New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-08-12

House. which is sufficiently near London for the
Foreign Office dispatch boxes to reach him
quickly. Lord Lansdowne. the War Minister,
who has scarcely had a holiday since last oc-
tober. has gone TO Bowood. his historic country
place Mr. Balfour is to brace his nerves and
restore his temper which has suffered little
under the attentions OF pro-Boer Radicals and
Irish Members. by playing golf in Scotland.
Mr.. wyndham. the Under Secretary of State
fer War who has done much TO add to his repu-
tation this session. is also taking a brief rest
at his Cheshire country house.
The suicide in Vienna OF the Hon. Hugh
Grosvenor. second OF Lord Ebury, has
thrown several aristocratic families into mourn
ing Young GrosYenor. who had a promising
diplomatic career before him. was only thirty
one. His tragic end is said to be the result Of
gambling. which is very prevalent just now in
society circles in Vienna, and in several other
European capitals well.
The sudden death Of Lord Russell the Lord
Chief Justice removes a striking personality
from English public life The great lawyers
health had given his family anxiety for some
time, but one seems to have thought that
he was in any immediate danger until the
present week. Even on Thursday. when the
most eminent medical men In London decided
that an operation imperative, 1t was
hardly supposed that the patients life was
then only numbered by hours. Those who saw
Lord Russell in society, in HIS court or in the
House OF Lords at any time during the sum-
mer would have said that there was no man
less likely to be snatched away at the age OF
Eixty-eglt His handsome face bore it's usual
expression OF energetic vitality, and his con-
versatfon was as brilliant and animated as
ever.
By the death OF Lord Russell the legal pro-
fession has lost it's most distinguished member
Since the late Lord Herschell died there has
been no lawyer In this country whose reputation
e. judge-advocate. politician and jurist could
compare with that OF the clever Irishman
who the first Roman Catholic to occupy
the premier position the English bench since
the Reformation. AS a forensic orator, Charles
Russell had scarcely a superior in his genera
ton. unless we may except a frequent rival in
Sir Edward Clarke who might Re his successor
in the ermine II he had not offended Lord Sails
bury and his colleagues by opposing the South
African war.
Americans DO not need to be reminded that
Lord Russell was one Of counsel for Great Brit
ain before the Behrins Sea Commission and one
OF the arbtrators OF the Venezuela case; but his
greatest triumph was probably won in the IA
NOUS ParneIl Commission in 1850. when he
acted principal counsel for the Irish Mem
allegations OF The Times" Those who were
present when the forger Piggott fell to pieces
under Russelrs whitening cross-examinatlon
are not likely 10 forget the intensely dramatic
scene.
Lord Russell a curious mixture he was
fiery Radical. and yet one Of the favorites in the
smart set of West End society, where the only
orthodox Liberalism is that Of the mild, unag-
gressive type professed by Sir Henry Campbell
Bsnnerman. He was a devout and sincere
Catholic. and belonged to a family which has
given several OF its members TO the service OF
the Church OF Rome-his only brother is a
Jesuit priest, and one OF his sisters is Mother
Mary Baptist. the well xnown Superior Of the
Sisters Of Our Lady OF Mercy al San Francisco,
, while another is in a convent in Ireland; but
with all his piety and his zeal for righteousness,
Lord Russell contrtHed to enjoy this material
world very comfortably. He was something Of
bon vivant and a sportsman, and an ardent
patron OF the turf; he also kindly. humor-
Gus man in private life, a stanch friend, and
one Of the best Of companions.
Serious efforts are at length being made to
give Londoners some of the advantages of eiec-
trio loeomotion enjoyed BIZ the inhabitants of
most civilized capitals The obsolete horse
tramways Of the metropolis have long been
disgrace TO British enterprise; the omnibuses
the old underground railways poison pas sengers
with noxious vapors and are unendurGble in
hot weather: but the subterranean line
running from the Bank Of England under Hol-
horn and OxforG-st. to the Marble Arch and
HYDE Park uses electric traction and is prov
ing a phenomenal success. Though it was only
opened late in the present summer. it has been
9 greedily accepted by the London public, and it's
cars fully patronizad that the directors
ar thinking Of running trains at three minute
intervals throughout the day. There is also
prospect that electricity VIII be applied to the
surface trans in satisfactory fashion. The
London County Council proposes to introduce
the conduit system the whole OF its tram
ways and discard horses as soon as the neces-
sary installation can be cerri I'd out.
II is worth noticing that several years ago a
powerful American syndicate. with great hnan-
cial backing, was prepared TO take the
entire Londun tramway system, pay off the
shareholders at the market value Of their stock
and work the roads by electricity without any
increase in the existing fares. Vested interests
and parochiaI conservatism caused this scheme
TO be rejected, with the result that in its street
communications. in its gas. telephone and
electric light services London has been hope
lessly distanced not only by cities OF the United
States and the European Continent but even
J by those Of the English provinces l. n. F.
PARIS.