LONDON TABLE TALK.

Evening Star, Issue 8578, 27 July 1891, Page 4

LONDON TABLE TALK.

From Ocr Special Correspondent.] London, June 5. KKADLAUGHS DAUGHTER. “Edna Lyall” has written a generouslyworded letter in support of the scheme to make provision for Bradlaugh's daughter (Mrs Bonnor), who, at a time of great pecuniary embarrassment, sacrificed on her father's behalf the life policy ho had assigned her. Hundreds of kindly notices and regrets for the harsh treatment Mr Bradlaugh received have appeared in the newspapers. S.»ys “Edna Lyall”: “We have now to prove these words were no empty sentiment to relieve our own sense of discomfort, but genuine unselfish sympathy.” No doubt many in Australia and New Zealand will wish to assist in this laudable scheme. Subscriptions should be sent to Mr George Anderson, 35 Great George street, Westminster. COUNTESS OF CLANCARTY. Belle Biltou is now Countess of Clancarty, and will, according to report, danco no more in public. I doubt this myself. Whilst the playthings of rank and respectability are new, she may relish them perhaps ; and to overcome the prejudices of society and penetrate even into Tum-tum’s drawing room is said to be her ladyship’s laudable ambition. But the influences of engrained Bohemianiam (inherited, aa in the fair Belle's case, from mother and grandmother) are difficult to get rid of. The =ceat of the footlights and the applause of crowded houses may presently seem dearer and better worth having than cycles of social triumphs. In that casewell, the Ccuutess will gladden our eyes again. The Clancarlya should be fairly comfortable. The rent roll of the Irish estates alone is over LIO.OOO. The dowager h»,3 hitherto ignore 1 her son’s wife—in fact, since the divorce trial Danlo has bad but a «rn ill allowance from home, The late lord was intensely exasperated by Sir James Hannen’a reflections upon his conduct, and raved on the subject to friends. Worry and port wine, indeed, no doubt brought on the frequent attacks of gout which killed him. The old man’s sole consolation was an earnest conviction that Lady Dunlo would in the future justify his treating her as he did. Peacemakers tried in vain to heal the breach. Lord Clancarty was taken ill suddenly whilst endeavoring to transact some business in the library. He had been suffering from gout as usual, but insisted on coming downstairs. All at once the old man fell back insensible. Dunlo was in London, but could not be found in time. THE FROPHET HARRIS. The prop iet Harris, who exerted such a melancholy influence over the late Laurence Oliphant, is, it seems, still very much alive, and residing in California with a remnant of the original brotherhood. A member of the community, who lives in England and acts as agent for the wines which j the brothers make on their farms, has been discovered and interviewed. Bro, Cuthbert (as he calls himself) was for sixteen years Harris’s right hand man, and knew all the ios and outs of the differences between Oliphant and the prophet. The interviewer describes him as a gentleman of kindly manner, well advanced in years. He is tall and straight of figure, with white flowing beard and long silvery hair ; the pince-nez he wears cannot hide the gentleness of his eyes, nor can the ear be otherwise than charmed by the soft pleasantness of his voice. How deeply his soul is wounded by the aspersions which have been cast upon the reputation of Thomas Harris may bo judged from the fact that when the ‘ Mail ’ representative spoke of the current controversy as to the bona fides of the prophet, tears gathered in “ Brother ” Cuthberl’s eyes, and his frame shiok with considerable emotion. “ Tne subject to me is such a painful one,” he sobbed. “Laurence Offphant was a dear Mend; I loved him dearly ; so do I love Mr Karris. He is an ideal man, and it is cruel—unspeakably cruel—that he should be spoken of as bo has been by those who know nothing of him.” The “prophet,' 1 ho explained yesterday, who, by the way, is aa English.nan, was, prior to the inception of the new religious movement, one of the most popular and eloquent Univarsalist preachers in New York. It was while the “prophet ” and hia followers were living at Brocton that Laurence Oliphant sought them. He had heard of the new sect from a dignitary of the Japanese Foreign Office, and in reply to hia inquiries rhe principles ol the new religion were told to him. 1c is said by the believers in the “ prophet ” that he was charmed by the reasonableness and simplicity of the manner of attaining unto regeneration in this life, as embodied ia the life of the Harris community, and he pleaded to be admitted to it. lie had, of course, to take his share of the work common to the farm. He helped in the cleaning out of tho stables, in driving the ploughs, in sowing tho seeds, and he took his turn with tho others in hawking fruit wherever he could find a market for it. The most despotic of disciplinarians is the “prophet.” His rule is absolute; but the members of the Committee willingly submit themselves, believing that by such means the operation of the regenerative processes within them is alone to be facilitated. Laurence Oliphant did for a time. When he failed to see in Mr Harris the highest outward embodiment of the divine idea ho seceded. Oliphant, it is said by the believers in the “prophet,” took advantage of the chief’s absence to stir up a rebellion against him. He proclaimed himself a “ writing medium,” receiving communications from the angels, and these urged him to depose Harris, That is said by “Brother” Cuthbert to be the real cause of the difference which arose between the “Humanitarians” and tho Oliphants.

