"BLACK WEEK IN LONDON."

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12745, 24 April 1912, Page 7

" BLACK WEEK IN LONDON."

LONDON, March 8. Already Society is beginning to feel the depression that is brought about by the Black Strike. One hears it disclosed on every side. What with the strike and the' Suffrage riots, London is passing through a phase hitherto unknown. It was rumored that the courts Mould be- postponed in consequence of the strike. Should this b'e the case it will cause a very considerable amount ot' inconvenience," as not a few people have come to town on purpose to attend tomorrow's Court and tho one on the 14th. The whole of London is in an uproar of excitement and indignation at tho outrages committed by the militant suffragettes in the West End in the past week. The great shopping centres present an extraordinary appearance. Ontside all the leading houses the footpaths are occupied by men fitting in the j.veat plateglass windows to replace t.tose broken by the women, with two policemen on guard at each house. Other firms have to patiently wait until they can securo the services of the glaziers, their windows in the meantime being patched up with brown paper, giving a very rakish apearance to what otherwise would liave been a feast .'.of gorgeous spring novelties. The whole shopping trade of tbe West End centres is paralysed for . the tinie being. This is a ' serious matter, for the glorious early spring days tempt thousands of- women to these parts, who, instead of shopping, are engaged in promenading" the footpaths and streets, looking at the despicI able work of their own sex. Just now it is rather a risky, thing to approach any shop windows carrying a muff, es- j pecially a large one, for it was in their muffs the majority of the window-break-ers carried their coal hammers and other implements. Strange to say, the newest shopping centre in the West End — the big American firm in Oxford street — has entirely escaped the vengeance of . the militants. Rumor has it that the head of this firm always instructed the assistants to treat the suffragettes with marked courtesy, and lie granted them a stand outside the principal entrance, where theii' paper was sold. This is the only big shop that escaped a visit from tlieir hammers. As if to atone for these outrages, Nature is donning her loveliest garb. It is a joy to walk through the parks in the brisk spring air, the brilliant sunshine attracting crowds of pedestrians and riders in the Row, whilst the emerald turf is' ablaze with golden purple, and white crocuses, and many of tlie trees are already in bud. Rather a coincidence that in many of the parks the're is a preponderance of purple nnd white crocuses on the green turf. Maybe it is Dame Nature's graceful way of showing her .sympathy with the rights of our sex.