TABLE TALK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4676, 21 June 1893, Page 2

TABLE TALK.

fmOH OTTB LONDON CORRESPONDENT."] London, April 28. THE DUCHESS IN DTJBANCI. A spacious apartment in Holloway Caetle baring been luxuriously fitted up (in somewhat florid taste if the description of the furniture be accurate) by Maple and Co., the peccant Dowager Duchess of Sutherland was, with numerous trunks and a maid, driven th ither on Saturday, and surrendered to the Governor. The Visiting Justices allowed her trunks to remain, but drew the line at the maid, a female prisoner being told off to wait on her Grace. The Duchess gets her meals sent in from an adjacent confectioner's, and ia permitted books and papers as well as to see her friends. Altogether.fthere is a general feeling the woman is being treated with improper leniency. The World points out very forcibly her Grace was guilty of felony, and an untitled person would indubitably have been prosecuted tinder common law for her offence. If it had been the only one the insufficiency of the punishment would be scandalous enough, but it seems the Dncheßs has also destroyed a number of documents which were at Dunrobin Castle. The present Duke has no wish to convert his step-mother into a martyr by any show of vindictivenesp, and so will noc proceed against her again for contempt. Civil actions are, however, to be brought in the Scotch Courts. The Radical members, I hear, , contemplate worrying the Home Secretary anent the indulgences allowed the Duchess at -Holloway, but it is difficult to Bee how he can now withdraw them. LOED DBBBT. Lord Derby had outlived his reputation, and beyond the confines of Knoweley Me death excited small remark. The newspapers, of course, contained columns of obituary notices, but, as in the caße of Lord Sherbrooke, I fancy few read them. At the Clubs the one thing really remembered about Lord Derby was his kleptomania. During youth and middle age the attacks were only occasional, bnt latterly the habit grew on the poor man. For this reason he gave up both society and politics. In the suburbs of Liverpool his Lordship's ungainly., figure might sometimes be met slouching uncomfortably along. He had a peculiarly furtive and forbidding aspect ordinarily, bub. when his face lit up and he began to talk, you saw a changed man. No doubt the mental twist which resulted in kleptomania, blighted a career of extraordinary promise. As early as 1856 he waß looked upon as certain to be Prime Minister. Greville, wtiting of Lord Stanley at the India Office, enthueea concerning not merely his indefatigable industry and business-like qualities, but of his courtesy, affability, patience and candour. "He is," he goes on, " always ready to listen to other peopled opinion and advice, and never fancying he knows better than anybody else." It was not long after this the Greeks talked of offering the brilliant young statesman their crown. I am not sure they did not actually do bo. His ambitions, however, did not lie in that direction. As a critic Lord Derby was well nigh infallible. So clear was his perception of perils and weak places, and so consistent was his observance of leading principles as to make him the very opposite of men who make history, and have no time, even if they have the temper, for advancing by inches or for examining with equal care every side of a question. In "Side Lights of English Society" the story of how Lord Derby's affliction (kleptomania) became known is told by Grenville Murray with spiteful embellishments. He figures aa Lord Bethaven. At first the fact that the poor man's thefts were involuntary was not believed. When, however, thingß disappeared at houses where he visited they were always brought back next day, and in time it became good manners not to notice such temporary losses. lam assured it is a mistake to suppose anyone ever saw Lord Darby pocket anything. The closest watching failed to disclose his modus operandi. Only whilst his face was lit up with intelligence, and he discussed with; the ponderous impartiality which politically became his bane, some leading question, his left hand nervously toyed with any object within reach, especially at dinner. Latterly he adopted the habit of locking Mb hands together behind his back. When receiving deputations, &c, he invariably stood thus. Lord Derby had few friends, his seemingly surly manner repelling most people. Those, however, who knew him intimately Bay the world never did him justice. RAMPANT ULSTER. "Eampant Ulster came to town" la&t Saturday to demonstrate, and was cordially welcomed by pickpockets. Ipirate 'bus see, and all who prey habitually on the unwary stranger. Londoners . as a rule, however, were profoundly unimpreesed. No one knows ..better than, the, average Cockney how little demonstrations really mean. Put £bO in thß right hands, and they would any Saturday get you ten thousand men to walk to Hyde Park and demonstrate "agin' any bally thing yer like," from the House of Lords to Pears' soap. Far more nearly £500Q than .£SO was Bpent over the display of Uldterics on Saturday, yet I fail to see what good it has done. All the talk about civil war and bloodshed and resisting to the death, if the Home Rule Bill passes, simply prejudices rational Englishmen against Uistermen. By all means let them oppose the Bill tooth and nail. Many of us do not believe over-enthußiastically in the necessity of an Irish Parliament, and should not break our hearts if Mr Gladstone's measure fell through. If, however, it pass and become law, Ulster will have to bow to the inevitable. Rational England will not countenance'^ rebellion'Jagainst the law, once it i? the lav. Uistermen are fools even to talk of such a thing-. It alienates sympathy and estranges possible allies. The non-partisan Englishman sums up the situation thus : — "All Irishmen are impossible. Propose ever so i