Those who have read tha 'Life of Laurence Oliphant' are not, in the face of lettors therein, likely to believe in Oliphant plotting against tho man he so blindly adored. Harris, it is to bo feard, revelled in maltreating and humiliating Oliphant on one pretext and another. The more the disciple endured the more the prophet gave him to endure,

As hia biographer saya, “the faith that removes mountains ” was nothing compared to Oliphaut’s faith in Harris. When poor Laurence’s suspicions were at last aroused his sufferings were terrible. The Californian lawyers, etc., who took Mr Harris in hand and made him disgorge the Oliphants’ property, had no easy task. They found the prophet aa ’cute and hard aa nails, Hia influence over hia disciples seemed, however, positively uncanny. The young farmer o:cupying Oliphant’s land was sent for during the negotiation in order that some ordinary questions might be put to him. He was a tall, brawny man, yet he turned pale, and the sweat literally poured down his face in huge drops as he stood in Harris’s dread presence. THE JEWS IN KUSSIA. The latest news from Russia concerning the intentions of the persecuted Jews is of a somewhat alarming character for Englishmen. According to the ‘Moscow Gazatte’ and other Russian papers, societies are being formed to assist the moat indigent Russian Hebrews to emigrate to England ; that steamers have been chartered, and will begin to convey these emigrants to London almost immediately ; and that some 60,000 souls will be landed here before next winter. Mr Jennings asked a question relative to this matter in the House on Tuesday, but Mr W. H. Smith’s reply was to the effect that until the English Consuls at St. Petersburg and elsewhere supplied facts to go upon, he could not make any statement as to the views of the Government on the subject. Of course it is not for one moment to be supposed that such a monstrous scheme will be allowed to be carried out in its entirely. Even Englishmen will “ buck up” at the notion of their country being turned into a cesspool for Russian refuse in such a barefaced fashion ; but undoubtedly we shall get somewhat more than a fair share of these pauper aliens palmed upon ns during the next few months. From Odessa and the Black Sea ports hundreds of Jews are preparing for an exodus, and, if the ‘Daily News’ correspondent is to be believed, out of every score of these emigrants fifteen look to Ragland to provide a home. We can hope, however, that some steps will be taken to prevent this wholesale immigration when Government has received consular reports. Until then, all we can wish for is that Bpron Hirsch’s agents will be able to prevail upon the Jews to recognise in Argentine the latter-day land of Goshen.

