New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-29
LIFE IN LONDON.
THE PRINCE OF WALES AS A FAMILY
FRIEND.
HIS RELATION TO THE BACcARAT SCANDAL
LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL PRErAR'

Arrangements are now being completed whereby
the baccarat scandal will be forthwith dis
posed of in the law courts, the whole aiiar Deihs
over probably before Whitsuntide This Is eood
news for society," that did not relish the prospect
OF being baked of the full enjoyment of this dish
of scandal till after the Long Vacation. On thc
other hand there is the prospect that when IL Is
presented it will not be nearly so toothsome as
was of late promised. The mere circumstance
that Sir Edward Clarke, the Solictor-General, mas
accepted brief the part of Sir W. "ordoh
Cumming is to the initiated sufficient oil HseH 10
mark the decline Of the episode in the sensational
scale At first Mr. Gill stood alone for the pain
tn. Mr. Gill; as l mentioned week two ago.
is an Old Bailey practitioner who suddenly leapeu
into prominence in where he boldly ana
persistently badgered the imperious Sir Charss
RUSSELL Taken in conjunction with Sir William
Gordon Cummings irate disposition and his OUT
spoken resolve neither TO give nor take quarter
this arrangement was full of promise. MI Ill.,
il was felt, might be depended upon not 10 narrow
the case by niceties of demeanor, ana having once
cot the Prince of Wales in the witDcSs-oox, woulu
not hesitate to shake forensic foreiinger AT MIN
But with Sir Edward Clarke as leader the "hoie
aspect of the case changes lie Is one Oh the Id"
officers of the Crown, Conservative III pohticS
and exceedingly diplomatic In dlsPosi'loh' ne
will of course, do his duty 10 his chent DuO
everything will be disappointment decorous' lhele
is indeed a prospect of the whole aHalr coiilhs
10 an early conclusion after some 1orhial procce"-
lngs 1t is whispered that the sagacl0ns lfahpS
Court coterie have determined to throw up 'hc
sponce. They have discovered, llttle E'e III
the day. that it is much easier to formulate sucn
q charge as that brought against guest thaIi ~
substantiate it, They have resolved, IL Is sai"' !"
retract to apologize, and, inevltaD@ corolisiS, !"
nav damages. In such case no witnesses Will be
called, the proceedings Will be hmi'eu W '
sneccbes from leading counsel either side, ana
Sir w Gordon Cumming will leave the court, not
only free to play baccarat with any who hanKer
after game with him. but supplied with funds 10
enable him. with ordinary luck. to keep pahh
,brourh a whole country house season. This ac-
count OF the situation is contradicted as soon as
i, is mt forth But there is shrewd Suspicion
that il is not wholly without foundation
The affair illustrates peculiar ana stfoheS
u.rLed characteristic of the Prince OF Naies'
which goes long way to establish the prIlcipe
of bereditv. His Royal ancestor, King GEORGE H.
thanks TO Peter Pindar and Thackeray, iamliidr LII
his disposition to prowl around cottage uooiS III
the neighborhood of Windsor. wondering now the
apple got into the dumping, and Otherwise III
teresting himself in the domestic lie oil HIS
nerhbors Other times, other manners buV Ill
his intimate relations with the social circle that
moves round him., the Prince of Wales mas q
strong resemblance to the kindly, fnssy' uieouiins
ROYAL George. Nothing pleases MIN SO mum Do
70 have some little difficulty arising IN the re-
lntionships of his coterie submitted TO his arpua
ment He has made up many quarrels, aho' 1t
is said, arranged some marriages. lhis llahoS
Court affair. with its secret combinations, It's
IL ,ol Of 1ptpctlOn
iudicial INQUIRY, with the Prince on the bench
and the Baronet in the dock, with its elaborate
arrangement-justce tempered with mercy, the
Judgment formally drawn up, signed, sealed, de-
lvered and every one going TO live happily TO-
rether ever after-is precisely one OF those
episodes in which II. r. H. would take keen
delight He was throughout evidently inspired
with the kindliest feeling. The arrangements
when completed, seemed such consummate piece
of workmanship that he found the reward oil MS
labor in regarding it with complacency. II only
a babbling woman had not been admitted 10 the
confidence that thrilled the house party ana
added a new charm TO the hospitality of lranby
Court, all would have gone well, and the Prince
would have been encouraged to the further eA
ercise of his inherited qualities a Family
Friend, a Scion Of the domestic circle But 1t has
turned out otherwise, and well-meant endeavor
perience.
Lord Randolph Churchill has thrown himself
with habitual impetuosity into preparation for
his approaching trip to Central Africa What
ever he undertakes to do he does with all his
strength, which accounts for the success that
sometimes attends his endeavors. IL is an old
story but true one, how one night at dinner
where he present, conversation turned upon
the surprising length of Westminster Bridge.
Some one said that approaching the Houses OF
Parliament from the other side of the river you
seemed, on beginning TO cross the bridge, almost
at the doorway of the Clock Tower, and yet walk
how you might you would see the hand OF the
clock move on five minutes before you reached
the doorway. Lord Randolph ventured the opin
ion that by making haste man could cross
Westminster Bridge whilst the clock was strlk-
ing twelve Controversy thereupon arose, and it
was agreed that the only way to settle the point
was by practical experiment. Lord Randolph said
that he would do it himself The next day lie
spent in careful preparation for the feat and on
the stroke of the sounding quarters preceding MD
night, the quiet stars looked down upon the fleet
Ing form of the future Chancellor of the EXchequer
speeding across Westminster Bridge. There were
sixteen strokes for the quarters and twelve for
midnight, and before the last fell, Lord Randolph,
panting nut triumphant, walking down the
steps that led under the Clock Tower into Palace
Yard.
Much in the same spirit he has backed himself
20 tourney through Mashongaland, and he may
be depended upon to carry out the enterprise
thoroughly and successfully. In preparation for
the Journey, he has absolutely retired from poitl-
cal and Parliamentary life. The House of Com
mons, where at one time he was the most regular
and attentive visitor, sitting through long hours
silently watching and carefully listening. knows
him no more. Just after his return from Monte
Carlo he came in as usual at question
time and filed his corner seat in
on the Treasury Bench. But for more than a
fortnight he has not been seen in his old haunts.
every moment of his time being, given up to
preparation for his expedition. In Ministerial
circlcs his newborn interest in geographical re-
search is much applauded. 1t will at least keep
him out of England for six seven months, and
that is valuable breathing space. His deter