NOTES FROM ENGLAND.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 8699, 19 December 1899, Page 4

NOTES FROM ENGLAND.

(Bydney Daily Telegraph.) : London, Nov. 3.

.: We spent a terribly anxious tbiee days , on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, awaiting nawa from Ladyßmith. The sparsity of the press cables dearly indicated that the censor waa at work, and on Monday, . . experts .affirmed that salient facts were being held back. Tuesday morning brought -. the news of Sir George White's more or less suocesaful recoanaisance, and here againesperts saw " judicious suppresaions." The accounts of the speoial correspondents - were, however, altogether jubilant, Mr Steevens: especially lauding our "superb artillery practice. Later in the morning, however, the expected blow fell. The brevity of the. despatch announcing the capitulation of the British battalious was as unsatisfactory as Sir George White's .rather' hysterical message, shouldering the . whole blame. At the Service Clubs General ■- While was (on news to hand) blamed, everybody asking how he came to lose connection with the captured squadron. " One would think there were no such beggars as scouts," said an .irate illustrious person wrathfully. The London papers received the bad news calmly, but the Continental organß instantly surpassed themselves in predicting Great Britain's immediate extinction. Tuesday was a grim night at those haunts of irrational howling "jingoism," the variety theatres and mußic halls. The more level-headed siegers had the wit to drop the curreut complimentary references to " good old Tommy Atkins," " our neverbeaten boys," "our gallant defenders," etc. Those who didn't met with a mixed reception. But the most remarkable scone occurred , at' the Palace Theatre, where Mrs Beer- ' bobra Tree (a splendid elooutionist) was billed to recite Kipling's new ballad, "The Absent-minded Beggar," at a salary of £100 a week, which she gives to the " Soldiers' Wives and Children's Fund." The piece iß 'thoroughly Kipliogesque— vigorous, slangy, and touching ; but the way in which the vast audience, crowding the house to the very outside doors, received it was curious. They listened in such silence as has probably never before reigned within the walls of a music hall— silence much deeper than that of a congregation hearkening to a favorite prpaclier. It was not due to want of appreciation, for when Mrs Beerbohtn Tree first appeared on the stage she was enthusiastically greeted, and when she retired she^wns recalled twice, and deemed it necessary, on the second occasion, to give another of Kipling's poems, "Soldier, soldier, come from the war, why don't you march with my true love." No doubt the serious news from Natal had much to do with the audience's almost breathless attitude while Mrs Tree was reciting Kipling's plea for " The gir.l ibat Tommy left behind him." The people were reminded of events painful to every patriotio Briton. A little incident proved that they could not bear even well-meant exclamations. When the cheering which followed Mrs Tree's recitation ceased, a gentleman in the gallery clamored for somebody to pass

the hatronnd, adding, ."Here's two shillings, and good health to the soldier." He was immediately silenced by cries of "Shut up" from other spectators in the same quarter. A trifling jest in war time goes a long way, and Colonel Baden-Powell's cheery message of Saturday bids fair to become historic. "All well," he wired; "four hours' bombardment. Dog killed." The Ladysmith wires have been cat, and London to-day (November 3) is sullenly enduring beneath a very dark war cloud. Tho intense anxiety of the friends and relaI tives of those attached to the captured squadron at Farquhar's Farm cannot be described. Each message lias made things worse, till now our killed and wounded are said to number three hundred. After displaying a disposition to turn malignantly on Sir George W hite, the yellow press has thought bet ter of it, and decided that he is a hero. The service clubs and experts generally are, however, Bhaking their heads, and even in India, where he was very popular, the discredited general gets little support. Our reverses have not materially disturbed the current of daily life in London— a fact which appears to amaze Continental nations. The Paris journals sent over correspondents to tell them how we took a bad set-back. They have been here several dayß, and are still waiting something to chronicle. The following is a bit of Mr Steeveuß description of the artillery duel outside Ladysmith on October 24th. After detailing the start, etc, the correspondent says : The cavalry had pushed ahead past Modder Spruit, and the vanguard of the infantry was just level with the station, when from a lofty hill called Jonono's whizzed a shell, which dropped plump on to one of our guns. A lieutenant had a marvellous escape, his horse being wounded and his haversack torn. The next few shells from the Boer guns were also well pl&ced. It was beautiful to see how our artillery broke up their solid columns and galloped into a position under cover. They opened firo within five minutes, and silenced- the enemy's guns in less. The Boer artillerists skilfully chauged their position, but finally desisted on finding our shell pattering round their gun each time it was brought up into position, am before it could be fired. The action opened at half-past 8. The Boer fire at first was lively, though the range was nearly 2000 yards j but our artillery made such practice that the Boer fire dropped, and flickered desultory for five hours, when our force retired. Our loss 40, including the colonel of the Liverpool, who was badly wounded." Spurred to a mighty effort by Kipling s verses, Alfred Austin has at length broken outthusly:— INFLEXIBLE AB PATE. Tv no cede malls, sed contra audentior Ho, Aeneidos VI., 95. When for a passinfc hour Roma's manly sway Felt the sharp shook of Cannae's adverse Say, Forum, ana field, <md Senate House were rent With cries of nor misgiving nor lament, Only of men contending tben who Bnoula Purchase the spot on Which the Victor stood. Legion on legion sprang up from the ground, Gleamed throngh the land, then over ooean wound Till Solpio's eagles swarmea on Afrio's ahore, And Carthage perished, to insult no more. Not less resolved than Borne, now England standß, Pacing foul fortune with unfaltering hands, Through her rast Raalms is neither fear nor fend, But, calm in sttength, and steeled in fortitude, She nils the gaps nor haggle in t»e strife, Thsit will nor lag nor haggle in the strife Till having backward rolled the lawless tido Of tructcd treason, tyranny, and pride, Her flag hath brought, inflexible as Fate, Ohaiter of Freedom to a fettered State. — Alpbxd Austin. One marvelß that the good man's frlendß didn't prevent him publishing such flapdoodle. The fourth line, "With cries of nor misgiving nor lament," is probably the most awkward and inept ever •written by a recognised bard. "G.H.P." has, as have probably most people, been struck by certain illustrations in the latest poetio effusion of the Poet Laureate, and sends the following ingenious parody :— •• When for a passing hour ' Rome's manly swaj ' Felt the Bharo shook of Cannae's adverse day," No wonder " fields" (for once!) with ories were "ren>." At this most nnpoetica] event. 'Tis said great Joshua bade the sun stand still, Yonr rhyme would mak it doable down (lie hill, Bat bards sboald ebon snob phia-eB as " ot nor," Not often used in English verse before ; And your " rent field " and " forum " opo for as A gull-of bathos— worthy Curtlus, Filled by that bard who (only) understands How England-" faces " Fortune with her " hanas." Wliilo Flags " inflexible," not waving wide. " Bring" lTreedom's ohartors and 11 roll baok " the tide. Poor England, 'mid disaster and despair Finds (in the Times) shea something wone to bear Jejune as dust, insensible as Fate, The dismal twaddle of our Laureate.