LONDON CHAT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11797, 28 July 1900, Page 2

LONDON CHAT.

(From Oub Own Coekesfoxdent.}

LONDON, June 8.

Brilliant sunshine with a cool, almost chilly, breeze characterised the weather of the Whitsuntide holidays. "London" went out of town last Friday or Saturday, and has not even yet wholly returned. So the city is somewhat dull, as indeed it always is in Whit-sim-week, but at the West End " the season " is in full swing.

Tho. Queen is still at Balmoral, but returns to Windsor about the 23rd hist., and goes on tho 17th prox. to (Jsborne, where she will remain until the end of August. During that period her Ixjajesly will be visited by the Crown Prince of Germany, Prince and Princess Henry of I'russia, the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of ilesse, tho Duke and Duchess of Sparta, the Crown Prince and Princess of Sweden, and other distinguished foreign guests. A ievee is to be held by the Duke of York, on behalf of the Queen, on the 6th .luly, which, will bo the seventh anniversary of his wedding with Princess .May of Teck. He will receive aburidance of congratulations upon his seventh wedding-day, and everybody hopes that he and his wife are happy in their union. Both are popular up to a certain point, but it would be idle to pretend that they are regarded with anything like the enthusiasm which is always inspired by the Prince and Princess of Wales, and which in fact seemed to be inspired by Princess .May before her marriage. The Duke himself is a quiet, steadygoing sort of fellow, to whom all public functions are an unmitigated bore, and who submits to them as does his father because " it is his duty to," but not with the same genial gracs and. bonhomie that endears the Prince of Wales so greatly to his future subjects. It is not that tha Duke of York is churlish or ungenial. Far from it; he is a most kindhearted and goodnatured fellow, but his temperament is not one that can enjoy publicity or its penalties, and so, although he submits, hs cannot wholly hide the fact that he " would rather be excused."

Just now speculation is rife as to the future of the "working; Sovereign" of Ei.gland—if this be not an unconstitutional mode of regarding tho Prime Minister. For it seems to bo generally understood that Lord Salisbury intends to retire, on his laurels, and to seek well-earned repose amid his favourite scientific studies, after the present Paliament has ran its course. Now, this raises, in passing, the question of dissolution date, and on that point opinions sesm to differ widely. Extreme party men on the Ministerial side are keenly anxious that tha Government should appeal to the country while a. " khaki" vote cai.i be depended upon. This would, in all huraan^ probability, replace the Conservative party in power for another term of seven years. But the Opposition exclaim loudly— and some Ministerialists seem to agree with them—that it woulcl be shameful and unworthy to snatch a party victory on the strength of the patriotic enthusiasm which prevails just now. •_ A third view—which I cannot help suspecting to be insidiously encouraged by the astute Mr Chamberlain—is that a general election ought to precede tho final settlement of tile South African question, so that the Government may be •strengthened by tho support of .the entire nation or its majority.

At present there- is no Eymptom of a definite decision in either direction, bul Sir William Walrond, the chief whip on the Government side, and Captain Middleton, principal party manager for the Conservatives, both declare solemnly that they have heard nothing whatever ,of any intention to dissolve shortly. I presume therefore that we have yet a breathing space before a fresh general election, which, indeed, is not due by eflhixion of time for nearly two years " yet. to come and unexpired." But one never knows. Personally, I look for n somewhat sudden announcement ono day, quite xmexpectedly. We shall see.

Still, whether tha election come sooner or later, the crucial question, of the next Conservative Premiership will have to be definitely settled ere long. Already the atmosphere is thick with pilot balloons. Mr Chamberlain's claims as a great Empire-maker are being loudly trumpeted forth from one of these " balions d'essai." Mr Balfour's superior right as leader of the House is pressed by the more extreme Tory section. It is no secret that the wish of his uncle, the present Premier, points in this direction. But there- is a very strong feeling prevalent in the party that neither man is possible at present, because each would have such a powerful backing that ffro selection of either would mean a rending in twain of -the whole Unionist body. This fear tends to direct the stream of preference towards the Duke of Devonshire, who is regarded as an eminently "safe" man, if, perhaps, a shade indolent and'haw-hawish. It is euggested that he would serve at least as a stopgap until the relative strength of Mr Bal-four-and Mr Chamberlain should be more clearly ascertained than is possible during Lord Salisbury's .chieftaincy.

