LONDON CHAT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2087, 22 February 1894, Page 50

LONDON CHAT.

(Fiiom Our Special Correspondent.) 30 and 31 Fleet street, London, December 22.

Nothing is to be seen or heard just now but preparations for Christmas. The London shops will make a brave show this year, and reckon upon doing an exceptionally brisk trade in spite of the dull times of which business people generally — indeed almost universally — have been complaining during the year which is now so near its close.

I believe the old idea that " a green Yule makes a fat churchyard " has long been exploded. I hope so at anyrate. For we are certainly going to have a "green Yule" this time. Glorious spring-like weather has been experienced for some time, and there seems every probability that ib will lasb ab least over Christmas.

It is very pleasant, and yeb I cannot help thinking that some of the few New Zealanders who are in London this Christmas are just a wee bit disappointed. They want to know where are the pea-soup fogs, the bitter frosts, the piercing east winds, the dreary snow and slush which they were led to expect. Assuredly they are not here And Ido think that much of this disappointment is due to inability to crow over poor old England, and to bell with exultant glee how infinitely superior an article ia the Now Zealand winter. It is a glorious thing undoubtedly, but nothing could beat this English winter so far as it has gone. I suspect that we New Zealanders have a touch of the Yankee about us, and like as much to have "our country" well "cracked up" as did Martin Chuzzlewit's friends in Eden.

One most pleasing feature of tho coming season is the vast preparation that is being made to render it as cheerful as may be to the largest possible number of people, and above all to those in whose normal lives there is sadly little of brightness or joy. Many poor creatures will have a good warm, nourishing dinner for once, and will have the equally rare experience of being surrounded by an atmosphere of kindness and interest and consideration. There is that great good about at all events a large section of Londoners, that they do really try to help their fellow creatures. People may revile the modern Babylon and its inhabitants, and, in some instances, no doubt with justice. There are too many oareless and selfish and inconsiderate Londoners of course ; yet there is a large and, I believe, in oreasing proportion of its immense population who are nob wholly given over to the " cult " of self, and who sbrive earnestly to do something toward the alleviation of London's misery. But it is a vast gulf that has to bo sounded. The usual Christmas Eve exodus from the metropolis will take place to-morrow. All the railway companies are girding up their loins for the great strain on their carrying resources, which resources the virtual certainly of flue weather will cause to be taxed to the utmost. Fog or snow would heavily dtbeount the anticipated rush of traffic, but with the weather of spring time movable London will assuredly migrate countrywards. Mrs Mackay, the wife of the Silver King, is in domestic trouble. Her daughter by her iir.t marriage became a Roman princess, having married into the great house of Colonna. She now seeks relief in the Divorce Court. Her husband is a gambler, it seems. Her dot from her step-father was large, but a gambler's power of spending is expansive. A friend of mine met the youog lady two summers ago in a London drawing room, and not knowing who she was, thought she was sorqa poor friend of the plump Jiitle Silver Queen, but someqne came up and addressed her as " Your Highness " ! Her Highness was lqw ci stature, and decidedly common-looking. We have no order of merit for distinguished women — we cannot knight them or make them C.B.'s. But in France they 4° things fetter : such women have a. special permit to wea.r trousers, but for this privilege they must pay a yearly tax of from 40a to 50s. Only six ladies have been so entitled — Rosa Bonhenr, Georges Sand, Madame Dieulafoy, Madame Foucaqlt (the arcbasologist), and twq sculptors, fijeadames Fourreau and Jeannette.

Sir Edward Levy-Liwson, the eminent Jew proprietor qf the •< Largest Circulation in the World," has attained one objeot of hi* ambi-tiou-^he has received the Prinoe of Wales as bis guest in his own house. Another ambition is said to be a peerage ; and if the Prince comes to the Throne during Bir E. Levy-Law^on'a lifetime he will get it ; and then may net Sir Augustus Harris, too ? Sir Andrew Clark has left personalty of over £200,000, Shortly before his death h© lost £60,000 in the failure of an Australian bank, and this affected him flo keenly that insooytfa' set in, only to b^e relieved by the sleep of death,