' THE OAKS, ETO. The sporting papers are unanimous that another such Derby Day as those of 1890 and 1891 would praotioaliy kill the race. As things were the receipts of Wednesday week proved the smallest on record. The forest of umbrellas made the crowd appear deceptively large. Really the attendance was tens of thousands below the average. Oaks Day proved warm and fine, and those who had the pluck to lay to lon Mimi came away well pleased with themselves. The odds were never for a moment in danger. The favorite held a good place throughout, and won in a hack canter by four lengths, the time being some seconds better than Common’s. Coratorphine was second, and half a length in front of the outsider of the party, Lady Primrose. Six only ran. The Grand Steeplechase de Paris (or French Grand National), run last Sunday at Auteuil, is one of the few foreign events open to British enterprise, and has as often bean won by English or Irish as by hometrained chasers. On Sunday, of the thirteen starters, five were English, none, however, being high 'class. The favourite, Baron Finot’s Saida (5 yrs, list lib), by Clooher, out of Arainoe,{starting at 2 to 1, won easily, M. Barbay’s Grossmann (0 yrs, list 61b) second, and M, Arthur’s Innisfail (G yrs, list 61b) third. Tomorrow the Grand Prizs of Paris will be the attraction in the Bois. Common is engaged, but will be reserved for Ascot. Mimi and Common are in the Leger, but the question of supremacy may be settled considerably earlier than that, as both could run in the Prince of Wales a Stakes at Aacot on Tueaday. THEATRICAL NOTES. ‘ Formosa,’ at Drury Lane, ia a hopeless failure. The outrageous inconsistencies which Boucicault daringly palmed off on the innocent fo ! k of 1860 are bitterly resented by the )ia de siede pit and gallery of 1891. “ V\ hat rot,” cries honest ’Erry, disgustedly. “ Fancy makia’ a common fightin’ man like Boker trainer to the Hoxford Height, and representin’ the stroke oar fuddlin’ 'imself in Formoser’s bud wore the night afore tho race. 1 should just like to ’ere of one of ’em gettin’ on the spree when they’re in trainin’. A pretty dresain’ he’d get in the ’Sportsman.’ Wy, we knows everythin’ as the crews do from the hour as they come to Putney. Formossr’a rot, I tell you.” The mixture of realism and reality is even more remarkable in the characters than in the incidents. They are just caricatures. Mias Mill ward does what she can with the heroine’s part, but it is not much, and even that prime favorite of tho ‘‘gods,” Harry Nichol’S, fails to satisfy. J. M. Barrie’s apropos skit on the prevalent craze called ‘ Ibsen’s Ghost, or Toole Up To Date,’ was produced with complete success at Toole's Theatre on Saturday afternoon last. I will reserve description till I have seen it, Everbody says the main idea is very funny. The revival of 1 Wild Oats ’ has not proved a success at the Criterion, and Mr Wyndham will replace it with ‘ The Headless Man ’ to-morrow evening. Should this fail to draw, tho theatre will bs given over to comic opera. LITERARY NOTES. The story of Mr Besant’s—* St. Katherines by the Tower ’—is laid in old London about 100 years ago, and relates how a young man named Richard Archer (“evil eye and evil heart ”) or, to use more modern language, hypnotises Sylvia Comines, the beautiful daughter of the hospitaller of an ancient charily. Sylvia is engaged and devotedly attached to George Bayssalanco, a goodly young dock-owner, and the course of true love runs smooth between tho pair till the girl seems suddenly seized with an inexplicable shuddering aversion for her Jtancee, Doctors, wise women, and clergymen are called-in to explain the phenomenon, and prescribe for the woman, bat fruitlessly. Sylvia screams or faints, or shows repugnance whenever George approaches. Naturally, no one connects the humble organist Archer with this state of affairs. George, indeed, even confides in tho wretch, and ia persuaded by him that only his (George’s) death can restore Sylvia to health. Ha consequently joins a revolutionist club called tire “ Sublime Socmty of Snugs,” and through Archer's machinations gets mixed up together with Sylvia’s brother, Neville Coniines (who narrates the story), in a treasonable riot. After spending some time in Newgate the pair are tried and condemned to death. Fortunately, they have friends at court, who contrive that they shall instead be sent, to “the new settlement in terra Australia called Port Jackson,” Meanwhile a Wise Woman, who plays an important part in the story, bribes Archer, by informing him he is tho natural son of a nobleman, to remove his malign influence from Sylvia. He leaves the preoinot, and, of course, the girl soon recovers. Ultimately she follows George, who develops into a rich squatter, to Australia. The voyage out took eight months and a-half in those days. Just think of it, please. Archer’s change of fortune does him no good, and he ultimately dies on the scaffold. The atory belongs to the author’s old-world series, which many, I know, consider his happiest efforts. Personally, I think an ‘ Armorel of Lyonncsse’ or ’Children ol Gibeon ’ worth two or three ’ St. Katherines' or ‘The World Went Very Well Then.’ The account of Neville Comine’s trial and incarceration in Newgate, especially the period ho spent in the condemned cells, forms the most enthralling portion of ‘ St. Katherines.’ Mr Besant adopts not merely the style bat the prolixity of writers of the period ia his narrative, and this makes the story progress irritatingly slowly at times. Nevertheless the novel :s not one an avid reader would willingly miss.

