The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-23
ADMIRE DASROF GEN. DE- WET
ENGLIsHMEN ADMIT MILITARY
vALoR OF FAMOUS BoER.
Nothing would Please Them Better
Than His Capture, Yet They Com
pare His Daring with the Charge
mt BalakIava-News Is Cut or.


be by far the most acceptable Christmas
box to the average Englishman. Though
there seems little likelihood of the wish
being granted, the desire for the suppress
sion of this wonderful Boer leader, how
ever. is accompanied by generous admira-
tion of his latest feat
ut would be unworthy of the British
name" says the Times, ITO refuse the
credit that is due to a feat of arms so
brilliant as the unexpected dash back
ward of DeWet and his men through the
British lines.
Other papers take the same view, COM
pairing the ride to Springhaas mex with
the charge at Balakiava. In fact adj
miration for the extraordinary daring
displayed by the Beers on this occasion
almost predominates over the chagrin
at the failure Of the British officers to
cope with their enemies There is spring
ing up a philosophic indifference to the
incapability Of generals in South Africa.
Reverses have become expected
Last Christmas society almost went
crazy over plum buildings and chocolate
hampers sent to the soldiers on the veldt.
This year they are not mentioned. In
fact. the public is unutterably weary of
the long-drawn-out struggle, whose only
interesting features are the sensational
successes of DeWet. This in no way
affects the government. whose determine
ton to fight it out to the bitter end is
evident from Its decision to reinforce the
already huge army In South Africa. Sew
eral members of the cabinet, however,
would be heartily grateful would the
Boer leaders sue for peace.
Nicaragua Canal
The Nicaragua canal still fails to arouse
any really deep interest here as it is
Thoroughly understood that Great Brit
ain will take action In the near future
n taft .lr.l
more in the light of rnonotonous farce
than serious problem. thanks to the alb
surd mjsunderstandings which have arisen
between the. powers. The only quarter
in London where the performance is thor
oughiy enjoyed Is at the Chinese Legal
ton. in which Sir Chth Len Lo Feng Lu,
the minister of China. mourning secluded
~ for his brother. Is reported to be in a
state of perpetual chuckle over the atti-
tude OF Christendom.
More the question of the day is Amer
ica's commercial rivalry, which through
out the week has been forming the basis
for long analytical articles in the Daily
Express and the Daily Mail, written by
engineering and other experts, which de-
tail the results of recent trips to the
United States under the headlines, Wake
Up, England" I'VE Are Falling Be
hind" etc, reiterating that the English
manufacturers are absorbed in conserva-
tism, which is summed up in the follow
ing paragraph in one article:
IF the foregoing facts are unpalatable.
II Is better they should be known than
that the nation should dream ON In fools
paradise until the next cycle of bad trade.
when We may find our markets in the
possession of others
No Cause for Friction.
The announcement that the Neither
lands does not consider itself bound by the
Paris Venezuela commissions decision on
the Anglo-Dutch frontier is not regarded
by the foreign office as forming the basis
OF international friction. The boundary
Is comparatively minor matter, on
which the colonial office has been en-
gagged for some time The Netherlands
question Is regarded as step to ward
off contingency which. however, Great
Britain has never contemplated.
That dilettante class, the artists, are
joining the ranks of organized labor.
Headed by Alma Tadema, a group of
well known artists are sending out CIR
culars to their brethren urging the for
nation of a professional union on lines
similar to those of the Society of Authors
They hope to get several hundred mem
bers to pay guinea each. The especial
object OF the organization will be watch
ing the business interests of struggling
painters las 1t Is now says Alma
Tadema, THE successful painter cares
and troubles little about his less sue
cessful brothers, but given an associa-
ton with common interest, the young,
unknown man has an infinitely better
chance for hts own interests and those
of his profession"
The decision of the queens bench court
declaring 1t to be Illegal for the London
school board to spend the ratepayers'
money for teaching science and art at
evening classes for adults. has created
perturbation Some $4,000 pupils are af-
fected. and the whole of London's edu-
cational system must be reversed IL the
house OF lords upholds the decision The
Speaker declares II is the most serious
case which has befallen education for
some time. Columns OF comment appear
daily. There are other large cities con-
ccrned. as they all have classes similar
to those of London. The head masters
OF expensive schools appear TO approve
OF the decision. maintaining that the
school board Is endangering the exist
ence Of the secondary schools.
The head masters of expensive schools
appear 10 approve OF the decision, main
tanning that the school board Is cndanger-
ing the existence OF the secondary schools
At a conference Of head masters of the
public schools this week one speaker So
verels arratgnecNthe Irritating educational
nloy IN order to pass boys as officers into
the service.
America Leads.
A military correspondent Of the Pail
Mall Gazette. criticising the Sandhtirst
aud woolwich methods, declares the Rrit-
lsh authorities admit that West Point he
In advance pf anything IN England RE
approves the democratic and severely
competitive system IN vogue there. saying
Education at West Point Is serious
thoroUghness, rather than an extension
OF attachments. Its principle Is cuntroli-
Ing education. together with the knowl-
edge % how 10 make use OF II Ike An
exceptionally gpod education, Il Is enor-
mcusly costly the most expensive IN the
world hut IN many ways said 10 be hy Far
the best ----------
..L...-- $500. 49,.