The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-24

in His Paper of the Possibility of
French InvastOn-FInanciaI Panic
in London Averted.
Copyrighted by Associated Press
LONDON, Dec. 23.-Not for many years
past has Great Britain faced such a stu
alton as confronts her this Christmas
Yet to meet 1t there has arisen a new
Britain, which, by its virility and pluck,
EFFORTS admiration even from her Bit
terest continental critics. Since the
boastfulness has disappeared from the
British press, the comments of the foreign
papers, at least such as are printed here,
are couched in tones far more fair and
friendly than when it was believed a
speedy victory awaited Gen. Butler.
AS repeatedly asserted, there is no like
hhood of European interference, yet W.
Z. Stead, in the Daily Chronicle today
has very alarming column, In which he
has visions of superior Jameson raid
by $4,000 Frenchmen in London, in alb
sence of the channel fleet. Mr. Stead
points out how easily, in his opinion,
this might be accomplished, and says:
ITO rely, as some appear to do, upon
the addition Of a number of raw recruits,
the present war fever, is to rely on
broken reed. WooIwich arsenal might be
in flames, and the French tricolor flying
over Westminster palace before the first
Of these new recruits would have learn
I'D to handle a gun
Though Great Britain's plight in South
Africa seems temporarily critical, the
Associated Press learns that the Beers
inf0 70
mediation of President Mckinley toward
a favorable peace. But any one with
the slightest knowledge of their feeling
quickly appreciates that not one person in
a million contemplates any result but
an ultimate British triumph, and all sec
tions unite IN saying that this must be
secured, no matter what the cost. Hence
the Boer agents themselves have only
slight hopes that mediation would be ac-
cepted, though believing If President Nc
kinley could be persuaded to proffer It,
Lord Salisbury, though perhaps bound to
REFUSE would lose humanitarian sympa-
thy in the United States, and thus divert
20 the Beers much wavering sentiment.
NO MEDIATION.
The Associated Press is Informed from
excellent sources that no offer of media
In any shape or form. The popular con-
ception of peace is that it must come
through the idol of the army, Gen. Rob-
erts, and his no less adored chief of staff
Gen. Kitchener. The country is prepared
to wait indefinitely for that eventuality.
The fall of Kimberley, Ladysmith and
Marehing would not make a particle of
oiHerence, for this loyal resolve is firm
-ly imbedded in the hearts of the people
who for the first time in the memory of
this generation, have drank deeply of the
cup of military defeat and disgrace ANY
other defeats that the future for the
British, except entire annihilation, are
anticipated by the scathing criticism
which the nation has inflicted upon itself
Estimates Of the duration of hostflities
vary from three months to year
The lack Of news this week has by no
means been taken as an instance of the
adage regarding no news. A very gen
eral impression prevails that Kimberley
will succumb. An officer of the British
South African company, who has an in
tfmat@ knowledge of South Africa tells
the Associated Press he believes that ie
the Beers capture Cecil Rhodes they will
shoot him.
PANIC AvERTED.
Nowhere than on the stock exchange
has the lack of information caused ex-
treme nervousness. It is realized that if
Kimberley falls Debeers mine shares and
interests will shrivel to nothing, while
the charter companies vast issues will
lose what little bottom they have eft.
It is learned by the Associated Press
that the great financial houses in London
have combined and furnished sufficient
money to insure no large failures on set
ting day, Dec. Is, though the small fry
may suffer. Unless this action had been
taken several well known houses, not OF
the first Importance, but Of large proper
tions, would, 1t is said have gone under
This concerted precaution has, to some
ket is still panicky, many people believ-
ing that the most serious crisis has not
yet been reached
AN ECCENTRIC NOBLE.
While most persons know the late Duke
of Westminster was one of the richest
men Of England, no London newspaper
has taken the trouble to procure an esti-
mate of his wealth. He owned several
thousand parcels of London realty, which
together, according to the dukes own
statement, made 600 acres. Much of this
is IN BelgraVia, the aristocratic residence
quarter. He had also 10000 acres in the
country and an annual income of e75O.O
His realty values in London were proba-
bly, worth s3O,OOO0OO. The heir to the
dukedom is the late dukes grandson, Wis
count BelgraVe, now in South Africa an
aid-de-camp of Sir Alfred Miner, the
governor of Cape Colony
The papers abound in anecdotes of the
late duke. He was rather careless and
shabby in his dress, and bis life at Eton
hall was that of an ordinary country
gentleman. At any time during his stay
in Cheshire the duke might be seen riding
or walking about his park, usually smok-
ing a cigarette, not often composed of
tobacco, for he used medicated cigarettes
as a remedy for asthma. To his house
hold the duke was always an enigma He
rarely spoke to the servants and had an
odd way Of leaving bits of paper about
on chairs, with word of blame as to
their condition; but with such personages
as his house steward, head coachman and
studgroom he was on most affable and
confidential terms.
CzAR IS GRATEFUL.
The czar will present Prince George OF
Greece with a splendid yacht as a New
Years gift. The vessel has been specially
built at Sebastopol and is intended as a
souvenir of Prince Georges saving the
life of the czar in Japan, while they were
on tour around the world, a number OF
years ago.
Sir Thomas Lipton's plans for 1901 are