TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Evening Star, Issue 7030, 11 October 1886, Page 3

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

[From Our London Correspondent.]

London, August 27. One of the so-called “society” journals recently offered a prize for the best dennitiod of an Englishman, a Scotchman, ana an Irishman. There were many _ clever answers, but the referee eventually decided that victory lay between two—a gentleman who pronounced an Englishman solid, a Scotchman stolid, and an Irishman squalid, and a lady who thought Englishmen strongheaded, Scotchmen long-headed, and Irishmen wrong-headed. If the former is the smarter definition, the latter is certainly the truer. Very few persons have the smallest notion what a state certain parts of Ireland are in at the present time. On the Marquis of Clanricarde’s estate, in Galway, a small army, comprising nearly a thousand persons—soldiers, constabulary, agents, and magistrates—are engaged evicting two or three small farmers. The opposition offered by the peasantry is so violent and sustained that it absolutely took this regular field force the best part of a day last week to evict one cotter. Englishmen _ generally fancy that outside Belfast things in Ireland are pretty quiet just now. This is a complete delusion. If you want to get an idea of the sort of civil war prevailing in the South-west read a book called Norah Moriarty,” written by a Galway lady and just issued by Blackwoods. It contains pictures of Irish life startling enough to wake up even a Conservative Government into immediate action. MAJORITY OF EARL RUSSELL. Earl Russell, who has just come of age, bears no resemblance either in person or character to his famous grandfather. At Oxford he was known as a pronounced eccentric, full of impossible fads, and curiously conceited. He professed—perhaps professes still—agnosticism in religion, communism in politics, and sstheticism in art. Moreover he became a strict vegetarian. These youthful crazes will, however, soon be blown away by the prosaic atmosphere of the House of Lords. The Earl is only very moderately off. His property consists mainly of the estate which the then Duke of Bedford settled on Lord John Russell when he became a peer. the dilkk case. Nothing further has been heard of a prosecution in connection with the Dilke case. Sir Charles and Lady Dilke are abroad. Mrs Crawford and Mrs Ashton Dilke, after spending some weeks at the seaside, have settled down at St. Ives, an old-world town, the society of which is considerably disturbed by their advent. Now the excitement of the trial has faded out, people talk much more reasonably about Sir Charles’s position. No doubt the attitude taken up by the Foreign Press has a good deal to do with this. French, German, and Italian papers express the utmost surprise at the wholesale way in which public opinion here has damned poor Sir Charles. Like ‘ Truth,’ they can find nothing in the evidence to justify such a course. “ Which," asks one journal, “is it reasonable to believe—the great statesman who protests ‘1 am innocent,’ or the proved liar, hypocrite, and self-confessed harlot who accuses him so malignantly ?” AN UNPOPULAR PRINCE. The growing unpopularity of Prince Albert Victor is giving both the Queen and the Prince of Wales serious anxiety. The young man will take no pains to propitiate people. He is dense, apathetic, shorttempered, and sulky. The Marlborough House set make him their butt. His father alternately scolds or exhorts, whilst his mother pets and protects him. The young Princesses of Wales openly deride Victor’s “stolidity,” and even “brother George” must feel a certain amount of contempt for his elder’s lack of savoir faire. The Queen alone treats the heir-presumptive with consideration. At Windsor or Balmoral the young Prince is always sure of a cordial welcome, though Her Majesty makes no secret of her disappointment at his repeated failures in public. Considering how well most of the Royal Family deliver commonElace speeches, Albert Victor’s utter inanity to string together half-a-dozen sentences coherently seems inexplicable. For years past the chief work of his life with Canon Dalton has been studying this very art, yet he has not even mastered the ABC of public speaking. Even if it is merely a case of returning thanks after dinner, the speech has to be written out for him. When he repeats it he docs so like a parrot, without feeling or expression, and then, plumping down in his chair, takes no further interest in the proceedings whatever they may be. At several public dinners lately His Royal Highness has given offence by chatting loudly to his neighbor whilst speaking was going on. His guttural request too: “ Where can I have my suggurette ? ” copies nearly as often as his parent's “ 1 really must have a cigar ”; and at Edinburgh, not long ago, he completely disorganised a whole day’s arrangements.

