TOPICS OF THE DAY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1221, 26 July 1895, Page 38

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

From Our Special Correspondent. BIRTHDAY HONOURS. London, May 31. The features of the Birthday honours list are the absence of the creation of any fresh peerage or step in the peerage, and the recognition by the Crown of the histrionic profession. On dit this latter departure must be attributed to the efforts of Princess Beatrice, whose penchant for the stage is notorious, and who has been the means of dispelling many of the Queen's natural prejudices concerning actors and actresses. Most women, I think, grow more dogmatic and illiberal the older they become, but the Queen is an exception to the rule. Since, indeed, the united efforts, a few years back, of Princess Beatrice, Sir H. Ponsonby and the late Lady Churchill broke down the barriers of the Royal widow's quarter of a century of mourning, and got "command" performances to Court re-initiated, the Queen has developed quite a fondness for concert music and the drama. Tt requiied, however, a deal of diplomacy to induce Her Majesty to make Irving Sir Henry, Mr Gladstone proposed the step two years ago, but rumours of domestic differences between the tragedian and his wife intervened. Since then, fortunately, the Queen has"seen the Lyceum manager himself. His manner created a very favourable impression, and this year the Sovereign met Lord Rosebery's renewed suggestion with a gracious assent. The five new baronets are political props of the great Liberal Party, and ill-natured people will say some of them have paid pretty dearly for their honours. Mr John Tomlinson Brunner is a partner in the firm of Brunner, Mond and Co., and the financial backbone of the Star. He has ail his life been a benefactor to the cause of education, and partially endowed two or three grammar schools and Liverpool University. Mr Robert Durning Holt is the recognised leader of the Radical Party in Liverpool, and was the first Liberal Mayor of the city. He belongs to a family renowned for its unostentatious philanthropy and humanity, and its oldfashioned strictness and severe integrity in business matters. Sir Robert Holt's morality is cast iron. He resembles Mr Courtenay in his faultlessness, and would perhaps be more popular if he were less perfect. His friends say of him what the Westminster said of the ex-Chairman of Committees: " What a pity he has never had a spree ! It would render him less formid* ably impeccable." The most interesting of the new knights next to Irving is Walter Besant. It was wise to choose him from amongst contemporary novelists, though the Meredith maniacs are of course furious at a mere Philistine being preferred to their idol. Ordinary folks, however, remember Sir Walter's long services to the cause of literature, as well as his admirable novels. The Times, I notice, in its leader on the Birthday honours makes the astonishing assertion that the " Monks of Thelema" was Besant and Rice's masterpiece. I must say it would never have occurred to me to prefer that quaint story to the "Golden Butterfly" or "Ready Money Mortiboy," and I also consider " Children of Gibeon " and " Armorel of Lyonnesse " far superior to "All In a Garden Fair." The latter the Times places at the head of the long list of Besant's solus productions. There has been a sad tearing of hyacinthine locks and loud lamentations amongst bards and bardlets over the ennobling of Lewis Morris. Whilst Swinburne is alive Lord Rosebeiy will not make this secondrate person Laureate, but it looks suspiciously as though with the author of

" Atalanta" out of the way that deplorable eventuality might come to pass. A certain chastened joy is visible at the Bodley Head. Messrs Wm. Watson and Richard Le Gallienne foresee themselves Sir William and Sir Richard ere many moons have waxed and waned. In truth most of us would have preferred either of these young men to have been knighted now, rather than Lewis Morris. William Morris, of course, is a Socialist, and would scorn a title, at least one supposes so. He might, however, be worth tempting. BurneJones, we should remember, Socialism notwithstanding, succumbed to the seductive " Sir."

Mr William Martin Conway is an authority on art and alps and a great climber. I knew him when he was Professor at Liverpool University, where he preceded Robert Louis. StevensDn's brother. He sung small in those days, but someone left him or his wife a huge fortune. They came to live in London, and Mr Conway attained to fame as a climber. He went to the Himalayas, where he out-Whympered Whymper, and has written more than one chatty volume recounting his exploits. Mr Conway is also just at present president of the Society of Authors. DR HONEYMAN'S FUNERAL. In accordance with the known wishes of the late Dr Honeyman, his remains were conveyed from Brighton (via London) to his native village of Luchars, St. Andrew's, Fife, and buried in the parish churchyard last Friday at 12.30. The cause of his death was apoplexy, not paralysis, and the account we first heard of the circumstances was scarcely accurate. It seems the doctor had breakfasted and retired to his study to write, appearing quite well. Suddenly someone heard a fall, and on going to the room found the doctor insensible. He never recovered consciousness. Captain A.shby being ill, the work of meeting Mr Hay at Plymouth and breaking the news of the doctor's death devolved on Mr Sinclair Gillies, who is a cousin of Mrs Honeyman's and a nephew of Mr Hay's. Mr John Hay's sister, Miss Hay, arrived Home per Orizaba on Tuesday, and has gone to Brighton, where she will remain at present. THE CLOSE OF THE WILDE TRIAL. The squalid tragedy at the Old Bailey ended on Saturday evening with the conviction of Oscar Wilde, who was sentenced, as seemed probable from the first—if he were found guilty —to the extreme penalty allowed by law. The jury had been two hours away, and odds were being freely betted on a disagreement, when they reappeared and asked advice on certain points. Apparently what the Judge said smoothed all differences, as they returned in five minutes.

Wille's face as he staggered up the stairs into the dock was terrible to see. The veins in his fine forehead stood out like whipcord; his colour was a dull red ; his expression agonised. The foreman of the jury glanced once at the dock, and turned very pale. He had to say " Guilty " in answer to five out of the six counts, and his voice broke and failed to a whisper whilst doing so. Those who had expected that the prisoner would break down if such a verdict were returned were mistaken. When the foreman had pronounced his last "Guilty" there were cries of " Shame " in the gallery. The Judge's tones as he pronounced sentence were even severer and more cutting than his language. Wilde seemed dazed, but the hitherto brazen Taylor winced, visibly. The sentence appeared to stun the older man. "Two years," he murmured in a whisper of thrilling terror, " Two years ! "

Undoubtedly had the man possessed the means I believe he would at this moment have fulfilled his oft-repeated threat and killed himself. But, as I conjectured in my last, the authorities had taken away from him everything (even his handkerchief) which could conceivably be utilised suicidally. He stood there helpless and hopeless, staring at a vista of fearful possibilities ending in madness and death. CAPTAIN ASHBY'S ILLNESS. The slight stroke of paralysis from which Captain William Ashby has been suffering is, I am glad to learn, yielding to treatment, and though still very weak, he can move his arm and side again. During the last few days the captain has seen one or two friends, and been told of his old comrade Dr Honeyman's death. The news of the latter greatly distressed him. Dr Cooper Keys is attending the captain.