame Dessonlavy's. The old woman was nervous, and protested too much. An Italian named Guillano (who strongly resembles Sir C. Dilke) was in Court and ready to swear he had frequently arranged assignations at Warren street. After, however, Madame D. had pro- j tested that her house was never used for such purposes, it became impossible to call Guillano without showing the weman had perjured herself. Finally, I may point out that five o'clock, which the tailor Hillier fixes as the hour Sir C. Dilke (if it was Dilke and not Guillano) used to visit Warren street, is the precise time a Cabinet Minister must be in the House of Commons to answer questions.

A RACE FOR TEN THOUSAND GUINEAS. The day of the great ten thousand guinea prize the Eclipse Stakes—was spoilt by the weather, which turned out wet and windy. Nevertheless, a vast mob of sightseers went down to Sandown and tried to enjoy themselves. The race itself lost a feature of considerable interest through the scratching of the favorite Minting, who broke down just twenty-four hours beforehand. The colt had been backed for tons of money, and the “ swells ” looked exceedingly glum. This withdrawal caused a great run on Bendigo and St. Gatien, between whom it was supposed the issue would lie. “Bar two” long odds could be obtained. Gay Hermit was the “sharps” tip, and rumor credited John Porter with faith in Candlemas. Anyhow, Archer’s mount seemed in fairly good odor, and so did the Frenchman Fra Diavolo, who more especially had plenty of supporters for a place. The course for the Eclipse Stakes is a mile and a-quarter, the finish being up a steepish hill. In the paddock Bendigo found most friends, and left off a warm favorite at G to 4; 5 to 20 being laid against the once invincible St. Gatien, who is far from being the same brilliant performer that won the Ccsarewitch in 1884. The Eclipse Stakes, of 10,000 sovs net, with 500 sovs for the second ; the third to save hie stake of 110 sovs; weight for ago, penalties and allowances. About one mile and a-quartcr. 265 subs, 103 of whom pay 10 sovs each, 08 of whom pay 30 bovb each, aud 48 of whom pay 60 sova each. Mr 11. T. Barclay’s Bendigo, by Ben Battle—Hasty Girl, 0 vrs, 9st 71b .. .. (T. Cannon) 1 Lord Arlington’s Candlemas, 3 yrs. Bst 71b

(Fred Archer) 2 Mr J. Hammond's St. Gatien, .5 yrs, flit 101b (d. Wood) 3

Fra Diavolo (9st 41b), St. Helena (9st2lb), Miss Jummy (Bst 71b), Gay Hermit (Bst 41b), Braw Lass (Bst lib), Cataract (Bst lib), Martinet (Bst), Whitefriar (Bst), and Pinbasket (7st 111b) also ran,

Betting: 6 to 4 against Bendigo, 9to 4 St. Gatien, 100 to 7 Gay Hermit, 100 to 6 Candlemas, 20 to 1 each Fra Diavolo and Whitefriar, 100 to 3 Martinet, 40 to 1 each Braw Lass and Miss Jummy, and 200 to 1 St. Helena.

The race: Owing to the vagaries of Whitefriar, who is a regular beasu, Lord Marcus Beresford was some time in getting -the dozen runners away. St. Gatien shot off first, but was soon pulled back, and Martinet took up the running, followed by Cataract, Braw Lnss, and Gay Hermit, with the favorites in the background. Approaching the somewhat dangerous bottom turn about half-a-mile from home —St. Gatien, Bendigo, and Fra Diavolo closed up the former, sweeping well round on the inside. Five hundred yards from home the French colt's colors showed in front, and the ring began to roar excitedly. Their jubilation wiis, however, of painfully short, duration, for in another minute Fra Diavolo fell back beaten, aud the two favorites assumed the command. Cannon wa3 seen to be sitting quite still on Bendigo, who bounded up the hill with giant stride. Wood, on the other hand, seemed uneasy. At the distance he sat down and challenged the Irishman, but without success. Mr Barclay's grand horse drew early to the front and won in a canter by three lengths. Candlemas, on whom Archer rode a waiting race, came with a rush opposite the stand, and after a stiff struggle with St. Gatien beat the exchampion by half a length for the second money (L 500). Gay Hermit was fourth, Fra Diavalo fifth, Pinbasket and Braw Lass last. Time, 2min 12sec: value of the stakes. L 10.610.

