New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-25


/ a poor army officer, unable to afford.
and which he received in Paris. where he be-
pupil of the celebrated Alard at the Con-
servatOire. 1t from Queen Isabella, TOO, that
Sarasate received his Stradvarius violin. on which
he has played more frequently than on any other
instrument during his musical career, and which at
his death is to become the property Of the spanish
government by the terms of his Will Serasate was
by the only who was similarly In
debted TO Queen Isabea's generosity for his sue
in life But doubt If there has been any one
who showed more profound gratitude or who has
done credit to her enlightened patronage
II seems that after all Lord Curzon is to return
TO India at the end of his holidays for further
term VIceroy-that IS. provided the present ad-
ministration remains in Office. Indeed, douDt
even whether n Liberal Cabinet would be Wiling
TO the responsibility Of Withholding from
him renewal Of his term in View of the TACT that
the Ameer of Afghanistan has promised TO pay MN
state visit Calcutta in September and to avah
himself Of the opportunity to make tour OF the
principal cities of India.
So much depends upon the friendship ana loyalty
OF the ruler of Afghanistan, whom Russia is con-
stantly endeavoring to ean from his British lean
ngs that the British government, no matter what
party happened to be in power, would he unwhlng
do anything that might interfere In the slightest
with the success of this visit OF the Ameer. which
has been brought about wholly through the IN
huence OF Lord Curzon, a personal friend or the
Ameer of many years standing. 1t is doubtful IN
deed whether the Amer could be induced to visit
India Lord Curzon to be replaced at the
present juncture by any other vfceroy.
Emperor Nicholas has, so I hear. addressed both
TO the Kaiser and to the American widow or
Count waldersee his regrets for the failure 10
dispatch any representative OF the Russian court
government and army to attend the obsequies OF
the field marshal who entitled TO this
token OF respect than any other German
general by of the fact that In CHINA
four years ago Russian troops had served under
his orders. 1t may be remembered that the fu-
neral took place at the very moment when the
first news OF the disasters in the Far Orient were
received at ST. Petersburg. and when. owing TO the
departure Of General Kuropatkin for the seat OF
war n good deal of confusion prevailed at the war
Department, where until then he had reigned as
chief.
There Is no doubt however that the Muscovite
Embassy at Berlin remiss in the matter. But
the ambassador. Count Ostem Sacken has been so
successful in winning for his country the moral
support and the good will of Germany in the pres
conflict that he is certain 10 escape the severe
reprimand would otherwise have fallen to his
share learn that Emperor Nicholas wrote an
autograph letter to the countess. who was Miss
Mary Lee of New-York expressing in the warmest
terms his appreciation Of her husband and his
sorrow at his death.
Few win be disposed TO blame Emperor William
for declining to permit mural tablet 20 be set MP
in Metz a memorial OF the fact that Il was the
birthplace OF the French poet Nerlaine. Neither
the latter's debaucheries and pronigate mode OF
life which brought about his premature death. nor
vet the frightrul character Of some Of his most
powerful verses such rs TO commend them
selves to any clean minded man. such h9 the
Kaiser and the nation Of raising monument 10
a poet who had used his genius 70 degrade rather
than 70 elevate inspire his fellow creatures ap-
peared 70 him unnecessary
There e.. however. debt Of gratitude when
the Kaiser and indeed. tho whole OF tn" civilized
~ 70
people nowadays aware. In some way or an
other he happened 20 become one % the principal
dignitaries of tho Commune IN lSi-I think he
held the position Of censor and director ot tho
press-and ne used tho Influence which he thus
possessed over the other chiefs OF the insurEont
funta to prevent them from carrying out their
project or consizning the Cathedral or Notre Dame
~ the Same destruction by nre 10 which they
doomed the Tuileres and so many other or the
public buildings and monuments 81 the French me-
tropols Indeed II is 20 Nerlaine alone that We
owe tho preservation OF that marvellous monu-
rnent Of Gothic architecture known az Notre
Dame the foundation OF which was laid as far
back as in 100 by Pope Alexander III. who had
sought refuge in France at tho time
Cable dispatches announcing the death at the age
Of eirhtv-hve Of Sir Henry Thompson cannot fail
70 evoke memories Of the bitter controversy that
raged for several years after Napoleon IITs demise
IN the subject OF certain circumstances connected
herewith. It was Sir Henry who performed AT
Chisleh1rst the operation upon tho French En-
neror and question has always existed as 10 the
measure I'm which the eminent surgeon was re-
sponsihe for ie fatal issue Sir Henrys friends and
admirers have always claimed that he was in no
sense 10 blame and that the fault lies at tho door
Of Empress Eugtnie and Of THE late Sir William
Gull and there is much IN favor Of this argument
for the opera ton Itself had been most successful In
every respect aud had produced results 50 beneficial
that the Emperor able 20 take his dinner on the
foIlov.inr day and was absolutely free from fever
Indeed his condition such that all apprehen-
sion disappeared, and his son returned TO the MILL
tarv academy at Woolwich.
on the evening Of that day Napoleon felt well
that he absolutely declined take the choral
which had been prescribed for him by Sir William
Quill lie protested that he suffered pain. that
he could sleep without narcotic. and that the dose
which he had taken the previous evening had left
him with a sense OF oppression As he persisted in
| his refusal the Intervention OF Eugene was in
voked and it only on her urgent solicitation,
winding up In percmptory demands. that with mani
fest reluctance he that fatal dose OF choral
which brought him. not alone repose for that
! night but the Sleep eternal
Early on the following morning Sir Henry Thomp-
son and Sir William Gull who were attending his
! ma jesty-one in the capacity of surgeon and the
other in that of physican-a9Deared beside the
Death bed in response to hasty summons and
most violent quarrel took place then and there. Sir
Henry boldly attributing to his colleague and to the
Empress the entire blame for the Emperor's dea tn.
long controversy ensued in the medical press and
| II II was kept Of the daily papers solely
| out of feelings Of consideration for the widowed
| Empress and FOR her orphaned and grief-stricken
| son.
Sir Henry. besides achieving worldwide fame
| a surgeon was likewise celebrated a playwright.
| as a novelist a painter and. above all.
! gourmet His pen the familiar one of
"Oliver PEN his popular play and novel were
I