Pxincesq iienry of Heiss, the lovely daughter of a lovely mother, Mrs Cornwallis West, dresses in a startling and effective style. At Miss Grant's marriage to Lord Essex the other

day she wore a gorgeous gown of black satin to her knees, whence descended a flounced blue velvet, draped in costly point d'Alenc,on. She also wore a picture hat of blue velvet, with plumes and aigrette* The men at the Essex-Grant wedding were of a bold society mixture— very aristocrat of aristocrat and very Yank of Yank. This would account for some of the vivid ties worn. Oae fair youngster wore a glowing pink satin tie with a blue shirt, another a vivid green silk tie shot with red and gold, and one gentleman came in a blazing scarlet waistcoat and blue scarf with a diamond pin. There is no doubt of it, men are breaking out ia colours ; the epidemic is spreading. A well-known M.F.H. was recently married in one of the Home counties, and in honour of his calling the wedding was emblazoned in the colours of the hunt. The b.ide was dressed in a riding habit, with vest in the hunt colours, a " crop " in her hand, a smart riding hat on her head. The bridesmaids were in conventional silk and muslin, with hunt accessories and colours. The going-away dress was a covert skirt and coat, and a plumed hat. This sort of thing is becoming fashionable. A cricket hero, a lawn tennis champion, a golf expert, a successful yachtsman and rower — all are emphasised on their wedding day in suitable emblems and colours. The great feature of winter fashion is the pelisse — not the true Polish original, severe in form and unadorned save by far, bub a highly ornate garment with the Polish garment as a base in form only. At a recent wedding one grande dame wore a pelisse of pink satin lined with pale green moir6, trimmed with sable and old lace, a high collar at the back, with an over one of fur. Lady Randolph Churchill wore one of blue velvet and sables, with diamond ornaments. " The Black Catastrophe," by Dr Todhunter, brought out at the Independent Theatre recently, aftar all the laudations of the press, turns out to be only a succes d'estime. A member of the theatrical profession read the play, or rather Dr Todhunter read it to him, and he thought it a little smart at times, a little interesting in parts, and wholly impossible. We shall here no more of the one day's wonder. It is whispered, and the whisper becomes louder, that next May will see a May-blossom in York House. But I think I have hinted this before. Begging is a recognised industry ; it has rights of way, buys and sells good positions, and rises often to the dignity of an art. In Paris it has its organ — a periodical which deals exclusively with mendicauts, their aims, and interests. Its name Le Journal dcs Mendiants. It is well managed, but does not touch on either politics or literature. Its advertisements are unique. •• To-morrow at noon the funeral services of a very wealthy man will be held at the Madeleine." "At 1 o'clock a fashionable wedding at the Trinite" Church." " Wanted, a blind man to play the flute." "Wanted, to epgage a criple for a seaside retreat; good references and a small deposit required." At the seaside hotel proprietors and lodging-house keepers hire professional beggars, who have to give their employers half what they take. It is constantly stated that the Queen bo disapproves ladies smoking, that she will not allow a woman to smoke a cigarette in her presence. I doubt it. I happened to see two handsome cigarette cases in silver — the one with the royal V.R. we are all so familiar with— ready for despatoh. I admired the finish, and was told that they were to the order of the Princess Louise — the one for herself, the other she