New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-21
NEWS OF TWO CAPITALS.
AFFAIRS IN LONDON.
Public Apathy in Both Foreign and
Domestic Affairs.
spscsai by French Cable to tn. Tribune,

Copyright 1905. by The Tribune AssocIation1
London May 20-London is settling down to
the full enjoyment Of a brilliant season. con-
WINGED that nothing under the scare heads In
the newspapers should be taken seriously The
battle for the mastery OF the Pacific has been
deferred so long that the skeptics refuse to be-
neve II ever viii come on. and shrewd observers
attach little Importance to the contradictory dis
patches printed about the passage of Formosa
Straits under the full moon. The change Of
command IN the Baltic feet forecasts a new
Trafalgar and the renewal of coaling and re-
citing operations the coast OF Anam. Even
with the rumors OF the greatest sea fight of mod
ern times in the air. Londoners are enjoying the
movement and vivacity in their own pleasure
loving capital. and laughing over stories with
local color, like the discovery OF hidden treasure
at old Kensington and the antics Of the work
nen who mistook gold coins of George III for
brass tokens and talked Of making check chains
for cab horses and pelted one another with
them The neutrality difficulties are recog-
nized serious. but the optimists dismiss them
with the comfortable conclusion that the King
viii keep peace with France in the direst emer-
gsncy, and that the practice OF maritime powers
viii be Strengthened out by an international
conference after the close of the present war.
The pessi1nists cannot bring on a panic in the
Stock Exchange disturb the revels Of smart
society when the public faith in the King as the
cleverest diplomatist IN Europe is mistaken
The German Emperor remains very much alive
but his English detractors are weary OF describ-
ing him as a disturber Of the peace. and are
more inclined to do him justice high minded
sovereign
Public apathy extends from foreign to do
rnestic affairs. The most contradictory accounts
are given Of the relations Of Mr.. Balfour and
Mr. Chamberlain. and their partisans are striv-
ing 70 convince listless public that they are
Intriguing against each other. The two leaders
are tired and exhausted by the anxieties Of po-
uucal life Mr. Balfour shows 1t by bad form
ca the golnng links and Mr.. Chamberlain by
feeble voice in speaking and a tendency TO pro-
erastination when he confers with his lieuten-
ants The truth Will not come out until the
June conferences are held by the Unionists. but
q break between the leaders is not probable and
the government is likely to drift quietly through
the session. The country has clearly lost in
terest In politics, and leaves the Prime Minister
and Mr. Chamberlain to play the game they
IKE. What il wants to know is which yacht will
come In ahead. The menace of general march
Of the unemployed on London is not liked, nor IS
n dreaded Mr. Chamberlain is not likely to
gain ground by making political capital Of it
Mr. BaIfour Is on safer ground when he de-
elares that displays OF force will retard the
passage Of bin on behalf OF the unemployed
Auction sales are one Of TIE minor recrea-
lions Of smart people at the height Of the social
season The collection OF jewels of titled lady
has been sold this week for s125.oo0. A stradi-
verius violin at another sale has brought $3.50
The most amazing prices for Oriental porcelain
have been recorded at Christies. In the dis
persaI Of the famous Louis HUH collection vase
and two beakers. which were sold a few years
ago for 1920, brought 2.7oo guineas and Haw-
thorn pot, which was bought in BARRIERS shop
for u shiIlings pence, commanded $500
guineaS The pictures sold to-day for good
prices included Gainsboroughs portrait Of Mrs.
Vestrio Reynolds portrait OF Garrick and other
works Of English masters When the sale of the
HUH silver. furniture, books and prints is
pleted the collectors original investment will be
exceeded many times. The portrait Of Robert
Burns by Nasmyth is coming under the ham
ner, and Somersby Rectory, Tennyson's birth
place Will also be auctioned off. This Lincoln
Ehre property. which is brought in to the market
by the mortgage. is no longer used a rectory
but remains substantially as it in the poets
early life
The rumors that Ambassador Choate will re-
main in England after the arrival OF his sue
cessor are unfounded. Their ships will pass
each other On the Atlantic. Mr.. Choate's final
function at the unwilling OF the Harvard win
dow at St Saviour's, Southwark. will be larger
affair than originally planned. The Lady Chapel
Will be filed with invited guests. including rep
resentatives Of Oxford, Cambridge, London and
other universities. The memorial window, al
ready complete in the small chapel, is beautiful
in design and color. It needs more light for the
srmorial episodes and the sombre background of
LEAKAGE but the white angels in the lower panels
are lovely, and the figures Of ST. John and the
Saviour in the baptism scene are well designed
by Mr.. La Fargo.
The society paragraphers, after assigning
various houses to the incoming Ambassador,
Carter at the embassy discreeuy awaits the
Signing Of the agreement before officially con-
hrning the reports, but the main points were
settled several weeks ago and the small details
Will be arranged before Mr.. Reds arrival, so
that he can drive from the station to his resi-
dence. Captain Holford lent Dorchester House
70 the King for the entertainment Of Prince
Henry at the Coronation period, but has refused
TO let it TO South African fnanciers. 1t is n
storehouse OF art and has a commanding posi-
ton in Park Lane. with approaches and drive
from Deanery-st covered with broken red stone
London is In a mad whirl of gayety The
Kings levee al St James's was unusually brill
liant and members OF the royal family are
seen daily at charity functions and nightly at
tbs opera and parties. The Countess of Derby
has given the first big ball. with the Duke Of