New-York tribune., 1880-02-15
LONDON TOPICS.
,r,c., avn SOCIAL INTERESTS.

CHANCE To PLAY GREAT ROLE IN 'h" -"
,uxrox-sIR WILLIAM BARCOUR1's SPEECH AND
pHE FIRE IN HIS HoUsk-M8' CLA"h MAJ
DISCOURSE on AMERICA.
frpoN TuF REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF The TEibCNhl
ToxDox Ian. ga good deal has been sa'd
nrvately of late about the alleged reluctance OF the
Princess Louise TO return to Canada 80 long aS
talk of that sort was private only preferred no'
20 repeat it, Nothing could be less gracious than u
represent a young wife as unwilling 10 rel0i" "e'
husband and this is the construction whlcn hlE"'
easily be pnt upon her hesitation Bat the matter
has been made public by newspaper comment SO "
only remains TO say-at the risk of irritating our
Canadian friends-that it Is true the frlucfeS
did not wish TO go back. but not true that ooies'o
reasons have anything TO do with her aEerso"
70 the tourney. What the Princess diskes IS,
TO mt il blunty, the society OF Otta"a' OF
rather. the want of society. She is pass'onsteiy
attached to England and to London above all she
cares for literature for art for music, for c"nYersa-
tiop She is herself one of the cleverest women III
England and one of the most cultivated She
haunts studios and concerts. and dIaWlhe-roohis
where good talk is to be had to which she confirm
utcs her fun share. Here she led a full ana UeauU-
ful life What is there in Ottawa TO compare win
tP II the estimahc people of that excellent cap'th
Will hut think oft for moment, they have no rca-
son TO be angry because a young ana bp'Ilah'
of the world to life in the chief city of was going
TO say wilderness; and wilderness 1t Is II you look
only for those refncments and ornaments Of exlst-
ence which TO women are more dear than moIe SUD-
stantial merits.
There are stories floating about of passionate en-
treaties by the Princess for liberty to remain in
England. aud stern refusals by her mother. To the
Queen life has not perhaps much poetry left In H.
She sees that the place of the Princess Is with her
husband and she is a woman capable OF suppresSlng
personal feelings relentlessly, and enforcing polt
cal duties upon her children in the most alstere
spirit of the sovereign. If the reports that make
ther way over here from Canada are to be credited
such LOYALTY as there is among the Canadians cilngs
about the person of the Princess Louise rather than
about her husband the GOvernor-Generai and vice.
roy hear of men and women following the
Princess in the streets and watching for her at the
corners only to touch the hem of her robe. Is that
true7 know, at any rate that one eminent Radi-
cal of the Dominion, who has no love to spare for
ROYALTY IN any shape said that they could dea easily
enough with the Viceroy, but that the Princess
was power. The eminent Radical did not
wish her to be power. He would be
better pieased if she had her will and
lived here in London. ! half guessed that he
was himself not insensible to the charm and
authority which the Princess-because she is
Princess and because she is a wOman- wields over
the simple folk of the ST. Lawrence provinces.
But he believes that year of her stay ghtens
the bond between the colony and the Crown. And
he does not wish to it frightened, but loosened
If the Princess knew that such feelings prevailed
among her mothers Canadian Subjects II might
almost reconcile her to what she now looks on as
banishment For she is, after all, if her friends
testimony mas be taken. woman capable of loving
something on larger scale than pictures aud
music a woman with much Of the royal nature
and love of reignng which comes to her rightfully
by birth: with unusual force of character and
courage for great enterprises If she once conceived
the notion of playing great part in America, 1t is
possible enough she might change what now seems
the inevitable course of events in the Dominion of
Canada and keep it Imperial long after the time
when it now promises to become Republican.
70 any body who cherishes a faith in "coincidenc-
es,' the following example will prove Interesting.
SirWilliam Harcourt spoke al Birmingham on Tues
day of last week. On Thursday The PaH Mall Ga
getfe having taken a day to think of it, published
an article Oh Sir Williams speech containing this
paragraph
of the make his opponents look ridiculous
Say that discovering corner OF his houe on nre
runs backward and 10 ward to the we'll for water 10
extingush the flames. Now II Is not easy to represent
his employment as ridiculous But II you bind TO
the fire II suppress the existence OF the n G. a'd
picture the man francay hurting buckets of water TO
ali sides of the house amidst the tears ~ his wife and
the bowling of his children, make just sucn pic
of asurdty Sir William Harcourt loves tO draw
with Just amount OF truth IN Its composition
Within an hour after the publication of this re-
markabIe illustration. Sir William Hareourts house
in Grafton-st was on Gre. The roof was burned off
and the lower floors were deluged with water; the
water, as so often happens. dong more damage
than the flames. If Sir William not to be OBJ
served carrying buckets of water back and FORTH
1t is because ne was his way home from Birmlng
ham.
On his arrival at the railway station in Lor
don, he was met by his son, young gentleman of
fifteen. pursuing his studies at Eton and known as
" Lulu " Harcourt. Said Lulu, on meeting his
papa: " IL yOu please, you not to stop for your
luggage because house is on fire." perhaps one
of the coolest remarks on record An bour before.
one of the servants sought his young master and
said to him Sir. will you please tell Lady Har-
court that the house is on freP The boy instantly
ran up to the nursery, brought down the
baby laid him on his mothers lap and then deliv-
cred his message. In this case there is no perhaps
all women agree in prOnOuncng ii one OF the pref
tiest and most thoughtful things ever done by a
Young fellow of Lnlu's age. The house WIS not de-
siroyed, as it happened. nor could the neighbor
have been in much alarm, since Lady HarcOnrt and
her baby took refuge with Lady Henniker. whose
house adjoins hers. Next morning the first person
who called to condole with Sir William was the
Chancellor of the Exchequer. " l assure you" said
Sir Stafford Northcole d" it was not we who set fire
10 your house." Sir William reflected moment.
! then answered gravely: Well am willing TO be-
heye il was not you; but don't think it at all clear
that on did not put - up 10 It," naming the edi-
tor of the paper above mentioned. Punch this week
has a cartoon of Sir Wilham the Rising Bufo,
to whom Bright is playing an accompaniment, with
"Bendizzy. the Old Professional" surveying
the performer from the stalls, and remark
ing. HIN! plenty of go but no finish" This