intended as a Christmas gift for her august mother ! Her Majesty presented Mr Bancroft with a gold cigar case, and a ruby and diamond brooch to hii charming wife, in recognition of the enjoyment she derived from "Diplomacy," which was acted at Balmoral this autumn. Authors are often the very opposite to their books — or, at anyrate, the very opposite to their readers' conception of them. Mrs Alexander — whose real name is Hirton — is stout and a little more than ;elderly, with a fine open countenance, well marked aristocratic features, and a manner suggestive of kindness and humour. She ia Irish, and has all her country's wit and good humour; bub she oan be sarcastic, and she hates a sham. She writes her novels in the bosom of her family, their conversation not disturbing her at all. Mrs Campbell Praed, who, as Mibs Murray Prior, claims Queensland as her native land, composes all her novels on her typewriting machine. She demands utter quiet and seclusion for her work, being of a highly nervous temperament. She also writes with wonderful facility. Mrs Praed spends the severe English winters in the Riviera, aud society in the season sees very little of her. She is about 40 years of age, is tall, and very gracefully distinguished looking. Unlike Mrs Alexander, she has little or no sense of humour. Mrs Lynn Linton, so successful as a social essay writer of a pungent and remorseless character, has only achieved^ a mod.era.te posit tion in the " realms of fiction."' Mrs Linton lives in high latitudes, in, the top flit of Queen, Aane't) Mansions, to reach which two lifts a.re required. From her pleasant drawing room the whole of London can be viewed, with its misty horizon. And not a sound of jarring quality reaches the ear ; only the sonorous, palpitating hum of mighty London. ' Rider Haggard dictates his novels at white heat to his friend and amanuensis, Miss Hirton — a daughter of Mrs Alexander. He walks up, and down the room while composing, and iiji taxes his typist to the uttermost to keep, uj>. with him. From his copyrights h\s income is now considerable. Mrs Walford writes in a cho,rm,\ag studio contrived and partly built for bar by her husband, M,r A,. 8. W-alford, who represents the large proper makers, Messrs Wrigley and Co., of Lancashire. Mrs Walford requires quiet and absorption to write. She has more than once gone to a quiet seaside place by herself for a week to start a new b.ook. She baa seven children, and. l^ves in a beautiful old country m.anßjan in E.ss.ex.. ajrEfardy o^nnofc write original matter within even a suspicion of the roar of London. Bub he is a frequent visitor to the British Museum, where he makes extensive notes for work in his native Dorsetshire. In that quiet county the oouqfcry folks are more that ordinarily narrow and conventional — likewise bucolic. They did not relish their compatriot settling in their sacred precincts and using them as tyjjca. It was a liberty, a man nob born in the purple had no right to take ; so they tabooed the brilliant writer, and from thoir' mundane height looked down on him. Hardy was the son of an architect in the county, and in the old, days, traditions of which still linger in ' qettaijn coudtry districts^ no profeesjpji oi^t'sidje tb,e church and the army was hels to, b& fit for ',' gentlemen V' T.he. mster' o^ Helen. Matb.6w, author of ".Co.min' Through th.c Rye, : * is Mrs Hamborough, tb,e rn.oth.ejr cj the unfortunate youth .for wfooqe murder Mr Monson has been on his trial. The most important literary incognita of the age is the literary ghost through, wjhose. shadowy hand a good deal ef the. pa.bwjium of the Reviews is supplied, Lady Jje^ne, Lady I Brook (Coqntess, of _W,nr I ww£ ao^w), and a^bost

