The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-07
While Her Soldiers Are Shed.
ding Their Blood
Under the Tropical Sun of
Africa and i'm Asia.
BIG ROW Is STARTED
By AstOr's Course Toward a
Member of Aristocracy.
Whole Matter Turned Over to
Prince of Wales.


London, July Truly Great Britain
is the land of sport British soldiers are
fighting a barbarous enemy in the far
east, in a dramatic endeavor to save
the lives of some Of their fellow coun-
trymen and maintain their country's S
prestige; British soldiers are engaged in
a similar task in Ashanti, where Brit
ish officers. women and children are in
danger of being massacred by revolted
savages, and a quarter of a million
Britishers are still graphing with the
stupendous military and civil difficult
ties that must be overcome before South
Africa is pacified. Yet at home, racing,
cricket, running, rowing, polo tennis
and athletic contests of all descriptions
hold practically undiminished sway
over public interest.
It is true that Henley week, as a so
cial occasion, has been more slirnly at
tended than for years past and the
gorgeous summer toilets did not bios
som as usual on the banks of the
Thames. But while society deserted
quality of the rowing or in the interest
of those who watch Henley for its
sporting rather than for it's social fea-
lures The war and the weather were
chiefly responsible for society's absence
from the great river carnival The be-
ginning of the week was so wretchedly
wet and cold that many persons can
celled their projected trips. The OK
ford-C Cambridge cricket match did not
surfer from these causes 1t attracted
enthusiasts in as large numbers as
ever, and for several days the under
graduate and his sister, mother and
other attachments has been ubiquitous
throughout London. The international
athletics and polo are also looked for
ward to with keen interest. What with
such large athletic contingents at pres
ent from the United States, an annual
convention of the largest engineer or
ganization in America holding its meet
ings within the shadow of Westminster
Abbey, the hundreds of excursiOnistS
who, on their way to Paris, pay a fly
Ing visit to England, to say nothing Of
those who regularly cross the Atlantic
for a European holiday, it is almost i'm
possible to go anywhere without meet
over fifty Americans who were anxious
to attend the Fourth of July banquet
had to celebrate the day by themselves,
owing to lack of space.
CHOATES RECEPTION.
The fourth reception of the United
Choate. for Americans was more crowd
ed than remembered in the history of
the American embassay. A curious fea-
ture was the presence of a man who
strolled past the f1unkeys and said:
How d. you do" to Mrs. Choate, with
out removing his hat, and still with his
head covered sat down in the drawing
room, full of American women, and be-
gan to puff a lighted cigar. After a
futile attempt to engage the ambassa-
dor in conversation, this individual left,
not in the slightest put out because
such a course had already been sug-
gested to him.
Mr. William Waldorf Astor's recent
paragraph in his own paper, the Pail
Mall Gazette, saying that Captain Sir
Berkley Milne, of the naval and mill
Trarr- T4nl. AZ
mander of the royal yacht Osborne and
q we'll known club man, attended a con-
cert at the Astors without an invita-
ton. is making a great commotion in
London society, and threatens to seri-
ously affect Mr.. Astor's position therein.
1t seems that Captain Milne was dining
at the house of a well known lady, who
asked him to go with her party to the
AstOr concert This is daily done in
London. and Captain Milne unhesitat-
ingly accepted.
on arriving, Mr.. Astor. instead of
shaking hands with the captain asked
the latter his name. Milne told him and
said that Lady =" - brought him
with her party. Mr.. Astor responded
that he had not the pleasure of his
acquaintance, requested him to leave
and added that he would insert a notice
in the newspapers. Captain Milne re-
tired in confusion and. from the naval
and military club. the same night sent
Mr.. Astor a letter of apology and ex-
pressed the hope that he would allow
the matter to drop. In spite of this
Mr.. Astor, in his paper, the next after
noon inserted as cabled to the Associ-
ated Press at the time the following
paragraph:
we are desired to make known that
the presence of Captain Sir Berkley
Milne. of the naval and military club
.Piccadilly, at Mr.. AsJor-s concert last
Thursday evening, was unlimited"
FURIOUS AT ASTOR
Captain Mines many influential
friends who include the Duke of York
are furious, the duke and other naval
officers regarding Mr.. Astor's conduct
as an insult TO their profession as well
as to personal friend whose position
in London society is unquestioned The
members or the naval and military club
are also indignant at the fact that Mr..
Astor dragged in the name of their
club The whole matter with Captain
Mines letter, has been placed before
the Prince of Wales and society is
awaiting the next move.
Lord Roberts declination to allow
troops to be withdrawn from South
Africa for service in China is said TO
have come about this way: The secre-
tary of state for war, Lord Lansdowne.
cabled Lord Roberts asking if he could
spare a division and Roberts replied
Yes" Lord LansdOwne then selected
a number of favorite officers who have
been cooling their heels in the drawing
rooms at home, for billetS with the
force In the meanwhile Lord Roberts
cabled suggesting that several of his
tried commanders should accompany
the division he was preparing. adding
that If an army corps was needed he
would like to go himself. These recon-
mendations put Lord Lansdowne in an
awkward fix. Before he answered Lord
Roberts suggestions the latter heard
from private sources that none of his
seasoned lieutenants was to 60 but that
warriors who had fattened on the flesh
pots of the city We're coming out to