The record-union., 1899-12-24
Bad News From the Seat Of War in
South Africa
Casts 4 Shadow Of Gloom Over Festivities
Usual Ia Christmas Season.
The Queen Will Spend Christmas
Day at Windsor Instead Of Os-
borne, Sacrificing a Habit Very
Dear to Her for Years Past,
Owing to Her Wish to be Near
the Cabinet During the Trying
Times Of War.

the Cabinet During the Trying
Times Of War.
Copyright, 1899, by Associated Press.)
LONDON, Dec. pa baron of beef
for the Queens Christmas will be roast
ed next Saturday, December I'D, at the
great kitchen fire, Windsor, in readiness
for the royal dinner party on Monday.
The great joint, when cold, will be
garnished with the royal and imperial
monogram in shredded horse-radish,
and with a beers head and game pie,
will assist in adjoining Her Majesty's
sideboard on Christmas Day."
This quaint announcement in the
court circular, with the spirit of royal
plenty breathed in every line, sounds
almost like a hollow mockery OF the
sorrow and death which have turned
the season of rejoicing into 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 it ought to be most
gay
Though this may be exaggerated
there is certainly much truth in it.
The Queen will spend Christmas at
Windsor instead of as for years at Os-
borne. owing to her wish to be nearer
the Cabinet, thereby sacrificing habit
very dear to her for years past. With
her will be the Duchess of Albany and
her children. The Prince of Wales will
spend Christmas at Sandringham and
Of yryiN
also be there But, neither at Windsor, at
Sandringham nor in the noblest or low
est homes in Great Britain will there be
much merry making, for with 1000
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
the nation more determined than ever,
and which is silent accompaniment to
one Of the most spontaneous outbursts
of patriotism and universal desire to
risk life and give up property that ever
marked the history of any country.
Cooks sons are no less anxious to serve
their country on the battlefield than
Dukes sons or than the Dukes them
selves. The Duke of Marlborough's Of
fer to equip $50 men of his yeomanry
for service in South Africa is merely
one among hundreds of such offers
from his class. Peers with vast bust
ness, property and political interests
are exhibiting the utmost eagerness in
their desire to have their names en-
rolled among the volunteers who are
going to endeayor to retrieve the re-
verses of the British arms. The day of
wild enthusiasm and over confidence
has passed, and there reigns in it's stead
a grim determination to atone for the
mistakes of the past by individual ef-
fort, regardless of consequences.
An instant of the spirit which per-
vades the country is that in the Cum
berland and Westmoreland yeomanry,
of which the Earl of Lonsdale is Col
onel, every officer and nearly every man
in the regiment has volunteered and is
using every influence to get accepted.
Among the officers is Captain Hugh
Jefferson, we'll known in America, form
erly manager of the Sand Creek Cattle
Company of Wyoming. The Duke of
Marlborough will probably receive an
appointment on Lord Chesham's staff.
In the northern countries there is
keen rivalry as to who shall do the
most for his country in the hour of
need Northumberland, headed by Earl
Grey, have subscribed large sums to
equip 100 men, and the Earl of Durham
calls on the men of his country not to
be outdone by the Northumberland and
heads the list with a substantial sub
scription. Lords Stanley and Wolver-
ton go as yeomanry troopers, though
in the guards, and the latter is an Ad-
miral's son. Two nephews of General
Lord Roberts, both ex-Majors of the
regular army, have volunteered to go
in any capacity in the yeomanry. .The
Earl of Essex. who is a Major Of the
Hertfordshire yeonanry, accompanies
the contingent of his county. In short.
the 5000 mounted men who have re-
sponded to the call for yeonlanry, will
have the brains, blood, muscle and
dare-devilry OF the famous American
Rough Riders.
BY the death this week Of the Earl of
Tankerville, Lord Bennett, who married
Miss Leonora Van Marter of Tacoma,
Wash, succeeds to the title. +. The new
Earl is we'll known evangelist. He
met his wife at revival meeting at
Tacoma in 1895. The late Earl was the
oldest member of the House Of Lords.
His career was marked by many &C.
centricities.
The theaters are feeling the effect Of
the gloomy phase of the war; The
most popular attractions are suffering.
Even at the Shaftesbury, where 1.-THE
Belle of New York. had come to be re-
garded as a permanent institution,
notices are up that the company re-
turns to New York forthwith. The sud-
den withdrawal of this production,
however, is due partly to a row between
the company and the managers over a
play which was ultimately to succeed
1.-The Belle of New York. . '9The Black
Tulip has failed at the Haymarket,
and Barrie's new comedy, not being
ready as stop-gap for the season, an
old comedy will be substituted
Ada Rehan returns to the stage In
the spring, opening at Manchester. At
ter long provincial tour she will APP
pear in London.
A Lyncher Convicted.
AryTcy