LONDON CHAT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11923, 22 December 1900, Page 4

LONDON CHAT

(FnoM Oun Own Cohrespoxdent.)

LONDON, November 10. The Queen returned to Winder from Balmoral this week. Some writer of the pestilent class that invented the fictitious massacre of Peking deemed it a good "ecore" to circulate a story that, owing to " information received," the police had found it necessary to take exceptional precautions on the present occasion for ensuring her Majesty's safety, a plot having been formed to blow up her train. Public feeling was needlessly harrowed, and public indignation as needlossly excited. Of course, there was not a word of truth in the story. All the customary precautions were taken, including a stringent examination of the raihvay arehos let to private occupier?. But that was all. It is never safo to prophesy " unless you know," but I rr.unot believe that the Anarchist gang, imbecile as are inauy of their proceedings and members, will ever "burn their boats" so thoroughly as (o sacrifice the only safe refuge where they can live, and even plot, unmolested by the authorities. They will go on vapouring, no doubt, and mouthing their silly fustian, but while the smallest spark of common sense remains in their poorly-fur-nished noddies they will hardly be such utter fools an to make England " too hot to hold them." And an attempt on the Queen would excite such an outburst of popular fury that everybody even suspected of Anarchism would probably have to face " Judge Lynch." I think the Anarchists realise this, and so I am not at all anxious as to our beloved Monarch's safety. As for (he ease of Sipido, in the first place lie was a Belgian, and T grieve to pay that Belgians have not shown to advantage in their relations with England. One of their own leading papers lately reminded them that they owe to Great Britain both their existence and continuance as a nation. So does Holland. If England were to withdraw her e.-.untonanc.e from those two little kingdoms, and to say to France and Germany. " Do as you like, with them," you may rely-upon it Belgium would be a part of France'and Holland of Germany in (he twinkling (if a bed-

post. Perhaps it is the consciousness of this absolute dependence upon England that makes Holland and Rp.lyium so bitter against us. Small minds find it hard to accept favour gracefully.

And it is. of course, quite true that England maintains their independence for lief- own falco, from motives of nntiona! poliry, and nnl. from any spee'al lovo for the Uclsnins or Dutch. Perhaps tins is one thing which eia-agcs them. They may not relish being regarded merely as the. counter* with which nigger Powers play a game of their own. At all events, while there is no authentic instauco of any well-behaved British visitor being treated in France otherwise than with courtesy and even kindness, there arc plenty of oases of British visitors—ladies, too—being very rudely treated, and, indefd," absolutely insulted, in Belgium. Sipido himself in a mere antemic semi-imbecilo; but I hope he will he hanged, nevertheless. Anaemic semiimbeciles of that kind, whose h?bby is murder, are very much better out of 'the way. Perhaps a periodical public flogging might do as well, "pour enconrager les "autres." But, oh, dear! he won't he hnnged, or flogged, or hurt! Not at all. He will merely be kept as a State prisoner, and will have by "no means a bad time, except that he won't be allowed to indulgo in his pet hobby—the murder of his fellow-creatures. Perhaps he will take to Killing flies for a change! It was a very sad aoco'mpauimeut to the rejoicings over the return of the C.l.V.'s that the news should arrive on the same day of the death of the Queen's gallant grandson, Prince Christian Victor—another victim to (he typhoid scourge, which has prostrated more of our fine fellows in South Africa than the bullets of the Boers. Its outbreak on so large a scale among our mon in South Africa, was one of the worst of our many disasters in the war hvorybody laments the untimely death of the Prince, who was a very fine fellow in every respect. His death lias been a great sorrow to the Queen, at whose advanced age such blows are apt to have a serious effect. However, she bore up bravely Beep sympathy ir. felt on nil sides with the deceased Prince's bereaved mother and father, the Prince and Princess Christian. Impressive memoria services have been held in Euginncl, and the sorrowing parents purpose journeying to South Africa to look at their sons _srravo, it having been decided that his remains shall rest in the distant land, where lie saves his life for his country uomDwiiat better accounts are received of the health of the Queen's eldest daughter the impress Frederick of Germany. She has oh-' tmnod temporary relief from her immediate sufferings, but, unhappily, the terrible disease winch has her in its fell grip never wholly releases its victims. It is pleasant to learn Mint there has been a complete reconciliation between herself and her son. the German Kmperor, and that the Imperial and somewhat imperious mother and son are on terms of the warmest affection. The former estrangement was due solely to one of the many unscrupulous devices which that modern Macuavelli, Bismarck, deemed legitimate policy and statecraft. Happily, Bismarekian traditions seem to be obsolete, for the time at ativ rate It is to be hoped they may not be revived.