Bendigo, the winner of the first contest for what will, in all human probability, be the “ Derby of the future,” is by Ben Battle out of Hasty Girl. The colt was bred in Ireland, and realised seventy guineas only as a yearling, Mr Barclay purchased him as a three-year-old at the .Curragh in 1883 for 830 guineas, and he made his first appearance in the Cesarewitch of that year, carrying fist 91bs, The colt ran very fast for a mile and a-half, and those who noticed this backed him for the Cambridgeshire. Starting at 2 to 1, be got home by a short head (carrying fist 101b) from the Australian owned Tonans (syrs, 7st 21b), and a red hot 2 to 1 favorite, Medicns (4 yrs, fist 61b). As a four-year-old Bendigo did nothing much till the autumn, when he was again (this time carrying Bst 21b) much fancied for the Cambridgeshire, and ran second, beaten a head only by Mr Hammond’s Florence (4 yrs, 9st lib). Last year Bendigo (Bst slb) won the Lincolnshire Handicap from Bird o’Freedom, M‘Mahon, and a big field. He also secured the rich Hardwicke Stakes (value L 2.000) at Ascot, and was second in the Cambridgeshire to Plaisanterie, carrying the welter weight of 9st 81b. This year the old horse has been prepared solely with a view to the Eclipse Stakes. THE THEATRES. The theatrical season proper is at an end till September. The Princess’s, Haymarket, and St. James’s are already closed, and the Lyceum and Strand shut up for some weeks from to-morrow. The run of “ Sophia” at the Vaudeville came to an end some days ago, when a revival of “ The Road to Ruin” was fairly staged. The Widow Green of Miss Larkin, the Young Dornton of Charles Warner, and the Silky of Thomas Thorne are all well-known and favorite performances, and the minor parts have been fairly filled, so the piece may fill the house for a few weeks. Bouoieault’s “ The Jilt ” was produced at the Prince’s on Tuesday evening. You know this piece, so I need only add it met with a friendly reception. Boucicault himself was in high spirits, and seemed fully satisfied that the play will run, I am not so sure about it myself.

Wilson Barrett's farewell benefit at the Princess's Theatre on the eve of his departure for America was a very grand affair. The Prinoe and Princess of Wales and all the "intellectual lights of London" graced the occasion with their presence, and the benejidare, after tearing himself (as Hamlet) to tragic tatters, bade a tearful adieu to his admirers. The cheering is said to have shaken the theatre to its foundation, and to have been audible at the top of Oxford street; and the pit recalled the overcome Wilson seven or eight times before the curtain finally fell. Altogether it must have been a gala night.

Ycung and old folk alike will find plenty to entertain them in Mr R. L. Stevenson's " Kidnapped," on which let me advise you to promptly expend ss. I can't quite agree with*'lhe Times,' which pronounces it a superior tale to " Treasure Island " ; but the man must be blaii indeed who, beginning the book, fails to finish it. I hear Casstlls have another remarkable tale of the " King Solomon's Mines " class forthcoming. It is by William Westall, whose " Two Pinches of Snuff" I recently recommended to you, and the scene is laid in Central America. Mr Westall knows this part of the world well; witness the exciting scenes in that capital novel " Ralph Norbreck's Trust," recently reissued at 2a. The following are also jnst out in the 2s form:— "Philiatia," Grant Allen's earliest long story ; "On the Docile Head," a reprint of Clark Russell's later articles on the "Telegraph "; " Joy," by Miss Crommellin (readable tracts, that's all); "Green Pleasure and Grey Grief," by the " Duchess "; " A Bit of Human Nature," by D. C. Murray; and "The Heir-pre-sumptive," by Florence Marryat. Tillotsons, of Bolton, have acquired the serial rights of Ouida's new novel, "A House Party," also of Clark Russell's "The. Golden Hope: a Romance of the Deep," ami of "William Black's "Salnna Zembra." .

Mrs Langtry has in hand a "society" novel. Sala is writing bis autobiography. Christie Murray wants to give up fiction and become a dramatist. Sliss Braddon's new story will be out next month. That, I think, is all.