The herald., 1898-11-27
Surprises Europe and Shifts the
Balance Of Power
GREAT BRITAIN NOT MUCH ALARMED
Feeling That the Loss Of Sympathy in Europe Is More Than
Compensated by Gains in the Good Will
of the Americans

I schools and army, and Vienna will be dec
grated and Illuminated by private citizens
The Austrian reichsrath assembled yester
day and listened to the addresses of the
presidents of the two houses, eulogzing the
reign of Emperor Francis Joseph The mem
bers as a rule wore evening dress and decora
tons, but the Poles and Czechs were dressed
in gala national costumes Only the benches
of the socialists were empty, the members
of that party having refused to participate
in the meeting.
| About 1000 civic honors will be conferred
on December 2, the anniversary OF the proc
lamation, in lS4S, of Francis Joseph as en-
peror of Austria, after the abdcation of his
uncle, Ferdinand l, and the remuneration OF
the crown by his father.
Among those who will be honored are ali
the burgomasters. All the garrisons will
attend church, and every soldier, including
the retired and bronze medal men of'each
regiment, will select the best officer or pri-
vate for decoration.
A BRITISH BLIZZARD
The mild, weather which has prevailed
in Great Britain has been interrupted by a
| thorough blizzard in many parts of the
country, especially in the north, where the
snowdrifts have been several feet deep.
Three men perished in the snow in the
highlands, train was blown off the rails
near Tralee, Ireland, numbers of fishing
boats have been lost, many fishermen have
perished and the Irish mail boats and
cross-channel mail services were inter
rupted or seriously delayed. Trains have
been showed up at several places and gen
orally the snowstorm is considered to have
been the worst for many years. The severe
han had So, l.,
diterranean, where French transport,
bound for Tunis, was obliged to return to
Toulon in damaged condition. She also
reported that some of the recruits on board
of her We're killed or injured during the
storm.
ROYAL GOSSIP
Queen Victoria, who has been entertain
ing extensively at Windsor this week. re-
ceived visit from Il man named Matthews,
described as an American, who presented
himself at the castle with a bundle of pa
pcrs under his arm and asked to see her
majesty. He said he had Just come into
a large property through the death of his
grandfather and he wanted to consult with
the Queen about it. The authorities found
that he was harmless crank and they sent
him back to London.
The dislike of the Queen for the late Wm.
f. Gladstone was well known, but since
the death of the great statesman, her ma
jcsty has given several proofs of her kindly
regard for Mrs Gladstone, the widow She
has written frequently to the latter in
quiring very compassionately regarding her
health and expressing the hope that her
bereavement has now lost it's keenness.
There is some discussion this week as to
whether the Queen will again go to the
south of France next spring, in view of
the Anglophobe feeling excited by the Fash
oda dispute.
Outbursts upon the part of the French
newspapers are having a certain effect and
letters are appearing in the English news
papers urging that pressure be exercised
in the proper quarters to induce the Queen
not to go to the Riviera but to go to Flor
ence instead.
The Countess Casa Valencia, wife of the
former Spanish Ambassador of that name,
has written to the newspapers appealing
Tor funds TO be devoted to the relief of
the wounded Spanish soldiers and widows
OF the slain. As generous contributions al
ready received will not suffice to meet the
widespread misery existing among this class
of unfortunate Spaniards, three-days' ba-
gar will be opened at Downshire House on
December ] by the Infanta Eulala The
proceeds will be devoted to the Spanish
fund for the relief of The wounded and
the widows.
At Cambridge on Thursday last, Cen
eral Kitchener was accorded a great re-
ception when he received the freedom of the
borough and was admitted to the degree
of doctor of laws, which was the occasion
for an outburst of time-honored rollicking
spirit. The students mus
tered great force at the senate house, sang
patriotic ditties and dangled life-size eff
tigy of dervish over the balcony, in front
OF the General, who, with the university
big wigs had to undergo good -humored
chatf. Later, the students celebrated the
day with an enormous bonfire in front of
Market Hall, the fire being replenished with
garden fences, tradesmen's shutters and
recently erected municipal band stand.
a QUEEN OF SPIRIT
The young Queen of Holland recently dis
played her strong will by recalling whole
issue ot postage stamps because her portrait
on them made her look too girish. She is
again showing her spirit in the question of
an officer in the German army, which has
been practically settled upon The official
of the betrothal has been kept
Dack on account OF certain difficulties in the
protocol, the question being whether the
Prince should be vested with the rights and
prerogatives of Prince Consort, or retain
ms present rank. Unless the former plan
the foreign courts will recognize him as +,
me- member of the Dutch royal family. The
Consort,. but Queen Wilhelmina saws Oneen
NIictoria's precedent is to be followed and
the title Of Prince Consort is not to be con.
ferred until eighteen months after the mar
riage: The wedding has alseady been f;xed @
to take place at The Hague next spring.
1t has leaked out that the betrotbal of
the young Queen to the Prince of IVe;do I, os oe
origin. The Princes older broth tIe
married the Princess Pauline of Wurtem.
burg, who was Wilhelmina's intimate e;rl.
hood friend. Once. when they were sfav- @
ing together and indulging in dreams of the
future, they vowed, according to the story
that they would only wed two brothers. The
Princess Pauline afterwards married the
elder Prince of 'Weide, Prince Frederick,
and Wilhelmina determined to keep her VOW
and wed his brother, Prince William, who is
four years younger than Prince Frederick.
This, it is added, explains Queen Wilhelm
mas Indifference to other suitors, which has
caused so much comment.
Other reports, however. say that the real