New-York tribune., 1907-10-08

he will take out his bride TO Bangkok She fs a
very charming and clever woman who nursed her
mother with the utmost devotion through the lonx
and trying illness resulting from the shocking i>s
.urtes received in the fall down the elevator shaft
OF her London house, but who otherwise has rather
held aloof from her mothers set. and has never
been identified Herewith. Perhaps II is her fraf
health that has turned her mind to more serious
things for her tastes run more on the lines of
those of her future husband of his mother and
of his sister Lady Plymouth than OF her own pa
rents and she is rarely ever seen at anv OF her
mothers entertainments
While dreamed Of any matrimonial aui-
ance between the two, yet. that 1t is an
nounced. every who knows Ralph and Leila
Paget are united in predicting that 1t will prove a
happy marriage, owing to the many points OF syn-
pathy between the two the bride is lust the kind
OF woman to be vastly interested in the life at
Bangkok. Being gifted with a clever pen she NAV
write an entertaining book Of her experiences there
as doyenne Of the foreign diplomatic corps
OWES COLONIES TO CRUISERS FLEETNESS.
King Edward owes the possession of several of
his transporting dependencies TO the heetness of
British men-of-war in bygone days-a fact which
1t is well to remember in connection with the ef-
forts which are made by the various navies Of the
great nations to secure high powers of speed for
all vessels added to their fleets. Thus. although
Abel Tasman had discovered New Zealand in 1872
and Captain Cook had circumnavigated and visited
the Islands more than hundred years later yet
steps were taken by England formally to annex
the group until 1870 when Captain Hobson, of the
royal navy. happened to learn at Sydney that a
French man-of-war in port was bound for New
Zealand for the purpose of raising the French flag
there and of taking possession Of the islands in the
Of the King of France. Captain HobsOn,
without waiting for instructions. put hurriedy TO
sea. and managed to reach New Zealand just twen-
ty-four hours ahead OF the French cruiser. which
its arrival found the English flag flying and
Great Britain IN possession. To-day New Zealand.
which has Just been promoted from the rank OF a
colony a dominion by royal proclamation. Is the
most prosperous and thriving Of all England's pos
sessions across the sea-"
A similar affair took place in connection with
the island OF Perrin in 1857. French cruiser was
IN port at Alden. and its officers were being most
Hospitality entertained by the Governor at ban
quet. followed by a dance During the course Of
the evening one of the French officers. whose
tongue had presumably been loOsened by good
cheer. happened to reveal the fact that sailing
next day they bound for the island Of Perrin.
situated only few hours distant and command
ing the southern entrance to the Red Sea. The
news was quietly communicated 10 the Governor.
who acted with decision and prOmptitude, with
out waiting for instructions from home. Long be-
fore daybreak-before, indeed. his French
guests had left his hospitable roof-a couple Of
British gunboats had quietly stolen out Of the
harbor and had steamed off at top speed to Perrin
When the French cruiser arrived the following
afternoon TO hoist the French flag the island
its officers found the English already in possession.
the English colors luttering from mast which
had been hastily erected the highest point of
the island while the English officers who blandly
welcomed them and invited them TO partake Of
refreshments were the very with whom they
had spent the previous evening at Government
House. at Alden
Had II not been for the presence OF mind and de-
cision of character of the Governor Of Alden in
1851 France instead of England would to-day
command the southern entrance Of the Red Sea
and the control of Egypt and Of the Suez Canal.
nay even the possessions OF Cyprus. Malta and
Gibraltar would be useless so far as the mastery
OF the route 10 India is concerned. for the guns
and defences on the island OF Perrin so power
ful and the strait that no hostile craft
could get past the island in time OF war.
MARQUISE DE FONTENOY.