The record-union., 1898-11-27
The SnOWsiOrm Considered the Worst Er-
perlenCed In Many Years.
Loss Of Life and Interruption TO
Train Service in Several Sec
tions-The Countess Casa Va1en-
cia Appeals for Funds in Aid of
Wounded Spanish Soldiers and
Widows of the Killed.

LONDON, Nov. 2G.-The recent
comparatively 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 snoWdrifts have
been several feet high. Three men
perished in the snow in the high
lands, train was blown off the rails
near Trale, Ireland, numbers of fish
ing boats have been lost, many fisher
men have perished and the Irish mail
boats and cross channel mail services
were interrupted and seriously de-
layed
Trains have been showed up at sew
eral places, and generally the snow
storm is considered to have been the
worst for many years. The severe
weather reached as far south as the
Mediterranean, where a French trans
port, bound for Tunis, was obliged to
return to Toulon in a damaged condi-
ton. She also reported that some of
the recruits on board her were killed
or injured during the storm.
Queen Victoria. who has been enter
tanning extensively at Windsor this
week, received a visit from a man
named Matthews, described as an
American, who presented himself at
the castle with a bundle of papers un-
der 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
William e. Gladstone was we'll known.
but since the death of the great states
man her majesty has given several
proofs of her kindly regard for Mrs
Gladstone, the widow. She has writ
ten frequently to the latter, inquiring
very compassionately regarding her
health, and expressing the hope that
her bereavement has now lost it's keen
ness.
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 Anglo-phobe feeling ex-
cited by the Fashoda dispute
Outbursts on the part of the French
newspapers are having a certain effect
and letters are appearing in the Eng
lish newspapers urging that pressure
be exercised in the proper quarters to
induce the Queen not to go to the
French Riviera, but to go to Florence
instead.
The Countess Casa Valencia, wife of
the former Spanish ambassador of
that name, has written to the news
papers, appealing for funds to be de-
voted to the relief of the wounded
Spanish soldiers and the widows OF
the slain AS generous contributions
already received will not suffice to meet
the widespread misery existing among
this class of unfortunate Spaniards, a
three days bazaar will be opened at
Downshire House on December 1st by
the Infanta Eulalie. The proceeds will
be devoted to the Spanish fund for the
relief of the wounded and the widows.
At Cambridge on Thursday last Gen
eral Kitchener was accorded a great
reception when he received the free
dom of the borough and was admitted
to the degree of Doctor of Laws, which
was the occasion for an outburst of
time-honored rollicking undergraduate
spirit.
The students mustered a great force
at the same house. sang patriotic dit
ties and dangled a life-size effigy of a
Dervish over the balcony in front of
the General, who with the university
big wigs had to undergo good -hu-
mored chaff. Later, the students cell
ebrated the day with an enormous
bonfire in front of Market Hall. the
fire being replenished with garden
fences, tradesmen's shutters and a re-
Gently. erected municipal band stand.
The young Queen of Holland recent
" displayed her strong will by recalling
q. whole issue of postage stamps be-
cause her portrait on them made her
look too girlish. and is again showing
her spirit in the question of her be-
trothal to Prince William of Wiede,
an officer in the German army, which
has been settled upon. The official an
nouncement of the betrothal has been
kept secret on account of difflcuitles
in the protocol, the question being
whether the Prince should be vested
with the rights and prerogauves OF
Prince Consort or retain his present
rank. Unless the former plan IS
adopted neither the laws or Holiahd
nor the foreign courts will recognize
him as a member of the Dutch roydl
family The Wiede family insist upon
the title of Prince Consort, but Queen
Wilhelmina demands that Queen VIC
toria's precedent be followed, and that
the title Of Prince Consort be not con-
ferred until eight or ten months after
the marriage 1t is expected, however
that the difficulty will be overcome be-
fore long. The wedding has been f1xed
TO take place at The Hague next
spring.
1t has leaked out that the betrothal
of the young Queen to the Prince OF
Wfede is Of romantic origin. The
Princes older brother married the
Princess Pauline of Wurtemburg, who
was Wilhemina's intimate girlhood
friend Once. when they were staying
together and indulging in dreams of the
future, they vowed, according to the
story. that they would only wed two
brothers. The Princess Pauline after
ward married the elder Prince of
Wiede, Prince Frederick, and Will
hemina 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 Wilhemina' Indifference to other