Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-25
Revolt Against Jingoism in Conserv-
alive English Press.
GOSSIP REGARDING GEN. KITCHENER
Rumor That He Wanted the Com
mand in South Africa.
JOCKEY REIF'F AT SCHOOL
Copyright. 1899. the Associated Press,


LONDON, November 25.-Among the Sc
riCus- minded, conservative English people
there is a growing feeling of disgust at the
spread of the nauseating namby-pambyism
which fin Is an excuse in the The hys-
tericai outbreak which has ensued since
Tommy Atkins and his officer became a
full-fiedged 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 unrea-
sCning enthusiasm which is responsible for
so man undignitied antics. Never were
the old English army officers so aghast as
when they read of the queens decision to
send box of chocolates to each man in the
field as Christmas present Compared
with her simple speeches at her fareWeils
to the troops, this announcement appeared
as q sudden descent from the sublime to
the ridiculous. On top of this came the
heroic accounts of Correspondent Churchill
fighting battles and commanding troops,
and regular officers poured in letters to the
papers protesting against this. Though not
belittling Churchilrs personal bravery IN
the Tirah campaign, an officer was obliged
to tell Churchill that lis help was not
needed to command company. Other in
stances of this young exOf1icers readiness
to interfere have been printed since the
glowing accounts of the armored-tratn af-
fair. While it is pointed out that he does
not deserve good treatment from the Beers.
having violated the usages Of war, the re-
port 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
Plum Puddings and War.
While the big West End caterers are busy
shipping hundreds of cases of champagne
and pate de fol gras to the regimental
messes in South Africa, society women are
working feverishly. making plum buildings
for these unfortunates. Many of the pud-
dings contain costly jcwelry, tie pins, rings
and other mementoeS from adoTng woman
kind. Lady Colin Campbell has made no
fewer than 1o6 plum buildings for the Dub
lin FuSilierS, and several buildings have
been sent to Winston Churchill, addressed
to Pretoria. Though the majority Of such
efforts doubtless prompted by genuine
patriotism and desire to alleviate the suf-
feringS of the soldiers, the charitable move
ment is taken advantage of by notorious
Self-advertiserS, boz social and mercantile.
Women who have not been received in So
Ciety. in spite of the efforts of years, have
been untring 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 Abercorn has ordered for the
field Red Cross 200 dozen of MessrS So and
Sos handkerchiefs, which are famous for
their sOftness and delicate texture" etc,
and every theatrical press agent in the
country is reaping harvests by obtaining
gratuitOus advertisements for hitherto I'M
heard-Of actors and actresses who are will
ing to recite a war poem or do turn to
help the war funds. This, of course,
scarcely applies to the few leaders of the
profession who originated the idea of an
American quota of charity, a movement
which eliminated in Mrs. Brown Potters
The Chantant,' though the latter has not
escaped criticism. The Times set the eX-
n q a Ii
mentary report in its news columns, and
since then several society and other papers
have referred satirically to the excuses
which marked the tipping and other meth
DDS employed at the entertainment to raise
funds. The amount of advertising some of
the theatrical nonentties have secured is
not excused even by the presence of royal
ties. Many prominent members or the
American colony here freely express in pri
vate conversation their disappointment and
stronger feelings at the proceedings of this
performance.
Mr. Joseph Fl. Choate. the United States
ambassador, was placed in an awkward
position by finding, upon his arrival here,
that he was, apparently, actively aSsociat-
ed with the "Chantants' management. One
individual was officially discountenancd by
the embassy and the same was the case
with several others who. though known III
the London papers as Americans, are not
claimed as such by the various ambaSsa-
doris or arc not received in New York So
clety.
Princess Of Wales Enterprise.
On the other hand the hospital ship Prin-
cess of Wales, fitted up at the instigation of
and with the personal supervision Of the
member of the royal family after whom
she was named, was done quietly, and is
row ready to sail. a great part of the cost
was borne by the princess own pocket,
but it's complete control is given to the
army medical department.
Mainly About People" is authority for
the statement that Gen. Kitchener, before
leaving England recently, made a strenuous
attempt to obtain The supreme command in
South Africa, but was refused on account
of his junior rank and lack of knowledge
OF South African conditions. cabinet
minister is quoted saying, relative to
Gen. kitcheners request:
Why, when he got to Pretoria the man
might actually send Kruger's head to Mad
anne Tussaud's."
says Wingate's force, which recently de-
feated the dervishes near the Nile, south
OF Khartoum, consisted of five squadrQns
of cavalry. two infantry brigades. two
howitzers. ten Maxim guns and 1000 cam
els. The letter adds:
We shall have to attack the khaiifa
this winter. There is no probability of mis-
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 known to have $500 riflemen, 1000
Spearmen ana more cavalry. 1neSe are re-
ported TO be full of fanatic zeal. We shall
probably find our chief losses due to fever
scarcity of water, and the cattle fly. But,
/ assure you that when we begin the kha-
lifa will be vigorously pursued to prevent
his doing any more harm among the scat
tered dervishes in South Barfur.'
Jockey to Attend school.
With wisdom ahead of his years little
johnny Reff, who has won Twenty-Five
races on the English turf, has decided to go
to school during his four months vaca-
ton.
The London riding schools have begun
to supply female grooms who, instead Of
following their mistresses through the
park, at respectful distance like a male
attendant. ride side by side with their
mistresses thus alternating the silence at
tending the old-fashioned morning can
ter with a male groom in the rear.
The next yachting season promises to be
the best in many years. IT is now def
nitely said that the Valkyre III will be re-
commissioned by her prospective new
owner to whom Lord Dunraven is arrang-
| ing to sell her. Lord Dunraven, by the
| way, was anxious to represent a London