New-York tribune., 1900-04-08

ICOpyrisht: 1sOO By The Nsw-York TribuneI
tEN CABLE To THE TRIBUNE-l
London, April TIL Queen has taken ar
good luck. as well as aIl good weather. with hei
TO Ireland; the public here has been seriously
depressed by various occurrences at the momeni
when ii was beginning brighten up and pre-
pare for a brilliant social season. Spido's shall
low Drained act of bravado has increased tbs
popularity of the Prince Of Wales. and deepened
the impression that the best managed
royal family in Europe is never safe against the
risks of assassination. The Belgian debate or
the outrage has also been resented as unsym
pathetic and cynical. and serves to convince
even the cheery optimists that England and her
princes strongly disliked on the Continent
cloud has up in Ashantee which carries
the menace of another troublesome war with ma
tives. The two small reverses to detachments
of Lord Roberts's army have been forcible re-
minders that the British campaign in hostile
Dutch Africa is arduous undertaking. with
immense transport difficulties. and that the end
of the war is not yet in sight.
The only quarter where there is bright ef-
feet of light is in Ireland. where the Queen has
been received with genuine sympathy and even
loyal devotion.
The debates in Parliament continue dull and
dreary. for the financial and military informa-
ton which is really needed is suppressed. The
ultimate cost of the war cannot be estimated
from the data before the House of Com
mons. 1t is known that in addition to the
millions expended from September TO April, the
army will require than f60OOoOOO during
the next twelve months. and this will not IN
clude sea transport from South Africa back to
England All estimates for ships. horses. forage
and food supplies appear unduly heavy. and 1t Is
an open secret that the rates of the contractors
have been abnormally high. Probably there has
been no way out of 1t in the sudden emergency
of war but there is a frank confession by mill
tary experts in and out of Parliament that the
Government is paying too much for the sea
transport of freight foodstuffs. military stores
and forage. ami that the contractors are max
ing immense fortunes out of the business OF
war There are no scandals in the purchase OF
supplies but the market is stripped. and the
traders dictate their own terms and are fatten-
ing upon the army votes
This is the usual experience Of every Govern
ment in the emergency of war. but John Bun 10
exceptionally sensitive TO the reprJach Of paying
more for a military campaign than Justice ana
equity require. The suspense caused by the GO
sation OF active operations by Roberts ana
RuTAr for four weeks somewhat unnerves him,
especially as he cannot understand the necessity
for inaction; and the knowledge that thousands
of mounds are wasted weekly and almost daily.
in swelling the profits OF the contractors who
control the market prices does not tend TO I'M
prove his temper.
English press comments upon Admiral
Dewey's sudden plunge into politics are regret
full in tone since his reputation as a victorious
| Anglo-Saxon naval commander is tealously
Guarded even here. The opinion generally ex-
nressed is that the Admiral has made serious
mistake personally. bat that the American peo-
ole will profit by it. since IL he consents 10 STAND
as a Democratic candidate. Bryan's party viii
he wrecked and McKinley's reelection VIII De
rendered a certainty. Fame is. however a
vapor. when so we'll informed a journal as Tne
spectator' refers to Dewey as the hero who took
Santiago.
london Is showing signs of revived interest
in matters not connected with war Three nota-
bIe lectures are delivered to-day. by Lord Ray
leigh at the Royal Institution; by Sir FREDERICK
| Pollock ON THE Law of Nature. and oy Sir
Frederick Bridge on Mozart. The French Am
bassador will be the chief speaker at the French
Chamber of Commerce dinner. Bachs Passion
music will be performed by an enlarged choir
and orchestra at St Paurs early in the week
Raron Ferdinand Rothschild's bequest to the
nation is now on view at the British Museum In
what is known as the WaddesdOn Room Ii Is
a priceless collection of jewels. plate woodcarv-
ing and other objects Of art The best examples
are those OF the later Renaissance. One OF the
most famous works Is the JeWel presented oy
lanes to Sir Thomas Lyle This fine specimen
of the eoIisrnth's craft of the seventeenth CEN
turv was bought at the Hamilton SALE There Is
a wonderful mOttled agate vase. with ancient
Roman cameo work and elaborate mounts of
italian Renaissance style. Among the most
beautiful objects in this collection Of 262 pieces
are crystal cups and painted enamels.
Two events of unusual interest to students of
the drama are the production OF The Tempest
at the Iyceum Theatre by the Benson Com
pany. and the performance Of Mntons Samson
Agonistes' by the Elzabethan Stage Society. at
the South Kensington Lecture Theatre this af-
ternoon. The Tempest Is well staged. and
celently played in a true poetic spirit Mr..
Weir does the best work, and adds another to
the series OF fine impersonations with which he
has delighted thoughtful students OF the drama
Samson Agonistes' has never before been
produced. and Mr.. William Poel has made
arduous and successful effort TO have a salts
factory representation. Amateur talent was
placed by professional artists. and fresh
TUNES were fashioned from classical designs OF
the seventeenth century. Mr.. Arnold Dolmetsch
conducted the music OF the chorus. and the
whole performance showed signs OF careful
hearsing. The impression produced by the ad-
rnirable work of the Stage Society that Mil
toms poem was essentially Greek In spirit and
| beautiful in form. but lacked anything IKE
dramatic movement.
dom this week The Lord Lieutenant's house
the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. Lord and
4 Y tba DYrIxa Of AharcO orA