The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-11-21

Timothy Healy, who was long the ablest
lieutenant Mr.. Parnell had. is now writing
"reminiscences of his chief in terse and
vigorous style, free from acrimony, but
presenting some of mis- peculiarities In such
a way as to suggest strange reflections on
the man he analyzes. MIR. Parnell seems
to have imbbed certain aversions or
superstitions from his nurse, who was a
good story-teller. He had q downright
prejudice against beginning any business
on Friday. On one occasion he would
not return to Avondale because Ii was
Friday. He also seems to have had dis
taste for the color green, although il is the
national color of Ireland. A smoking-cap
handsomely worked in green was presen ted
to him while in Kilmainham prison, and
he would not wear it. At railway sta
ton he was presented with a green silk
handkerchief, and as soon as the train got
away he dropped it out of the window. At
priests dinner he declined whisky be-
cause the decanter had been passed from
left TO right, instead of right to left. He
refused to be helped to salt at dinner be-
cause it was uDlucky. And actually he
allowed some Objectionable clause which
he detested to be added to bill in order
to make it one OF fourteen clauses in place
of thirteen. as it was. He was evidently
believer in luck.
Some OF the French population of Mon
treal are imbued with the feelings of the
communists of Paris who denounced the
monuments OF military celebrities as an in
justice and slight to the human race and
progress. and tore down the Vendome COL
umn as an outrage on human susceptible
ties. The Parisians have carefully re-
stored that monument, and they also re-
intn in q ytotA NJ ha IT..
Omphe, which commentaries military
glory on a wholesale scale. In Montreal
the young French students object to the
statue Of Nelson in Jacques Cartier square
on the ground that the British admiral was
an enemy of the French race. This OBJ
lection is drawing the, Indictment large
against Nelson, inasmuch as he only fought
as combataDt in war tine. But if these
nice distinctions on humanitarian grounds
should prevail, half the statuary of the
world would 60 to the melting-pot. The
fighting hero has always been a favoFite
subject, aud it Is only in this century that
respect has been paid to philosophy, poetry
and invention.
The British Admiralty report on the
loss of the Victoria is somewhat of a sur
prise to navy men. 1t solemnly sanctions
disobediance to orders as a duty when in
the belief of the person ordered they are
impossible of execution. Not only is dis
obedience in such instances duty, but the
neglect to act Is to be punishable with
pains and penalties. Then comes the aues-
ton OF discretion and knowledge. Piob-
ably the effect will be TO make command
ers cautious about entering upon hazard
Gus experiments. Some censure is passed
upon the captain of the Camperdown for
no. closing the water-tight doors. but none
upon the captain of the Victoria, who also
neglected this precaufion. As to the ship,
il is found that she would not have foun-
dered had all the bulk head doors been
closed. anG would only have sunk by the
head had some of them been Enclosed, but
the entry of water by the gun and turret
ports and through the armor door of the
battery was fatal to stability. if engineers
could close all the doors of a battle-ship
by touching button capsizing might not
be imminent.
The great Krupp finds business dull at
Essen. His guns are not in demand. and
rival ironfounders and engineers can
undertake other work perhaps as well and
as cheaply. The only country doing any,
thing to encourage the gun trade is Brazil.
but ii it gets much more armament than it
has there may be q shortage of funds tn
pay for the same. A European war would
clear up the situation admirably for
Krupp, but according to the Emperor VIII
liam the use Of great armies and nayies. is
to ensure the blessings OF peace. Arms
and armor and millions of men ready for
the bugle-call are evidences of peace and