But it Cannot be denied that there is a marked leaning toward Lord Rcsebery and a feeling of. liopp that he may yet, after all, cast in his fortunes with the Liberal-Unionist party, in which case his selection for the Premiership would be very popular among a large proportion of its members. That Lord Eosebery has long baen cleverly coquetting with the Unionist side can hardly, I think, be denied. Of course, he has never uttered a syllable that could bo taken hold of. But he loses no opportunity that offers of making an' effective and. picturesque pronouncement of views and E9ntiments and leanings which are in diametric opposition to. tiiose cherished by the Harcourt-Morley section of the Opposition, and which are in virtual accord with the main principles of Liberal-Unionism. A "deep and truly knowing man" like Lord Eosebery does not do this sort of thing for nothing. In 'my opinion, he is simply '■■■by-ding his tymo." He will never desert Mr Micawber, but- he may skilfully force the onii3 of desertion on Mr Micawber himself— i.e., on the Radical party.

If, then, by one of those ingeniously-timed outbursts of "the larger patriotism"—alias, Imperialism—which ho so deftly manages, he can provoke or tempt the Radicals or their present warming-pan—l mean- leader, —Sir Henry Canipbell-Bannerman, to disclaim him and his sentiments just when the election of a Parliament on overwhelmingly Imperial lines and the retirement of Lord Salisbury might seem to suggest the formation of a- new party or coalition on the same basis of Imperialism, then I do think that he is just the man who could, and would, lead such a party with great popularity and success. It would absorb an important section of the Liberal party into an expanded Liberal-Unionism, and would afford breathing.time alike for the Balfourites and the Chamberlainians, who might then gird up their loins for a future struggle to secure the command, as the Radical party would then probably be reduced to dimensions little, if at all, larger than those of the Irish Nationalist party at present. Now, all these speculations may seem too previous," but they.are seriously entertained by some whose judgment and foresight cannot safely ba despised. So I simply say. ." Ks, eP, your eyes open, and you may see ' things. Matters of this sort are not settled abovo ground. Believe me, political events are brewing, and the end i 3 not yet. Every loyal subject of our Queen, every patriotic son of the British Empire, every English gentleman and decent man will rejoice to hear that the cad and sneak, the Juke of Orleans, has been expelled from the London Bachelors' Olub for his conduct in congratulating the Paris gutter ruffian who grossly insulted the Queen of England. _ He was afforded every opportunity of explaining his conduct, and, failing that, of resigning—the latter I cannot but think a piece of misplaced leniency. He did not choose to act like a crentleman in either respect. So the club has very properly kicked him out. He is an unmitigated "bounder." The chief cricketing event of the past week has been the meteoric ro-appearance of Andrew Stoddart in first-class cricket. During the past two seasons he has been virtually " out of it," and it was understood that he did not intend taking any'further part. But he was persuaded to play for Middlesex m the benefit match for Jack Hearne, the famous county bowler, and he did so to such gooc! purpose that he " tied " with the biggest score "hitherto made this season, putting together 221 in his most finished and effective style. Abel is the only other batsman who has mtulo so large an innings. So it is hoped that Stoddart may be encouraged by his success to contimro playing. This 221 is the largest score of his life in first-class cricket, but in an inferior match ho. once made 485! Music's chief interest this week is concentrated in the first cycle of Wagner s King dcs Niebolunger," now proceeding at the Opera House, Covent Garden. This has proved a huge financial success, every seat- bemg secured long in advance, which is tne case also for the second cycle. Wagner still spells financial success in London as elsewhere. It is fortunate that two singers are now available who can interpret his greatest soprano and baritone parts so superbly as do lemma and Van Rooy. The other performers are respectable, but hardly brilliant. It is rather a " pull," however, to the audience- to sit froni 7pm until past midnight as last night in " Siegfried." or still worse from 6.30 till 12.30 p m. as will be the case to-morrow night when " Gottordammerung," the fourth opera of the cycle, will be given. But pome people don't jfcem to mind it. The Princess of Wales is among these She never willingly misses a note of Wagner's music, and when one of his great, operas is given I generally see- her in her ulace before the first note of the overture "sounds, and she never leaves until after ■the Ip.st strain, is over. She is a veritable Wngnerian enthusiast.

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