Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-06

The day, however. was not observed in
celebration of the patron saint Of Ireland,
but to commemorate the bravery of the
Irish troops in South Africa. Perhaps ,llat
is the reason Mr.. Dillon and his confrcros
in parliament are not particularly pleased
at the sudden popularity of the shamrock
in England. 1t does not augur well for
closer union of hearts between the queen
and her Irish soldiers.
Lord Roberts has Il remarkable faculty
of doing those little things that add 50
much 10 popularity. Not content with
bringing order ont Of chaos in South Africa
and forming a beaten and sulen army into
Irresistible conquerors, he sends congratu-
latory messages to the uttermost bOundar-
les of the British empire. BY Il short tee-
gram he starts wave of enthusiasm roll
ing across Canada that fairly mandates the
dominion; he dictates kindly messages ac-
cepting honorary colonelcys to a dozen diff
fsfent regiments; he congrat ulateS the lord
mayor of London on being created a baron
ct; he issues army orders a proud father
might talk to pfeCociouS child, and now
he has taken over newspaper in Bloem-
fOnteln and put several correspondents in
charge No wonder he is to the soldiers
plain 'Bobs,' their idol. whom they would
follow to the uttermost ends of the earth.
He has never lost battle, and his cam
paiSning in Africa thus far leads to the
conclusion that he never will. The belief
is rapidly gaining ground that "Bobs" is
the one man to see the f3ocr trouble right
through, "lllcN means 10 direct matters
for a considerable time after peace IS Of
ficially declared.
If "Bobs'' had been in position to use
his persuasive powers and diplomatic abil-
ity last August many persons believe there
would have been no war. Nobody seems to
be able 20 resist "BUbs." He goes right 90
your heart. and if racial hatred is not to
follow the subjugation of the Transvaa1
'Bobs must direct affairs. Beyond perad-
venture he is far and ahead the most popu-
lar man in England today. If England
were Il republic, he would be .he ncAt pres
ident, and that by almost unanimous choice.
He is the one heroic figure of the war Pro-
BOer and AnglophiIe both bow to him Re-
fore he arrived in South Africa, .Ionrert
in a fair way to being put on tn, high
est PEDESTAL: but now Joubert is as COM
pletely overshadoWed by "Bobs" as Is an
ordinary man alongside the Washington
monument.
Perhaps the most pleasing side to
"Bohs character is his modesty. He
never seems to think OF himself and in
fact, he never has time. In Kipling's words:
He does not ADVERTISE" and he is dearer
to Tommy Atkins therefor. Kipling has
Of course. best described Lord Roberts in
his poem "Bobs," and that poem has con-
tributed largely to Kiplings popularity
with Mr.. Atkins. Ktpling by the waV,
telegraDhed a few lines to the newspaper
"Bobs started in Bloemfontetn, and as the
first issue of the paper appeared on ST
Patrick's day, Kiping's impromptu verse
was doubly apprecia ted:
Oh Terence dear, and did You hear
The that going round?
The shaInrock's Effn's ha'i=e by law,
Where'e r her found,
From BncmfOnten 10 Baiiybank-
Ills ordered by the queen
We've right In open fight
The wearing of the green.
The Cecil Rhodes Interview.
The interview between Julian Ralph and
d VII Oh In 7