The record-union., 1899-03-26
One Of the Leading Topics on Both
Sides Of the Channel,
Despite the Recent Signing of the Agree
ment Regarding Africa.
A French Journal Seriously Out
lines a Scheme by Which It In
sists Invasion Could Be Sue
cessfully Accomplished.

LONDON. March 20.-The weather IN
Great Britain the past week underwent
a complete change. Last week the
weather was warm and summertime.
This week it has been bitterly cold,
with snow everywhere. London partlcl-
pated in the wintry weather, but here
it was tempered by bright sunshine.
The Duke of York has been showed up
at Abergeldemains, near Balater. He
went there for the salmon fishing, but
the weather changed quickly to Arctic
cold and heavy snowstorm cut him OF
from communication with the outer
world 1t will be days before he is lib
Grated.
In spite of the signing of the Anglo
French agreement regarding Africa,
one of the leading topics of the week
on both sides of the Channel has been
an article published in the Revue des
Deux Mondes," seriously outlining
fresh scheme for the invasion of Great
Britain. 1t proposes that 1,5O0 steam
pinnaces be built and collected in the
canals and rivers leading to- the French
coast, that each of them be armed with
two quick-firing guns and that they
cannon, with the necessary ammuni-
ton, stores, etc.
The cost of their construction is esti-
mated at 15O,000000 francs and the
pinnaces are to be provided with tor
pedoes to keep off hostile ships, while
the quick-fring guns are to repulse
torpedo boat attacks. The writer of the
article says there will be no difficulty in
getting the boats across, pointing out
that Napoleon had a far more difficult
task at Wagram, where he crossed the
Danube in the face of an Austrian
army The English coast defenses are
classed as being a neglible quantity
and the operation is counted ON by the
writer as being merely a matter of
few hours. Three divisions of IA 800
men each are to be landed in Ireland,
and the Irish are to be armed with the
old Gras rifles.
The English papers pooh-pooh the
scheme, but the French newspapers
discuss it as being a perfectly sound
The Petit Journal praises
the PLAN declaring it's chief merit is it's
simplicity and unity, and points to the
success of the Roman, Saxon, Danish
and Norman fnvasions as proving the
feasibility of the project.
The center of gravity of the fashion
able world has shifted to the Riviera
where Queen Victoria is now sojourn-
ing rooms this season, and the Queen
has privately intimated that she Will
attend one in May.
Her majesty has given two additional
instances of her womanly feeling this
week, which have made very pleasing
in Southern France. While
out driving at the beginning of the
week, she overlook a peasant walking
funeral and had no room to pass. The
mourners stopped and stood aside, but
the Queen requested the cortege to pro-
coed and her own carriage followed re-
spectfully, at walking pace, for half
a mile, until the roads diverged.
Again, while driving through Nice on
Wednesday, the Queen passed child
who was crying bitterly. She ordered
her carriage to be stopped and sent a
member of her suite to inquire the
cause of the child's distress and to give
it a few coins which had magical
effect. The little face frightened up
and the Queen drove on, smilingly re-
marking: LAS long as nothing serious
is the matter, / thought a few sous
would right things
The Queen of Sweden and Norway
has become a collector for the Salvation
Army, a money box having been placed
upon the dining table of the royal pal
ace.
A correspondent in Paris writes that
the young Partisan handles are dis
tressed at the loss Of the Prince Of
Wales as King of Fashion" 1t is now
said that the Prince ''neglects his per-
sonal appearance wofully, his over
coat is shabby, his hat shapeless and
his tie is SO much on one side that his
shirt studs are visible"
Considerable interest is taken in the
announcement of the coming marriage
of Lady Edith Douglass daughter Of the
Marquis of Queenberry, to ST. George
Pitt, who is head of the Psychical Re-
search Society and a great authority
on "spooks."
Sidney Webb, Chairman of the Ma
tional Educational Board handled
American INSTITUTIONS III a severe man
ner while lecturing before the School of
Economics. Among other things. he
said "Tammany is no worse than the
Republican organization of New York.
1t is not to blame for the corruption.
The purest city in America is the Nor
mon Salt Lake City. You must not
ina CINE that a boss is a wicked man.
He does not rob the poor, but does good
to the poor at the expense of the rich.
The bosses are the nineteenth century
Robin Hoods. The cause of the corrup
ton lies in the character of the Ameri-
can. He does not believe in govern
ment, and does not have the English
mans delight in governing. He enters
politics to make money and cannot
conceive of anybody doing anything
else
In conclusion, Mr.. Webb remarked:
1.-THE Americans, individually, are the
kindest and most considerate, most 30
lite individuals living. But, collectively.
they are not yet success
Sir Benjamin Stone, President of the
National Photographic Record Associa
ton. and the author of several books
of travel and articles on various scien-