New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-29
NOTES FROM LONDON.
INTERNATIONAL EPISODES AND PERSON
ALITIES.


what the American papers printed about the noble
Farrs relations with the Northern Pacific and its
other guests did not exceed the truth Private let
ters from other members of the party confirm all
that has been stated publicly. The comment every
Euglshman makes is much the same;-they all
hope that Americans will not suppose Lord Onslow
TO be in this respect a representative Peer. Inc
kilograms that first appeared IN the EnglSh papers
mentioned no name Nobody believed them, De-
cause they were supposed to refer to Lord Caring
ton. the only English Peer known to be of the
party, and Lord Darlington is man whose ur-
banity and breeding put him beyond the suspicion
of such conduct rs was described in the dispatches
II may safely he said and it is all need say, that
Lord Onslow's behavior has been resented
in England by those Of his own rank and
social station more kecny than it can have been in
America.
The Engshman is in fact, more sensitive on
some points than ne is always willing to admit lie
extremely diskes 10 sec any kind OF discredlt
brought on the English name in a country which he
has learned to think of as closely connected win
his own. He is quick to admit and to applaud the
cordiality of American hospitality but he does not
like to see distinguished Engishmen accepting more
from Americans than they would think OF accepting
at home This Northern Pacific business has proyeda
puzzle TO him. and he is half disposed TO agree with
the rather crude criticisms of sundry American pa
pers on "free-luncheIs" and "dead-heads y OF to
agree so far as he understands the meaning of those
singular words.
In Lord Coleridges case he expresses himself with
still greater freedom. The Englishman is glad to
hear that Lord COleridge is well received, but be
sticks to his English notion that guest should
pay his own railway fares and hotel bills. Com
ment of this sort to be heard before Lord Cole
ridges set out on his journey. 1t has grown much
"a no Anne
lea become more glowing. Possibly enough, this
truly British grOwl may reach Lord Coleridgo's
ears when he returns.
Mr.. Matthew Arnolds departure for America was
allowed to pass without many fourishes on the
English trumpets. People have grown used to the
fact that considerable proportion of
the population of these islands engaged
in surveying the American continent, and they are
content that some Of your visitors should be Of the
best England can send. The Times, however de-
voted leading article to Mr.. Arnold, the points of
which you have, dare say, already reprinted. The
English admirers of Mr.. Arnold, and they include
most of the most cultivated and admirable persons
in Great Britain are looking forward with interest
to his reception in America. He is supposed
to have in the United States body of
readers at least as numerous as In England.
What he means to say there is not known here. The
absolutely fresh. They were written for the pur-
pose-if, indeed they all written before Mr.
Arnold Quilted these shores. The subjects only had
been mentioned in tho English press. and are those
which appeared some time ago. You will have ina
word as Emerson said of Plato Arnold at the latest
dates, the sum and the best of the knowledge and
the convictions which are the result Of a long life Of
wise study and high thinking.
Tho +or, m 4bo Jrr+ol Cto+os nv, bicb Mr. Ir,,iro
has entered has given rise to many observations
and many things have been said in the English press
about him and his visit Perhaps the most remarka-
bic Of all is the paragraph in the Morning Post which
describes his visit to Knowsley, the seat Of Lord
Derby. "Mr Irving" we read, accompanied by
the Earl of Derby, Mr. Gladstone and Mrs. and Miss
Gladstone, took a walk in the park This is in the
purest court-circular style. and no more could be
said if it were the movements of Royalty itself which
the reporter had to chronicle Mr. Irving himself
is of course in way responsible for this sort of
thing. 1t denotes simply the extraordinary pInna-
Gle of celebrity to which he has climbed, which
an admiring public has insisted on placing him.
1t was Mr.. Gladscone's wish, hear that Mr.. Irv-
ing should pay him visit at Hawarden before sail
ing for America. The invitation had been sent and
accepted. but subsequently found to clash with
the arran gerueHts for the party at Knowsey, and
Lord Derby asked Mr.. Irving to come there with
Mr.. Gladstone instead Of going to Hawarden. And
so the great actor gave much of his time as en-
gagements permitted to Mr.. Gladstone's hosts
All anecdotes of Mr.. Irving are now deemed rca-
sonabe in the English papers. The last which
have seen is in an Aberdeen journal which devotes
paragraph TO an account of Mr.. lrvings "princely
prodgality." Before sailing he gave, according to
this writer, three weeks salary to each men-
Der of his company, to be used as
pocket money on arriving in New-York.
1t is further said that he secured frstc-lass
passages for tho whole company and gave orders
that their travelling expenses including wine and
spirits supplied board, should be charged on the
theatrical treasury. All this is easily credible and
many stories could be told of the easy generos-
ity which is of Mr.. Iryings wcll-kuown charac-
teristics.
This also may add though it has nothing to do
with that dramatic enterprise of Mr.. Iryngs which
is a more legitimate matter Of comment He leaves
behiud him body Of friends in England such as
any man may cherish with pride and delight
friends who are something more than admirers,
though they are that also. OF Mr. Irving as an
actor each one of you will form your own opinion
liking him or dsliking him as the may be- but
seldom or never, / fancy remaining indifferent.
But such of yOu mean those few out of the fifty
millions Of Americans as come 70 know Mr. Irving
personally in private life will venture to say, find
themselves in the presence of snguarly attractive
Individuality.
"Atiora Peto," by Mr. Lawrence Oliphant. has
now appeared in its complete form in two largely |
printed volumes from the press of Mossrs. Black
wood. Its cleveTness is freely admitted by the re-
viewers, but the story, the whole, will not add
much to Mr. ELEPHANTS reputation. That reputation
is peculiar one. In literature it is based upon the
brilliant eccenricties of Piccadiy." In theology |
1t is associated with the of Mr. Harris In Lon
don society it rests firmly on a charm Of manner |
and of conversation which are everywhere adj |
mred and sought for. Mr. Oliphant u.s. in fact one |