The news & observer., 1897-12-19
WILLIAM The WITLESS
SATURDAY REVIEW SAYS hE is
STARK, STARING MAD.
he TAXES HIMSELF SERIOUSLY
British Regiments Charged With Lack of Pluck
The Sale of Jane Hadng's Jewels
Spectre of Vitriol That Haunts
Sarah Bernhardt.

WpyTlSHieu, ISot, ny ASSSi''Nu AASS"''
Lndon, Dec. 1S.-The general opinion
of Kiel is voiced by a diplomatic re-
mark: "It is great pity that Germany,
having an easy, safe and simple, though
slightly piratical piece of work ON hand,
should not be able to perform 1t with
out setting the whole world laughing"
The papers are full of comment on
the subject. The Times says:
"The august utterances are worthy
OF heroes of melodrama and would seem
high flown to modern ideas if uttered
by Philip ILL.,, as he dispatched the
Armada; or Columbus as he started to
carry the Dominion of Spain over the
oceans. The Kaiser evoked memories
Of Metz and Sedan to encourage Prince
Henry to keep d stout heart as he
faces the perils of the Suez canal and
the terrors of the China seas. Prince
Henry's appreciation was closed by a
speciment of almost byzantine self-abase-
mdlt,, unique in the annals of modern
Europe"
The Saturday Review thinks the nick
name of "WiIliam, the Witless," is no
longer adequate, adding that he is
"stark, staring mad.'
Continuing, the Saturday Review, re-
marks:
SIN spite of the ominous fact that he
has alienated the newspapers and pro-
fessors, insulted the. greatest mobiles,
when they venturedo to disagree with
his extraordinary activity until the court
is deserted and known throughout
Germany as the court of Parvenus, the
poor creature continues to take him.
self seriously, as a sort of drill-sergeant
of Providence"
The indications point to a passage
in the Queens speech at the opening of
Parliament, referring to the sugar in
terests of the colonies. 1t will probably
announce that the government has de-
cided to propose a conference of the
powers interested IN sugar bounties. 1t
is understood the government is pre-
pared to announce at such confer
ence that unless the bounty system
Is abandoned Great Britain will inn
pose countervailing duties.
The Colonial office has been greatly
exercised since the West Indian COM
mission reported and since the discus
sions in the Reichstag in which Herr
Richter admitted that should Great
Britain follow the lead of the United
States and tax bounty fed sugar, the
death knell of bounties would be
sounded.
Signs are not lacking that both Ger
many and France are anxious to abolish
the bounties, but neither will abandon
them so long as the other is free to
maintain them and SO monopolize the
English market. The objections of the
free traders to a protective measure viii
probably be overcome by guarantee
Al Il II Il
as the bouties have ceased. The signs
of unrest in the sugar colonies are hav-
ing effect upon the authorities. A West
Indian planter writes to a friend in
London saying:
''If the standard of rebellion is raised
In favor of an alliance with the United
States, | will volunteer forthwith. We
owe all our sufferings to the imperial
connection, and it is high time 1T was
ended England will have a rude
awakening"
The reverse suffered by General West
macott's brigade in the Bora valley is
in the nature of disaster. When the
euphemiSms are translated the story
appears to be the most powerful force
ever sent to the border has been bund-
led out of Afridiland neck crop. On
top Of this comes the news that it is
the intention of Sir William Lockhart,
the Britiush commander in chief to in
wade the country in another direction.
The reasons are obvious. The govern
ment feels that something must be done
forthwith to retrieve British prestige
and the Khiber Pass road, which the
Africidis closed about six months ago
will probably be comparatively easily re-
opened.
In the meanwhile the worst impression
has been created in Great Britain by
the reiteration of the statement that
the rank and file of at least four British
regiments. An officer at the front
writes:
''The worst is that the native troops
have seen the cowardice of their white
comrades, and they state openly that il
any Tommy Atkins is rude to them here
after they will hammer him; and tht
awful thing is they do so."
1t is obvious that if the natives lose
their respect for British courage, Great
Britain's hold on India is most precari
Gus. The whole fault seems to lie in ex
pecting boys to do mems work, and in
turning them adrift just when they art
becoming good soldiers. The campaign
cannot end before March, and the cost
fully S30,000000, will necessitate the in
tervention of the British Treasury in
order to avert the bankruptcy of India
The society event of Paris this week
was the sale of Jane Hading's jewels on
Thursday. Her lap dogs collar, stud
ded with diamonds, brought $1,000; q
dog collar, with superb pearl aud dia.
mond pendants, was sold for 81 900 and
pearl necklace was auctioned off foI
$4,000.
Sarah Bernhardt, in an interview on
Wednesday, said
MY life is wearied by the ceaselcss
watch | am obliged to keep against
yitriol."
She has been escorted everywhere
having been threatened by the mother
of Madcmoiselle Klein, who, months ago
threatened to use vitriol and who, al
Sarah's instance was confined In an
asylum.
New York, Dec. 1S.-The Evening