LONDON GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 10223, 27 January 1897, Page 4

LONDON GOSSIP.

[From Our Special Correspondent, j London, December 11. THE CASE AGAINST MR CHAMBERLAIN. The cose against the Colonial Secretary .set forth in Mr Stead’s 'History of the Mystery’ is as black as printers’ ink can make it. That, however, dues not signify much. In the course of the lost fifteen years .we have learnt to know “the good man” and to understand his methods. His deadliest enemies cannot deny that he is a great journalist. Were he invited to prove the moon consisted cf green cheese he could and would convince many thousands of the fact in a couple of articles. The causes he champions seem prima facie irrefragable. Unfortunately experience has taught us they ore deceitful above everything, and often most mischievous. I cannot think of one wbhh has stood the test of time and examination. The Maiden Tribute, the M ittei Remedies, the innocence of. Lipski, the female Damiens, Kate Marsden, and the irrepressible “Julia” have all one after another developed into “mares’ nests” or worse. So now the world takes Mrßtead largely cum grano so Us. His wonderful disclosures no longer arouse excitement. At the bottom may lie a sediment of truth, but it is fure to be so Overlaid with .gross exaggeration and plausible conjecture that few find it.

This appears to be the fact concerning * The History of the Mystery.’ A grain or two of truth can be Occasionally, detected by well-informed people running through the fiction. It is certainly true, for example, that the Reformers in Johannesburg believed that Mr Chamberlain knew ana approved of their plans. Between showing this, however, and proving the Colonial Secretary to be a conspirator a great golf lies, lam not much of a sportsman, hut 1 Would willingly wager Mr Stead one of the particularly bad bats be habitually wears that when the parliamentary inquiry comes to an end it will not be Mr Chamberlain who stands compromised. The case of Mr Rhodes is different. He was oonjecturally badly compromised before, but it has remained for fats friend Stead to plunge him up to the neck in the conspiracy. To implicate Mr Chamberlain the good man had to give away Mr Rhodes, and very successfully has he done so. The reasons why the latter countenanced the business are, no doubt, accurate. Thereat and chief reapon was his fear lest the Uitlanders,%ho, he felt certain, would overthrow the rule of the Boers, might resent being left without assistance by England. If so, they would then organise, not a friendly State in federal relations with the other British colonies, but a hostile independent Republic, more hostile to the Empire than the present Boer Republic. As the Transvaal is the richest of all the South African States, it might obtain the hegemony of South Africa. England, in that case, would lose all her possessions in South Africa, exc pt, perhaps, a naval station at Simon Bay, whde i he Cape Colony would become the mere satellite or appendage of the Transvaal. To avert this danger Mr Rhodes recognised that the capitalists of the Rand were bound to play their proper part as leaders of the community in which they they made their wealth. He therefore, with h : 8 brother, Mr Phillips, Mr Farrar, Mr Leonard, and others, threw himself heartily into the popular movement. Knowing that the president would never yield to reason, Mr Rhodes subscribed to the funds of the Transvaal National Union, with which money various rifi s and Maxims were purchased, in accordance with a suggestion made by Lord Loch during his visit to Johannesburg in IB9i MB STEAD’S OHAB6E9. This is the fashion—verily, the > suggestive fashion—in which Mr Stead insinuates his case against the Gdlbnial Secretary The Colonial Secretory had no more knowledge of the great enterprise which was being ep» glneered In Johannes bunt than the Prime Minister uf the tope himself. It was, indeed, palpable that he oould not have had any such knowledge, and should the future htsteriau explore the archives of the Colonial Office he will search in vain for any trace of any Information, oomtnun'* Gated to Her Majesty’s Secretary of State as to the Hastens that-were on foot in Africa, whether Mr Jo&ph Chamberlain in his private capacity as a citizen of Birmingham knew as much of the facts which were carefully concealed from him in his official position as Mr Rhodes knew of the same scries of farts, of which he was also, officially, in the densest ignorance, is a point which does not matter so much for the purposes of, our story. What is important is what was. believed to be the truth by those who had the matter in hand, and there was no doubt that, rightly or wrongly. Mr Rhodes felt entirely secure on that score. He believed; and , was very-certain that he had reason for b •lieving, that although no one at home accepted anv responsibility, or could be credited or debited with any knowledge as to what was being prepared, there was no reason to doubt that if the revolution, prospered ijs success would be otherwise than acceptable th’ the Imperial authorities. MR CHAMBERLAIN AND THK BRITISH FLAG. And he thus enlarges upon the point in telling how the impression had got afloat in Johannesburg that “ Mr .Chamberlain had made it a sine qua non of his support of the Uitlanders in their efforts to obtain a redress of their grievances that they should on the first opportunity hoist the British- flag and demand. to be restored to the proud position of a British colony It was declared, and that in very influential quarters, that private communications had been received from high financial quarters in London that Chamberlain had been taken privately into the secrets of the Reform' leaders, that he had been told all about everything, and that he was quite prepared to do nis part when the time came, but only on one condition: he most have something with which to silence the clamor that would certainly be raised against any scheme whjcb appeared to be promoted in the interesto-ef. Rhodes and the millionaires of Africa. Unless the leaders of the movement would promise to hoist the British flag when the moment for action arrived, Chamberlain would wash his bands of the .whole affair, and they could take the quences. Nothing but toe positive assurances given by Mr Rhodes that they might keep what flag they pleased In toe Transvaal, Mr. Stead assures us, saved the movement from sadden collapse. HR CHAMBERLAIN’S “ INNOCENT UNRESERVE.” Mr Stead continues his insinuation tons:— If Mr.Chamberljin took a ride in a penny ’bus, and overheard two fellow nassengers talking unreservedly concerning the details of a conspiracy to overthrow the Government of the Boer Republic, this cannot be said to commit Her Majesty’s Secretary of State for the Golonies-to gnilty prior knowledge of the designs of the conspirators, even although the conversation may have been intendeofor his ear and the details may have been accurate. It is easy to understand bow in the unreserve of the smoking rqom at the club, or at. a friend’s house, where efren the xaost austere of Cabinet Ministers will sometimes _ unbend in toe charming society of ladies, full .of information about affairs in South Africa, %e may have heard many things of which it was as impossible for him to make any official use as it would he equally impossible for him to refuse to listen to all toe pretty prattle of travellers, male and female, who had visited thewildsof Africa. But the remarks which he made in toe innocent unreserve and gay abandon of the social circle might bear quite another construction when reproduced for the private and confidential information of administrator* as far away as tope Town is. “ When Dr Jatneeon mastered his men-on the frontier of (Bechnan&land,” the “ Historian” writes,! “ he?honestly believed that Mr Chamberlain knew and approved of all the steps which fop to that point , bad been taken ip British'territory to secure the sueqeeeof the ipstffreotion.” The form into which’Mr Stead has thrown, his narrative is that of a' pnrehr imaginative account of what ought to hdve heeneehiaxsd, if Johannesburg had been fortunate enough to possess a great editor such as Mr Stead’s heroine, Jeanne Leffo. There, is person in the romance who is not eaaly recognisable under his pseudonym, although; the following list may be useful r '

