New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-01
the Foreign ONCE at most momentous period
In European diplomacy.

the Foreign once at most mOmehtOuS pSrIou
In European diplomacy
The banquet season which was opened by the
retirement of the Duke of Cambridge from the
command Of the Army has continued without a
break and promises to last until long after the
holidays. That veteran is still entertained night
after night and endures the strain with robust
vigor which ought, perhaps. to convince any
sceptic that he Is sin equal to- the requirements
Of any sort of campaigning. Among all recent
banquets that given to Mr.. John Hare at the
Hotel Metsop0le In honor Of his voyage TO 'mer-
lea has been the most brilliant in appointment.
service. company and oratory. No English a.aor
ever received a heartier bon voyage or hano-
somer compliment. The speaking was of high
order Of excellence Lord Baltimore and Sir
Frank Lockwood crossed swords with fine play
Of wit. Mr.. Pinero and Mr.. Comyns carr were
irresstibly humorous in their remarks on the
drama, the problem play" coming IN for an IN
genious defence by its leading English exponent
as earnest work worthy Of respectful attention
Within few hours death was to ring down the
curtain upon the career Of Alexandra Dumas.
who certainly wrote problem plays with more
earnestness and literary finish than any Of his
imitators have shown IN these days Of feed. hill
top Action.
The American Thanksgiving dinner attracted a
large company 1T IO4oOih iNcsAoui" i"N'N"
being out in full force 1t dull affair; the
speakers were heard with difficulty, and had lit
tie to say. The programme was too long. al
though happily varied with speeches. music and
rectations. The most amusing speech was made
by Mr. Robert Barr. who condemned with fine
irony the fatuous attempts OF English cooks to
produce American dishes, especially pumpkin pie
Mr. Bayard being absent in Scotland. the dinner
was eaten without free-trade sauce.-and Mr.. r.
w Glider in toasting his personal friend, Mr..
Cleveland, spoke OF him as sportsman a worker
and the champion Of honest~curreney. and COM
m!tted no indiscretion. The managers OF the
American Society deserve credit for their zeal in
bringing together so large a company of their
countrymen. and their instinct was right in al
lowing ladies to come in and in making the din
ner family affair Perhaps another year the
banquet will be more truly festive, and offer less
striking proof that the Americans. like the Eng
lsh take their pleasures sadly.
Mr. James r. Roosevelt, secretary Of the En-
bassy who presided al the dinner, has passed a
busy week. The marriage of his cousin, Miss
Anna Roosevelt. to Commander Cowles, naval at
tache Of the Legation. social incident OF
real Importance. owing TO her popularity as a
hostess, her sparkling wit and charming man.
ner.
Mrs Burnett Will be the guest Of honor at the
next reunion of the New Vagabonds Club.
Colonel Ludlow, military attache of the Ameri-
can Embassy. has returned from his labors in
Nicaragua and Washington. A summary of the
report Of the Canal Commission has preceded him.
and he has little to add beyond remarking that
II was written with great care and that no Tabor
was spared to make II as complete as possible
The report has not attracted much comment in
the press here but privately 1t has been dis
cussed among engineers, financers and mer-
chants Experts doubt very much the possibility
OF an exhaustive investigation Of engineering con-
ditons in the short time which the commission
had at its disposal. The opinion is expressed con-
hdentially in some quarters that there may be
politics behind the report. and that the Admin
istration may have secretly desired the Commits
sion to discredit Mr. Menocals estimates and
thereby damage the enterprise. English eng-
neers having been on the wrong side in the Suez
Canal project when the Grand Frenchman'
was struggling TO carry II through. are cautious
In accepting the Commissions estimate, which Is
double that Of Mr.. Menocal especially when they
know that the preliminary surveys in Nicaragua.
unlike those Of either Suez or Panama, were con-
Quoted with painstaking care.
The reports Of the copyright negotiations at
Ottawa have been read here with great interest
by authors and publishers. If compromise has
been arranged which will not excite criticism and
resentment in the United States. the negotiator
of 1t will be received with open arms upon his
return 1t has beep an open secret that the For
egn and Colonial offices have been most anxious
to have this question settled. since it was i'm
practicable to veto outright Canada's assumed
right to legislate copyright, and since 1t was
known that her Government had only entered
into the Berne Convention with the distinct
oily
ing a years notice.
English publishers and authors are awaiting
anxiously an expression of opinion from the
American book trade the compromise the
details OF which are not yet understood here John
Murray for example, says that while he has read
with great care everything which has been
printed in the dispatches. he cannot understand
what has been done, and IS not prepared to ex-
press an opinion upon it. lie is especially anx-
ious 10 know what arrangement has been roade
respecting the importation OF English books into
Canada, and what checks have been established
upon the system OF collecting and accounting
for royalties. which has been grievance Of long
standing Authors also want to know what per
centage has been provided for in the new licensing
clauses. and whether the Canadian printer will
have only 10 TO pay. whom American publishers
have beer paying IL. Il and in q few instances %
per cent to successful English authors
The experiment Of landing American mail at
Plymouth was successful Ia the first instance.
The First Bismarck leaving New-York on Thurs
day. landed passengers and mails early on the
following Thursday morning. The mails were in
London before noon and delivered before o'clock.
II seems probable TIA the Hamburg Amer!-
can Line Twill make Plymouth q regular port
Of call The Southampton mails were delivered
promptly this week 50 that American letters
were received three consecutive days. with
another mail In to-day. The outgoing Is far in
ferior 10 the incoming service. there being only
two mails weekly. and often by slow steamers.
unless letters are specially directed. There Is
much grumbllng over the lack OF mail facilities