of other notables are thus •• shadowed." Their unassisted stuff is very poor iudeed/ Mrs Langtry's rare beauty is still a highly esteemed and marketable commodity. She was offered a very large sum to appear in tableaux vivants at one of the London theatres, bnt refused it on the ground that the offer was not nearly "good enough." It is well to be a famous beauty if you know how to make practical use of the endowment — and do not object to do so. One rather amusing illustration of the use other people can make of it came under the notice of a feminine correspondent yesterday. " I believe," she writes, " that the only articlo of ladies' attire upon which the Jersey Lily has permanently imprinted her name are the shoes which so long have borne it, and which have been so extraordinarily fashionable this season. They were first introduced and worn by her as Miss Hardcastle in 'She Stoops to Conquer.' Most people know them— they are of patent leather, and tie with a plain ribbon bow through a single pair of eyelets over a flap on the instep. In one of the large boot shops a huge sort c£ ' trophy ' or pile of these shoes has been built up and tastefully arranged, and this is surmounted by several attractive photos, of Mrs Laugtry, with her name in conspicuous prominence. It has proved a capital advertisementf!" I hear that this season's pantomimes are to surpass all previous experiences in this particular class of entertainment — professedly designed for the delectation of children, but apparently relished quite as much by persons of older years. The speobacular effects are becoming every year more and more elaborate and astonishing ; but, as a rule, the actual dialogue is inane to imbecility. Perhaps it is good enough. I suppose pantomime is not an exalted form of histrionic arb. The cost of these amazing shows is appalling ; but when you cater for London playgoers it does not do to consider this. In these case?, as a man remarked to me (after dinner — much after), " Object is no money ! " Music is temporarily at a discount— the musician is dethroned by the mummer — except that the usual Christmas performances of oratorio are proceeding or pending. But there is no novelty in these. Handel's immortal bub very, very well-worn oratorio "The Messiah" is the standing dish. I wonder why Bach's "Christmas Oratorio" is not taken up as a change. But no doubt the concert-givers know best what is the taste of the British public. A very conservative taste it is, too ! Musical novelties have hard work to obtain a fair hearing by a representative audience. Decembtr 3). Christmas has come and gone! A"g-een Yule " it has been ia a marked degree. -■ Glorious cloudless sky, brilliant sunshine, a. mild spring-like temperature, and calm atmosphere have combined to make the holidays as meteorologically memorable as was the unprecedented E.vster of last spring. It was hard to realise that one was in the dead of an English winter— that period so deeply dreaded of all ttue New Zealanders habituated to perhaps the finest winters in the world. Assuredly anyone who grumbled at the weather of this Christmas Day and demanded anything better must be not only hard to please, but impossible. No very special feature characterised the Christmas services in London this year. In the Anglican churches they ranged, as usual, from the Puritan simplicity of the Evangelical school — comparatively rare nowadays — to tho tremendous ceremonial of ultra-Ritualism, as at St. Alban's, Holborn. But apart from these extremes the services generally were musical and feßtive, while the decorations were remarkably beautiful and elaborate. In respect of music there was a considerable run on Gounod's Christmas productions "Nazareth," "Noel," " Beihlehem," Sir John Stainer's " The Morning Stars," and Gade's " Christmas Night." As a matter of course, "The Messiah" was laid largely under contribution, and Bach's "Christmas Oratorio " was also drawn upon. Among the carols sung on this occasion Sir Arthur Sullivan's charming " It came upon a midnight clear " held high rank. I have more than once referred to St. Andrew's, Wells street, its magnificent musical services, and its marvellous boy soprano Lawrence. I cannot refrain from mentioning here that the very finest performance I have ever heard of the famous " InfUmamtus" from Rossini's " Stabat Mater "—finer than that by any of the great feminine singers paafc or present — was given on Christmas Eve by thia extraordinary boy Lawrence, with the perfect choir of that church. It was an ideal presentation of the exquisite music— alike in voice, execution, and expression. It will ever live in my memory. Most of the London musical societies, like those of N,ew Z^ajand, revive Handel's evergreen oratorio " The Messiah " at Ohristmastide. The most important performance of this work is, of courset that on New Year's Day, which is. to be given as osua.) by the Koyal Choral Society in the Albert Hall, and which will also, of course, be crowded to suffocation. The. P/>pula/\fcy of this mabterpiece seems never to. Wane in England. At all the provincial s&usicaS festivals, no matter what important novelty may be offered in music or in performers, " Tha Messiah" can- always be re}ied on to draw tha " biggest house of tb,e season."' Mendelssohn^ "Elijah" comoo next io, popularity, and then, Inngo in^evval^o, a miscellaneous crowd of widely differing compositions. The Queen is at Qiboroe, and has spent Christinas anu'd tho genial atmosphefio conditions and lovely natural surroundings of the Is,le of Wight. The Prince a^d Princess of Wales and family " Chr.S*tmaj3sed " at Sandringham. A naughty ator-yjs eurrenfr about the everadorable Frjncesa of Wales. Do not be alarmed — it i& nothing very flagitious in the customary sense. Bab I trvsb ib will not get to the Queen's ears, else woe to poor dear Alexandra V It Is only this :— On the 13th of this month the innumerable worshippers of the Princess o£ Wales learned to their inexpressible grief thai H.R H. had contracted an attack of influenza which would necessitate her remaining indoors for a day or two. We all mourned. But on the 16th (I bhjnH it was), came t&e> reassuring news that th,e ¥* incesb'a influenza hatr" proved of so slight a nature that H.R.H. waa virtually convajescenb. Aad then we all wondered, bji£ rejpiced. Ofx the ijSfch,, however, had appeared the customary long <• Bcreed »' about the memorial services held* as usual, in the Frogmora mausoleum on the 14th, that being the anuU veraary of the Prince Consort's ever-l&mantec& decease. Now the memorial " f unction "" is notx 1 greatly enjoyed'by anybody but ttje Queen her* self, to whom it is an annual delight of neverFailing keenness. The Frogmpre surroundings* although beautiful, ajre also, distinctly damp. There is a highly rheumatic artificial lake in. its vicinity. A winter visit to Frogmore, and arv hour or two in the mortuary chamber, are nob experiences, calculated to improve the health off the phy.BJca^ly delicate or the spirits of the<Jepr.es.s.ed, waa announced that owing to.bes regretted indisposition the Princess of Wales, was unable. to be present at the f unction. This set peoplei jinking ; and by degreea became evolved tha

