LONDON TABLE TALK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 16, 20 January 1892, Page 8

LONDON TABLE TALK.

{FROM OUK SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)

London, November 28. Lord Mayor's Show-day Pocking Wet. Like all the other people's holidays this year, Monday last proved wet, and the Lord Mayor's Show perambulated the soddened city in a sea of mud, and amidst; a forest of umbrellas. Even under the most favourablecircumsbances (i.e.,afine day and a champagne luncheon in a comfortable room ou The lino of roube) I am blase of thi3 tawdy function, and yesterday would nob have.walked across the road bo see it. Happening, however, to want a book from a Strand shop, 1 trotbed down bhere aboub four, and to my astonishmenb came right upon the Show, which was jusb then making a belated appearance. A sorrier spectacle than the soaked supers got up as Ancient Druids presented has seldom been witnessed. Chilled to the marrow and weary of waiting though the crowd wore, they roared with laughter. A cheery old Hebrew jusb below the shop window where we stood watching was quite overcome with hilarity, till one of the light-fingered gentry took advantage of his condition to relieve him of his watch, and changed merriment into voluble profanity. This was done so neatly and quickly ono could hardly believe one's eyes. A push, a shove, and when tho old fellow recovered himself bis hair watch-guard was hanging down. The lamentations, execrations, and abuse of the police which followed I leave to imagination.

Mr David Evans, the now Lord Mayor, looks even younger than ho is. On Mon- j day rumbling along in that preposterous vehicle —tho State carriage—he seemed weary and harassed, bub (unless report belies him) bhe young Welshman will make a far litter figure-head for the corporation than Mr Saccharine Sermon-lifter Savory, Cork Election. The crushing defeat of John Redmond, for Cork, which Mr Parnell always believed to be an invincible stronghold of his, completes the rout of bhe litblo band of stalwarts still faithful to tho deceased leader's principles, and makes ib very doubtful whebher they will secure even a single scab ab the general election. The Conservatives cleverly attribute Mr Flavin's success to clerical influence. It will bo strange, thoy say, if this election does not make it clear to the English Nonconformist that Homo K.ulo means Rome Rule, and bhab ib is nob Davibb and Dillon who are bhe real leader? of the Nationalists, bub Archbishop Walsh and Archbishop Croke. There is enough truth in bhis suggestion to make ib extremely unpalatablo to the Radicals. If, indeed, Lord Salisbury were to appeal to the country before Christmas, I believe he would be returned to power triumphantly. The events of tho last few monbhs have greably strengthened the ranks of the Liberal Unionists. The Cork election had alienated many supporters of Home Rule. If it hadn't been for the soldiery and the police, very few of Mr Flavin's supporters would havo dared bo record thoir votes, the city would have been tho scene not merely of brawls and faction fights, bub of something like civil war, and the tale ot killed and wounded would havo been enormous. In Cork the local authorities are an enthusiastic Parnellite Corporation who profess to believe tho Discrowned King was murdered by Dillon, O'Brien and Davibb. A Scandinavian Stead. The famous self - accusation scene in " Tho Silence of Dean Maibland" has been acbually enactod recently ab Sbavanger, in Norway, where Sars Oi'hedal, a puriby professor and preacher and politician Scandinavian Stead) confessed from bhe pulpibto immorality, and implored forgiveness of his congregation. Ib appears to have been a dramatic business. Ofhedal asked those who forgave him to stand up. Every soul arose. Then' ho cash off his clerical attire and recommenced life, as he said, "a lowly'penitent." Ophodal's selfaccusation was not wholly voluntary. His Bishop found oub "the apostle of public morality's "faux pas, and requested _him bo resign. Then bhe man hit on the idea of a public confession and expiation. The Bishop of Carlisle. The Bishop of Carlisle died very suddenly whilst on a visib to tho Archbishop of Yoik ab Bishopsthorpe. Ho was taken ill uti dinner on Tuesday evening, and succumbed on Thursday. Dr. Harvey Goodwin was be3b known bo bhe general public as a brilliant writer on seienbilic discoveries and their reconcilement with religion. Whilst accepting the causes assigned by Darwin for the progressive character of naburo, bhe Bishop held there were deeper causes at work, without which nabural solccbion and bhe sbruggle for exist-' ence would be found ineffectual.