Tiie movement in favour cf the adoption of a more comprehensive title for our Sovereign than that of merely "Queen of England and impress of India " is apparently reviving. Everyone feels that the absolute ignoring of such important sections of the British Empire as (he Dominion of Canada and South Africa the Commonwealth of Australia, and so thoroughly _a Britain of'the South Sens as Now Zealand, is. indefensible and injudicious. Yet what comprehensive title can be suggested? .1 recollect the original proposal was Empress of India and the Coumrcs, which I then too!-; the.liberty of pointing out asserted a sovereignty over alt, colonies, foreign as well as British. But the latest. suggestion is quite too dreadful on the score of its ineuphomoits tautology. '..'Empress of the Bmtisii Ejr- ■ I'iny.. Terrible! Would there be any vahd objection of the adoption of the term which has now become classic, in the designation of our .Sovereign as "Empress of Greater Britain"? If this be disliked, let us have a bettor suggestion. lam not wedded to this one. Only don't let us commit such detestable tautology as " EmpreES of the British Empire. ' I verily believe it would be the death of the venerable Queen if she had to think of herself in that tautological light! Yesterday was Lord Mayor's Show Day, and a good many people assembled in the streets to witness the silly old pageant. But it was mil to a baby crowd as compared with that of "0.1.V. Day." And, so far as I could see, it was harmless and well-behaved. For one thing, the authorities, bitterly ashamed of the previous anarchy and stung by the universal opprobrium of which they were the target on account of their hideous bungling, bad made some sort of preparation. Secondly, the public general retained so lively a recollection of the horrors of Hint "Black Monday" that there was a regular rush to keep away from the route of the procession! Road traffic was stopped as usunl during the busiest part of the day, and also as usual, great public inconvenience was thus caused. But I suppose that many children-—in their first or second childhood's stage—anjoyed the foolish mummery. Whether that be adequate justification of the perpetuation of such tomfoolery is another question.. Suroly, London next year might signnlise the first'" Lord Mayor's Day " of a new century by abolishing an imbecile relic of the past which.is unworthy of the dignity and sense of so soberminded a. city as London is supposed to be. By the bye, the list of persons injured, more or less seriously and some fatally, in the crushing and hooliganism of "C.T.'V. Day"

has now reached the appalling: total of over three thousand ! Quite a, sanguinary battle ! I wonder what the rolp of killed and wounded will ho when Lord 'Roberts comes home.! Also, I wonder whether the quarter of a million of criminals and hooligans that London counts among if.i precious possessions will take it into its e,vil hydra-heid to combine for tlie purpose of loot-in." a few banks and .jewel