naughty report that the mere anticipation of Frogmore and December 14 had given the poor dear Princess that unlucky attack of influenza from which she had recovered with such happy and unusual celerity. I daresay it is a wicked yarn, but it is in everybody's mouth outside the Qaeen's sanctum. Everybody is convinced that the Princess felt she could not stand Frogmore and the dirges in her nervous and depressed state, that she knew no excuse but influenza or apoplexy would be accepted by her august mother-in-law, and that accordingly influenza was selected — a slight cold in the head often does duty for "official" influenza — and she was duly fixed . up for a couple of days by her considerate medical attendant as an agreeable alternative to Frogmore. The Princess of Wales has just purchased a water-coloured drawing —an autumn coast scene showing rich sunset hues, on the trunk 1 of an old oak— the work of Barham Hiles, a young artist who losb both arms in a tramway accident. Mr Hiles uses a pencil or brush held in his mouth. He was placed in the art department of the Bristol Merchant Venturers' School, where he won a national scholarship and two medals. He was then sent -to Paris by the r South Kensington authorities and has now become a very excellent artist. Another remarkable artistic feat has just been performed. Before a large company of artists and literary men Mr T. B. Hardy, the marine painter, sketched with charcoal on a piece of paper measuring 3ft by 4ffc, a picture of " The Pool" — i.e., the Thames below London Bridge, showing the Tower in the background, and ships, steamers, and barges coming up the river on the flood tide — aerial and wave effects being obtained by rubbing with the hand or a cloth. The picture was completed in 10 minutes and was so good that it was eagerly bid for by the very competent judges present, and in the end was sold for 20 guineas. The money was presented to a Masonic-charity. In literary circles much interest is felt in the promised proof from Australia that the famous •'Letters of Junius" were, as commonly believed, written by Sir Philip Francis, whose grandson is said to be living in one of the colonies at an advanced age. Hia reported ignorance or indifference as to his possession of the clue to so celebrated and longstanding a literary mystery is commented on with astonishment here. A most valuable presentation has been made to the South Kensington Museum by Mr ~ Lehman, Consul at Ecuador, comprising a great collection of new and rare botanical specimens collected by him' on the Andes — at all heights up to some far above perpetual snow level — during 12 years' labour. These are accompanied by copious notes and sketches, illustrating the conditions under which the specimens were found. The gift is hailed as a contribution of priceless value to our botanical knowledge of the Andes. Active resistance — alike on ecclesiastical, architectural, archaeological, and artistic grounds — is being organised to the proposed demolition of several old city churches in London which have virtually no congregations, and which block the way to desirable improvements. The latest form of the resistance consists in the simultaneous offering of special prayers to the Throne of Grace ! The Princess of Wales will start on another long Continental tour early in the new year. Her route is not yet settled. Tha Queen still intends to repeat her pleasant experience of last year by spending some weeks in Florence during the coming spring. Her Majesty will probably occupy a charming villa newly erected in the quiet and lovely Florentine suburb Mentughi, but will also visit King Humbert's castle at Monza. Belvoir Castle, the beautiful country seat of the Duke of Rutland, is to have the Prince of Wales as a guest next month, when various social festivities are to take place. There will be plenty of first-rate pheasant-shooting in those unsurpassed preserves, and a special selection of pretty women will be present to charm H.R.H. at the grand ball. He likes pretty women ! Mr Spencer Walpole, the new permanent head of the Post Office, has already won high popularity among his subordinates by enabling them to bring their grievances before the Postmaster-general, a privilege hitherto denied them. A deputation of telegraphists was thus permitted to wait on the chief to set forth their strong objections to the existiog system of classification, which they condemn as most unfair and unjust alike as to pay and promotion. This can be rectified without additional cost to the State being involved, and it is hoped that such a reform may be an early outcome of the new regime. I wish there might be more oare and intelligence as to letters and papers. I person? ally have much cause for complaint in this respect, not merely as regards that letter to you which was posted in good time for a Sana Francisco mail, and was kept back for the following week's Suez despatch, thu3 losing three weeks in reaching the colony and being rendered virtually useless. Letters and papers to me are also delayed or missent without any apparent cause save carelessness, and my friends tell me my case is a very common one. Unintelligence as well as carelessness is some? times exhibited in a remarkable degree. On the enyelope of a letter of some importance the street number, owing to the unavoidable haste }n posting, was slightly blotted, so that it might have been either "13" or "18." It should have been 13. The postman tried 18, and fail : ing to find the addressee there, made no further effort and the letter was returned through the Dead Letter Office. Then, again, you remember the case I mentioned of a man who wanted to register (say) ♦'A.8." as hia telegraphic address. Reply (1), " Letter under consideration " ; (2) " You cannot have Y.Z., because against rules." He rejoins, " Don't want Y.Z., want A.8." Reply (1), "Letter under consideration"; (2) "A.B. is contrary to rules." He asks, "Why?" Reply (1), "Letter under consideration"; (2) "Y.Z. is not permissible." Once more he shrieks in despair, " But I don't want Y.Z., I want A.8., why cannot I have that?" And the last reply he has received is once more that his letter is under consideration. Now, all this is absolutely true — except, of course,' that the address is not quoted. What do you think of it ? To me it looks curiously like tomfoolery. The Speaker ef the House of Commons, who has been seriously ill— largely on account of excessive overwork — is better, but is still incapacitated. His place is taken by the Deputy Speaker, Mr Heller, who is also Chairman of Committees. It is stated that should he too become invalided the business of Parliament must come to a standstill, as there is no provision for carrying on in the absence of both officers. I gjve thjs merely as hearsay. Sir Julian Goldsmid does most of t}ie wqrk of Chairman of Committees. He is"' an ideal Chairman, far superior to Mr Mollor in this respect. He never hesitates and never explains. His word is law. He never says, " I think the hon. member is out of order," but his fist comes

