LONDON GOSSIP.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8522, 12 July 1889, Page 3

LONDON GOSSIP.

The Queen hat at last paid the visit which ■he promisd to pay long ago to the Prince of Wales at Sandringham, where she arrived on Tuesday afternoon, and received a hearty welcome from her eldest ion. The event created considerable enthusiasm ' iff the neighborhood, and from the poorest end simplest peasant to the wealthiest and most dignified of local magnates the reception accorded Her Majesty was striking and impressive. From Wolferton Station to Sandrin/ham the Queen enjoyed a triumphal progress. The route was covered with arches and masts aad flags of many buss, and shouts of welcome came from the throats ef small school children and crowds of spectators. The most Dovel and suggestive element ia the Eroceßßion, however, was the escort formed y the West Norfolk Hunt, who, in all the glory of " pink," and mounted on the hardy animals who have often carried them acrosß country, filed bareheaded past Her Majesty. The Queen's stay at Sandringham, which came to an end on Saturday, was in all respects a success. Everywhere, as was to be expected, Her Majesty waß received with the utmost enthusiasm. Unquestionably one of the most interesting incidents of the Sandringbam visit was the dramatic performance given before the Queen and many members of the Royal family at the local " Theatre Royal," by the Lyceum company. In earlier, and for Her Majesty, happier, days she and her consort were energetic patrons of the stage ; and as she regarded the histrionic efforts of Mr Irving and Miss Terry, Her Majesty's mind can hardly have failed to revert to the occasions on which she has seen Macready, or Kean, or Phelps, or Mathews, j and the actresses with whom they collaborated. " The Bells" and the trial scene from " The Merchant of Venice" ■were given on Friday. Whatever comparisons or contrasts Her Majesty might have been able to draw between the past and the present, she, no less than the Princes and Princesses about her, expressed the heartiest gratification with the entertainment, and Mr Irving and Miss Terry have brought back to the Lyceum pleaiant memories of their appearance, for one night only, at the Theatre Royal, Sandringham. The pictare attracting most general attention at the exhibition at the academy is Mr Orcbardson's Health to the Duke, which is, in the opinion of moßt critics, the most important work which has been exhibited by the artist. It is said to be already gold for the by no means extravagant sum of £6000, and it is reported that the fortunate possessor is Mr John Aird, M.P. A silver bell has been bung in a tower in the village of Borki, where the railroad accident to the Czar's train happened, and it will be tolled every day at the hour of the accident. - Tbb total production of distilled spirits in the United States from Ist July, 1888, to 31st January, 1889, was 42,739,336 taxable gallons, being the lurgest production for a similar period ia any year fcince 1880. We have heard of some of the American Legislatures adjourning over "circus time." But the New Jersey Legislature took a recess in order to attend a fire. The flames were in an hotel at which most of the members put up. total quantity of champagne forwarded from the champagne districts for the year ending 31st March, amounted to 22,558,084 bottles, being an increase of 2,223,760 bottles as compared wiln 1888. Present stocks in cask and bottles equal about 100,000,000 bottles, or not quite five years' consumption. John M'Keon is known in the United States as "the oil king." He has an income of 50,000d01. a month from his nil wells. In uddition to his oil interests he owns 25,000 acres of yellow pine land in Alabama, one of the largest flour mills in Minnesota, and a business block in Baltimore said to be worth 1,000,000d01. Facts about the Shah. He now travels with one wife. In 1874 he travelled with six, but on reaching Russia sent iive borne. He eats with a fork; he puts the ashes of bis uigarettex into an ash tray instead of I ffiwiog tbtm ob intiß «bniri, and h« bM

become open minded as regards the moderate us» of claret and champagne mixed with mineral waters. The Imaams or priests have propounded the convenient doctrine that wine mixed with mineral water loses its potency, and ii not displeasing: to Mahomet. Mrs Field*, of Butler, Pa., was reading a book in the early hours of the morning, when her husband ordered her to come to bed. She refused, and he got up and struck her. She went to a bureau drawer, and, taking out a revolver, told him if he hit her again she would shoot him. He then struck her in the face, when she fired the revolver, inflicting a fatal wound. Before dying, Fields declared that she had shot in self defence; and the Coroner's jury afterwards rendered a verdict justifying the shooting.