The herald., 1897-10-10

IN the Afghan war, the Soudan cam
paiEn, and the Burmese expedition, in
addition to seei1g much service in At
rica. to the front
The steamers from Liverpool to the
west coast of Africa are taking out
troops aUd large quantities OF ammuni-
ton.
In addition to this attempt at colo mia !
expansion on the part OF the French in
West Africa, France Is apparently pre-
pairing to swallow the kingdom of Siam.
The Times, organ of the French for
sign office, enum merates the points in diff
ference with Siam in, such manner as
to lead to the belief that the French
eovernmev.t intends to force Siam into
vsssalage unless Great Britain inter-
venes,
', SPANISH AFFAIRS
An American diplomat, who has just
arrived here from Ma6rid, says the con-
dition of Spain is even worse than the
correspondents depict. Whoever is sent
. 10 Cuba, he adds, will attempt to buy off
the insurgeCt leaders.
The diplomat further says that the
Spanish government is so hard pressed
for money that It is attempting to sell
Ill the public lands and buildings that
can possibly be spared.
Not only have the soldiers been un-
paid since last March, but the pension
lists are in arrearage.
All social intercourse between the
American minister at Madri0 and the
Spanish officials and the diplomatic
corps has been suspended for more than
a year. This was partly due to the fact
Hannis Taylor, the former United States
minister to Spain, was persona non
<rata to most of the members OF the
diplomatic corps.
For eighteen months Mr.. Taylor has
not been on speaking terms with the
French and Austrian ambassadors or
with the papal nuncio. The rupture
with the French ambassador was be-
cause Mr.. Taylor protested against be-
Ing omitted from the list of guests at
q reception given by the ambassadors
LABOR NOTES
There Is no indication Of any improve
meut In the engineering strike and the
smbittered struggle between the en-
ploysrs and the engineers, Of whom TO-
900 are now idle, continues with almost
certainly Of bringing about strike
throughout the shipbuilding establish
ments Of the country involving another
&c, 900 men. No one in authority has the
smallest hope of settlement this side
of Christmas, since the employers fed
Grafton has declined the mediation Of
the board Of trade and has refused to
confer with the men. The strike has
already entailed loss OF $3.50, 900, and
Is calculated to reach s10,0O0,000 by
Christmas. The railroad employees
threaten to add to the chaos. They are
to hold a great conference at Biiuning-
ham In q few days, and will formulate
demands which the companies say it
10 impossible for them to grant, and in
the event Of the latters refusal, gen.
eral strike of 100000 railroad workers,
which will probably mean the idleness
OF 1900, 900 others, will follow.
The Liberal newspapers, beaded by
the Daily Chronicle ard the Westminster
Gazette, are advocating war to the
death, and have opened subscription
lists urging levy upon all unions in
support OF the striking engineers and
to befriend trades unionism, whose very
existence, they say is at stake.
In the meanwhile the entire naval
program Is disjofntedA Work on
dozen warships is at standstill and
several others which ought TO have been
finished during the past week are
still on the stocks and must remain
there for an indefinite period.
The engineers have sent manifestos to
the public appealing for funds and say
ing they are going TO fight to the finish.
TENNYSON'S BIOGRAPHY
The biography of the Late Lord Ten
nyson, the poet laureate, which is at
tracing so much attention just now, Is
contained in two thick volumes, full of
interest ard repeatedly emphasizes the
poets regard for the United States and
his earnest desire that the parent coun-
try and its offshoot shall ever dwell In
unity. Writing to Longfellow. Tenny
son says: I'VE English and Americans
should all be brothers as none others
among nations can be, and some Of us,
come what may, will always be So
trust" Tennyson's biographer writes
that Emerson, Whittier, Walt Whitman,
Lowell and Oliver Wendell Holmes were
counted among his friends, and that
through them he kept alive a spirit Of
kinship with their countrymen.
Americans, the biographer further
says, not only loaded him with appre-
citation, but also loaded him with pipes.
Writing to the Duke OF Argyle in. 1867,
Tennyson said: Il am sorry I did not
see the Marquis of Lorne, but I'll call
for the calumet sent me by Longfellow.
1t is odd that Americans always send
me pipes and tobacco. as If I cared for
nothing else in the world, and their to-
hQ m
pipes my pipes, birdseye and Guilty being
more TO my fapcy than the costlier
things. But, however, do not mean to
undervalue Longfellow's gift
Letters to and from the Queen are
full of interest. They occasionally touch
upon poliNcs, but are more frequently
personal.
Writing to Tennyson regarding the
peerage conferred upon him, the Queen
said it was "a mark Of my recognition of
the great service you have rendered TO
litera ture, which has so great an infu-
ence upou. the world a. large"
Her Majesty added: "How wish you
could suggest means for crushing the
horrible publications whose object is to
promulgate scandal and calumny which
they invent themselves"
After visit to Queen Victoria, Tenny-
son wrote to her: During our CONVEX
sation I felt touch of that true friend
ship W which binds human beings together.
whether they be Kings or cobblers."
Culbertson Disliked
MONROE, Texas, Oct. 9.-As result
Of the action of Governor Culbertson