New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-02
NOTES FROM LONDON.
,,rvop,,1 PERSONAL AND MISCELLANEOUS


r,,oro "a inst the least danger of the Long
<.,,ow Memorial business becoming ridicu-
Ions. The excellent persons who have 1t in
CHARGE publish from time to time lists of celebrities
who have "joiued the committee" The process OF
Joining the committee consists, apparently IN send
ing ones name in and some of those sent III are
moro likely to receive distinction than to confer w.
Panch has already begun publishing lists OF ITS own
Tc-day's includes Mr.. Jones, proprietor OF Inc MUD
borough Gazette; Mr. Horatio Delamere of the Inc
atre Royal Sushington; Mr.. Moore, of the Moore
and Burgess Mnstrels; General Booth Mr. freu
Archer TASK Mr.. Walton who he isl; Mr. Boucicaui''
and others whose claims to celebrity are Oh aware
gated kind.
The regard for Mr. LonQfellow's memory is deep
and general among Engshmen of all classes so
mueb the less excuse is there for allowing any
suspicion of charlatanry TO attach TO the memorial
movement The management of IL seems open 10
question in some other points. A bust IN NeStmh-
ster Abbey is the avowed object of its promoters
But to-day it is stated with every appearance OF
authority that no application has ever been made TO
the Dean for PERMISSION to put up bust lie VIII
readily grant it when asked, says this writer hut
why should he be left TO learn OF 1t from the
press7 And why should the managers of the COM
mittee publish the rebuhs they have received MI
Coventry Patmore was within his right in refusing
to Join the committee. His reasons for the refusal
might surely have been left to conjecture, If, Tor
any reason it was thong hit desirable to make known
the fact that he had refused. And Sir Frederick
Leighton, p. II. A., what is gained by announcing
that he would joiu provided it were not Thought
improper 10 do such honor TO foreigner wen, IL
we are to 90 by birth. Sir Godfrey Kneller was not
an Englishman. Paoli was not Casaubon was not,
nor Handel nor St EvremOnd. TO all of them and
dare say to other Foreigners there are mOnu-
ments in the Abbey, as Sir Frederick Leighton. had
he cared to take so much trouble might have found
out.
remonstrance of another kind is heard in diff
fcrent quarter. The Pau Nal Gazette publishes
letter from a correspondent who complains That
Longfellow was not Shakespeare. | don't know
tina. anybody ever SAID he was. But because he
was not a Shakespeare the hOnors OF the Abbey.
insists this writer, ought to be denied him. me
Uorld on the other hand. declares that Dean Brad
lev is in favor of dong honor not only 10 Long
fellow but to Washington Irving. The Amerl-
cans have erected memorials to Byron and Scott IN
New-York why should we not pay tribute TO the
memory of the representatives OF American htera-
ture2" There is n scheme. it further appears, OF
founding Longfellow scholarships in connection
with English public schools.
The death of Mr. Chabot gives rise to not few
"reminiscences of famous trials in which he bore
part lie was an expert IN handwriting. and Tor
many wears it was the custom to secure Mr. Chabot
as awitness in every trial where question of the
identity of a signature of forgery, or anything OF
the sort occurred He the most positive witness
who ever entered box. HIS confidence III himself
and in his knowledge of pothooks was absolute
For time he impaired it TO juries always prone
TO accept the unhesitating assertions of an expert
in a matter outside their own experience. The
iudges were more sceptical and more than
once Mr.. Chabot had to undergo some
rough handling from the Bench. lie is
credited nevertheless, with effecting or largely IN
finencing n considerable change in English law of
evidence The comparison of handwritings by or
before Jury is of modern practice, and profess
sional authority has declared that the growth OF
the practice has been due mainly to belief in Mr.
Chabots infallibility. In the Roupell and Itch
borne trials he was seen at his best These cover
period when the same kind of doubt grew up with
reference to him as to other experts. notion be-
came common that doctors III cases of lunacy, chem
lists in patent cases. and other scientific personages
when called upon to testify IN court, appeared to
form their opinions to order. This notion was III
great part unjust 5ut it did not prevent attorneys
from rushing off in cabs to be the first to secure an
opinion and if that opinion happened to be on their
side why so much the better for them. Mr.. Chabot
was as sure about harstrOkes and upward curves as
the connoisseur of paintings is about touch" 1t |
happened to him more than once to swear with I'M
daunted precision to the genuineness of handwrit-
ing which was proved beyond human doubt to have |
been forged Nobody disputed Mr.. Chabot'S hon |
esty but it is not certain that he will leave sue
cessor. OF his rivals who are living none ever at
tanned to anything like his authority
And now there is another Irish martyr, woman, |
aud woman of rank, none other than the Lady |
D;Via Her |
briefest way touching as they are. Lady Florence
Won surely remember as the champion of CetewayO
and the Zulus in general. When the Zulus had
been righted she turned to the Irish The morning
after Mr. L. d. Grays arrest she startled us all by
q fiery telegram denouncng that act as an act OF
brutality or DarbarIty, or both. Some Irish paper
of the Conservative sort There are SUCH basely |
avenged itself on Lady Florence by saying she had |
been expelled from Court. Herein lies the mar |
tyrdom. But comes Lady Florence and re- |
plies triumphantly that she went TO Court |
(iunocenty and ignorant of rules to the cOntrary
in short halr and without lace or feathers Whether
she got in at all in this remarkable array she omits
TO mention; but she was toll by the Lord Chamber
lain that if she came again she must be dressed |
according to rule. Preferrng short hair to the
ciety OF her Sovereign, Lady Florence has since
STAYED away. 1t cannot be pleasant TO her to enter
in public upon these details respecting her costume
but even this she endures bravely out of love for
Ireland. She is, however, an Englishwoman. or
perhaps ScOtswoman, being sister to the present |
Marquis of Queensberry and daughter TO the late |
MARQUIS whose boast 1t to have enacted code |
of rules for the prze-riug.
Mr. Fawcett is receiving much praise which he |
deserves, for various improvements i'll the Post |
Office The LOndOner processes himself particularly
pleased with the two latest. One is an alteration
in the plates on the pillarboxes in the streets.
These boxes are so numerous and 50 conveniently
placed that vast numbers of letters are deposited i'll