down like a sledge hammer : " The hon. member is out of order." No ingenuity will extract """- from him the reasons for any decision that he «ives. He simply rules, and there is an end of T^. That is as it should be. The saving of

time is immense. As a consequence Sir Julian is greatly respected by both sides, who would gladly see him occupy that chair en permanence. Did you ever hear of the annual Christmas toy show at the Albert Hall, organised by Mr Labouchere, of Truth, for the benefit of the children of the poor ? He invites contributions, and they flow in by thousands. Then they are exhibited at the Albert Hall. Over 27,000 toys were on shew there this time, the dolls being specially noteworthy. Of these 50 were dressed and sent by one lady. They included Wbittington and his oat, and a host of similar celebrities of juvenile lore. Other toys were a fine hansom cab, a gipsy caravan, a Japanese home. A Royal drawing room is represented by a group of 65 richly-dressed large dolls. In addition to these acceptable gifts to poor children, who see so little of pleasure or brightness of colour in their dull and joyless homes, there has been an anonymons donation (as last year) of 11,000 new sixpences, fresh from the mint, which are to be distributed among the workhouse children. These things show that the true Christian spirit has not yet died out in Old England. Long may it be ere this traditional sentiment of "goodwill toward men" ceases to manifest itself at Christntastide. Should that ever come about England will be in a bad way indeed !

This year's Christmas cards are chiefly noticeable for their greater simplicity and better taste. The tawdry horrors of former years are rarely seen now — never in the best shops. A simple and tasteful — often artistic — "autograph " card has come into vogue, and is in every way superior. In the best cards a few rational words of greeting have replaced the horrible doggerel which used to spread over a whole page, and make a cultured recipient extremely ill. Even as it is the Christmas cards do, now and then, "drop into poetry" with Weggian liberality, and much in Mr Silas Wegg's "literary" style. The great desideratum, in these curious emanations of the poetic muse, seems to be to drag in the archaic second person singular as often as possible, in season and out of season. It i 3 a simple -recipe for poetry-making. You have only to put " thou " and "thee" and "thiue," instead of "you" and " yours," and the thing is done. You have "dropped into poetry."

