The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-21

and his abilities, as historian and writer
upon abstruse. subjects have gained for
him honorary degrees from the English
universities. OF all European poten-
tates heis probably the most cultured, the
tallest and the most impulsive.
The possibility of trouble between the
United States and Turkey has attract
ed passing comment in England, though
the average newspaper reader is much
more interested IN the Croton dam
riot. In connection with the former
subject, the Birmingham Post is re-
Sponsible for the statement that Turkey
has placed several important commits
sions with the Krupps, to be completed
before the end of the year which in
clude better machine guns than are at
present used by any European power
and 100000 Mausers which Immediately
upon their receipt will be delivered to
the Turkish first army corps.
SPAIN TAKES FRIGHT.
Spain is apparently scared by post
bellum publications showing how many
authorities thought the United States
would have been well advised immedi-
ately to attack the Canaries, for Pre-
to these islands a number of heavy guns
for defensive purposes One of the most
frequent comments heard in English
naval circles is that America should
have captured the Canaries at the out
break of the Spanish war.
The great chalk headland at Dover
known as Shakespeare cliff" is to be
levelled in order to give the new rapid
firing batteries of that harbor'S defen-
ceS a better range.
The recently announced death of
Thomas Dudley from bubonic plague at
Sydney recalls the terrible story in con-
nection with the loss of the yacht Mig
nonette, of which he was the master, in
1884, when she foundered. Dudley with
two other men and a boy was adrift for
many days in an open boat During
this time the men killed the boy and
tried to eat his body, for which after
their rescue, they were sentenced to
death in England. This sentence how
ever, was subsequently commuted to six
months imprisonment.
AMERICAN VERDICT REVERSED
This has been a week of unusual in
terest in the theatrical world to Ameri-
/ cans, as two plays were submitted tC
| the London public on which America
! had long since pronounced favorable
| judgment-'Zaza'' and "Cyrano de Ber
/ gerac.' In both cases the American
verdict was reversed. 'Zaza'' is respon
sible for an outbreak in London similar
/ though on a smaller scale. to New
/ York's "Sapho" agitation. Here it ha.
/ taken the form of general diSSatiSfac
ton at the attempts to translate Frencl
| plays rather than as attempts to sup
/ press Mrs. Carter's role, the Afternoon
| newspapers being particularly hard oil
| ''Zaza." The Globe, declared that Am
more than one play we have sent there
but we declare .Zaza' is more crude
more sensual and more objectionabl
than any piece of home growth we cal
| recall"
The Westminster Gazette is still NOR
| scathing, saying: when a piece i
stupid and i'll written throughout, coars
and animal, when a mass of indelicat
detail utterly unnecessary is introduced
it is our duty to make some protest"
Mr.. Wyndham's "Cyrano De Ber
gerac,' produced at his London theate
Thursday, is treated somewhat similar
1y though in a more kindly vein tina
''Zaza,'' the Times Voicing the genera
impression by lamenting the loss c
force and art which ensues from tn
translation of French masterpieces.