9hops. If one may judge by that Monday's experience, there would bo no serious difficulty in the way, so far as the authorities are concerned. Melancholy as was the coincidence of Prince Christian Victor's death with the C.T.V. jubilations, it was not the only sinister portent. Another was the destruction of the Cape Highlanders at Jacobsdal —the place where the C.l.V.'s won their first laurels, —and the almost capture, actual capture, as reported on that day, of Jacobsdal itself. According to even the latest news from Smith Africa, it is still much " too previous " to sing " Just after the battle, mother. ' We have plenty of hard work still cut out for us with the Boers, while Stoyn. De Wet, and Botha remain at liberty to harry us. A good deal of satiric comment has been excited by the reconstruction of the Government, owing to this being utilised to rind Ministerial seats for no fewer than four members of the Premier's family—viz., his eldest son (Lord Cranborne), who become; Under-' secretary for Foreign Affair*, and his son-in-law (Lord Selborne), who is made First Lord of tho Admiralty; while his nephews (Mr Arthur Balfonr and Mr Gerald Balfour) are respectively First Lord of tho Treasury and President of tho Board of Trade. Mr Carruther Gould has a very clover cartoon in last night's Westminster Gazette, representing Lord Salisbury taking his four little boys to Downing street and Whitehall, while a fifth little boy, Hugh, the only one left, is crying bitterly, and asking, " Please mayn't I go, too? " the satire being pointed by Lord Hugh Cecil's costume as a Ritualist 'clergyman, with biretla, etc., complete, as Lord Hugh is the vigorous champion in the House of Commons of tho extreme Ritualistic party. Tho arrangement certainly does seem to savour a little too much of nepotism to be wholly acceptable to the British taste. But a Premier who commands majorities of 153 and 134- in two successive general elections is virtually omnipotent. Still, one regrets that he should give occasion to the enemy to blaspheme. i>in, it muse ne coiire?p<Ht, was ttie news that Lord Lansdowne ,yas to be consoled for his retirement from the War Office by being appointed Lord Salisbury's successor at the Foreign Office very well received. But the consolatory thought followed that the Premier would take good care his successor was not allowed to muddle foreign affairs in the way that the South African war arrangements were muddled. Mr Gosehon is deemed to have earned repose and a peerage; and Sir Matthew Wl.ite-Ridlcy. who has always " meant well " at the Home Office, is spared without a pang to similar rest with dignity. So is Lord Cross. Much is hoped from Mr Brodrick at the War Office, and from Mr Wyndham as Chief Secretary for Ireland; while it is anticipated that the vigorous presence of Mr Arnold Fosterauthor of "In a Conning Tower"—at the Admiralty as Secretary may lead to beneficial results in the direction of naval improvements. It is suspected that Lord Cranborne's function at the Foreign Officp a.? Undersecretary of State may be largely that of a link. between his father and Lord Lansdowne. So on the whole the redistribution of portfolios is generally received with tolerance, if not with any degree of effervescent enthusiasm. The Prince of Walcs's entrance into his sixtieth year yesterday suggests many interesting reflections. But as many New Zealand readers will probably have made those reflections for themselves a month before these lines meet their eye, and will have forgotten them by that time, I will pass on to other subjects. Still, the fact that the Heir Apparent did complete tho fifty-ninth year of his age yesterdnv can hardly be passed over iv absolute silence By the time his mother had attained the age of fifty-nine she had already enjoyed one of tho longest reigns in English history, having then reigned 41 years. And that was 22 years ago! There was nothing very striking in the speeches r.t the Lord Mayor's banquet last evening. They were in the main of khaki hue, which is no novnlty nowadays. Even Lord Salisbury's speech was less interesting than usual, because he did not, as usual, make the occasion one for delivering some important pronouncement. He defended the War Office and characterised the chr.rges made against it. as "nebulous and somewhat fictitious." A happy phrase, but capable of being turned damaging!}- against its uttcrer fio far as ronrpn>.« its application to the lin-happily-too-well-founded complaints which have been made as to the War Office. But the Premier went on to say: "For some period to come we must consider the defences of this country; scrutinise them carefully, examine all the machinery, administrative and military, by which they are sustained, and make it certain, or as certain as any human calculation can be, that we are not exposed to the danger of any sudden interruption of that peace on which all our prosperity depends. ' Ton, indeed! That is what wo all feel, and New Zoalanders will hoartily concur in the opinion. Another noteworthy point in the Prime f r Minister's speech was his reference to the j 1 polonies. Ho said: "What appears to me to i I

be the most important part in our gains in this last year is that we have established before the world what. I think, the world did not thoroughly Believe—the hearty sympathy which exists between the colonies and tho mother country. It is a result of enormous value; it has been fully achieved. The colonies have shown their interest in us by sacrifices which cannot be doubted, and from Uu's time forth the estimate that is formed of the value of the colonial connection, both in the eyes of foreigners and our own, will be very differently estimated from what it has been in time past."

