The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-12-30
QUEEN VICTORIA AND THE ROYAL
HOUSEHOLD HAD A MERRY
CHRISTMAS.
The LATEST FROM THE FAR EAST
The British Lion Carefully Watching
Events, and Is Not to BE Sur
priseI-Germany and England
CheerfuIly HObnobbing.

London. dec, 20.-(CODyrighted by The
Associated Press, 1S91.j-rhe tempera-
ture is seasonable, the yellow fogs in
the middle of the week having given
way to comparative brightness. The
week has been the coolest of the season.
10 to 20 degrees of frost being registered.
All who could do so have gone to the
country, where Christmas house parties
are more numerous than usual. OF the
United States embassy, the United
States ambassador, John Hay, and Mrs.
Hay alone remained in town. Mr.. Henry
White. secretary Of the United States
embassy, and Mrs. White spent the first
part of the weak at Hlnfeld where
the Marquis OF Salisbury lbs been en-
Pertaining a large shooting party.
Thence Mr.. and Mrs. White went to
Blenheim, where they participated in
the Christmas rejoicings. which included
two balls and rhe presentation of two
playlcts. in which the Duke and Duchess
of Marlborough and Lady Randolph
Churchill had parts. Mr.. James X. Car
ter, second secretary of the United
States embassy, and Mrs. Carter have
gone to Biaritz and Lieut.. j. g. Colwell,
the naval attGche of the United States
embassy, and Mrs. Colwen re in Paris.
Queen Victoria has 4 merry party at
tree loaded with presents for the royal
children, the members of the household
and the servants. The parry includes
the Battenbargs, Connaughts, Lornes
and Albanys. a royal baron of beef
cut from Devon OK, fed on the royal
farm at Windsor and roasted at Wind
sor by cooks sent by Il london caterer,
was forwarded to Osborne On Friday
with the boar's head and woodcock pie,
H.,
sidebOard ut Christmas.
The Prince and Princess of Wales
early in the week purchased presents,
as customary, from the royal tradesmen,
who displayed rhe wares in an apart
ment of Marlborough house which the
royalties selected. The Prince and
Princess of Wales, Princess Victoria of
Wales, the Duke and Duchess of York,
Prince and Princess Charles of Denmark
and the Duke and Duchess of Fife all
assembled at Sandringham for Christ
mas. where the usual festivities took
place.
The Earl and Countess of Craven Qor-
merly Miss Cornelia Martin, daughter of
Mr.. and Mrs. Bradley-Martin) are en-
tertaining house party at COmbe Alb
hey. They gave their tenants ball on
Christmas eve. Lord William Beres-
ford and Lady Beresford formerly Mrs.
Louis Hammersley and later wife of
the eighth duke of Marlborough, who
died in 1892 are also entertaining ut
Deepdene.
Lord Alfred Rothschilds made his
usual distribution of 5000 pheasants to
the omnibus drivers and conductors,
every 'busman getting a brace of birds.
According to the newspapers, the
ladies OF upper-tendom, married and sim
gle. are tired of the hackncyed Christ
mas cards and are sending their favored
friends photographs of themselves as at
tired.
As soon as Jackson, the explorer,
completes the work connected with his
Franz Josefland expedition he will start
for the north pole. He informed rep
of the Associated Press that
his original plans were identical with
those of Lieut.. Peary, except that he
intended to take the east coast of the
island instead of the west mapping out
land en- route. But since
he heard the Peary lecture, jackson
has changed his plans, considering that
the American has prior claims. Jackson
now proposed to proceed via DAVIS
straits and Baffins bay, up to the west
coast to Ellesmere land and Grinnell
land, and thence across to the furthest
point reached by Aldrich in 1876, whence
he will push north, making in the direc-
ton of any land visible from the coast.
Jackson will have only one companion
nnts;do ot NJ, crew. Talking over his
plans, he said: ., a..
Il hope tC push my ship considerably
beyond Coburg island at the entralGe
of Jones sound. and at the furthese ha an5
gable point l shall establish a pase anu
thence push north with sledges, dosS
and ponies and with one companion.
nypect TO be absent two years.
In we'll informed circles the general I'M
prevails that the scare in the
newspapers and among the public IN re-
gard TO the far east is at least premature.
While the members of the government
are reticent they are evidently sincere
in disclaiming the least alarm, Inc lui-
gathered in ministerial quarters
ing events, bidding her time and that she
certainly will not fail to act promptly ana
at the proper moment. IL Is
minated in quarters usually well
posted on such matters that Germany
either has, or wishes to have an under
standing OH the subject with Great
Britain. This view is strongly supported
by Prince Henry's visit to queen victoria
at Osborne by his subsequent trip TO
London and by the autograph letter wmch
the prince is said to have taken to her
majesty from Emperor William, etc., OF
which confirmation is forthcoming. The
emperor's letter to the queen is regarded
as being a distinctly conciliatOry step up
on the part of Germany. But there is no
doubt that Great Britain is quietly pre-
pairing for all eyentualities. Should 1t
become clear that Germany and Russia
have really commenced a game OF grab
Great Britain will be prepared to assert
her claims for Il division of the spoils. AT
the Chinese embassy the view prevails
that there is some understanding between
Great Britain and Germany. The public
scare seems to have arisen from the idea
that the proceedings took Great Britain
by surprise. This is impossible, for, since
her intervention in the China-J apanesc
war it has been known that Germany
has only been awaiting a favorable OPP
portunity to obtain foot-hold in China.
and at various times it has been reported
that Lappa Quemoy and Annoy had been
secured while a year ago German ships
surveyed Kiao Chau bay all the which
was known at the British foreign office.
The reception of the German squadron at
Portsmouth the facilities which the ships
We're afforded and will be afforded at all
the British coal depots on their way to
Hong Kong point to the sympathetic sup
port of Great Britain. That Russia does
not expect trouble is shown in the fact
she has not one battle ship in the far east.
But, of course, if Russia does not leave
Port Arthur in the spring. her stay there
may lead to other grabbing. The British
government, however. is apparently not
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