Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-08-17
Ez-Empress Frederick Was Like Her
Mother IN Many Ways,
SIMILAR FACTS OF THEIR LIVES
Success Of the Expedition Against
the Mad MuIlah.
UNPAID SOLDIERS CLAIMS
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

press FREDERICK the more DeCduSe VI ZIG
many points of similarity in the lives of
her and her mother, Queen Victoria Both
were the close friends of their local COM
munities. Queen Victoria's habit Of making
personal acquaintance among the people
living near her castles was closely followed
by her daughter, and it is said that the
Empress Frederick knew not only every
house and every inhabitant, but even every
dog, in Cronberg by name. She would
chide the lazy, adnonish the thriftess,
praise the welI-doing Even in the love af-
fairs of the villages she would play the
good fairy. A Christmas time there were
gifts for the children, and at all times for
the artists who abound in Cronberg there
were encouragement and appreciative crtti-
cism.
In family devotion Victoria and Frederick
were alike. When the present kaiser was
boy, captain of the Guards was, on
Prince Bismarck's recommendation, ap-
pointed his tutor. This captain misman-
aged his royal pupil so seriously that
he had to be sent back to his regiment, and
for some time after his departure the En-
press Frederick, then crown princess, UNI
dertook the child's education herself. It is
to his mother that the present kaiser owes
his first notions of history and geography
two studies which have ever since remain
ed his favorites.
The sorrows of mother and daughter had
close resemblance. The Empress Freder-
ick was early left widow and mourned
her husband as Victoria mourned Albert.
When the empress came to the throne her
consort was already stricken with mortal
disease, and she was debarred the years or
exalted influence for which she might rea-
sonably have hoped after the years Of self
repression which she had had to endure
as crown princess. In those days Prince
Bismarck was nearly ail-powerful; and,
from the very first, he hated her. All that
fIxa frrfr "a
items may know If royal secrets are laid
bare. But it is said that, when the long
struggle was over and the Emperor Fred
erick had found in death that peace which
was denied him in life, the widowed en-
press pointed once to portrait Of Mary
Queen of Scots in a London picture gal
lery. and said, bitterly, IF queens lost their
heads now they did in those days, j
the last few MONTHS The story may be
doubted; but in any case, it Is eloquent OF
the ordeal through which she had to pass
Expedition Against the Mad Mullah.
The expedition against the Mad Mullah'
of Somaliland has returned to the coast
after doing greater wonders than that I'M
prudent prophet. How ii happens that all
Mulahs who offend against British rule
are mad it might be interesting to inquire.
There nave been three of these rash re-
formers disposed Of in about as many years
that the ''Quem leus vult perdere" saying
may be applied ironically. The Muilah VINO
troubled Somalila1d seems to have shown
10 madness from q Mohammedan point OF
view at all events. He preached sobriety
and other pious customs. and did not other
wise Cypress his followers. His only patent
fault was want of political acumen In
the course of spreading the faith as he
understood it,. he larried the SomaliS UNI
der British protectorate on the Gulf OF
Aden and had to learn lesson which
was effectively administered, so much so
that in quieter times good deal more
would have been made OF 1t. But the
humor Of this administrative theory of
madness is a little crude, and in the light
of serious problem suggested by the de-
lusions Of Mr.. Kruger, 1t almost smacks OF
iah his point Of view. He can be smashed
when necessary with jest as good con-
science.
Soldiers Claims Hawked About.
An Imperial Yeoman Is advertising for
offers for a ESQ claim he has against the
war Office which mas been owing him for
thirteen months. He stands poor chance
Of making any collection for an indefinite
period for the breakdown in the account
ant generals department Is SO bad that
the department has not yet been able to
make up the accounts OF what is due to the
relatives of soldiers who died at the front
eighteen months ago. Under the clrcum-
stances and in view of the public scandal
that Is being created by the delays, 1t Is
intended to appoint departmental COM
mittee to inquire into the whole subject.
Four army officers, selected with special
view to their financial experience, and as
many civilian officials, will constitute the
committee.
There has been a departmental inquiry
into the necessity of improving the meals
of British sailors aboard warshipS by add
ing a supper between teatime and next
has recommended several important altera-
tions which will bring JOY to the heart OF
Jack" But the future position OF the Brit
ism sailor Is not determined by the extent
and number of his meals. and in the par
lamentary recess the admiralty will have
to consider whether in these times of in
creasing wages the period has not arrived
when sailors below the rank Of petty Off
Ger should be better paid The wages at
present are 1 shilling pence a day for
able seamen. and the result frequently Is
that at the end Of twelve years they leave
the service just at the time when they are
most efficient.
Question of Housing WOrkfngmen.
The housing of the working classes is
likely to occupy a very prominent place In
practical politics for some years to come.
Though the question has been much dis
cussed, no one has yet discovered prac-
teal solution of the problem. For long
time 1t was argued that cheap means of
tisan to find healthy, roomy and cheap
house in which he could live. Experience
in connection with the Central London rail-
way does not confirm this idea. The tube,
il is true has given the worker in central
London an easy and cheap means of travel
to one of the best of the suburbs, but he
does not find the cheap house there. Rents
and the value of property generally have
increased from % to 40 per cent. Leasehold
property which changed hands three years
ago at $500 Is now valued at 1850. Houses
which eighteen months ago let at f40 a
wear now return the landlords EGO. and they
cannot be obtained even at that figure.
With reference to the inquiries which have
been made by the president of the local
government board with regard to the diff
culties experienced by local authorities in
connection with housing the working class
es the suggestion has been made to him
that the replies should be tabulated and
published. Considering that over two hum
bred town councils or other authorities
were consulted, it is most probable that
the replies contain very valuable informa-
ton.
Mr. Redmond Returns to Parliament.
Mr. William Redmond returned last night
to parliament, after a weeks suspension,
Joyous and ready to thank the speaker for
ruling him out. On the night Of his suspen-
SIGN he left Palace yard along with another
suspended member. Mr.. Patrick O'Brien,