Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-02-08
UNITED STATES MINISTER PHELPS
His Departure from London-InusuaID De-
DEMONSTRATIONS.


His Departure from London-Unusual De-
monstratiOns,
Mr. G.. w. Smaley cables from London
to the New York Tribune an extended re-
port of the demonstrations of respect which
attended the departure Of Mr.. and Mrs
Phelps last Thursday. He says
The platform was crowded with Ameri-
can and English friends vino had come to
say gOod-by to the two most POPULAR
might say speaking of them together, most
beloyed-representa of the United
States ever seen in London. The diplomatic
body was represented by Baron Solvyns,
the Belgian minister, one of its oldest and
most respected members, and by the Greek
minister. one of its youngest. Royalty had
its deputy in Colonel Colvlle. Among Eng
lish friends were Theresa, Countess Of
Shrewsbury, their neighbor in Lowndes
square Sir Lyon Playfair, Sir NJ. Hicks
Beach, Archdeacon Forrar, the Rev. Henry
White, chaplain of the Savoy Chapel Royal;
Mr.. Bancroft, the actor, whose interesting
"reminiscences you read last year, and who
stood bare headed before the envoy of the
United States as he would before royalty.
Mrs Phelps was nearly hidden behind large
bouquets of violets from the Baroness Bur
dett-Coutts, and lilies Of the valley and 9th
or flowers from other friends. Great mum
bers of the general public in the station filed
the staircase which crosses it midway The
Hon. Ralph Dutton, chairman of the South
western railway, and with him the general
manager of the road were OH the platform
MIR. button had provided a saloon carriage
for MIR. aud Mrs Phelps and the large party
of personal friends who went with them to
southampton, including Mr. White, now
charge d affaires, Lady Shrewsbury, Mrs.
Loomis Mrs. and Miss Bonynge, and Mr..
Charles Phelps. The latter has resigned the
second secretaryship, and goes home with
his father
Perhaps never on the departure of any
minister has such a scene been witnessed as
! that at Waterloo station this morning. The
crowd had become dense. All hats were
raised as the trained moved. Not a few
ladies were crying, and even men looked
grave. Friends and public alike sent cheers
after the returning Minister and Mrs. Phelps
as a last farewell There have been indeed
since the date OF Mr.. Phelps's return became
known such a series of demonstrations in his
honor are entirely without precedent.
| Everybody have met since / came back
from Paris tells me that the company at the
| lord mayors dinner was the most distin-
| guished ever collected in honor of any guest.
! Mr.. Phelps's speech on that occasion will
rank as masterpiece OF oratory; as Lord
| RoseberTy said, dignified. eloquent and pathet-
ic The press, with perhaps two excep-
| tions, has joined heartily in these tributes.
| Feeling in private Is even deeper than III
| public. Mr.. and Mrs. Phelps might have
eaten half a dozen farewell dinners u day
could they have accepted all invitations,
The Century club dinner to the minister was
another mark of atfectionate respect, and
! there have been hundreds of Others to which
no public allusiOn can be made. The queen :
| invitation to MIR. and Mrs. Phelps to spend
Monday night at Osborne is reckoned by So
| cial experts a signal proof of her personal re
! gard for both. 1t is not usual for the queen
to receive retiring ministers as her Owl
! guests. Lord Salisbury and the Official
| world may take what view they will of thu
| Sackville incident; the people of Great Brit
ain have not on that account aOated one jot
of their friendness for their American kin
| beyond the sea.
If, however, there e in America any
who wish the people of the two countries to
be enemies, they and they only, have cause
| TO reject and resent these manifestations OF
| goodwill to the American minister, They,
and they only, are entitled TO condemn Mr..
| Phelpa's four years of honorable service
abroad. He has, from beginning to end,
done mis- country honor as well as service,
and no small part OF the honor offered him
here is because the English know him. re-
spect him, and admire him as one of the
most American of Americans.