New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-28
FROM FOREIGN CAPITALS.
AFFAIRS IN LONDON.
THO Mysteries of the Sea-Staleness
of Parliament.
CsDeoial by French Cable TO The Tribune,
Copyright 1906. By The Tribune Association,

CsDeoial By French csh!s TO The Tribunel
Copyright 1906. By The Tribune Assooataono
rondon, May 1.-Two mysteries Of the sea
S,v46e public attention-the fate OF the Baltic
feet and the chances OF the yachts in rnid-At-
,sntic Theories are vaIueiess In either case
and startling headlines Go not impose upon
,-asulity. The two adnnirels are equally sue
ossstul n ooncealing their rnsnouvres and in
hsming the energies OF the press The Yacht
-aoe offers free field for enterprise. and costly
sr-sugemsnts have been made for reporting the
sr7iysls of The Lizard by wireless kilograms
f-on steam yachts. There Is genuine public IN
ts-est n the result OF the race since it IS recog
u.yss Tnanlier and more sportsmanlike at
ts,- than the contests between expensive racing
nssehines OF Sandy Hook. The newspapers
VITA Characteristic caution, do not appear over
interested in the race when the chances Of the
oanpertors unknown, but loud viii be the
razns OF rejoicing If the British flag comes in
sbesd The public welcomes maritime diversion
xhen politics are not only dull but discreditable
The House OF Commons. after Wild debauch
Of excitement, is now on its best behavior, but
the members OF both parties frankly admit that
the tone OF public life has fallen and that the
u-sstige o. the dignifed mother OF Parlisments
has been lowered by a disgraceful scene. Mr..
5slfour comes out OF the affair with his usual
ceverness, escaping on small issue OF tactical
procedure responsibility for what was designed
Is ct attack upon his personal honor. The OPP
pos!tion. after assuming that 1.-THE Daily Tele-
graphs" defence OF pledge breaking Of
AciaIy inspired. and bowling down Mr.. Lyttel-
Ton, VII now be compelled TO listen TO him when
The futile vote OF censurs Is debated and the
Prime Minister viii come I'D smiling toward
midnight for fine display OF dialecdcs.
irrtability on both sides. While partisans will
continue TO describe the Prime Minister and Mr..
Chamberlain as treacherous partners bent upon
betraying each other. the two statesmen VIII go
On playing the game. even If IT has ceased to
interest The public.
The staIeness Of Parliament is shown when
ever South African policies are discussed The
fortunes OF the empire hung not long ago upon
the conquest Of the Beers. and now nobody
seems 10 care what happens in South Africa.
The British apathy IS remarkable. since there
are many signs that things are not going well
r. that quarter. The mining business is i'm
proving, with supplies OF Indian labor. but re-
cent travellers agree that gulf is opening be-
tween those living by the land. whether British
or Dutch and those prohting by the mines, and
that there is q strong trend toward separation
from the empire and even toward republican
ism Not e hint is dropped IN Parliament OF
increasing the DECENTRALIZATION OF the coloniafs
and the Dutch. and the general disafection with
the rule q the mine owners. Lord SeIborne Is
expected TO keep the races ana the colonies to-
gether. and lstless public, stiu oveTtaxed for
the Boer war does not wish to be reminded IN
necessarily Of what Is going on In British Africa
There have been exaggerated reports IN the
Ev1ar fTS ga rlUulclD2l
faddists 81 Understood and other English
towns. The only new feature Is al attempt by
the health authorities to arouse public interest
IN the alarming statistics OF infant mortality,
and such action es has been sanctioned is eau
tioUs and restricted in SCOPE. The only dis
tinctivs note Of social reform has been struck
by Sir Oliver Lodge IN remarkable address be-
fore the University College. Apart from urging
radical changes IN dealing with criminals and
pauperz, he suggested modification IN the law
OF Inheritance. 50 that It should be impossible
for people 70 live luxuriously without doing e
Etroke Of work He contsnded that the rich
should have leisure. but should not be COM
pIetely idle on pain Of starvation or disciplinary
drill in prison. These are hard sayings for smart
people at q time when the rock crystal Gideron
is auctioned of at Christies for 1880 guineas
ard when q season Of exceptional brilEanos Is
its height.
A week OF remarkable gayety has been brought
70 2 close by q levee at St James's, the return
Of the Queen and her daughters from the Medi-
terranean and the Prime Minister'S second party.
-Four duchesses have been selling at stands In
the Westminster Hospital bazaars in the Deans
yard, swarm OF men in knee breeches have
been seen ST Princess Henry OF Batten-
berg's party at Kensington Palace. and there
have been as many as a dozen dances at great
houses. The opera ct Covent Garden has never
been more brilliant on the social side and the
vigorous competition from the beautiful Waldorf
Theatre has helped rather than harmed it. The
theatres are playing largely to American tour
lists Sir Henry Irving is acting with undinlin-
iEhed power IN The Merchant OF Venice"
Nj Carter. as charge d'anairss Of the Amer
lean Embassy IS completing the arrangements
for The reception Of the incoming Ambassador
ct Dorchester House. with a STAFF Of servants
which has virtually been taken over Lord
LarsdOwne Will receive Ambassador Reid soon
after his arrival week hence and the King
viii receive him early the following week
Nj Carter has been making engagements for
Nm az many social functions in June and July
including ball at Buckingham Palace for the
King OF Spain and the royal wedding at Wind
bor- Acceptances have been received from
many distinguished men for Mr.. Reds first
Choate's friends will have a final muster at
Euston station Tuesday, when he starts for
Liverpool
Dispatches from the Hotel KaiseThof at Bad
Nauheim. state that Secretary Hays health