Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-12
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table.
The Chronicles Position.
A sign of the times IS the change of edi-
torship which has come In the Daily Chron-
icle. For some time the proprfetors have
been seriously annoyed with the tone given
to the paper; and l have been told that one
of them used regularly to explode when he
got his copy in the morning and saw what
was in the leaders. The Chronicle was out
of sympathy with the English feeling over
the war Meanwhile, the circulation was
affected, and it became necessary that
something be done. 1t has chosen a happy
time for the change, for it was yesterday
morning able to take up its parable from
Mr.. Asquith and in commenting on his
speech to assume quite an English, and
therefore. patriotic tone The new editors
nave not yet been appointed and Mr.
Fisher the foreign editor, is pro TEN. in
charge of the paper. Mr.. Henry Norman,
well-known In Washington, is mentioned
in connection with the editorship. He is
at present in Russia. The resignation of
Mr, II. w. Massingham, the editor, IS due
10 dlHerences between himself and the pro-
prletor. which have been gradually coming
10 an issue for some time past.
Lack of Harmony.
Mr. Massingham has been responsible for
the very strong line which the Daily Chron-
1cle has taken on behalf of peaceful set
tlement in South Africa. The proprietors
nave apparently taken a different view
and on so important a matter it is natural
that they should desire their paper to be
with them. But | learn that the demand
Tor silence was so put to Mr. MaSSingham
as to leave him no choice but resignation
Mr.. Massingham was asked to give writ
ten pledge that he would cease from all DO
itical criticism of the war. He felt that
such pledge was impossible, and asked
for his immediate release, which was in
stantly granted. Mr.. Massingham is fol-
lowed in his retirement by two other mem
bers of the Chronicles staff, Mr. Harold
Spender and Mr.. Vaughan Nash. Mr.
Spender's parliamentary sketch has long
been recognized as valuable feature of
the Chronicle. Mr.. Nash is interested in
those questions of social reform and the
rights Of labor to which the Daily Chroni-
Gle has always given especial prominence.
His resignation is an act of protest purely
on the ground of principle.
Memorial to Gladstone
A memorial to Mr.. Gladstone which Mr.
Hamo Thornycroft has been commissioned
to execute. a site for which has just been
granted in the new Holborn to Strand
street, is to be very elaborate affair 1t
will consist of a structure of cruciform
shape at the base. measuring about twenty
six feet every way, and with a pavement
around it about six feet wide. The base
will be of Portland stone, and in the center
will be a bronze statue of Mr.. Gladstone in
the robes of the chancellor of the ex-
chequer. Seated statues or groups, also in
bronze. will be placed on the projecting
portions of the basement. The total height
of the memorial will be about thirty-two
feet.
Owing to the great amount of ground
space occupied by the work some little diff
ficulty has been experienced in allotting it
a definite site. The finest situation for it
unquestionably would be at the point where
the new street meets the great crescent
leading into the Strand, but provision
may have to be made there for the new
station of the projected Strand extension
of the Great Northern Railway Company
suburban system it has been deemed adj
Visable to give the memorial committee the
choice of three sites. These are the sites
already referred to, position Immediately
to the west of st. Clement Danes Church,
and Immediately to the west of st.
Mary lie Strand Church. All are excellent
positions, and the two left vacant after the
Gladstone memorial committees final de-
cision may be utilized by the London county
council for the erection of statues of Chau-
Ger and Milton. The improvement commit
tee recommends that site be chosen OPP
posite either one of the churches. 1t will
be some years before the work can be
completed, and. indeed. some time before
it can even be begun. It should be a nota-
BILE addition to our street monuments.
Shakespeare in Vienna.
The following amusing story from
Vienna sent by the correspondent of the
peating:
The Wiener Bezirksbote, local anti
Semitic pape- recently urged its readers to
see the production of The Merchant of
Venice at one of the Vienna theaters in
order that they might realize how their
great countryman. Grillparzer. had pictur-
ed Shy.ock, the type of evil Jew. A local
wag thereupon addressed the following let
ter to the editor Of the Bezirksbote:
Dear Mr. Editor: Will you kindly state
in the next number of your valued paper
that the Merchant of Venice was written
not by Grillparzer but by me. A wretched
liberal like Grillparzer could never have
produced a piece of such evident anti
Semitic tendency. Thanking you in adj
vance for the correction yours, &C., VIII
liam Shakespeare. Vienna, November /,
1S89''
The Bezirksbote. incredible as it may ap-
pear, fell into the trap and published in all
seriousness the letter signed William
Shakespeare" and dated November 1S9a''
An explanatory editorial note says: 1T
was an error 20 attribute The Merchant of
Venice to Griilparzer but we trust that
Mr.. Shakespeare will be satisfied with our
above Acknowledgement
The editor of the Bezirksbose Herr KONG,
is prominent member of the anti-Semitfc
party, and is actually a member of a sub