The Washington times., 1905-09-03
FRANCE BECOMES
BR|TA|N'S FRIEND
Meeting of Naval Forces
Significant.
TOLST0Y ON JOURNALISM
Refuses to Read Newspapers Because
They Are Supplanting Standard
Literature in Homes.
T0LsToY ON JOURNALISM


French and English naval forces has
been an historic event. 1t has been the
modern Field of the Cloth of Gold. The
banquet which was given in Westmin-
ster Hall was one OF the most pic
turesque and impressive ceremonies. to
my mind. that has taken place for a
long time.
There is certainly no building in
France which entirely corresponds with
that great gallery of fame. There the
statues of England's greatest states
men stand in long procession. and. as
the speaker OF the house of commons
aptiy said. 1T was built by one OF the
Norman kings 500 years ago. and has
witnessed many sights Intimately con-
nected with the history OF our coun-
try"
[ could not but remember that the
last time 1 saw a great function in
Westminster Hall IL was a solemn sight,
for In the center of the vast building
lay the casket in which rested the
mortal remains OF William Gladstone.
and never shall 1 forget the impressive
ness of the scene when thousands and
thousands OF working people filed SILENT
~ past the earthly remains OK one who
had been their truest friend.
At the banquet in honor of our French
visitors everything spoke of festivity-
Great golden bowls OF crimson and
cream roses were heaped at intervals
along the tables. barron OF beef.
Engiand's traditional fare. lay on a sort
Of improvised altar.
Brilliant Scene.
The oficial robes of the lord mayor.
the scarlet and gold of officers detailed
for special service, and the blue and
gold Of the French uniform added
jubilant brilliancy to the scene. and
assembled there was almost every man
whose name Is famous here today in
statesmanship or In war.
The lord chancellor set the keynote
of the entertainment when he said that
the great hall. built for the English
legislature, had been erected by a king
who connected the races both of the
French and Of the English. for both
nations shared common ancestry.
The reign of mutual suspicion and
Misrepresentation" he said. was over.
and In this meeting might clearly be
seen the seed and germ OF a great and
lasting friendship between the two
countries -s-.,.
The lord chancellor spoke in French.
but although fluent. his accent left a
good deal to be desired
Balfour's Eloquence.
unquestionably the speech of the day
was Mr.. Balfours. The tone was fine
when he said:
I'VE politicians live. and necessarily
live, in an atmosphere of party poll
tics. IL Britons know anything. they
know how to forget upon occasion their
party differences. and this is one OF
the occasions upon which a great nation
speaks with single voice"
But what was the real significance OF
the scene across which the broad slant
ing shafts of light lit the uniform OF
war? Peace was brooding over the vast
hall and the brilliant banquet, for the
nearer the nations draw one TO another
the more harmonious are their relations
The truer the sense OF brotherhood, the
further the danger of war.
And so I believe that Waterloo for
gotten, and the long enmity of the year,
buried, this entente cordiale has in il
the earnest not only of an alliance
with France, but a truer understanding
OF the possibilities of lasting friendship
between all the civilized nations of tn.
world.
Hates Newspapers.
The great anti-war agitator, Coun
Tolstoy, has, however, another enem,
which he deems next in importance I,
miiitarism. but one which is less known
10 the world. and that is his antagonisu
TO newspapers
He has revolted AT the way IN which
e. f~. 1z-
literature for Journalism, and he hal
replaced the reading OF the daily journa
by Marcus Aurelius. Epictetus. Schop
enhauer, Kant. and Rusl1in-
II Is quite true that the reading o
newspapers may induce frivolity. but a
the same time we must allow that tn
man who never reads OF knows what 4
the current topic Of the hour Is apt Z
become somewhat dull and out OF har
mony with his time
have been told on good authorit
that the reason why the Russian gov
erument is so lenient toward Coun
9olstoy 10 not only because they dar
not touch a hair OF the head of on
whose name Is a household word 1
every nation, but because he inform
himself so little as to what is the att
tude OF the Russian government. an
knows so little about daily polite
even in these troubious times. an
therefore he is considered not actiyel
narnful.
Another Airship.
I was standing the other day In a f'e
watching the progress Of some buiidin
v1aon I heard the sound of a motor
tioueht, of course. 1t must be in II
road On the other side of the hedg
and asked some one 10 go and look. bi
fhere was no car. and still the stranf
pszfFing continued as OF some invisible al
tomobile.
suddenly looked up into the summe
sky and there i saw q long white boa
an immense distance In the air. and
Immediately realized that this was Bal
ton Rawson's airship sailing away frol
the Alexandra Palace on an hours tr.;
trip.
IT looked in the sky like large whit
boat. but II II really a cylinder shape
balloon. and underneath 1t there wei
come fran ropes. but the distance wa
too great to descry what. these were.
II was. however. Of course Q afte
ward learned. the car In which the pa.
ennxers were seated. II had none I