Mrs Sutherland Orr’a ‘ Life and Letters of Robert Browning’ is in many respects a model biography. If all literary executors would uso letters, diaries, etc,, etc., with similar restraint and common sense, how much valuable time the reader would be spared. Mrs Orr had legitimate materials —so the average compiler would allege—for three bulky volumes; she has, as a fact, brought them within the moderate compass of one. The result is a bright, suggestive book, which all admirers of the poet will not merely read, but buy and keep. The story which “Ouida” has written for the Tillotson bureau is called ‘The Silver Christ.’ New cheap editions include Norris’s ‘Heaps of Money’—almost this writer’s first boob—(2s) and ‘ Jack’s Father’ (3s 6d); a number of short magazine tales ; Anstey’s ‘ Pariah ’ (2s fid); and Le Fann’s ‘ Wyvern Mystery ’ (2s). The current ‘ Athenaara ’ contains some stirring lines (only they’re in rather a clumsy metre) on ‘ Eton,' by Swinburne, who still flashes out at uncertain intervals spasms of genius. The poem is too lengthy to quote as a whole, but here are the concluding lines: Shelley, lyric lord ol England's lordliest singers, here first heard Ring from lips of poets crowned and dead the Promethean word Whence his soul took fire, and power to outsoar the sunward-soaring bird. Still the reaches of the river, still the light on field and hM, Still the memories held aloft as lamps for hope's yourg fire to fill, Shinr, and while the light ot Enplaad lives shell shine for England still. When four hundred more and fifty years have risen and shone and set. Bright with names that men remember, loud with names that men forget. Haply here shall Eton’s record be what England finds it yet. In looking through the Juno magazines note ‘ Melissa’s Tour,’ by Grant Allen, in ‘Longman’s’; ‘Some Unpublished Letters of Charlotte Bronte,’ and ‘The Woman of the Morgue,’ a tale of New Caledonia, by Gilbert Parker, in ‘ M‘Millan’s ’; ‘A Night with Tantalus,’ by Walter Beaant, in the ‘ Ludgate ’; ‘ Safety on the Atlantic, a most interesting article by W. H. Ridoing, in ‘ Scribners.’ Jane 13. A DENIAL, General Booth has at length definitely denied that he lent Mr Stead money to start the ‘ Review of Reviews ’ with. The only bond betwixt the Salvation chief and the master of Mowbray House is “ the bond of sympathy in doing God’s work,” “I never,” said Mr Booth the other day, “gave Mr Stead a penny. There is an explanation about the L 5.000, but it is a very simple one, and I do not think Mr Stead would care to see it repeated, it is so simple and trivial, Whatever people say about Mr Stead, he is the soul of honor and of unselfish noble