And that reminds me that some of the new carols are as eccentric in their rhymes as those funny hymns which bracket " divine " with "join" and "spirit" with "merit." In one case the favourite rhymes, repeated over and over again, are "morn" and "dawn." lam unable to inform you whether you ought to pronounce the former as "mawn" or the latter as " dorn." The writer is evidently an inveterate Cockney from whose alphabet the letter "r " has been ruthlessly eliminated. But hymn-writers are funny folks. That device of making "schißms" a dissyllable (in "The Church's One Foundation ") always diverts me, especially when the worshippers shriek out (to Wesley's tune) "By siz-zums rent asunder!" The effect is intensely droll, as you will recognise if you watch for it next time you bear that hymn.

The London shops this Christmas have excelled themselves in gorgeousness and artistic taste of decoration. The chief shopping thoroughfares, suoh as Regent street and Oxford street, have been veritable spectacles, and have been thronged by multitudes of sightseers as well as of purchasers. Despite all we hear of dull trade and bad times, it is undeniable that this Christmas has been the best for many years as far as the London tradesmen are concerned, and also in the caee of the railway companies, who have conveyed even more thousands than usual.

The Christmas traffic to Ireland on Christmas Eve was utterly beyond all precedent, and compelled very extensive special arrangements both by land and by sea. Duplicate and triplicate express trains and steamers had to be run to accommodate the crowds who wanted to spend Christmas in Ireland. Naturally the glorious weather acted as a strong incentive to travelling. There was a gratifying absence of casualties throughout the holiday,. Another phase of the " York" scandal ! That odious report of a previous morganatic marriage persists in cropping up. This time I hear of it from a friend that knew someone who actually was present in the church during the ceremony (according to his own statement) and knew tbe bride as a daughter of an eminent naval officer— not the late Sir George Tryon, by the way. It is further asserted with the utmost positiveness that the fact was perfectly well known in very high quarters, and that the Duke made an earnest appeal to be <( let off " the State marriage, but without avail, and so resigned himself to what was declared to be a public duty. The tale further goes that no fewer than three children are the issue of the morganatic union, which of course took place— if the story be true— long before the Duke had any expectations of Heir-Apparency, and when he believed he was free to consult his own heart and please his own inclinations.

But even admitting that there may be extenuating circumstances, one feels most reluctant to credit so unsavoury a story. We all like the Duke so much and love and admire his bride so heartily, that we should all prefer to cherish the conviction of their entire wedded happiness. Yet the change in the personal demeanour of both since their union, Princess May's quiet, subdued air, jn place of her former brightness and high spirits, and Prince George's unchanging aspect of care and sadness do undoubtedly lend some colour to a tale whioh we all should rejoice to see wholly disproved, A correspondent sends me the following description of a new evening gown just to hand from Paris : — " It is made of watered velvet of the miroir species, and is of palest yellow, which of course is at its best by artificial light. The vest is of white moire, the lines of which are picked out by being embroidered with pearls. The skirt has an edging of sable, and the sleeves and trimming of the bodice arc of point de Venise."

"Brocades," she says, "are just now relegated to the wardrobe, the popular dresses of the moment being velvet and thick silks of the Ottoman order and moire" antique silk. Jet is a fashionable trimming for nearly everything ; after jet;, steel, but it must be used very guardedly or it will appear tawdry. With black Jace and pale blue satin or velvet it always looks charming, and this combinatirn is quite chic at present. The evening dress have described in detail can of course be made in art shades of velveteen and guipure lace, whilst tinsel trimming could be used instead of pearls*." " Quite the latest jacket," she continues, " is made of black satin, arranged in full pleats at the back. At the top of the sleeves are rounded puff -j of deep red velvet, finished with accordionpleated frills of black chiffon. A fjat collar l^as broad re'vers of the velvet turned back, and these can be edged with jet if preferred. ' Jfc makes a most smart and, all things considered, inexpensive jacket, whioh anyone with clever fingers can easily manufacture at home." " A curious combination," she adds, " is seen in cloaks tbiß winter — lace and fur trimming the same garment. A lovely new cloak I saw the other day, jußt about leaving the shop for its luoky owner, bad alternate stripes of black

velvet and dahlia -coloured satin. The latter was covered with very fine jetted lace, and there was a deep cape-like collar with a half-high collar rising from it, jetted outside, and filled in with golden brown beaver. This fur also bordered the cloak down the front. It was thickly wadded, and lined with the softest dahlia-coloured surah, and was really perfectly becoming and most attractive."