New-York tribune., 1891-08-30

moment for his appearance seems as inopportune
as il il had been specially chosen On Thursday
morning all the papers published the result of
the polling at Lewisham, showing that the seat
had been retained by the Conservatives. albeit
with reduced majority of 450 This of itself
made the situation little awkward weel,
earlier Walsall had been retained by the Liberals
and the majority had been reduced in about the
same proportion as befell the Conservatives at
Lewsham. In this diminution of the majority,
the Conservative journals, not accustomed of late
TO CLEANS of hope, discovered burst Of sunshine
They made IL quite clear that diminished major
ity in single borough forecast the main issue at
the General Election: ergo, Mr.. Gladstone was
doomed TO ignominious defeat and Home Rule
had vanished into the dim and distant future.
Facing the figures from Lewisham, there was
something of dilemma. What was sauce for the
goose at Walsall must, according TO all rules Of
logical cookery. be for the gander at Lewis
ham. While Ministerial journals were boldly
taking this fence, averring that diminished
majority was nothing so that the seat was held,
the afternoon papers came out with an account Of
ON interview Johannesberg journalist had had
with Lord Randolph, in which that too candid
friend, when asked what would be the probable
issue of the pending General Election, seemed sur
prised that such question should be raised, and
emphatically declared his opinion that Mr. Glad
stone would come in with a humping majority.
Attempts have been made in some quarters to
question the authenticity of the conversation but
there is no mistalSing Lord Randolph when he
speaks and one can almost hear his voice in look
ing down this spnghtly conversation In far-oG
Johannesburg.
Mr. Edison, who has long been feeling his way
with the phonograph in England, is at length
about 10 place the concern on commercial
basis. The preliminary campaign under Colonel
Gouraud's generalship has been adroitly and ably
tnansged. The phonograph has been liberDlly
lent for charitable purposes, has chronicled the
words of Mr.. Gladstone the songs OF Madame
Patti and Lord Tennysons reading of his own
poems; but no money has been taken on behalf
Of the propretors. Now scheme is on foot 10
dispose of the monopoly of one class of phono-
graphs In Great Britain. The project has been
privately brought before q number OF capitalists,
who are asked TO form themselves into syndi-
cate to take over the concern Seventy-iivc
thousand pounds is asked, and for this
sum Mr. Edison undertakes to deliver in
London l 900 Photographs in complete working
order. The machine, Mr.. Edison's very
latest development of his invention, is
automatic, and is designed TO provide instalments
of concert hall and theatre amusement, much as
Ia single sandwich may now be bought at II rail-
way station. You drop penny in the slot and
the phonograpb, automatically set to work, gives
forth comic or sentimental song by an eminent
artist, recitation burst of music from regl-
mental band, or a few remarks from Mr.. Gladstone
or Lord Salisbury, according as the programme
of the day may set forth. H. w. L.