The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-27
LONDON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
Discussion of the Coronation of King
Edward Already Begun.

Edward Already begun.
LONDON, Jan. 26.-Today's dispatches
from New York say that the United States
representation at the Kings coronation al
ready is being discussed. Regarding the
coronation it may be said without hesita-
ticn that no attempt will be made to re-
vive the traditional banquet in westmins-
ter Hall with the throwing down of his
glove by the Kings champion in armor.
Nobody is more sensible to ridicule than
the new King, and he has more than once
expressed his approval of the omission Of
this central part of the pageantry on the
accession of his mother.
The story has recently been told how
Lord Gwydyr, who, as boy, was present
at the last coronation banquet in charge
OF Lady Elphinstone, made signs to his
cousin, Lord Prudhoe, afterward fourth
Duke of Northumberland and how Lord
Prudhoe, in response thereto, wrapped
some chicken in piece of paper and tossed
the parcel up into the gallery. This Illus
trates the disorder that prevailed AS
for the mummeries associated with the
function, some details are given by Miss
Mary tombstone Hope. in letter to her
father Vice Admiral Sir William tombstone
Hope, preserved at Raehills House, Dunn
friesshire. She relates. for example, that
Lord Anglesey, who. with Lord Howard
and the Duke of Wellington, announced
dinner on horseback, fancied his duty was
done when the announcement had been
made. and did not return, but a herald
Was sent after him to say that His Maj
esty could not dine until he came and
took the covers off. This" adds the fair
writer, caused Lord Anglesey great dis
tress, as he was unable to walk with his
riding leg on, so he had to be supported,
but he got along very well, though much
more lame than usual" 1t should be ex-
planned that this Marquis of Anglesey re-
ceived wound at Waterloo which rem
dered the amputation of his right leg nee
essary. Miss Hope also tells how. when
dinner came to be served, it was discov-
cred that all the soup spoons had been for
gotten. King Edward VII is too much i'm
pressed with the dignity of his position
to risk repetition of any such scenes.
There seems only too much reason to
believe that the Irish landlords are soon
to see the completion of their revenge
upon the Rt. Hon. Horace Plunkett be-
cause he dared to run his new agricultur-
al cooperative movement in Ireland on
race-blind principles. 1t will be remem-
bered that. though he was a member of
a Tory Ministry and had admittedly done
splendid service in the revival of agri-
culture in many parts of Ireland, Lord
ArdilauD and other landlords ran another
Tory candidate against him in the South
Dublin County election, and so ousted
him from Parliament 1t is now an
that Mr.. Plunkett is expecting
soon to retire from the post of Vice
President of the new Irish Department of
Agriculture and Technical Instruction,
because, having lost his seat in Parlia-
ment. he cannot find another Irish con-
stituency. The Ministry are lukewarm,
the Irish landlords are hostile, and the
Irish NatioQalists stand aloof. Edward
Archdale. the Tory member for North
Fermanagh, is named as his probable
successor, and his sop to landlordIsm
probably will be the removal of Mr.. Gill.
the former Nationalist Member of Parlia-
ment. from the secre taryship of the de-
partment, for which he has shown him
self admirably fitted. So party politics
ever ruled in ireland.
The South African war has not emily
lost its place of pre-eminence In the pub
lie mind, but 1t has no place in 1t at all.
and hope is expressed in official circles
hat this diversion of public attention will
The better enable General Kitchener to
complete his work. He still has prac- I
ically the whole British army under his /
command. and he means to keep them |
here, whoever grumbles. In today's pa
,ers there is published letter. in which I
General Methuen tries to console father I
Who prayed for the return of his son, now /
erving with the yeomanry. Il regret to /
iay." says General Methuen, that Gen |
,ral Kitchener has refused to let anyone !
cave until the war is over. He is quite I
light, for the number of legitimate cases I
vas so great that either the yeomsnry I
would have to become useless, or every
me must alike suffer for the sake of their
ountry."
1t must have been with the greatest re-
uctance that General Kitchener allowed
4ord Strathcona's Canadian mounted
orps to leave as they did. on January 20.
n the expiry Of their years term of SER
ice, for they are exactly the type Of
men he most wants. But Lord Strath-
ona's men, like the yeomanry. had SEEM
ngly had more than their I'LL of South
.frican warfare. Each day announcements
ppear of the departure of re-enforce-
lents. especially of volunteers, and each
ay also has its terrible record of deaths
rom enteric fever. In todays official list
he deaths and casualties number thirty.
AS relief from this depressing side of
ne war may be quoted the following
tory, now being told here of General
e Wet An English gentleman, hailing
ON the West country, serving in the I'M
erial YeOmanry, was taken prisoner.
eneral De Wet received him with the
reatest courtesy, and entertained him
lost hospitality. When the Englishman
,ferred to the anxiety his family at home
ould feel about him, De Wet told him
, write long despatch. and he would
ave il transmitted free of charge. AT
lie next engagement, he had the English
an placed on a hill, whence he and his
icort could watch the fight. after putting
IS captive on parole. Finally. on an ex-
lange of prisoners. the Englishman
rasped De Wet cordially by the hand,
Ialked him, and added: IF you ever get
England. remember, you must come and
ay with me-"