Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-26
SPIRIT OF THE MAHDI RISES
Dissertation of His Tomb Mt khartoum
Makes Trouble for the Sails
bury Government.

CCopyrlght, lSJ9, by Press Publishing CO.)
LONDON, Feb 25.-(New York World Ca
blegram-Special Telegram. THE fate of
the Mahdi's head has become a dangerous
topic for the Salisbury government. When
Khartoum was captured the Mahdi's mauso-
leum, which was destroyed, the prophets
embalmed body wrested from the sar-
cophagus and dismembered and cast into
the Nile, the head was presented Major Cor
don, nephew of the Mahdi's famous victim
who expressed his intention of presenting it
to the museum of the Royal College of Sur
geons in London. This desecraton of the
Mahdis grave was condemned feebly at the
time, but now that the glamour of the On
durman victory is passing away and its
completeness jeopardiZed nv the reappear-
ance OF Khalifa in strong force, necessitat-
ing probably another expedition, a DISPOSE
tion is evinced to regard the desecration as
deeply censurable.
Lord Cromer has justified it as an act of
policy to prevent the tomb from becoming
place of pilgrimage and the Keeping UP of
derviSh superstition. leading conserya-
tive asked in the House of Commons whether
no one had been reprimanded for this hor
rible and ghastly outrage" no answer being
given, though the inquiry loudly ap-
plauded. The whole matter is to be raised
in formal debate and meanwhile, at liberal
meetings in the country the government is
charged with body -snatching, an epithet
that seems likely to stick.
Colonial Secretary Chamberlain is recoy-
ering from the only serious illness of his
life. He ventured to tie House of Com
mons last week when only partially recov-
cred from gout attack, caught the grip
and early this week his condition caused
considerable anxiety to his wife and family
He hopes to be out OF bed next week
Meanwhile the doctors have ordered him to
completely change his mode Of life. He
smokes dozen strong cigars daily, takes no
exercise and works necessarily. He is now
62 and must pursue a rational regime if he
is to enjoy health robust enough to enable
him to pursue a political career | hear he
has promised amendment and as life would
be of no value to him If he were prevented
from devoting himself strenuously to poll
tics, beyond which he has no ambition and
no concern.
Lady Curzon, according to private advices
received in London is only suffering FROM
mild attack of entric fever, which every
European contracts within a few months
after arrival in India. Anglo-Indians regard
il as a bad sign for Lady Curzon, with
every precaution taken to preserve her
health, that she should fall a victim so
soon, as it shows unusual susceptibility to
climatic affections. Lady Curzon will leave
for Simla three weeks earlier than in
| tended, but the viceroy cannot join her
! there until May. He will make royal
progress alone through Bengal, northwest
! provinces and Puniab.
striking illustration OF the elaborate
care taken for Queen Victoria's comfort on
railway journeys was afforded this week
She decided to cross to France on her way to
the Riviera by Folkestone for the first time
instead of from Portsmouth TO Cherbourg.
| The royal spiral train, in charge of her
| suite, started Wednesday on an expert
mental journey from Windsor TO Folkestone.
where the run alongside the pier, special
contrvance for the queens passage from
train to steamer, was tried The steamer
crossed 10 Boulogne and there another spe-
oial landing arrangement was tested, to
| prove in the surest way the practical per-
| fcction of arrangements, An old woman
servant from Windsor castle. physically as
| disabled as the queen herself was taken
! in the train and across to Bouogne. using
the gangways constructed for her royal mis-
| tress. The experiment was successful in all
! respects.
Deep concern is evineed everywhere
throughout England in the serious illness
of Rudyard Kipling His loss would be re-
, garded as national one, as he is recog-
nized as a genius in his own line. and
largely responsible for the great growth
of the imperialistic spirit in England in
the last few years. His robust constitu-
tion is relied upon as the best security in
his illness.