The record-union., 1899-11-26
The Laudations Of the Heroism Of
Young Churchill
Does No! Meet With Favor Among Old
English Army Officers.
Pointed Out That He Does Not De-
serve Good Treatment From the
Beers, Having Violated the
Usages of War.

(Copyrighted, 1899, by Associated Press.)
LONDON, Nov. 25.-Among the sell-
ous-minded, conservative Engilsh peo-
pie there is growing feeling OF disgust
at the spread of the nauseating nampy-
pambyism which finds an excuse in the
war. The hysterical outbreak when
has ensued since Tommy Atkins" and
his officers became fuH-tiedged society
craze, has already been the subject oi
satirical articles in the better class OF
British publications, and now all signs
point to a reaction from that unreasoh-
ing enthusiasm which is responsible ior
so many undisnified antics. Never were
the old English army officers so asnast
as when they read of the Queen $ de-
cision to send a box of chocolate 10
each man in the field as a Christmas
present. Compared with her simple
speeches at her farewelis to the troops,
this announcement appeared as SUD
den descent from the sublime to the
ridiculous. On top of this came the
heroic accounts of Correspondent
Churchill fighting battles and controli-
ing troops, and regular officers poured
in letters to the papers protesting
against this. Though not belittling
Churchills personal bravery in the
Tirah campaign, an officer was obhgeu
to tell Churchill that his help was not
needed to command company. Other
instances of this young officers readi-
ness to interfere have been printed
since the glowing accounts of the
armored train affair. While it is point
ed out that he does not deserve good
treatment from the Beers, having VIC
lated the usages of war, the report OF
his expected release is contrasted with
the alleged action of the French and
Germans, who, it is claimed during the
war of 1870, shot all non -combatants
found carrying arms.
While the big West End caterers are
busy shipping hundreds of cases of
champagne and pate de foie gras to
the regimental messes in South Africa,
society women are working feverishly,
making plum puddings for these un-
fortunates Many of the puddings con-
tain costly jewelry, tie pins, rings and
other mementos from a daring woman
kind. Lady Colin Campbell has made
no fewer than 105 plum puddings for
the Dublin Fusileers, and several pud
dings have been sent to Winston
Churchill, addressed to Pretoria.
Though the majority of such efforts are
doubtless prompted by genuine patriot
ism and a desire to alleviate the suffer-
ings of the soldiers, the charitable
movement is taken advantage of by
notorious self-adyertisers, both social
and mercantile. Women who have not
been received in society. in spite of the
efforts of years, have been untiring in
their endeavors TO get publicity for
their particular scheme to raise money
or articles to send out to South Africa.
Incidentally, it is announced that the
Duke of Aberdeen has sent the Red
Cross Society 800 dozen of Messrs. So
and-So's handkerchiefs, (which are ia
nous for their softness and delicate
texture" etc, and every theatrical
press agent in the country is reaping
harvests by obtaining gratuitous ad-
vertisements from hitherto unheard-of
actors and actresses, who are willing to
recite a war poem or do a turn to help
the war funds. This, of course, scarce
ly applies to the few leaders of the
profession who originated the idea of
an American quota of charity move
ment which eliminated in Mrs. Brown
Potter's Cafe Chantant," though the
latter has not escaped criticism The
Times sets the example by giving it
meager and uncomplimentary report
in its news columns. and since then
several society and other papers have
referred satirically to the excesses
which marked the tipping and other
methods applied at the entertainment
to raise funds. The amount of adver-
tising some of the theatrical nonentities
have secured is not excused even by the
presence of royalties. Many prominent
members of the American colony here
freely express in private conversation
their disappointment and stronger feel
ings at the proceedings of this perform
ance. Joseph H. Choate, the United
States Embassador was placed in an
awkward position by finding, upon his
arrival here, that he was, apparently,
actively associated with the Chantant s
management, one. individual was Off :
cially discountenanced by the Embassy,
and the same was the case with several
others who, though known in the Lon
don papers as Americans, are not
claimed as such by the various En-
bassadors or are not received in New
York society.
On the other hand, the hospital ship
Princess of Wales, fitted ou. at the in
stigation of and with the personal su-