The times., 1897-03-21

London, March 2O.-The fight for con-
ciiiation of the Irish parties on finan-
ciai reforms proceed0in merry faction
fashion. When Mr. HeaIy, at the first
conference OF last week, insisted upon as
serting the existence of u Realyite party
as a separate party, and declared its
independence by the appointment of a
separate secretary, the renotest hope OF
a coalition OF unionists anu nationalists
disappeared.
The Healyites having got their secre-
tary in, Mr. T. b. Curran, the Dillonites
got theirs, Mr.. Abraham and the Red
mondites, Mr.. Patrick O'Brlck, and as
consequence the foar Unionist Conservatives
had to appoint one also in Mr.. Horace
Plunkett. These foIr gentlemen set them
selves TO compose the sortof noncommhttal
resolution which came before the second
conference on Friday, the 9th instant,
and the acceptance of which as far as IL
ever found acceptance, was due to its
negative qualities. But out of twenty
one Irish Unionist members, fifteen OBJ
ject to having any fellowship with those
workers of iniquity, the home rGlers, even
if the financial prosperity of their country
be concerned. The ardent Orange patriot,
Mr.. William johnson, has called the coali-
ton Il confused conglomeratc, and GER
tainly it is a conglomerate which shows
no signs of complete fusion.
If the four UnionSts, Col. SaunderSon,
Mr.. Leeky, Mr. Horace Plunkett. and Mr..
Carson, WHO participated in the confer
ence, are sincere in wishing harmonious
action with the Nationalists on this finan-
cial question, it can be secured. But their
sincerity is abundantly doubted. The
subcommittee, consisting of Col. Saun-
derson, Mr.. Leeky, Mr. Healy, and Mr..
j. j. Clancy, and on which Mr. Dillon
declined to serve, was from the first
looked upon by the Dillonites with dis
trust, and that feeling subsequent pro-
ceedings has confirmed. The coming de
bate on the matter Of'the appointment OF
second commission to inquire into the
financial relations between Great Britain
and Ireland viii find the Irish factions
as far apart as ever.
a story is going the rounds here that part
of the Prince Of Wales business in the
south of France is closely connected with
much Interested Her mother was an
American lady who married a Neapoltan
duke, and has been dead for some yoaTs
She was a widow at her death, and at her
request the prince largely undertook the
care OF her daughter There have ;icen, it
is said, difficulties about her marriage, as
the lady, like her late mother, has de-
cided Will Of her own Now all seems
man, young and highly esteemed, is being
arranged.
The practice of the Oxford and Cam
bridge crews on the Thames so far and
their test trials over the actual course,
still leaves the race very doubtful Every
body admires the neatneSs and swing OF
the Cambridge crew. They are faster than
last year. The oxford eight, however, are
rather heavier and pull every ounce of
their weight
There are rumors of a combination among
West End theatrical managers against the
growing rivalry and popularity OF the new
suburban houses. The latter are now as
handsome and Commodious as the more
fashionable and better known ones, and the
performances are often quiteas good. Lead
ing actors. like Sir Henry Irving and Mr.
Tree, We're very fond of presiding at the
foundation stone laying of these new rivals,
and made speeches at the time, declaring
that the suburban houses were eGuCa ing
the public to become playgoers. They now
find that the new playgoers prefer to a wait
the arrival of West End successes in their
midst, rather than spend time and money
in travelling to town
THE long rum system in theaters con-
Quoted by star actors is threatened. Its
now proposed that all provincial rights of
London successes should be granted sub
ject to the conditions that no play should
be performed within a thirty y-milc .'adius
of London until at least twelve months
have elapsed from the withdra wal of the
play from the West End.