Africa-Libya: ' I MrC. The Hon. R. J. CetU. r> * land. > JameeonTrDrJatnes The Orange Free Sahlbst \ , '* r I/emonund.' - --i Sir Ohauiborialh Btr 1 , Rhodesia—Ophldand. HoU-Jos. Btosfcuer. ■ Becbuaoal*nd - Mr Fairfield—fir Fleldkenrioland. . • ing: ■ t; Cape Colony—Hope- Oon»-Paul—Hncle Sauls town. ' Sir GrahaWi-R|Wer—Sir Johannesburg Joh&s- George Crawler. - town. ' Dr R. Dr Pretoria—Notoria. Cactus.,. • Kimberley—Ceoilstadt. Olive SchreJnejc —OHve . Bale wayo-The King’s Lymlall. - Kraal. W. O. Schreiner—Mr Loftle.- ' THK BATABD CHRISTMAS BOX. tfince the 1 Daily Mail,’ in the oonrw of a few weeks, deprived the ‘ Telegraph ’ of a huge elioe of its circulation the proprietary offthe latter hsve been trying all sorts ofexpedients in a'futile endeavor to recover lost ground. The editor’s last move—the “ Bayard Christmas Testimonial ’’ seem# a. most infelicitous one, and must, 1 inoline to think, come to grief. The density of the lower middle classes,' who form the mainstay of Sir Edward Lawson’s print, is proverbial. Still, how anyone outside Bedlam oould suppose it to be a compliment to placethe American Ambassador on a’ level with W. G. Grace I fail to comprehend. What the Americans themselves think of the project we have not been long in learning. The ‘New Fork Herald’ bellowed furiously for Mr Bayard’s recall, and the general feeling of the American Press seems to be that the Great Republic has been grossly insulted, Of opurse, “going round with the hat” for an ambassador does seem most improper when you think of it. It would have beeh bad enough had .there never-been a, champion crioke&ij testimonial, but coming on the top thereof the scheme does approach perilously near indignity rather than compliment. Certainly the * Daily Telegraph’s * hope that this “spontaneous tribute” will “cement the ties ” which bind us to our American cousins is not likely to be realised, From the rumpus in the about the matter the exact opposite appears more probable. Mr Bayard himself prayed to be delivered from his friends. The enemies who denounce him as a traitor to bis country and a confirmed Anglophile can bp dealt with, but indiscreet friends and admin w are the very deuce. “POOR TOM BOWLI'O.” The story of “ poor Tom Bowling ” narrated in the Divorce Court on Monday differs materially from the version of that hero’s adventures warbled by Mr S;ms Reeves. Tom, as in the song, is a sailor*-*' master mariner employed in the Shaw-Sayill line—and bis heart is “ kind and soft." So, too, is bis brothel’s, Mr Alfred Bowling’s. Aqd there’* where.the trouble camp in,. The lads loved the same lass. Her name was Floi and she preferred Alfred. But whilst the latter voyaged to New Zealand ha |*H oT9r’ board, and was supposed to have shared shocking fate of Jonah withont ttot histori; cal character’s luck in giving the- Whale im digestion. Assuming A)f- Bowljpg to have “ ;one aloft,” Flo marripd ‘ Tom., The* Al{ reappeared, and there wss teouble.-i for three years, however, Flo concealed her feelings and remained a faithful wife, bearing Tom three children. But at last, during the latter’s absence- in Australia, her great love for Alfred overpowered discretion. When the husband, returi&d this year he found two One*from."his wife. • It ran: “ The only wrojjqpf have previously done you was in marrying you while I loved another.” Tbo other was from his brother, wrote: “Tom,—You must know that, from the time we were boy and girl, together we have loved each other. It was quite a mistake iq the first plaqe for you to get married, as you were not suited to each other, but this reason does not make my sin the less. For all these years I have kept my feelings down until an unfortunate moment, and since.our position dawned upon us I can assure you we have not known a moment’s peace.” His Lordship granted a decree nisi with costs against the co respondent, and gave petitioner the custody of the three children.