A most curious quarrel has arisen among the authorities of tho three great railways which constitute the "East Coast" route between London and Scotland. The day express each way—popularly known as tho " Flying Scotsman ''—has been turned into a " corridor dining car ' train, and no longer stops twenty minutes at York for hincheon. Tho N. E. Company, which runs the service from York to Edinburgh—the last 57£- miles being on North British metals-—wants to give tho iniblic the advantage of the fifteen minutes saved at York, only five minutes being now needed for changing engines. The Great Northern wants the saving to be thrown into the travelling time, and the North British concurs. Failing ( o obtain the concurrence of their allies, the Xorth "Eastern general manager and superintendent—both very able-and progressive men—determined to net-

"on their own," as the slang phrase goes, and got the train to Berwick in such time

that it could reach Edinburgh at 6.15, as indicated in their time tables, instead of 6.30, as before, and as stil] announced in Iho Great Northern and North British tables. But the North British people were on the alert, and deliberately " blocked the express at Berwick' for 20 minutes so that it could only get in to Edinburgh a minute beiore the old time. This little game is now played daily, and though, the North Eastern drivers, by special efforts, make up a good deal of the time lost by North British blockings, they cannot recover all. And now the allied com-

panics are going- to law again as to the respective rights of tho North Eastern and Xorth British, and all three companies are threatened with reprisals by the West Coast

companies if they cut down the time as desired by the North Eastern. So a new " Race to Edinburgh is on tue cards. Meanwhile the French railways continue to "beat our heads off" in the way of speed and load-hauling and punctuality. At a recent " week-end " I was present by special invitation at some trials of the new Nord engine,' "sister" of one in the Exhibition, the two having been expressly built to run between Paris and Calais with heavy loads in three hours—the distance being 185£ miles,— and so to make perfide Albion sit up." The engine's performance surpassed everything in my experience, for it took loads of 360 Engbsh tons, exclusive of engine and tender, or 468 tons with engine and tender, at an average rate of over 60 miles an hour even on rising gradients, and easily attained over 85 miles an hour on falling grades, without approaching the limit of its capacity. This has been an eye-opener" for John Bull, and he doesn't like it!

Music has afforded few subjects of comment of late. Richter. Wood, Manns, Bridge, and our other leading conductors have kept mainly in the familiar grooves, and the " standing dishes" in the way of orchestral and choral works aye now always so perfectly presented that little scope is afforded for comment.1

But tho drama this week does offer a prominent topic. One of the most important histrionic events of late years has been the production at Her Majesty's Theatre of Mr Stephen Phillips'n very powerful poetic piny, "Herod." This is not a "sacred" or Scriptural play. It deals with the Herod of Josephus, the Jewish historian. Its motivo power consists in tho relations between Herod (Mr Tree) and his beautiful wife, Mariame (Maud Jcfferics). Herod is infatuated in his adoration of "Mariame. but ho suspects her favourite and attractive brother, Aristobulns, of conspiring against his crown, and causes the young man to lie slain. This nlienat.es the love of Maritime for her-hus-band, who, etusig by her reproaches, anises her, in turn, to be put to death. Then comes tho revulsion of feeling with the bitterest remorse, which, in the end, destroys the renson of the royal murderer. This stirring story has been clothod by Mr Phillips in very fine verse, and is presented with superb histrionic effect by Mr Tree and Miss Jefferies. Some

of the scenes are thrilling in an extraordinary degree, and Iho spectnonlar effects are- magnificent. New Zealand visitors to London must not miss "Herod."