Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-09
This is the Question in England Re-
garding Boer Territory.
WAR REGARDED As BEING over
Some Of the Colonial Troops May
Become Settlers.
LONDON NEWS AND GOSSIP

of Lord Roberts. his calendar of probabili-
ties contains nothing of vital interest. AL
ready China is becoming a keen rival of
South Africa as the burning question of the
day. The capture of 500 members of the
Imperial Yeomanry. which a few months
ago would have thrown the nation into n
fit of dependency, self analysis and furi-
Gus abuse of its own officers, has passed
comparatively unnoticed. The work of
stamping out the rebellion, for such, ac-
cording to the British point of view, is the
nature of the opposition now encountered,
is too prosaic and too common in the an
nails OF the British army to merit the alb
scrbing attention hitherto bestowed on
each ,eIa,, detail OF the sanguinary struggle
what shall we do with it," is far more
the topic of the hour than speculation re-
garding the expenditure in lives and money
that seem likely to enSue before the pacif1-
cation of the Beers is accomplished. Large
numbers of inquiries are daily made in
London anent the prospects of the unde-
velcped crown lands of Natal while the
rich resources of the Transvadl and Orange
River colony form the basis Of frequent
articles. Before many months have passed
the steamship companies plying to and
from South Africa, the companies connect
ed with the development of that portion Of
the globe and others equally interested and
well informed look for large and steady
emigration of trained British agriculturists
and others to fields on which the blood OF
Briton and Boer is scarcely dry.
Soldiers Prospective. Settlers.
All the letters from the front Indicate an
increasing desire on the part of a large pro-
portion of the irregular and colonial forces
to settle down in this fertile land, won with
such cost to themselves. The British high
commissioner, Sir Alfred Miner, it Is learn
ed. is devoting his whole attention to evolv-
oe.raf 10
to the Orange River colony and the Trans
vaal and relying to no little extent upon
the influence of the British settlers to exer-
else it. The commissioner is in constant
communication with the secretary OF state
for the colonies, Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain
who has also got the forces of the colonial
office hard at work on the problem, though
the keen-sighted officials believe the day is
still far distant when the military admins
traitors will be able to hand over the reins
of government in safety to the civil author
tiles
Providing the progress of the victorious
army in the Transvaal is tolerably similar
to its operations in the Orange River col
ony. subsequent to the capture of Bloem-
fontein, this apathy toward military happen
ings and interest in civil and commercial
possibilities is likely to gain such a quick
hold that soon the war will almost be for
gotten. The contingency of President kru-
gers still undefeated forces scoring any
victory of consequence over Lord Roberts
scarcely worth mention The occupation of
Pretoria, according to the man in the street.
settled the whole matter.
Anent Lord Rosslyn's Dispatch.
In view Of all the premature rejoicings
which Lord Rosslyns incorrect press dis
patch caused last week it Is interesting to
note that the aristocratic young journalist
is chiefly remembered in London for his
diverting appearances in Hyde Park at the
period when he had given up the stage to
edit Scottish Life. AT the height of the sea-
son, at the most fashionable hour of the
day he was always to be seen, immaculate
ly dressed and 'bejeweled. seated under a
tree ostentatously correcting mass of
proof Sheets AS each one was finished he
covered it with four pebbles and laid it out
beside him until he was surrounded for
yards around with white slips. which never
ceased to be a source of huge amusement
to the passerSby. and apparently of i'm
mense satisfaction to himself. Yet when
cabled from Pretoria every paper In Eng
land, including the Times, believed him i'm
picitly.
With the arrival of semblance of sum-
mer the Thames has taken on its usual gay
hues and all the world and his wife have
gone boating the picturesque reaches.
Yet at its murky mouth. miles from where
the countless pleasure parties punt and
row. there has been reaped from it's muddy
waters harvest of death, extraordinarily
large even for this stream of tragedies.
Within the last two days the police report
finding no less than seven bodies. One lies
at Greenwich unidentified; another at Roth
erhithe, that of woman of the hawker
class. So far only two have been fdenti-
fed The others. probably, never will be,
and this brief record of tiotSam and jetSam
in the greatest city of the world of acct
dent suicide and possibly murder causes no
comment but is stuck away In corner Of
an afternoon paper. headed mysteries of
the River"
Prospect for Ascot Races.
The Ascot race meeting, which occurs
next week. promises to be largely attended,
and doubtless will be marked by contln-
uation of the successes of American jock
eys. The Prince of Wales, as usual, will
be present. besides many other royalties,
while many other American visitors now in
England have arranged to view what is
known as the royal meeting"
The serious condition of Mrs. Gladstone
has caused Mr.. T. P. o'Connor, member of
parliament, to write to IN. A. p" giving
some hitherto unpublished "reminiscences Of
the aged partner of the great statesman.
Just after their marriage" says Mr..
OConnor, Mr. Gladstone. who had al
ready been minister, asked her. Shall tell
you nothing and you can say anything, or,
shall 1 tell you everything and you say
nothing" She chose the latter, and he told
her everything and she never told any
thing"
On the fftieth anniversary Of their we'd
ding Mr.. and Mrs GlaQStoHe went TO re-
ception at an old friends house. when it
began to get late,' adds Mr.. OConnor,
Mr.. Gladstone went over to his wife and,
with an expression Of sweetness and ten
derness, took her by the hand, as though
she were little child thatrrhad to be re-
minded that 1t was time to go to bed, and
led her out of the room. II was sight
that might well have brought tears"
These and other anecdotes bear out fully
the previous accounts of The intense af-
lection existing between the great liberal
leader and his wife and also point to the
fact that Mrs. Gladstone exercised a more
powerful political influence over her hus-
band than generally credited
Mismanagementsin the Navy.
Those who believe that Great Britain's
navy would, in case OF war; prove nearly
as full of anachronisrns and mismanage-
ment as the South African campaign prov
ed the army to be have received additional
confirmation Of their fears BY reason of the
severe structure passed by the admiralty
upon the Irregularities of the target prac-
tice and reports thereon among the fleets
now in commission. The admiralty prac-
tically declares that the percentage sent in
is worthless. In circular to all the COM
mandine officers the admiralty says:
practice appears to have been carried
on without a supervisor, the commissioned
targets were not properly checked and the
markers were not drawn from another
ship"
Such a serious repriniand is likely to