THE WHEEL WEpDING. Let Lord Brassey hide his diminished head. His vice-regal “ biking ” parties were a felicitous development of the current craze, and gracious glimpses of Government House qobiliiies in “ knickers ” must have lightened the lives of many Melbourne folk. Lady Brassey’s bicycle ball, too, added materially to the gaiety of nations. But their Excellencies’ efforts must, 1 fear, pale now before those of. a young Dutchman, a simple burgher of Rotterdam. Tnis junker has given a fresh impetus to cycling by inventing the wheel wedding. Thd first of these oeremonies took place last week in his native oily, Mynheer Van Tromp assuming Uio rdle o! bike-bridegroom. The procession of 109 machines left the residence S! the bride’s father anno after 11 am. and prooreded to the Tow Hall. The neroipe cf the 8 occasion, s supported by her ' father, ledP'i the party mounted on of shining polished aluminiuqt i3h)a war? voluminous white satfc kalbkers,’% tailornude jittket of white kid embroidered with silver *nd edged With white sable,, and 4 rakish |*ble turbap. The bridesmaids fob lowed tin six sale-blue bikes, ft»so»ly tpateh* ing their knickers and jackets. Then Uhffid the groom and his supperter with the hide’s bouquet, and finally the relations of oblh parties. After the ceremony tnO nowly-married couple mounted an elegant “bicycle made for two," aind, attacb'nk* gigantic bouquet to the front, pedalled festively home again. I wish I could end the story here. Alas! later in the day several of the parly insisted on seeing Me and Mrs Van Tromp off op They were distinctly “schnappy,” not to say convivial, and in sheer lightness of heart managed to trundle, violently down apteep place into a canal Men and machinesMSer* picked out rather the worse for wet. -it is nob, however, imperative that a wheel wedding should end thus. . THE RAIDERS- ; The release of Dr Jameson was, it seems, only the thin end of the wedge. Undoubtedly the chief raider was ill, and is’ still very far from well, but it is open to grave doubt whether he was half po bad aS some of the newspaper reports tried to make out. One journal, for instance, In giving what is commonly called a “picturesque” account of the dootor’s farewell to HollowayGaol laid particular stress on the diffeTOpce in the weight of the raider when he went into prison 7 and when he was carried pictured two stalwart warders staggering under the raider’s weight whet) he was carried into the hospital *t Hie commencement of his illness, and spoke 1 of two slight hospital attendants jauntily tripping along with Dr “ J m ” on a stretcher on the night, of his release. Now, all the world: knows that Dr Jim was never, sufficiently endowed with physical,propoitiona-to make the carrying of him on a stretcher more than ~* light task for anv ,two ' men of average strength. Probably, indeed, in-foil health and strength* he never tapped at more than eleven stone, garments included. This, however, is by the way. The point is that “Dr Jim’s” releaseseCmsto have inspired a desire in certain quarters for the free-, dom of the other participants in the. raid, sent to gaol by the Lord Chief Justice. We: are told now that two of them are suffering: from dyspepsia and insomnia and from mental depression, and that to keep them in prison any longer lyill be to seriously endanger their lives. Mental depression, of course, is a nasty oomplaipt, but dt is poo which most men who are not habitual criminals suffer front whilst in prison.. Insomnia, of oonrae, has a very bad effect on anyone’s health, but it is generally only the outcome, of dyspepsia, as .also is nine cases out of ten is mental, ’depression. Indigestion, however, is a qneat complaint to contract on prison* fore plus, prison exercise, bnt the remedy is obvfo&s. , Change the men’s diet, give them a few doses? of Siegel’s Syrup or a eourse of Pink Pills for Paw People, and give them a doofale spell of exercise every day. But it is tohepresumed; that red tape will not allow such shnpfo remedies to be tried upon-mch prisoners when an effeotu*) cure can-be at onoenohieved by the signature of the Home, SecTOtary to an order of release. The peen-* liar feature of the health bulletins,issued * from Hdlowsay of' manufactured joirewhere’. that neUhpr'tlcßmeli Greya® OolopelH WKRpt m *ny, way “awcommoaod” by ||dlr q>rii6n life.*’ Their term expires at* Christmas, and in the! usual course thdy will be released on 6o*ipgl Pay, ,