A DIREFUL PROPHECY. The announcement that the Kempton and Manchester executives, following in the footsteps of Sandown, mean to inaugurate LIO.OOO stakes of the same character as the fclipse, has provoked a letter from John orter, the famous trainer, who professes {hat unless new life is put into the Epsom )erby its prestige will soon be a legend of the past. Porter’s proposition is that l&OOO should be givep ip added money by the Epsom executive, and the stakes raised from LfiO half-forfeit to LIOO half-forfeit, or L 25 forfeit only if declared in the Graven week of the year of running. This would make the race worth L 16,000 or L 17,000, even if the entries failed to increase, and once again render it pre-eminently the blue riband of the turf. The Leger, too, stands sadly in need of "a refresher.” Such a state of affairs as the jpresent was surely never known in the history of Doncaster Town Moor. Odds of 7 to i betted on the favorite, and 33 to one “ bar one.” Last year, when the fact of Paradox not being entered left the road comparatively free for Melton, things were flat enough 5 but at least there Was some opposition. This time it is not impossible, if Ormonde keeps well, that the result of the Sellinger may be indicated by the mystic letters “ w.0.” At Stockton last week the highest tried two-year-old seen out this year made a successful debut. This was Captain Machell’s Kilwarline (by Arbitrator out of Hasty Girl), a half-brother to the famous Bendigo. What the colt had done at Home the public failed to discover; but it was Significant that, in the face of such “ cracks ” as Gloriator and Royal Charter, the associates of the stable tumbled over one another to lay 3 to 1 on the “ good thing.” It came offeasily. Archer has seldom had a pleasanter ride, and Kilwarline’s career will probably be a victorious one for some time to come, I hear the Auckland Stud Company are casting “ sheep’s-eyes ” at Friar Rush (a whole Mother to St. Blaise and Candlemas), hy Hermit—Fusee. Surely they could find a stouter nick with Hermit than Fusee. The Friar himself was a good old slave to Mr Peck, and perhaps the best of the three brothers—St. Blaise’s Derby notwithstanding—but he certainly wasn’t a stayer; could barely get a mile in decent company. Neither was St. Blaise a stayer. In the City and Suburban of 1884, St. Blaise, ridden by Fred Archer, and carrying 8 12, ran well for a mile, and then shut up like a telescope. Candlemas, everybody knows, is a second-rater. A famous “staying” Hermit horse was in the market some time ago (I don’t know whether it is now) in Retreat (by Hermit out of Quick March, by Rataplan out of Qui Vive, by Voltigeur.) Whilst on the turf Retreat was one of the grandest-looking animals I ever saw. Moreover, he won such long-distance events as the Ascot Stakes (syrs, 8.12), and Doncaster Cup (1882), as well as big mile races like the Rous Memorial at Ascot (1882) and Royal Stakes at Epsom (1881). Retreat, if he has not been sold, belongs to Lord Bradford. THE EBOR HANDICAP. A few years ago the Great Ebor Handicap seemed to be going the way of the Chester Cup, the Goodwood Stakes, and other oldfashioned long-distance races. But presumably the York executive are smart men of business. By raising the added money from LSOO to LI ,000, and reducing the distance from two miles to one mile and a-half, the retrogressive movement was promptly checked, and on Wednesday last the race nroved a complete success. Thirteen good £}gsp animals faced the starter, including