generosity. I would to God his oritios were like him!" THE DOCAN CASK, The Duncan murder, or rather attempted murder case, which caused such a sensation in North Wales, is up to the present an inexplicable mystery. That Mr Duncan, a reputable Anglo-American gentleman, seemingly much attached to his wife, attacked her during a lonely walk, and would have beaten out her brains with a stone had he not been interrupted, is of course known; but the motive for the brutal crime the police cannot conceive. The Duncans were staying at an hotel at Bettws-y-Caed, where they were old customers. Husband and wife appeared on excellent terms, and started off for the fatal walk in good spirits. Some hours later a woodman, happening to select an unfrequented path for his road home, came upon Duncan on his knees battering at his wife’s head with a lump of rook. The would-be murderer hailed the assailant when he saw him, and declared his wife had met with an accident. Would he go for assistance ? When arrested some hours later Danoan seemed so dazed that everyone concluded the explanation of the tragedy was a lie of insanity. Presently, however, he recovered, sent for a local acquaintance, and conversed quite sensibly. Experts, indeed, consider him perfectly sane. In Duncan’s coat pocket the police found a letter, evidently just written to an American friend, asking for a loan of LIOO. Ho said the man he had been travelling with had met with an accident, and he was accused of assaulting him. This anomaly appears to be explained by the fact that Duncan (for reasons unknown) concealed hie marriage from American friends and relations, Evidently he desired to continue to do so. Altogether the affair is most mysterious,—Duncan was acquitted.—[Ed. B.S.] MBS CRIMWOOD. Mrs Grimwood, the heroine of Manipur, has arrived in England, and is staying with her sister at Howe. The Royal Red Cross has been bestowed on the lady, and next Thursday she will, by command, visit tbe Queen at Windsor. Though the Red Cross is only a nurses’ order, there is no other in existence (not even the Victoria Cross itself) which has so good a right to be called an “ order of merit.’’ MR GLADSTONE, Mr Gladstone made his appearance in the House on Monday evening for the first time since his severe illness. He looked very pale, but his walk was elastic as usual, and when circumstances obliged him to get up and defend Sir William Harcourt he spoke with much vivacity. THE GRAND PRIZE OE BARIS. Of the dozen runners for the Grand Priz-? of Paris (of the value of £4,474) on Sunday three animals, Gouverneur, Reverend, and Clamart, belonged to M Edmond Blanc, The first two are well known to us, being trained in England by Tom Jennings; but Clamart belongs to M. Blanc’s French stable, and had only been seen on a racecourse thrice before. On these three occasions, however, the son of Sauraur and Princess Katherine (by Prince Charlie) won, and on Sunday the Paris “sharps ” to a man backed Blanc’s “dark’an.” The unbeaten Ermak smarted a hot favorite at 6 to 4, 4 to 1 being laid Gouverneur (whom Watts crossed the Channel to ride), 6 to I Clamart, 10 to 1 Reverend, 20 to 1 Le Caprioorue, Berenger, and Benvenuto (winner of the Ep>om Grand Puze), 100 to 1 Clement, 200 to 1 each the others. The outsider Muroir Do Portugal led for the first half-mile, when Reverend took up the running, closely attended by Ermak, Gouverneur, and Le Capricornc. Sir furlongs from home Miroir De Portugal was beaten, and the three lastnamed challenged the leader. Very soon is became evident that Reverend still held them, and when, a little later on, the. jookeys of both Ermak and Gouverneur began to ride hard, laud shouts proclaimed the son of Energy’s victory. At this crisis, however, Clamart, on whom Lane had been quietly waiting, appeared on the scene, M. Blanc's second string quickly passed the heuten favorites, and opposite the stands tackled his stable companion. There was a brief struggle, and then Clamart, forging to the front, fairly outstayed Reverend, and won by a length. Clement, two lengths away, ran third, a neck in front of Le Capricorne, placed fourth. ROYAL ASCOT. Ascot in an east wind, was there ever a combination so diabolically incongruous ? Fortunately the icy breeze made itself felt early in the day, and ladies consequently ctme properly prepared. Instead of summery garments, furs, feather boas, anci tailor-made dresses were the features of th<> enclosure. Royalty arrived punctually to time, the somi-State procession being headed by Lord Coventry, who looked considerably more comfortable wearing the golden coup'es of the Master of the Buckhounda than ho did in the witness-box last Saturday. Per haps the cheers which greeted the Prince of Wales were a trifle less cordial than usual. People near me said so, but I fancy it wus merely imagiuation. Racing commenced with a “ turn-up,” Mr A. B. Carr’s Caliche v which won the Trial Stakes, being unbacked for sixpence. The Two-year-old Biennial followed, the Australian-owned Juvenal and Mr Blundell Maple’s Scarborough starting hot favorites, Neither, however, could get near Mr J. Legh’s Kuockany (by Kendal—May Day), which won by a length horn Rellinzona and Vivien. Betting, 10 to 1 Knockany. Common did not put in an appearance for the rich Prince of Wales Stakes; anfl Mr D. Cooper’s Melody, with much the best of tbe weights, just managed to got home a head in front of Orvieto, with Sir R. Jardine’s Cavendish third, Orion, Cuttlestone, Punster, Patrick Blue, and The Doll Tearshnt colt also ran. Betting, II to 10 Melody. The Ascot Stakes attracted ten runners, and was booked a good thing for the Groat Metropolitan winner Ragimunde (3 yra, 7at 11b), which started a 5 to 5 chance. Unfortunately, its saddle turned round, so that the Duke of Beaufort's colt was early deprived of all chance. Mr Lowther's Hounsditch (syrs, 7st 81b), second favorite, at 11 to 2, proved more fortunate. Half a mile from home it looked as though the lightly-weighted Plato (4yrs, fist 91b) might be going to score a victory for the third year in succession for Sir R. Jardine. Fagan, however, was merely waiting. At the bend Hounsditch quickly assumed the lead, and won, running away by several lengths, Barmecide a bad third, Vasistas, Bullion, Lily of Lumley, Chesterfield, Braokley, and Zillah composed the balance of the field.

