The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-12-29
British Public Is Disguised
With African Affairs.
Demand That Somebody BE
Punished For Failure.
BUILDING WAR SHIPS
England Continues Work of
Strengthening Her Navy.
another Miniature of George
Washington Is Discovered.

London. Dec 2s.-Miserable rain, fog
and dirt made Christmas a week of evil
memory for England. Depressing gloom.
in thorough harmony with the weather,
settled over the country. The coasts
were strewn wsth wrecks, commerce was
out of joint ard the public was bitterly
digeSting the criticism of the British
army. The demand for Major General
Sir Henry ColyilIe's resignation, thrown
as a sop, only served to Whet the raven
Gus appetities of those who are bowling
for the responsibility Of the reverseS IN
South Africa being brought home to in
dividuals. More heads are demanded
Where SO many must be blamable 1t
is felt that the selection OF General Col
VILE is woefully inadequate if not uH-
fair Indeed, it is already said that had
not the yeOmanry force at 1indley,
which COlyiiIe failed to relieve, included
some of the nobility and other infiuen-
tial persons. Colville would never have
been recalled. The bitterness felt by
these yeomanry at being compelled to
surrender because, as they allege, Col
Vile refused to render the aid within his
power has never died out and it prob
ably will result in one of the most in
terestfng court martials in the annals
of the British army upon the result of
which will depend the fate Of several
other high officers, who have proved un-
equal to the occasion
The Liberal papers comment severely
on the acceptance by the war Office OF
& contingent Of MaOris from New Zea-
land, The Star says:
The effect Of this stupid bIunder on
the Dutch will be terrible. After de-
Clining to employ Indian troops, we are
taking a paltry hundred Maoris. This
viii not only infuriate the Dutch but it
win insult the Indian troops. who will
regard it as a declaration of their in
fer1erity to an inferior coIored race.
Go oni o. government Of MuddlersI
Even the Gods could not save you from
your own invincfbIe folly
DAWN OF REASON
However there are signs Of the dawn
OF that common sense, the lack of which
the English critics SO depiore in the mil
itary system, for the cavalry now going
out to South Africa is ~discarding the
lance .a ana carolne and substituting for
these weapons rifles and sabers. After
over a years fighting the authorities
have Weakened up to the utter useless
ness Of lances and carbines, considering
that thousands OF British soldiers have
never seen B0er during the many en-
gagements.
While Great Britain is tied hand and
ioeI 10 south africa, the navy which is
not escaping the wave of criticism, is
quietly increasing its strength and
moral For months both men and ships
have been kept in an unusual state Of
readiness and there are now building in
British yards no fewer than eleven bat
tieShips, 1S cruisers and IA smaller YES
sels, totaling nearly 100000 tons These
exclude vessels which have been tried
but are unfinished
The gradual removal OF the social bar
riers which formerly restricted English
political and educational life was never
better instanced than by the appoint
ment this week Of Mr. Joseph owen to
a fellowship of oxford. six years ago
Mr. Owen was a mill hand at Oldham.
helping to support his poor parents. He
attended at night the university exten-
sion lectures and SO much ability did
he show that the lecturers got up a fund
and sent him to the great university
where with his wife he settled down in
i humble cottage. He knew no Greek
and little Latin His first success came
when he won the Brackenburg history
scholarship. to the surprise of many
learned aristocra tic competitors -Four.
years Of determined uphill work passed
and the final examinations drew near
On q position in these depended Mr.
Owens full future A few weeks be-
fore the ordeal his young wife died sud
denly Mr.. Owens friends thought il
Impossible for him to accomplish any
thlEg. but the mill hands grit stood the
strain. end Mr. owen gained the Gov
eted first class. with the degree. His |
appointment as extension lecturer !
quickly followed and Mr.. Owen lee /
tured where, six years previous. he had !
learned. The climax in his career came I
this week, when Pembroke college |
elected Mr. Owen, cut of all the Oxon- |
ians. to the lucrative and honored post !
PICTURE OF WASHINGTON
There are few original pictures of |
General Washington in England hence /
AA-S NAN-HNEA@ "a 1AAOLnEL miniature IS
interesting. 1t is by Sam FclweIl. and |
IS dated 1871. Another by the same |
artist is now in the possession of the
Historical Society of Philadelphia |
dated 1896 The new ind is supposed
To be an excellent likeness Tt repre- |
sents Washington wearing a pigtail.
Glasgow. which the Christmas and |
New Year season has made notorious !
for the drunkenness exhibited in it's |
streets has acquired possession of an |
old mansion house situated in a deserted |
Part Of Ayreshire at a cost of 1000 /
pounds. where habitua1 drunkards win /
he sent for terms varying from three |
months to two years. The authorities |
hope to effect cures by making the in I