The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-08

the treatment of the Dutch generally in
all South Africa on improved principles of
British colonial policy, with no suspension
of constitutional government. and no such
rearrangement Of boundaries as the Cape
extremists demand and which would tend
to submerge Dutch predominance in Cape
Colony; 80 protection rather than annex
alton. the Free State to be left pretty
much as before the war. though under
British supervision.
In the TransvaaI Mr.. Bryce proposes
that the Rand be separated from the rest
of the country The British taxpayer
could thus be recouped for the enormous
sums spent on the war. and the mine
owning interests prevented from having
overwhelming power. The rest Of the
Transvaal would be treated On somewhat
similar lines as the Free State.
On this basis the Liberals would com
bat those who seek to establish British
racial and financial asCendancy in South
Africa. and would endeavor to convince the
electorate that a colonial and liberal
policy OF this type would be the surest
preparation for the creation of another
such interracial federation. as a similar
policy has developed in Canada.
The Queens Reception.
The Queens reception in Dublin is re-
garded among serious politicians as full
Of significance. A point. which the event
brings near home to thinking Englishmen,
is perhaps best put by one writer. who says
today. When everything is said that can
be said. of all the weary years Of political
and national rancor between England and
Ireland there remains the indisputable
fact that We have deprived a quick. sensi-
tive, and emotional people of every appeal
to friendship and loyalty that can be built
up on these qualities. To the Irish the
Queen Government. and law have been
simply ths-Dublin Castle. This people
inheritor Of the instinct Of ancient loyalty
to chief and clan has poured its defeated
fervor into disloyalty and agrarian feud
Considering the way in which the Irish
people has received the Queen, and the
message she alone can convey. the visit
must have enduring political consequences
If we have statesmen as wise as the Queen
to perceive and foster the opportunity"
To that may be added the historical fact
that British Ministers, Of whatever shade
Of opinion are never slow 20 take hints
on their legislation from royal initiative
Publishers looking back over the spring
season closing with the Easter holidays
next week. say that apart from war books
the trade since October has been almost
desperately dull. The actual Outturn Of
books shows no great falling of, but il is
chiefly not so much literature as ephem-
cral printed matter relating to the war.
Literature, as such. has been held back,
in great part because there Is no prom
ising market. In the coming months there
will be novels with only an occasional i'm
portant book. not fiction and more war
volumes. and that is about all.
W. II. WiII.ins' Book.
singuIarly enough despite the preoccu-
patton due 10 the war, the only notable
success of the spring season is W. H.
wilkins 35- shilling book. The Love OF an
Uncrowned Queen, which tells the story
Of the relations of Sophie Dorothea. the
consort Of George l, with Count Konigs-
marck. This suggests that the public is
as eager as ever for human intimate liter
ature when it can get il.
This spring has cOnclusively disproved
the long accepted distum that Shakespeare
spells ruin to theatrical management This
week has seen the celebration Of the one
hundredth performance of "A Midsummer
Nights Dream" at Beerbohm Trees Thea
ire Moreover. this cannot be solely due to
elaborate stage settings for r. R. Benson
has proved at the Lyceum this spring that
there is also a public for Shakespeare IN
curtailed and set forth with almost Eliza
bethan simplicity
The death Of Prof. St George Mivart has
cast a gloom over Roman Catholic and
scientific circles. It assumed almost the
nature OF q tragedy from the fact that Il