At last the Prince of Wales has thought fit to give a hint to our French neighbours which I should think they will find it to their advantage to "make a note of" (as our old friend Capt. Cuttle would say). As the weeks go by the language of their Press towards us, especially when the: have cause to mention the name of Her Majesty, becomes more and more offend in'speaking of the boxes of chocolate which she is sending out asa Christmas j gift to the troops they described them as being mate of mud, the mud of England's treacheries and iniquities and perfidies, hardened with blood, the blood of all those who have fallen already for the most [odious of causes, of those who died at Glencoe, at Dundee, at Colenso, and at Estcourt, for the villarly of Chamberlain and the humiliation of England." Could anything be more. revolting and yet there is far more, as this is but_an extract from one paper ("La Libre Parole") and all the papers teem with like expressions of hatred. The hint from the Prince of Wales, that unless these scurrilous attacks cease he will take no active interest in the forthcoming Paris exhibition, but will only perform such duties as the most formal etiquette requires, should act a wholesome warning; it seems likewise probable, although I believe the matter is not yet definitely settled, hat Bordighera instead of Cimiez may see the Queen next spring. The mere {rumour has dismayed the inhabitants of the Riviera very considerably; should it end in fact they will indeed be sad and sorry when it is too late. to his Grandmother seems to be passing off most successfully, so far as we can tell not even a tiny cloud -has arisen to ruffle his Majesty's temper. Owing to the death of Lady Salisbury which we all deplore, and to the indisposition of the Premier who is suffering from influenza, I suppose much in the way of conference that was to have taken place has been unavoidably abandoned, but of shooting there hus been no end, the pheasants and poor bunnies will have cause to remember the Imperial visit, as some hundreds of them are no more. To-day a flying visit is being paid by the Emperor and Empress to Blenheim where they lunch with the Duke and Duchess of Marlborouzh. To-morrow they Bien of Wales and the visit is to last 0 to Sandringham to visit the Prince and
until Tuesday, a day longer than was at first anticipated. Lady Salisbury's funeral takes place to-morrow.
IN THE THEATRICAL WORLD, the pening of Wyndham's seems to have eclipsed every thing else, It is a charming theatre, a little larger than the Criterion and far better planned, as there are no uncomfortable pillars to obstruct one's view. The decorations are charming. Thanks to the courtesy of Mr. Henderson (Mfr. Wyndham's Manager) I was allowed to go over the house before it was opened and I was delighted with the decorations; they are mainly gold and white and polo blue inside the house, but for the staircases, vrstibules, and central hall the predominating colour made use of is old Yeso. The carpets are lovely, very thick velvet pile, a groundwork of dull pink and conventional pattern of roves running over it. There is a lift to the top floor—an unheard-of boon at theatre! altogether it is quite the best appointed and most* luxurious theatre in London, and I should say it will be the most popular, as there are not two Wyndhams in the world, We seem to. be in rather a transition state with regard to plays. The problem period has nearly expired and people are inquiring what is to take its place? I am told the next phase will be a religious one, owing possibly to the immense success of The Sign of the Cross. The Christian has, however, proved a signal failure and is shortly to be withdrawn, but two new pieces have been read and if actors can be found courageous enor ake them up we may see them during the early part of next year. Both are founded on well-known books. One, Lew Wallace's Ben Hur, and the other In His steps, or what would Jesus do? by Sewell the American writer. Ben Hur will be an enormously long play as it has no less than six acts and a stupendous number of characters. I hear the great feature is to be the chariot race scene. In His Steps is said to be strikingly original, in which it will only resemble the book, which was to my mind too original alto, sonally I don't think the new phase bea pleasant one, but then, I don't like religion on the stage at "riy time.
24th November.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.