The Coventry Stakes, for two-year-olds, resulted in as exciting a race as was the case last year, when The Deemster, starting a red-hot favorite, struggled home the shortest of heads in front of Sipbonia. This year The Deemster’s sister Flyaway was the “good thing," and the talent tumbled over one another to take 1 to 4, notwithstanding the presence (in a large field) of Priestess, Le Chesnay (by Energy—La None), and Dunuro (by St. Simon—Sunrise), all three rumored very smart. The favorite got rid of the two first named, after a severe race, at the Spagnoletti board. Here, however, Mr Houldsworth’a beautiful brown colt Dunmo dropped down upon him. Watts and Cannon both rode their hardest; in fact, the finish waa a repetition of last year’s. This time, however, victory lay with the latter, who squeezed Dunure home a short haad to the good. Starting price, Bto 1, THEATRICAL NOTES, Robert Buchanan's elephantine attempt to ridicule Ibsenity in ‘ Heredity ’ or, as it has now been christened, ‘ The Gifted Lady,’ struck me as the dullest, heaviest piece of fooling I ever remember to have seen on the stage. The plot is the plot of ‘The Serious Family' and ‘The Colonel.’ Substitute the Ibsen craze for the aesthetic craze, eliminate every trace of humor, and add an atmosphere of what the author calls “colossal suburbanism,” and you have ‘ The Gifted Lady,’ Miss Fanny Brough wrastled vainly with an impossible part, as did W. H Vernon. The play was a dead failure. Miss Julia Neilson and Mr Fred Terry, the leading lady and the jeune premier of the Haymarket, are engaged. No wonder Mr Terry’s love-making in ‘The Dancing Girl ’ seems fervently realistic. The season at Mr Tree’s theatre ends on the 27th, when the company go into the provinces to fulfil their annual engagements in our six leading cities. The house will reopen in October, of course, with ‘The Dancing Girl.’ These last few months have been as lucky to Mr Alexander and Mr Tree as they have been disastrous to other managements.

'La Oigale' reaches its 250 th night at the Lyrio Theatre to-morrow, Business at the English Opera is slaok, and two novelties are in preparation. Two short one-act comedies and a merry farce of 'The Critio' order, called 'A Pantomime Rehearsal,' were produced by Mr George Edwardes at Terry'u with marked success on Saturday evening. Whether such a mixed programme will draw in London remains to be seen. LITERARY NOTE 9 • Nada, the Lily; a Tale of Zululand,' will be the title of Rider Haggard's next story, which runs (in the first instance) through Tillot&on's syndicate before roverting to Longo.an'a. Additions toßentley'a green series include Miss Carey's ' Mary St. John,' Miss Brougliton's 'Alas!' and Marie Corelli's ghastlp nightmare 'Wormwood.' Spencer Blackott annouucos 2a editions of Captun Andrew Haggard's 'Ada Triscott' and Floretce Marryat's 'Scarlet Lin.' The latter is rubbish, like most of Mrs Ross Churca'a reoent work. Her new two volume story, ' The Risen Dead,' retails the venerable and much-used plot of ' East Lynne,' newly dressed of course, but recognisable in half a dozen chapters. Mr Fiaher Unwin has just added to his quain ;ly-shaped pseudonym series a volume of she rt stories entitled the ' Hotel D'Angloterre,' etc, by the author of the much-talked-of " Hdlle. Ixe." They will scarcely set the Thamas afire. W)uld-be comio epitaphs ore soldom particulnrly laughable, but occasionally one come* upon a really ingenious device, Bucb as th-.s following : Beneath this eod, and under thews trees, Lies kll that is left of Hiram Pease ; lie is not hero ; it'a only his pod, His soul has bhciied out and uone to God.

The deceased's wife, however, had a passion for c mdensatiou, and ran the four lines into one, thusly— Here lies the pod ; the peas are in Heaven.