The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-12-23
HOLLOW MOCKERY
Christmas In England Will Be
Nothing More.
London Is the Dreariest City In
the World.
LOSSES IN AFRICA.
LOSSES IN AFF
Nave Cast a Gloom Over the En-
tire Nation.
There Are Few Families That
Have Not Been Touched.


copyright. 1899. the Associated Press.1
London. Dec PA baron of beef
for the queens Christmas will be roast
ed next Saturday, December %. at the
Great Kirehen fire, Windsor, in readi-
ness for the royal dinner party on
Monday. The great joint when cold
viii be garnished with the royal and
imperial monogram in shredded horse
radish and with a boar's head and
game pie will assist in adOrning her
majesty's sideboard on Christmas
day"
This quaint announcement in the
Courtier Secular with the spirit of roy
al plenty breathed in every line sounds
almost like a hollow mockery of the
sorrow and shadow of death which
have turned the season of rejoicing in
TO one of mourning
Bad news from the Cape writes
one society authority has made Lon
don the dreariest city in the world at
this season, when il ought to be the
most gay"
Though this may be exaggerated
there is certainly much trust in it.
The queen viii spend Christmas at
Windsor instead of as for years at Os-
borne, owing 10 her wish to be nearer
the ca abinet. thereby sacrificing a habit
very dear to her for years past. With
her children
The Prince of Wales will spend
Christmas at Sandringham and the
Duke and Duchess OF York will also be
there. But neither at Windsor, at
Sandringham, nor in the noblest on
lowest homes in Great Britain viii
there be much merrymaking; for with
900 men killed wounded or missing in
South Africa. there are few families
which have not been touched with this
depression which only serves to make
and which is a silent accompaniment to
one of the most spontaneous OutburStS
of patriotism and universal desire to
risk life and give up property that nave
marked the history of any country
Cooks sons are no less anxious to serve
their country the battle field than
dukes sons or than the dukes them
selVes-The Duke of MarlbOrOugh's offer
TO equip $50 men of his yeOmanry regi-
ment for service in South Africa is
merely one among hundreds OF such Of
fers from his class. Peers with vast
business. property and political inter-
eSus are exhibiting the utmost eager
ness in their desire to have their names
enrolled among the volunteers who are
going to endeaVOr to retrieve the re
verse to the British arms. The day of
wild. war enthusiasm and over conf
dence has passed and there reignS in it's
stead a grim determination to atone for
the mistakes of the past by individual
effort regardless of consequences.
An instance of the spirit which per-
vades the country is that in the Cum
berland and WestmOreland yeOmanry.
of which the Earl of LOnSdale is colon
el. every officer and nearly every man
in the regiment has volunteered and is
using every influence to get accepted.
Among the officers is Capt. Hugh JEFF
fersOn, well known in America, former
ly manager of the Sand Greek Cattle
company of Wyoming. The Duke of
Marlborough will probably receive an
appointment on Lord Chesham's staff.
In the northern counties there is keen
rivalry as to who shall do the most fer
his country in the hour of need. North
umbrianS. headed by Eary Grey. have
subscribed large sums to equip 100 men
and the Earl of Durham calls on the
men OF his county not to be Outdone by
the NOrthum brianS and heads the list
with a substantial subscription. Lords
Stanley and WolVerton go as yeOmanl.v
troopers. though the former. at one
time was an officer in the Guards and
the latter is an admiralS son. Two
nephews of Gen. Lord Roberts, both ex-
majors of the regular army have vOlun-
teered to go in any capacity in the
yeomanry- The Earl of Essex, who is
q major of the HertfOrdshire yeOmanrv
accompanies the contingent OF his
In short the 5000 mounted men who
have responded to the call for yeoman-
~ viii have the brains. blood, muscle
and dare deviltry of the famous Amer
lean Rough Riders.
BY the death this week, of the Earl
or IankeTVille, Lord Bennett who mar
rfed Miss LeonOra Van Narter of Ia
earl is a we'll known evangelist. He
met his wife at a revival meeting at
Tacoma in 1895. The late earl was the
oldest member of the house of lords
His career was marked by many eccen-
tricities.
The theaters are feeling the effect oS
the gloomy phase of the war The most
popular attractions are suffering Even
at the Shaftesbury. where The Belle
of New York" had come to be regarded
as permanent Institution. notices are
up that the company returns to New
York forthwith. The sudden with
drawal of this production. however. is
due partly to a row between the com
pany and the managers over a play
which was ultimately to succeed The
Belle of New York
The Black Tulip" has failed at the
Haymarket and BarTie's new comedy.
not being ready as a stop gap for the
season an old comedy will be substitu-
ted.
Ada Rehan returns to the stage in the
spring, opening at Manchester. After
long provincial tour she Will appear
IN London.