The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-11-06

WAT hiSht ana Jonn Morley has engagements
elsewhere. Tho Cabinet will DO represented
10y Lord Spencer the Lord Chancellor. and
MIR. AsIuith. weak team compared with tho
round dozen hitherto habitunly attending the
Lord Mayors gathering. There is possibly
something diplomatic in the excuses made.
but 1t must be remembered that the present
Government is not In favor in tho old city,
which is hotbed OF Toryism. The Common
Councilmcn uf the city Of London n,e not tho
cst-manncrcd people in the world, and their
treatment OF MIR. Gladstone has boon none too
courteous when no has addressed them In
years como BY
There is an interesting reason FOR Sir vii.
liam Harcour's declination Of the Lord
Mayors invitation. II Is understood he has
something the matter with ono OF his eyes. hut
1t may be snid with absolute confidence that
he winked the other ono when inditng his ex-
cessivo regrets. The fact Is that Sir William Is
prone TO dcnounce city corruption and extrav-
agance, and has been known to mock at anti.
Nuated city institutions. but above all this II Is
believed that he Is actually engaged uron a
scheme for reforming" tho city Of London
government md reform. as the city fathers
know we'll enough. means in their case cxtnc-
ton. 1t is not in good taste for the execu-
TONER to break bread with tho condemned
criminal. and Sir William Harcourt Is entitled
to credit FOR his Iisp play OF delicate consdera-
ton In refusing tho Lord Mayors invitation.
Mr.. Gladstone. by the way. is accustomed to
assume far worse risks than attendance at q
public banquet. On last Tuesday. for in
stance. a day Of storm and rain, Mr.. Gladstone
was engaged at his desk from carly morning
until I;:}U o'clock in the evening" No one who
could help II was out OF doors then. but short
y before q o'clock Sun reporter passed Mr..
Gladstone in st. James Park striding along
,il.c n yiynrone m ~ Sn la Nod
brclla. In truth. no could not have kept one
open against the strong wind. and tho big
Inverness cloak which he wore was blown
about in such fashion that the rain must
have saturated the coat beneath 1t. Yet the
old man Walked about a couple OF miles
against the gale. and seemed thoroughly to
enjoy himself. fully expected to hear next
day Of POSTPONED Cabinet councils. hastily
summoned doctors. mustard plas tiers. and what
not in Downing street. but tho Premier wont
about. ms usual. presided Mt tho Council
Board in the afternoon. and Eave n dinner
party IN the evening. That doughty Sou
! dancse chiettain and holy man. Osman Dgna.
is again thirsting for Egyptian and English
blood. and. as preliminary to the full cratih-
cation of his desire he proposes to capture
Suakin and put its garrison and inhabitants
to the sword. This Osman Digna is a most
Objectionable person. He has been reported
dead times out of number. and his body has
been identified over and over again to the
great Joy OF the Egyptian soldiers who had a
mortal dread OF him; but somehow he has in
variatly come to life again. and frequently at
the most inconvenient moments. Rumor had
lust comfortably killed and buried him seven
or eight years ago when. ut the head OF Q
great body Of tribcsmen. he suddenly fell upon
the Egyptian army under tho redoubta-
ble Baker Pasha. and almost wiped it
oil the face OF the earth. His numerous wives
were reported to be wailinC over his corpse q
couple OF wears later when he headed q terrific
charge of Soudaness spearsmcn at Abu klea
which broke the boosted phalanx square OF
the British infantry ard nearly sent tho Eng
lish army. under Wolseley. to keep company
with Bakers slaughtered thousands. It will
be seen that Osman D!gma is particularly
live man. and an idea of the respect which he
still inspires may be obtained from tho facts
that at tho least news Of his approach the
Egyptian garrisons OF advanced forts ned
rrecirtately to Suakin. which has stout walls:
that the British commander at Suakin prompt
ly tel"graphed for a gunboat to be sent round
from Suez and that re-enforcements Of Egyp-
tan troops and British officers are already
being hurried to the threatened town. 1t Is
believed that II his sacred MAJESTY. Mahdi No.
=. should die OsMan DiEma would have q
fight for the succession and in that event ad-
mrers of pluck should wish him luck.
Prof. James Stuart NJ. T.. who expected to
be made Cabinet Minister at the change Of
tho Government. and did not even get an un-
der Sccretaryship. has discovered that the
members OF the present Government are not
to be trusted in the matter Of Womens Rights.
That was why he held meeting OF tho Ma
tionnl Society for Wonen's Suffrage on Thurs
day afternoon. Every practical politician
knows that Parliament will not be in q DO
siton to deal with question like women's
suffrage for several years to come and il ia
an open secret that the Liberal PARTY will never
confer tho franchise upon women as long as
Mr.. Gladstone Is its leader. The Grand Old
Man has always shuddered at the idea Of
woman entering the stormy arena OF politics,
and both he and his wife have perfect horror
OF the modern Political woman.
There were very funny doings ut tho Royal
Italian opera on Thursday night. Baron Nc
Guckin has long wished to play Don Jose in
Carmen" and Col. Ma ceson this week per-
suaded Manager Harris o try the Irish tenor
Finding that t" armcn" WAS to DO sung in |
Italian Mctiuckn lost his nervO and backed
out. with the result that Harris had to engage !
Signor Morelio at days notice. Unha ppily
Morello had no clothes for the part and tho
wardrobe departm cut at Covent Garden had |
to work at high pressure to get the suit fin !
ished in time The Job was not completedu |
til G:45 o'clock or Thursday evening. At ten |
minutes to seven Morello had the clothes on |
Five minutes later he was II raging. shrieking |
weeping lunatic, having unwiseiy stopped and |
split his beautiful new trousers.
Tenors arc highly sensitive creatures and |
scenes are frequent behind the curtain at |
Covent Garden. but this scene beat tho rec |
ord. The tailors undertook to repair the dam |
age. but the implication that first tenor |
could possibly go on the stage with patched
trousers merely added insult to injury. and
ended at 7:2O o'clock in Morello driving of to |
parts unknown. As Manager Harris was not |
ut hand and neither Of his associates could be |
found. Conductor Bevignani. after q hurried |
council Of war with the chief singers. decided |
to put on Tho Barber OF Seville" and mes
sengers were despatched in hot haste for |
Nine. Nevada and SiGnor Padilla.
MaauHLi La the audiepGa had LeCup TO howl !