Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-05-31
SIR JOHN MCDONALD.
His Serious Condition a Shock
to the Government.
THE ADMIRED OF ALL CLASSES.
The Absorbing Subject in London Social
Circles is the Approaching Baccarat
Trial-How Society Has
Been Affected.
copyrighted by the United Press

LONDON, May 30.-The hourly expected
death of Sir John Macdonald is a great
shock to the government and newspaper
men and is received with deep re
greet by everybody, for all admired
the sturdy Scotch loyalty of the man,
and powerful characteristics which en-
abled himto consolidate the union and
genial elements that so to make up the do
miniOn. He was England's best friend in
Canada as men of Scottish highland blood
have been everywhere. strangely enough
when one remembered what followed Cul-
loden. His first and controlling sentiment
was loyalty, and even the London Times
could hardly express a metaphorlcal
smile at the frankness and thorough earn
estness of Sir Johns devotion to the moth
erland, and his Elizabethan ideas of what
constituted treason.
Interest in Sir John was shown on
FRIDAY when more attention was
Rasdsin the house of commons to the
Essfsws of his condition than to the pending
debates Men of both parties looked on
him as the only strong connecting link be-
tween England and her Canadian
colonies. The queen telegraphed from
Balmoral on Friday for news of Sir
John, and Lord Salisbury was kept
informed by frequent cables The general
expression that no man in Canada can take
his place or command the respect aud con-
tidence which he did among the discordant
factions Of British North America
The Baccarat trial, beginning on Monday,
is the absorbing subject of social gossip in
London. The fight will be in earnest.
Both Sir William Gordon Cumming and
Mr.. and Mrs. Wilson and their friends
are resolute in following the affair UP
to its end in the hands of justice.
Dispute has divided London society for.
months past. Sir William has influeasiaf
adherentS and so have the Wilson's, and
many receptions and teas have been married
by the unintended meeting of parties inter-
ested on either side. Invitations have had
to be carefully revised with the object OF
keeping the hostile camps apart, and in
some instances society folks, without much
prejudice either way and DESTROYS of re-
tanning all their friends, have had Wilson
party one week and a Cummings gathering
next Sir William must have large num-
Der of believers in his innocence. for he has
been almost honized at some choice
gatherings of the season. There is
general impression that woman's jeal-
ousy of Sir Williams attraction to
another, both women being married, is at
the bottom of the affair. and everybody is
anxious to see whether facts will come out
Certain it is, that Sir William had shown
marked attention TO the lady, whose name
has been frequently mentioned last winter
and the scandal about his cheating at cards
begins to be whispered abroad.
The general belief is that the Prince of
Wales will not be called as Witness but
that his deposition out of court will be ac-
copied If his testimony is required at all
the prince is as liable as any other
subject to legal summons, but respect
for his station is very strong, and nowhere
stronger than among the middle classes,
from which English jurymen are selected
Sir William Gordon Cumming would, theres
fore, only injure his case by insisting upon
any course humiliating to the Prince of
Wales, and Sir William has displayed too
much shrewdness since the controversy
arose to be likely to blunder.