The Topeka state journal., 1899-12-16
AHEAD.
For the Officials of the British
War Department.

Copyright, 1899, by Associated Press-1
London, Dec 16.-The social festivi-
ties which usually mark this season of
the year in London have never been so
few and far between and they are
quite unable to dispel the gloom over
hanging all classes. The brave show
kept up by the majority of the organs
voicing public opinion is merely an IN
stance of the grit of the British race.
But, it is powerless to allay the feel
ing of bitter grief and disappointment
that pervades the length and breadth
of the land. Nor is this confined to the
regrets, pent-up criticism of the mill
tary authorities in finding vent in quar-
terS that heretofore have StudiOusly
avoided, as premature, any structures
on either the war office or the generals
in the field. Unless some striking change
for the better soon marks the course Of
the British arms there bids 1alr 10
break over the head of the government
a storm OF indignation such as has not
been seen since the Cr1mea- Ihat
such a movement is not without cause
is evidenced by information CLEANED by
representative of the Associated
Press that the authorities have already
decided that a reorganization of the
war office is absolutely necessary ana
that it Will not be delayed day longer
than can be helped, though it can
scarcely be done until hOstilities cease.
The st. James Gazette this Week,
commenting on the Canadian cOntin-
gent says:
They have shown that their long
home training and colonial campaign
ing experience has not been lost on them
and they are now getting their reward
in being pushed to the front. we Should
like to see a little more notice OF TINS
taken in the London press. The colon
lists are intensely loyal but they are
little sensitive and appreciatiVe notice
of the work they are doing would be
good imperial cement"
General Montgomery Moore, formerly
in command in Canada, has been Sc
lected to succeed General Kelly-Kenny'
at AIdershot, where the latter has been
in charge of the mobilization.
England, with the rest of Europe, mas
been suddenly plunged into intensely
cold weather accompanied in London
bv dense fogs, the mercury in the cOun-
try falling to Z above zero. Skating mas
begun and hunting has been suspended.
With the inspection OF the american
hOspftaI ship Maine today and the rare
we'll dinner Sunday, the work OF the
ladies who have been so active IN col
Iecting funds ends. Curiously. enough
their efforts have not always been ap-
preciated in England. The members q
the committee have been told on more
than one occasion that Great Britain
did not want foreign charity and some
of the papers have said many 1ll-natureu
things Vanity Fair following a thlnly
yelled aIlusiOn to one or the committee
who was received by the queen, re
marked; ,+
She must have been surprised ana graf
flied by the unexpected honor Charlty
does SO much
Lord Salisbury was no sooner recover
ing from the blow caused by the death
of his wife than he was aftllcted py
another personal sorrow, in the severe
illness of his favorite daughter-ln-I law, i1.N
Lady CranbOrne. At one time TINS
week her life was despaired OF, but II
is now hoped she will recover from heI
sickness. which started with q severe
attack of influenza.
OF the year is responsible for long
list of prominent invalids, among them
being the Duke Of Westminster VINO
is now recovering from laryngltls.
According to Vanity Fair, Mr.. ana
Mrs w. K. Vanderbilt found Nice so
duh that they went for a rambIe IN an
automobile and were last heard from
at MarseiIles which they reached IN
record time.
Several new publications are on the
eve of birth. Eyre and SpottlsWo0ue
are bringing out an illustrated weekly
on the lines of the illustrated I4OndOn
News. edited by Mr.. Clementshorter'
who for ten years edited the News. Slr
George NeWneSS, proprietor OF lHS
Westminster Gazette and other papers,
is responsible for another six penny IL
Iustrated weekly entitled The KING.
A still more ambitious product under
cal daily in London. Since the anu
war editors were removed from the
Chronicle and Echo no paper in LONDON
has opposed the government poHcy
out and out. RadicaliSn, as represent
ed by the Weekly Speaker. IS not rep
resentative of the metropolitan press
The ShamrOCk'S shippers, AOgarth
and KVrfnge will take an active part IN
next seasons yacht racing, the Tor
mer in sailing a sixty-five foOter now
building for Mr.. Peter Donaldson, and
the latter in sailing a siXty-hVe fOOter
building for Mr.. John GrettOn- 1t IS
said they have refused much larger
American offers and are determined to
stick to England.
The American liner st. PauI Whlch
sails for New York from southampton
tomorrow, viii have among her paSSen-
gers Mr.. Henry Savage Lander, the
Thibetau explorer, who will lecture for
several months in America Mr- Ian
der has Just returned from his second
exDedition to Thibet and Nepaul, where
he broke the worlds record in noun
taineering reaching, at the summit OF
one of the Lumpa peaks, an attitude or
% 500 feet.
In spite of the war the theaters are
generally prOspering.
William Archer has received the final
proof sheets of Ibsen's new play, on a
translation of which he IS busiy en-
gagged.
Marie Tempest has left Days be-
cause George Edwardes objected to her
tights, requesting her to substitute
knickerbockers for them. Miss Tempest
light opera entirely and will devote her
self to the higher branches OF her art
FOUR KILLED.
TrainIoad of Steel Wrecked by Ice on