The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-03-25
HER UFE IN HER. HAND
Britons Feel the Queen Is
Taking in Visiting ireland.
EXODUS TO CAPE TOWN
Of Womankind With Soldier
Kin--Wherewith, Scandals.

Copyright. 1900, blythe Associated Pf<ss)
London, March 24.-Great Britain has
grown weary Of her seriousness and OF
her military experts, with their cold, cal
culating deductions, and lengthy casualty
lists no longer make the daily papers
things of sadness and terror. The war,
according to the average opinion is prac-
ticAly over. To be sure it may be
months before Lord Roberts reaches Pre-
toria, but his going there is regarded as
sure as the hands move round a clock,
and it is claimed he is not going to lose
many men in getting there. A dozen de-
feats could scarcely spoil this supreme
self-s&tisfaction and assurance of ulti-
mate victory that reigns among the Aver
age pusolic. 1t is not altogether shared
by the press and officials, but it is what
the great majority of the English peo-
pie feel. In society the cry now is 'Ho,
for the Cape!" and the dressmakers are
up totheir eyes in work, making toilettes
suited forthe climate of the great war
base.
For those who cannot participate in the
prevailing rush to Cape Town there is
any amountof gossip regarding the prob
able reception of the queen in Ireland
and what kind of a greeting Cecil Rhodes
will get in England after his scathing
structures of General Butler and Colonel
Kekewich, to say nothing of the curious
stories which come from South Africa
about women who have been out there
However, the gaiety which reigns in Lon
don is none the less genuine because
many of the gowns at dinner parties
are sombrebued for the sake of some rel
alive lost on the battlefield. The period
Of reverses seems to have vanished from
the memory of Great Britain as quickly
as any feeting dream.
While London society celebrates it also
speculates, and not without misgivings,
regarding the queens visit to Ireland.
The sovereign's great age makes the trip
itself one of great risk, while the posi-
bility of hostile demonstrations or even
personal attack creates a nervousness
that will ony be stilled when her ma
jesty is safely back in England The
murder of Lord Frederick Cavendish and
Under Secretary Burke in Phoenix Park
has not been forgotten, and while the
party led by John Redmond is not credit
ed with any tendency towards physical
force it is universally felt in court and
society circles that the queen is taking
her life in her own hands in making the
proposed visit.
On this question an interview has been
held with IrelaBd's premier, the Duke
of Abbeycorn, who will be a visitor TO
Dublin Castle during the royal visit and
will receive her majesty as first by right
of blood in all Ireand The Duke said
Il do not think there will be hostile
demonstrations There may be a few
black flags and other silent signs of dis
approval. Still there is the rabble of
Dublin, which cannot be answered for
and which is entirely unrepresentative
of Irish feeling. I sincerely trust that
the voice Of national chivalry, apart from
the political considerations, will not be |
overshadowed by some rowdy demonstra-
lions. Still, 1 must admit there is a |
little risk, though if the preponderant |
Irish opinion from genuine sons of the |
soil, irrespective of religion ard politics, |
can have its way. her majesty viii meet |
with the warmest reception that ever
greeted the ruler of any country
If anything is in society more than the
departure of fashionable women |
for Cape Town, it is the scandals that |
come here from those already out there
The latest is that of a woman, long /
prominent in society and the wife of a
well known barOnet. She went out to
nurse Genera Buffers wounded, but, be-
coming the worse for liquor, she was
shut up by that commander in the room
of the local station master. Discovering
his pajamas and short coat, she donned
them. after. sacrificing her own raimen-
She afterwards refused to make change,
and thus scantily clothed she was car
ried through the lines of General Buffers
troops in an ambulance, was shipped to
Cape Town and is now in England.
The tremendous influx at Cape Town
of English society women and wives of
the more wealthy soldiers, especially
those of the volunteers, has created many
among the wives OF the
officers families. who, through lack of
pecuniary resources, are obliged to stay
at home. 1t is pointed out that kipling
VIII have ample chance to write up an
other series of satires such as he did
upon Indian army society.