New-York tribune., 1896-01-12

the death of Robert Burns near Edinburgh, the
direct male line of the Scotch poet Is hrouSh'
TO an end. The last direct descendant was the
poets great-grandson. He was schoolmas-
ter's son. who served seven years in the army
in the Fusiler Guards; driftcd from one occu-
patton TO another. being alternately railway
servant gardener and keeper Of gunpowder
magazine For many years he was employed
as assistant gardener at the Princes street
Gardens in the Scotch capital
The new Poet Laureatcs FIRST public act mas
been pedantic refusal to sign the address OF
the English authors 20 their brethren IN
America. deplorng such calamity as an out
break Of war between two kindred nations. lie
objects to the phrasing of the address, and is
convinced that Americans will be better pleased
If .heir injustice be met with grave if friendly
reproach or dignincd silence: then. instead II
taking his own medicine and sending back the
address without a cavillins word, he breaks
silence and publishes his letter. II is not natu-
raj. perhaps. to expect poet to be consistent
especially when the laurel ever his forehead IL
fresh and green. Mr.. Austin prints TINS morn
ing ballad on Jameson's ride. II is singular
that the Laurcates earliest official work should
be laudatory of rebel against the Queen u
should have been revised by Mr. Chamberlain
The Prisoner of Zcnda" has been produced
in London after having had. lik" "Trilhy.
prosperous career in America. SumpiuousF
mounted at St James's Theatre. it is well acted
and is received with marked signs OF puDllc
favor. The critics find in il a medley OF ro-
mantle play and melodrama. and complain tha'
the playwright. with a subject for comic opera
changes TIE spirit OF the piece with every ac',
but these academic structures do not interfere
with the interest ami enjoyment Of the audl-
ences Mr. George Alexander plays the parts
Of the three -Jiudolfs extremely well. ana re-
ceives his best support from Mr. Vernon as
Colonel Sapt. Miss Millard has little To do but
she appears in gorgeous gown glittering with
silver sequins frnged with pearls. The ardor
Of the company in the melodramatic scenes was
overwrought on the first night. but this has
been toned down and the play seems destined
to great popularity.
Mr.. Barrett. sign Of the Cross" is drawing
a class of theatre-goers not often seen IN Lon
don since IT is advertised a religious and
devotional drama. Dean Hole has gon" out
Of his way to commend it in The Guardian.
Travellers by the early Isish mail from Euston
Were startled one morning this week by Iouu
explosion as thu train trundinS through
long tunnel 1t occurred in the restaurant car.
where several passengers W'It pl plcdkid~tiHt'' i''
report was followed by burst Of fam" ana
showers Of cinders, which set fire TO the car be
fore the train emerged from ta@ tunnel one
third Of the restaurant car was shattered ana
burned and the early hrcakfasters were more
or less injured. The cause oi the explosion,
whether dynamite sausage or a detective nue
i'm the range is not known. but az the assistant
superntendent Of the line was IN the car ana
was considerably hurt. an investigation VIII fol-
low and danger from this new class Of railway
risk will be minimized.
Accounts published from Vienna OF the
discovery by Professor Routgens OF the ne"
conductor Of light. by which man can b' ph .i"-
eraphed without flesh or muscle. but as he is IN
his bare bones The results need confirmation.
but it seems probable that tn. discovery may D"
of great importance in surgery Metals "a Wi
as bones are Opaque and cast 4 shadow in ih's
NV process 1t follows that ballet can i'
photographed when imbed1el in tho body ia
President Garfieids case II would ha'" been
possible by this new method t. ascertain b' IN"
camera where the bullet was without 'he use Of
the probe or the inductive balance. J. y. J.