Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

16 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

Newyddion
Dyfynnu
Rhannu

This week has witnessod the opening of the sixty-second year of Queen Victoria's reign, and, although it had no special celebration in London beyond the firing of the uSual salutes, the unprecedented event has not failed to arouse much attention. It is in these days almost a commonplaco to obser.ve~ -that hor Majesty has now long out-distanewl iTt length of reign all her predecessors on the throne. Those who have nearest approached her in tliift respect have been her grandfather, George III., who reigned fifty-nine years àuda little over tbreemgnths; Henry IIIwhose reign lasted j u.st over fifty-six years; Edward III., who occupied the throne for fifty years and about five months: and Elizabeth, who ruled the kingdom^.forty: four" years and four months. But not one of ;the- could equal her present Majesty in the Ifustakiedj loyalty and substantial prosperity lof Jler o)iJe. Edward IH. and Elizahetirwowld come nearest in these, respects, but even -their nearest was far off. After the wontlerful mani- festation of popular affection throughout the Empire which marked the celebration of the Diamond Jubilee a twelvemonth since, there did not need special manifestation to prove the continued existence of the sentiment; but it must hava been deeply gratifying to her Majesty, as well as to every member of the Royal Huu.s*sr~t« have received tho assurances which have been manifested this wek oi tho d«t«p ntfectiaw io which the Tliroiie, aniv iti occupant are held. Despite the statements which- are continually being made as to- the depression of busirws. I the Bar, a number of fresh calls to the- wear- ing of wig and gown were this week made at the four Inns of Court. It is specially interesting to note that on this occasion Lincoln's Inn took the ptu even of the fashionable Inner Xemplo, which woult}, f>eerr) t6 indicate that equity is once more "looking up." Gray's-inn as usual comes in a bad fourth in point of numbors, and yet the hard- working student who- without much money or solicitor's influence wishes to make his way at the bar may do much worse than enter at the Inn which has Francis Bacon as its most-dis- tinguished member. A distinct proportion of the yoiing iniii who this wef3k Were called have of course 110 idea of making their living by advocacy. Some desire only the cachet which attaches to being at the bar others have in mind the many official posi- tions which can be tleld only by barristers-at- law; but those who desire to, practice will fuld, if they have the requisite talent, that there is ample room for skill and industry in the Courts of Law and Assize. AJmost immediately after the suddep death of Sir Edward Burne-Jones it was suggested that there should ba arranged at the earliest practicable date a representative exhibition of his greatest pictures. How far this is practicable remains to be seen, but there can be no doubt that if such an exhibition took place it would remove the last lingering trace of prejudice which continues to exist in some quarters against Burne Jones's art. That prejudice will never entirely disappear if the public generally see his pictures only through the mediuni of engraving or photogravure, for Burne Jones is to be enjoyed at his highest not as a draughts- man, but as a colourist. It is easy enough to satirize the angularities of his figures and to insist that his lanky-limbed creations are- unuttractrve. But no one could view such a series of- paintings sis that with which Burne Jones illustrated The Legend of the Briar. Rose" without feel- ing jbhat ao greater master of colour has "beert leen among the British artists of our age than the great one who has just departed. The English people are notoriously faithful to their old favourites, and it ia never their fault, but only through their lack of knowledge, if one who has served them really well comes to want in the end. For that reason there should be little doubt as to the success which will attend the appeal issued under distinguished auspices for a national testimonial to Mr. Sims Reeves. "Through great misfortunes," that ap- peal states, he has been bereft of his well-earned competence, and now, after battling bravely against his difficulties,^ he is compelled by advancing years to relinquish the struggle." It is therefore proposed, as a tribute to the life- long services which he has rendered British Ciusical art, to raise funds in the way of a national testimonial by which his lot may be bettered. The committee which has set itself to this task includes not only such leaders of society as the Duke of Westminster, the Duke of Rutland, the Duke of Portland, ind Lord Russell of Killowen, but such dis- tinguished musicians as Sir Arthur Sullivan, Sir Hubert Parry, Sir Alexander Mackenzie, tnd Mr. Santley; and these names in them- telves sufficiently attest the genuine nature of the appeal. Mr. Sims Reeves has won a unique position in our musical history, and although •to our rising generation he is but a memory those among us who had the privilege of hearing him in his prime will feel relieved to know that his last days will not be clouded by 'want. Thackeray, in one of his novels, expressed wonder as to whether the next generation of Englishmen would celebrate Waterloo Day." At the time he wrote the Duke of Wellington was still alive to give his annual Waterloo dinner at Apsley House to the officers who had fought with him on that fateful day which de- cided the destinies olEurope, but now officers and men alike have all vanished into the land of shadows, and Waterloo Day is no longer a popular event. There is one man in Europe, however, whose memory upon any point affect- ing warfare is remarkably keen, and that man is the German Emperor, who celebrated the occasion this year by presenting to the 1st Royal Dragoons, of which regiment he is honorary colonel, a magnificent wreath in- tended for the adornment of its standard. The emblem is composed of golden laurel leaves interspersed with golden blooms and fruits set off with gold-edged ribbons of the regimental scarlet. Upon one end of these ribbons is the Imperial W," surmounted by a golden crown, and upon the other are the words Waterloo, June 18, 1815," it being explained that in forwarding this gift the Kaiser was animated by the desire to testify how deeply he prizes the Jvf ^ieh was newly cemented when he received the honorary colonelcy, and which for a long number of years had existed between the British and Prussian armies. There has been much talk in the course of this week not only in Parliament and in the Press, but in the conference room, concerning the condition of the British navy. This, of course, is not the place to deal with the con- troversial side of the discussion; but it may be taken as a sign of the detailed attention which is just now being given to the matter, that the House of Lords has been invited to consider the adequacy, or otherwise, of the sirens and steam whistles on her Majesty's ships, It is evidently expected that just as a French Minister of War could once boast (though, as it happened, with lamentably insufficient reason) that everything was ready for conflict down to the last button on the soldiers' gaiters, so the First Lord of the Admiralty is expected to be able to assure us that every steam whistle in the fleet is capable of being instantly put in full blast. The fact is we are passing just now through a cold fit in regard to the navy, which was almost inevitable rfter the hot fit which followed upon the splen- did Naval Review at ST ithead a year ago. When the Queen lay s, as she shortly intends to do, the foundation stone of the new museum buildings at South Kensington, it is understood that the time-honoured name, the "South Kensington MuBeumf* wih--give pbme-to the "Victortaand AJftfrt Muse^m-l JEfefo, how- ever, will be the least of the changes which the ceremony will embody, for the new buildings will be so very considerable an improvement upon the old that scarcely any valid companion will be pos- sible between them. It is being suggested that the whole new front of the South Kensington Museum should be devoted to the purposes of art, but that part of the east wing to brected may serve as an extension of the Royal College of Science, which cannot well be moved from its present site, to apposition across the Exhibition- road, where the rest of the scientific departments are housed. This is only one of the sugges- tions now being considered by the resgpngifoje authorities, which may bear valuable fruit. R.

..,".NEWS NOTES. , e ,-i's:…

DEATH OF SIR E. BURNE-JONES.

-....>{.-'f'' ; .SWEARING…

THE GERMAN ON THE SPOT.

[No title]

DANGERS OF THE SWIMMING BATH.

FATAL BOATING ACCIDENT.

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THE HOLY SHROUD.

BRITISH REINFORCEMENTS FOR…

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-AMEKICA AM) SI'AIX.

PRINCE RANJITSINHJI AS CRITIC.

[No title]

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