New-York tribune., 1900-04-26
THE PASSING THRONG.

General Lord Roberts. or 'Bobs' as he is NOR.
fondly known in the army" said Gerald Sanford
of London. at the waIdorf-Asto
LORD ROB- yesterday rs the beau ideal OF thA
ERTS. OF British soldier. Short and slight
KANDAHAR. of figure. he nevertheless possesses
physical strength beyond the ordi-
nary. an iron constitution and great endurance
and to-day carries his threescore and eight years
lightly and holds his figure erect as a nan OF
half his age. i happened to be present at Cam
ferred on Lord Roberts The oration In which the
degree Is conferred is in Latin and the undergrad
terrupt the speaker in every possible way. One
didn't catch that last sentence; would you mind
repeating IL? Another will make similar inquiry
broken loose. The ushers will then put down the
nnrny ones and restore order. and the proceedings
n similar manner few minutes later. IL Is. be
IN TINS manner. but il is heartnreaking prerogs-
tive FOR any one with nerves who happens TO be
receive his degree with the scarlet OF his uniform
showing beneath the red cloak OF the degree. he
on his feet In an instant and the audience was not
slow to follow. A scene OF unbounded enthusiasm
ensued; The proceedings called for no remarks
fiom the General. but as he bowed to the great
ceived his face and eyes ' ssowed how ne deeSiy Re
vas touched. and the boys let him know that they
did a pretty thing the other day. when she
uron her the Victoria Cross wbcb ber
son had won at Coenso."
ITO my mind" continued Mr. Sanford. pthis
mighty struggle between Briton and Boer which
shas been replete with sad scenes
THE DEATH and pathetic Incidents. contains
OF THE sadder than the death of
YOUNGER young Roberts the banks OF the
ROBERTS. far Modder River. What hopes OF
the future were blasted that day
and what hopeless future left to the great com
mander of our army in South Africa. Who can
question the pure patriotism of Lord Roberts. who.
In the twilight OF life when enjoying a well earned
rest heHertheiess fors0Ok II all IN his country's
need and went back TO the hardships OF camp life
vice will entail certain suffering and possible
death? Should he win Pretoria and establish Brit
the Transvaal. there are none who would venture
TO say what hon0rs may not be his; An eardom-
possibly dukedOm-will him But such
honors can be only Dead Sea fruits TO Lord Rob-
erts now that his hopes OF direct descendants In
the male line have been taken away bv the m
timely death of his son To my mind. he un-
interestingly gallant and singuIarly pathetic figure
1r m all VINO are taking part in that awful struggle
In his genius, TO which now is Joined a great SYM
pathy, not wholly unmiXed with for the Spar
carrying out his duties
R. F. L. Brown the we'll known mining engineer.
sailed for Europe on the American Line steamer
ST. Paul yesterday. Mr.. Browns
CONTEMPT visit 70 the Continent at this time
IBLE" BOER is partially on business and partial
TACTICS. ~ to visit the Exposition at Paris
Before leaving Mr. Brown said
aprOpOs of the in South Africa: The Beers
are putting Up a much better fight than I thought
they could. and the war has already lasted far
longer than / would have believed il possible.
But. Notwithstanding the gallant struggle the
burghers are making and the extraordinary skill
they have displayed in conducting their operations
and in managing their men, in marked contrast TO
the fncOmpetency and shOrtSightedness that a num-
ber of the British commanders have displayed I
nevertheless adhere 10 my original opinion that
the British must prevail and that in the end
they will force their way to Pretoria and the Beers
TO an unconditional surrender. through sheer
force or resources and men, If from no other cause
A cable dispatch was reading yesterday from the
seat of war is instance of the disparity Of the
two forces and is at the same time characteristic
of certain phase of British thought. This cable
dispatch told of the operations of 150 200 Beers
whom an English force about three thousand strong
was trying to surround. While this manoeuvre was
going on the Beers We're busy with their one gun
and their rifles and succeeded in iEAicting great
damage on the British forces The English held
stubbOrnly and tenaciOuSly on. however. and had
all but completed the fatal circle when the Beers
suddenly retreated through the gap still left and
nsade good their escape, at the time carry
ing on their we'll The correspondent of
London paper spoke of this conduct the part OF
the Beers as simply contemplate