The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-11
THE MAHDPs TWO FRENCHMEN.
No Yarn from the Soutian Too Steep for the
Street Gossips of London.

Street Gossips Of London.
London Letter in New York Sun.
The habitue of London who, after an absence,
suddenly returns to his old haunts cannot fail
to be struck with the unusual change in the as
pect of the well-known streets and squares. The
normal reserve and somewhat surly stand-offsh-
ness of British manners, accented by the self
absorbed egotism of the cockney, has within a
few days given way before a general unaccount-
able uneasiness, and melted into communica-
tive desire for sympathy which elsewhere would
be natural and spontaneous, but which here,
given the nature and customs of the inhabitants,
is convincing proof of great and overwhelm-
ing excitement. Not only are the editions of all
the daily papers multiplied ad infntum, and the
sale carried with undated yigor at every street
and far into the night, but special hastily
Autographed notices are hourly posted up in con-
spicious places by the side of the huge posters,
giving the condensed essence of the latest tee-
grams from the Seudan. Absolute strangers
who, under ordinary circumstances, would dis
painfully ignore the existence of any passers-by,
and resent any intrusion of look or speech. accost
each other with hurried inquiries. or comment
eagerly on the intelligence which has just caught
their eye. This unanimity Of national concern,
this unreserved demonstration of patriotic in
terest and unconcealed CONSERVATION, has
not been witnessed for many years.
1t is doubtful whether it was even equaled
during the troubled period of the Napo-
leonic wars the feverish excitement
of the Crimean struggle. Scavengers, street
AFduS, ludSutrS, City anu cluU anu
cab-drivers, in the same feversh desire for in
formation, ignore the barriers of classes and
rank, obliterate all social differences, and see in
their interlocutor only human being from whom
to CLEAN hope, with whom to exchange query,
suggestion, lamentation and in whose an
swer to read the unveiled future. Each indi-
vdual, as he hurries past, feels the pulse of the
Nation to make out diagnosis.
The English press has risen to the height of
the occasion, and not only have correspondents
shed their blood but money has for once been
been enormous and unprecedented, although the
sums expended on one single dispatch may
not appear exorbitant to Americans. 1t
Is whispered that some of the leading
organs are running short of ready cash, and
their difficulties aIe increased since the great
telegraph lawsuit after the first Egyptian cam
paign, which mas made the Offices of the East
very careful in the matter of prepayment The
Daily Telegraph WAS the first of all the London
papers to announce the fall of Khartoum, and
the telegram that brought the news of the disas-
ter cost Fl $50
Meanwhile, it is remarkable and perhaps po-
etcally just that, at the very time when England
was vouchsafipg sarcastic compassion to the
French expedition in China, the French arms
were scoring a success III Tonduin, while the
English troops We're meeting with severe re-
verses in the Soudan. 1t is also remarkable that
the chief military advisers of the Mahdi-his
Minister of War aid his generalin- chief-are
both Frenchmen.
the former, captain of the line in 1870, is
Veret and he had won his grades with his
sword. At Laon, when General Theremn was
compelled to retreat, Veret blew up the citadel
and received the Cross Of the Legion of Honor
Later, during the commune, III. Theirs selected
him TO capture the cannon OF Montmartre He