such well-known performers as King Monmouth, Perdita 11., Stone Clink, Raffaello, Eurasian, Prince Rudolph, and Tita. The favorite was Le Caissier (3 yrs, fist 71b), purchased by Mr Childwick in the spring to lead Saraband in his work. The colt had run well in the Hunt Cup at Ascot, besides having, it was said, been highly tried and carried Mr Peck’s confidence. GREAT EBOR HANDICAP PLATE, of 1,000 sovs, by subscription vt 20 sovs each, 10 ft, ami only 6 if (Related ; winners extra. One mile and u-half ocr the Old Course. Thirty-five subs, thirteen of *hom paid 6 sovs each. Mr Childwick’s Le Caissier, by Touchet—La Cascadeuse, 3 yrs, fist 71 ■ (all 51b) 1 Mr J. Lowther’s King Monmouth, 4 yrs, 8->.12i1) (VVSIiS} Z Mrs T. Cbaloncr’s Jacob, 4 yrs, fist 10lb (J. Woodbutn) 3

Stone Clink (Bst 41b, carried Bst 51b), Perdita 11. (Bst), Eurasian (7st 91b, carried 7st lllb), Prince Rudolph (7st 91b), Tita (7st 41b), Prince Rupert (7at 4!b), Raffaello (7st 41b), Beaumont (fist 91b), Haridan (fist filb), Alexandria (fist 61b) also ran. Betting: 100 to 30 against Le Caissier, 7 to 2 King Monmouth, 7 to 1 Eurasian, 100 to 12 Prince Rudolph, 9 to 1 Jacob, 10 to 1 Perdita 11., 100 to 7 Haridan, 20 to 1 Prince Rupert, 33 to 1 Stone Clink, Raffaello, and Beaumont, and 50 to 1 Tita and Alexandria.

Tita and Raffaello made most of the running till a-quarter of a mile from home, when Jacob assumed the lead, but was quickly challenged by the two favorites. The three then raced home together, a ding dong finish ending in favor of Le Caissier by a neck, King Monmouth only beating Jacob by a beau for the second place. Time, 2min 37sec. The principal two-year-old races at Vork were won by Sir R. Jardine’s Hawthorn (by Albert Victor—Hawthornbloom) and by Lord Lascelle’s Whittington (brother to Toastmaster). FORTHCOMING BOOKS. A number of new books are promised during September. Chatto and Windus advertise a thrilling tale (of the “ Kidnapped” class) by Bret Harte, illustrated by Kate Greenaway. It is called “The Queen of the Pirate Isle,” and said to be a veritable “hair-raiser.” The same firm will immediately publish Mrs Alfred Hunt’s “That Other Person” (now running in ‘ Belgravia ’), Mr Grant Allen’s “In all Shades ” (now running in ‘ Chambers’s ’), and Mr Hall Caine’s “A Son of Hagar ”; also cheap editions at 2s of Mr David Christie Murray’s “Cynic Fortune,” Mrs Riddell’s “ Mystery of Palace Gardens,” Ouida’s “Othmar,” and Buchanan’s “Master of the Mine.” Smith, Elder announce Mr Rider Haggard’s “Jess,” in 3 vols., and cheap editions at 2s of Norris’s “ No New Thing,” and “ Beauty’s Daughters,” by The Duchess. Ward and Downey promise “A Deed Without a Name,” in three volumes, by Frank Barret, author of “Folly Morrison”; “ANear Relation,” in three volumes, by Chriatabel Coleridge; and “Lady Valworth’s Diamonds,” by “ The Duchess,” at a shilling. Hurst and Blackett are busy putting through the press poor Mary Cecil Hay’s last story, “A Wicked Girl”; also, Mr Porter’s “Out of the Gloaming.” Longmans will publish Walter Besant’s “ Children of Gibeon ” ; and Kegan Paul a new novel by the author of “ Colonel Enderby’a Wife.” Vizetelly’s are preparing translations of “My First Crime,” by 6. Wac<s; of “Mdme. de Bovary,” by Flaubert; and of “ The Red Ribbon,” “The Pretty Gaoler,” and “The Cry of Blood,” by Fortune du Boisgobey.