(lightly to cross their wishes, and whether ;hey call themselves Nationalists, Patriot* » Loyalists they at once threaten to have jrour blood." a madman's fbeak. A very Btartling rumour was flying about town on Thursday morning, to the effect that a young man had attempted to assassinate Mr Gladstone whilst the Premier was walking home through Sfr James' Park the previous night. The foundation for the alarming story was disclosed at Bow street yesterday, when a matt named Towneend was -arraigned before Sir Sir John Bridge oa a charge of firing a revolver, to the common danger. A police constable stated that at ten minuteß to twelve on Thursday morning he was on duty on the Horse Guards' Parade, in the rear of Mr Gladstone's residence. He saw the prisoner coming across the Horse Guard*' Parade from the direction of Carlton House terrace. The •Driaoner passed him hurrying towards the downing Btreet steps, and Btopped when be had got about twelve yards from him. Witness called out that there was no thoroughfare, aa the gate* were locked, when the* prisoner turned round and fired ft shot from a revolver, but he could not see whether it was at him or at tho wall. Prisoner did not fire again Witness thought he saw that prisoner was putting up the revolver, and went unto him and asked him what he intended. He replied, " All right, policeman $ I did not mean to shoot you." Witness found on him at the Btation a five-chambered revolver, four chambers being loaded, and the other lately discharged. He was perfectly sober. Sir John Bridge : He fired directly you stopped him P Witness : He did not notice me as he went by. Ho had gone about twelve yards, and when I called oat he wheeled round and fired. Tne flash came in my direction, but I could not say whether he fired at me or the wall. I was round the corner of the wall. Did ho give any account of himself when> he was takon P — No. Prisoner : When I passed you I walked; straight on, and when I fired you oame up. —I came round the corner of the wall. Directly I fired I called out, "It is an. accident P"— You told me it was an accident when 1 got up to you. You said, "Ijb is all right ; it is an accident; I was putting^ it right." * ■ Inspector George Cuddy said that he took the charge at King street, and read. it over, when the prisoner replied, in reference to the wording, •• Not wantonly,, but accidentally." He Btated that he was a gunsmith's aeuistant, residing at 17, Hyde road, Sheffield, and handed witness a memornnduoa, saying, "You had better, keep thie." Sir John Bridge (reading from the prisoner's book) : •' William Henry Townsend, 17, Hyde road, Sheffield. The reason why. Aprii 22, 1893. Second reading o« the Irish Home Eule Bill passed by Gladstone's Government, with their fall majority of forty-three, including that cut Saunders. Always talking appears not to have made a single convert, ergo, it is now time for action. What was the uae of the • Ulster fellows howling and calling out 'Traitor.' That won't upset the BillThere is such a thing as wilful murder. | Yet it might be nothing of the kind. Simply and purely justifiable homicide. And now to prove it. What says^Sic Henry James, one of the .cleverest lawyers of the laud, and yet one of the kindest of men? See Gladatone'a speech last night. What says Colonel Saunderson P" Here Sir John Bridge broke off the perusal, and eaid : " There ia a large quantity of writing in reference to the Home Eule Bill. Before making it public I [shall remand the prisoner for inquiries. He wUI • be remanded for a week.". (To the gaoler.) " Take great care of him." From other sources it transpires that Townßend has been in town for nearly a ■ week, as from certain notes in the memo book referred to he seems to have been dogging Mr Gladstone about. He left Sheffield without acquainting any of his friends with his intentions, a trick he has played several times during the last few years. His wife's opinion is that Townsend occasionally lobbs hie mental balance. He lived in Sydney for seven years and during that time had several fits of this character, all of which followed periods of mental depression and ■• sleeplessness.