The Topeka state journal., 1899-11-25
DISGUST REIGNS.
Better Glass of Britishers Be-
coming Nauseated
At Namby-pambyiSm Which
Finds Excuse In the War.
REAPING A HARVEST.
Advertisers Take Advantage of
the Situation
To Push Themselves and Their
Stock In Trade.

copyright, 1899, by Associated PreSS-J
London, Nov. 25-Among the serious
minded, conservative English people
there is a growing feeling of disgust at
the spread of the nauseatiDg namby-
pambyism which finds an excuse in the
war. The hysterical outbreak which
has ensued since Tommy Atkins" and
his officer became a ful-dedged society
craze. has already been the subject OF
satirical articles in the better class OF
British publications and now all signs
point to a reaction from that unreaSon-
ing enthusiasm which is responsible Tor
SO many undignified antics.
Never were the old English army Off
GERS so aghast as when they read OF the
queens decision to send a box of chOc-
Olate to each man in the field as
Christmas present. Compared with her
simple speeches at her farewells to the
troops. this announcement appeared as
a sudden descent from the sublime to
the ridiculous.
on top of this came the heroic ac-
counts of the correspondent Churchill
fighting battles and controlling troops,
and regular officers poured in letters to
the papers, protesting against this.
Though not belittling ChurchilPS per-
sOnal bravery, an officer was obliged to
tell Churchill that his help was not
needed to command a company Other
instances of this young ex-Oficer's s
readiness to interfere have been PRINT
ed since the glowing accounts of the
armOred train affair. While it is point
ed out that he does not deserve good
lated the usages of war, the reports 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-cOm batantS
found carrying arms
PLUM PUDDINGS FOR TOMMY
ATKINS.
While the big west end caterers are
busy shipping hundreds of cases Of
campagne and pate de fol gras to the
regimental messes in South Africa, so
ciety women are working feverishly
making plum puddings for the unfor-
tunate. Many of the puddings contain
costly jeWelry, tie pins, rings and other
nementOeS from a daring WOmankInd-
LADY Colin Campbell has made no few
er than 106 plum pudding for the Dublin
Fusiliers and several puddings have
been sent to Winston Churchill, ad-
dressed to Pretoria. Though the ma
jOrity of such efforts are doubtless
prompted by genuine patriotism and a
desire to alleviate the sufferings of the
soldiers, the charitable movement is
taken advantage of by notorious self
advertisers. 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 to South Africa.
Incidentally it is announced that the
Duke of AbercOrn has ordered for the
field Red Cross 300 dozen of Messrs. (
SO-and-SO's handkerchiefS (which are
texture" etc. and every theatrical
press agent in the country is reaping
a harvest 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 scarcely
applies to the few leaders Of the pro
fessiOn who originated the idea Of an
American quota of charity, a movement |
which eliminated in Mrs. Brown Pot
ter's The Chantant.' though the latter !
has not escaped criticism.
A BIG ADVERTISING SCHEME.
The Times set the example by giving |
it a meagre and uncOmplimentary re-
port 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 theatrical nOnenities 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-
Mr.. Joseph H. Choate. the United
States ambassador was placed in an
awkward position by finding, upon his
arrival here, that he was apparently
actively associated with the Chantant's |
mana cement. one individual was Off
cfally 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 claim /
ed a $ such by the various ambassadors. |
or are not received in New York soci-
ETY..
on the other hand the hospital ship
Princess of Wales fitted out at the in
stigation of and with the personal sup
erVisiOn of the members of the royal
family after whom she was named was
done quietly and is now ready to sail. A
great part of the cost was borne by the
princess own pocket, but its complete
control is given TO the army medical
department.
KITCHENER AND RED TAPE.
NJ. A P CNainly About People, is
authority for the statement that Gen.
Kitchener. before leaving England, re-
Gently made q strenuous attempt to OBJ
tain the supreme command in South
Africa but was refused on account of
his junior rank and lack of knowledge
of South African conditions. A cabi-
net minister is quoted as saying rela-
tive to Gen. KitcheneT's request
Why, when he got to Pretoria the
man might actually send Kruger's head
TO Madame Tussauds.''
a letter from an officer at Omdurman
says Wingate's force, which recently
defeated the derViShes near the Nile.
south of KhartOum. consisted of five
squadrOns of cavalry two infantry brig
ades 200 hOwitzers. ten maxim guns
and ], 600 camels. The letter adds
we shall have to attack the Khalifa
this winter There is no proba bility of
his attacking Omdurman. But he will
do his utmost to create risings and Will
attempt a raid along the west bank of
the White Nile He is now known to
have $500 rifiemen, 5000 spearmen and
more caVaIrymen- We shall probably
find our chief losses due to fever, scare
ity OF water and the cattle fly. But I