e long theatrical
preparation which the Sultan makes his visitors pass through before they
reach the presence.

The writer we have quoted from thus sums up the character of the Sultan:

"He is audacious and a coward, a dreamer and a man of business, a miser
and a prodigal, a loving father and a sanguinary monster. In one day he
condemned a nation to be slaughtered, signed a decree about decorating
some ladies, and speculated in stocks, all with the same peaceful and
contented manner."

* * * * *

There is a report in South Africa that Dr. Jameson, the leader of the
Transvaal Kid, will run for a seat in the Cape Town Assembly at the next
election, and that the chances are that he will be elected by a large
majority.

The Boers are likely to have more trouble with such a firebrand as that
helping to direct the affairs of a neighboring state.

At the same time the news comes that Mr. Cecil Rhodes, the man who is
accused of having planned the raid, is seriously ill in his home in Cape
Town, and not expected to live.

* * * * *

The Government of Siam has looked into the matter of the assault on
Vice-Consul Kellet, and has decided to express regret to our Government
that the trouble occurred.

We told you about this affair last spring. Vice-Consul Kellet went into
the interior of Siam to settle the estate of Mr. Cheek, an American who
had died in Siam, and who had left directions that Mr. Kellet was to
arrange his affairs for him.

While in the performance of this duty, Mr. Kellet was attacked and
beaten by Siamese soldiers.

One of our gunboats, the _Raleigh_, was sent out to Bangkok to
investigate the matter, and to protect the interests of our citizens
there.

At the time the trouble occurred, the then Secretary of State, Mr.
Olney, thought that perhaps Mr. Kellet had been over-hasty, and the
soldiers were not to blame.

The message from Bangkok which now reaches us shows that Mr. Olney was
wrong.

The Siamese Government has decided that the soldiers were in the wrong,
and a lieutenant and four privates who took part in the affair have been
severely reprimanded, and suspended from their regiments without pay for
several months.

The Siamese Government has offered to make the fullest amends for the
outrage, and Consul-General Barret, in his despatches, says that Mr.
Kellet's conduct throughout was all that could be desired.

The commission