The herald., 1896-02-15

lish eople, and q fruitful field OF
operations for titled and impecunious
Understanding Englishmen. Its rail
ways and government bonds afforded
also safe AMI profitable channels for
tho Investment of many millions OF
surplus British capital. Its people.
too, we're hospitable entertainers of
Englishmen on tour, and prolific
sources of revenue to British trades
man during the annual yankee i'll
vasion" of London each summer.
Such was the thought uppermost In
the mind of the ACREAGE EuRlishman
before President Cleveland's now fa-
nous message to congress month
ago. The message was a bombshell.
1t was surprise and revelation-in
sooth, a rude awakening of the English
mind from deep-rooted and long
fostercd delusion.
1t amused me hugely to hear people
talk-people, too, who had always pro-
fessed to like Americans when they
met them. That is to say, to like them
as much as any Engiishmen can like
any foreigners, which is not saying a
great deal. as everybody knows who
has lived in England or been thrown
much with Engiishman anywhere.
"rhe impertinence" / heard Que lady
eXclaim. "Ihe impertinence OF Presi-
dent Cleveland daring to dictate to
England He must be stark, staring
mad I"
II never heard such cheek. OF course
Lord Salisbury won't pay any atten-
ton to him" said another up-to-date
young lady. "Hs wants good snub-
bing," and she tossed her head imper
iously whilo she brought the golf-claak
she was carrying as a walking stick
down on the ground with an emphatic
and resonant whack.
"Who? Lord Salisbury" asked.
ono, you silly. This Yankee presi-
dent chap, Of course"
But this sort OF thing is now decid-
edly on the wane, and has been for
soma time. While if lasted, its flame
was undoubtedly famed by the Morn
ing Post. which went out OF it's way to
keep up English i'll feeling by ferreting
out and publishing every little para.
grab it could hnd inimical to, and
abusive of, England in any American
paper. AS the Morning Post circu-
lates chiefly among the upper classes,
owing to its authentic aud copious ac-
counts of the doings of the aristcc-
racy, the feeling of high society and its
members toward America could not
naturally be very friendly. 1 blanc
quite as much the Irish press of Amer
ica for keeping tho embers alight on
the other side.
or course the bother with Dr. jana
son in the Transvaal and the German
emperor's telegram to President Kru-
ger threw the Venezuela boundary and
Monroe doctrine question into the
shade. II is an ill wind that blows no.
body any good, and certainly this over
shadowing imbroglio was a fortunate
circumstance in the cause Of peace be-
tween the two great English-speaking
nations. But, as J. say, throughout it
all, the opinions and comm snts Of So
ciety were intensely amusing.
"But don't you see" heard one man
say, while he knowingly twisted his
glass under his eyebrow, "what l cawn't
get at is this: J thought there had
bsen big war between North and
South America, and here you see the
north sticking up for one Of the south
ern states. The Yankees are very
odd people, must say"
No one seemed able to enlighten him,
and another chap, in high collar, took
up the running:
"Poor devils, they've got no generals
Grawnt and Lee are too old, l eX-
pect."
One peculiarly intelligent, middle
aged, retired army colonel Quietly
muttered:
"Grawnt is dead, you idiot"
"They've got Stonewall jackson, y
suggested new speaker, who had just
come into the smoking room.
"Who's they?" quickly demanded the
ex-colonel.
"South America" replied the new
conner.
"Why, Stonewall jackson is north
man with the eye-glass.
"No fear" from the ex-colonel, with
covert wink.
SILL go flyer ON it," said the young
man with the eye-glass.
"Done," quietly remarked the colonel.
"But who'll decide it?" asked several
voices.
81 will myself" said the colonel.
"You said Stonewall Jackson is a
northern general. 1 say he is not, be-
cause he is dead"
"What jolly SELL" 81 say!" and 81
never" filled in the gaps in the laugh
ter.
"Come, hand over that fver," de-
manded the ex.colonel.
"Stop a Bit" spoke voice not heard
before. 1t came from an old gentleman
who was quietly slipping very weak
grog near the fire. "Stonewall jack
son was South American general. IL
o. the bet must be Off. You are both
wrong" CoCKAIGNE.
London, January II, 1896.
-Argonaut.