New-York tribune., 1889-12-22

mterest OF the Trades Unions Whlcn tney liked
TO impose. Manchester and South London have
taught them much-needed lesson. The railway
servants meeting last Sunday in Hyde Park was
dismal affair, small in numbers. The attempt at
fresh strike at the Victoria Dock to prevent the
delivery of goods to any but uuionst carmen, broke
down completely. The South Wales miners who
lately were all for striking for higher wages, have
sent delegates TO make the best bargain they can
with their employers. fresh strike, or lock-
out in the boot and shoe trade at Bristol is
threatened, the recent agreement with the EN-
ployers not suiting the shoemakers on trial. The
employers decline to give way.
What is the most noticeable of all is the healthy
tone of public opinion. The scare of last month
is for the present There are movements
for the formation of Committee of Cancellation,
in which the London Chamber of. Commerce is
taking the lead. They may come to something If
the workingmen will join.
Lord Randolph Churchill has fred off mani
festo in favor of eighthour law, and has
gone to the Continent for holiday. His ad-
heson to that policy is, however, qualified in
that if he finds the measure unpopular he will
net be obliged to defend it.
Public opinion on the whole approves the Dean
of Westminster's offer of grave for Browning
in what the Bean calls the scanty space left for
intermsnt in the Abbey. He made the offer to
Browning's son, who forthwith accepted it, The
next day there appeared list of persons
sanctioning the proposal many of them names of
great weight Lord Tennyson, Professor Huxley
Mr. Froude DR. Jowett, Mr.. Leclxy. Mr. KingalIe-
men who have a real right to speak in the name
of English literature. There never was any doubt
as to what such men would say TO such pro-
posal They were Joined by great dignitaries
Ela ha Arpb of
Chief Justice. Mr. Gladstone came in later; and the
original list which included other eminent men,
was encumbered by the usual additions of second
and third rate persons. The Times" which sull
takes the Lead in such matters, backed up the
Dean. Nevertheless the strong opposition, on
sanitary grounds, to more burials in the ADoey
was strongly expressed by Sir Robert Rawllnsoh,
the eminent civil engineer, followed by Sir
Spencer Wells, one of the first Of English sur
geons. Every new burial, said Sir Robert, is
dangerous to the health of the living and con-
trary to the laws of sound hygiene. Sir Spencer
Wells considers that burials should be prohibited
by law, not only in Westminster Abbey, but IN
every cathedral and church in the country, un-
less after publication by fire There is no sign
that these protests are likely to be respected The
Dean has issued notice that the funeral is ar
ranged for noon of Tuesday, December 81.
A letter from Mr.. Stanley to Sir Francis de
Winton. in defence Of his conduct against sundry
bushwhacking critics. is published this morning.
Every sentence is interesting, but Mr. Stanley
needs no defence. What gratifies every Is
his defence of Major Barttelot, whom he was sup
posed to have censured. The bookmaking epoch
in connection with Mr. Staney's last and most
marvellous expedition has already begun Mr.
Stanley himself has authorized Messrs. sampson
Low & Co. to reprint his already published letter
with some additional material supplied by Sir
William Mackinnon. That is all right Whetner
another project be all right the public will Judge
The editor of Belgian geographical sheet an
nounces volume entitled Stanley's Emin facha
Expeditionn obviously without Mr. Stanleys
sanction or co-operation-an attempt, in fact,
to forestall Mr.. Stanley's own book. NO such
| attempt can succeed ought to succeed.
Mr.. Phelps's paper on Divorce in the United
| States" in The Forum" for December has been
read here with surprise, to which The Times
| gives expression in a long editorial on Thursday.
What surprises English readers is that Mr. Phelps,
treating the subject as of public policy. should
| have arrived at the same conclusion as MI Ulad-
stone arguing on theoretical. biblical
and ecclesiastical grounds and recognizing
the authority of the canonical prohibition. Both
hold remarriaqe to be inadnIissible The Times
dissents from both not without a due compliment
to the very striking and cOgent paper OF the late
American Minister TO this country, whose legal
acumen and practical sagacty are recognized on
all hands: but it points out that
before the English divorce act of
1857. there was in this country one law
for the rich and another for the poor The rich
could obtain divorce by act of Parliament. pro-
ceeding far too costly for any but the rich. AS
70 America Mr.. Phelps is invited TO consider
whether il is not rather TO the free ana easy
notions about marriage which there prevail than
70 the effect of divorce, that the scandalous state
Of things of which he Justly COMPLAINS Is to be
attributed.
An elaborate attempt at the revival of Shake
speare,s plays by Mr.. Frank Benson at the Globe
Theatre began on Thursday with A Midsummer
NIGHTS Dream" The company CONSISTS largely
of Young University men, many OF them amateurs
The play was prettily mounted and dressed was
acted without distinction, and drew
A protest against the adaptation of French plays
appears Mr.. Sims being its author; 10 Whlch 1he
play-going public pays no attention
Mr. Irving has carried his point Inc LONDON
Countv Council have discovered that the owners
not tho lessees ought to pay the cost OF structural
alterations in theatres, even when essential to
tbe safety of the public They have therefore
withdrawn their proceedings against Mr. Mans
Gold the lessee of the Globe Theatre. IL remains
n he seen whether that virtuous but sometimes
erratic body will compel Mr.. Arnold who owns
the Lyceum, to do what is needed TO secure sale
exit Mr. Irving, however, according 10 eoou
authority, will have new theatre oulit lot hiin'
Mr. Barnum announces Christmas noveites
on a great scale; three performances Oh boAIhs
Day. beginning at in the morning. WIN new
sights, new balets and new scenes III nero anu
now races. In short, Mr.. Barnums English
@ionde ,ybose name is legion will for the first
,ine durine the Christmas holidays what than
veteran Snowman can really do