OUR ILLUSTRATED LONDON LETTER.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume V, Issue 41, 11 October 1890, Page 8

OUR ILLUSTRATED LONDON LETTER.

MR HYNDMAN. Whatever we may think of Mr Bradlaugh's political opinions, it must be conceded that his zeal tor the welfare of the working classes has been abundantly demonstrated during long years, ami when, therefore, wfe find him opposing Air Hyndman ami his social Democratic friends on the question of the legislative limitation of hours of labour, his wools are entitled to respect. It is a well known fact that the working classes are by no means of one mind on this subject. The demonstration which was held in Hyde Park recently, in favour of an eight hours’ working day was proof of that ; for while the Social Democrats took the platform of Parliamentary interference between employer and employed, the London Trades’ Council confined itself to an expression of the desirability of effecting this object by comlunation. At that time Mr John Bums challenged Mr Biadlaugh to a public debate, but afterwards found a pretext for evading it when the challenge was accepted. Mr Hyndman’s case was confined to generalities, with which, apart from the conclusions drawn from them, most people agree ; while Mr Bradlaugh addressed himself to specific illustrations, from which he argued, that an Eight Hours’ Act would be fatal to certain industries. In Oldham, for instance, he pointed out, that capital invested in the textile trades did not realise an average of 3J per cent, of prolit, all of which would be swallowed up by the limitation proposed. The discussion was remarkable from the relative positions in which two men stand towards the labouring classes. A GRENADIER. The Grenadier Guardsman has gone not exactly to the wars, but to a Napoleonic exile in Bermuda, with a parting execration from the Duke of Cambridge, ami the tears of the girl he has left behind him. Tommy Atkins, of the Wellington Barracks, must feel rather sad at the trouble that has befallen him as a sequel to the short but merry time he had of it behind the barricaded doors a fortnight

ago. But things are not so bad as they seem, as Bermuda is quite a pleasant quarter, and will be a relief from the monotony of barrack life in London. The Bermuda Islands are situated in the North Atlantic, 6CC miles east of Cape Hatteras, and are in tegular steam communication with New York. The island has now become

a recognised resort of Ametican visitors. The climate is good, especially in winter, ami there is excellent boating, fishing, and yachting. There is one phase of the affair which will be satisfactory to the public and to the men, and that is the deposition of the Colonel, who is alleged to be the cause of all this disaffection. It is stated he has been put on the half pay list, ami anyway he lias been superseded in his command of the Guards, a taeit admission by the authorities that he was at fault. It is understood that he claims to be tried by court-martial. THE LATE HoN. W. B. DALLEY. No patriot is more deserving of a memorial within the sacred precincts of St. Paul’s Cathedral than the revered Demos-

thenes of Greater Britain, William Bede Dailey, arid nothing could be moie in keeping with the inauguration of such a memorial than the brief utterances of Lord Rosebery. ‘ It marks,’ said his lordship, ‘a new milestone on the path wetravel.’ Dailey’s service to his countiy, notonly as a Colonia! minister, but also as a statesman with some idea of the meaning of the wool ‘ Empire,’ is too well-known to require recounting, and one of his acts which will live long in the memory of the English people, is his famous proposal —a proposal which he carried out with success —to send a contingent of Australian troops to the Soudan, to uphold the honour of the old tlag. This is practically the last otlicial duty which Lord Rosebery performed as Chairman of the London County Council, and it is gratifying to see that his Lordship retires from office with the goodwill of all his colleagues, irrespective of party. His successor, Sir John Lubbock, is a man of equal industry, and his elevation to the new municipal chair is regarded with general satisfaction. ST. SAVIOUR’S, SOUTHWARK. The proposed restoration of St. Saviour's, Southwark, recalls the rich memories of holy and historic interest that cling like tendrils of ivy to those old places of worship that date back to the remote past. From pre-historic times the site of St. Saviour’s seems to have been dedicated to sacred uses. Stow, the historian, tells us how ‘ a maiden named Mary ’ founded a House of Sisters here of ‘ old-time, long before the Conquest,’ which was subsequently converted into a College of Priests by ‘a noble lady named Swithin,’and was known at that time, after its first fair foundress, as ‘St. Mary Overey. ’ Whatever truth there may be in this legend, certain it is that a Priory of St. Mary Overey (the (etymology of this word is doubtful), was founded here at the beginning of the twelfth century by two Norman Knights with the sanction and aid of Gillard, Bishop of Winchester, to whom the erection of the original nave is ascribed. Since then, however, the architecture of the venerable pile has passed through sad vicissitudes, and has suffered alike fiom the destructive hand of the Vandal and the folly of the modern designer. The object which Sir Arthur Blomlield has now in view, is the restoration of the chief features of the nave built in 1207 an exquisite example of Early English in its greatest purity. John Gower, the poet, Chaucer's contemporaiy, helped hugely to rescue this Church from the condition of squalor to which it had been reduced in his time. It was here that James L, of Scotland, was married to Joan Beaufort, whose beauty captivated his young heart as he watched her from his prison window ; and

the place is also rendered famous by many notable persons who sleep beneath its aisles. Edmund Shakspere, * player,’’ the brother ot the great dramatist, was * buryed in ye church with a forenoone knell of ye greate bell,' and John Fletcher, the poet, Beaumont’s fellow creature, also lies here. The Church narrowly escaped destruction at the time of Wyatt’s rebellion, when it was used as a stronghold by the insurgents. LORD DUNLO. We are indebted to Lord Dunlo for some interesting information as to the waysand means of the private detective. How persistently and effectually Lady Dunlo and Mr Wertheimer were ‘shadowed’ was brought out in the distressful case which has occupied the attention of the Divorce Couit for a week past. Through streets and lanes their footsteps were constantly dogged by members of * the firm.’ When they stopped at the Cafe Royal or Romano’s, Mr Granville Clark was there to study the menu ; when they drove fionr Avenue Road on 4th August, that harmless-looking dog kennel concealed the bloodhound that was on their track ; when the tiap accident befell them, the very milestone on the roadside had eyes ; while in the charming little party at the Hotel Continental, the fire-screen was an eager listener to the conversation. It is sad to find an old family like the Clancarties dragged through such a painful ordeal by thefollyofau impetuous boy. Lord Dunlo is well-known in sporting circles in the West End, and enjoyed considerable popularity among his confreres as the heir to thirteen thousand a year, for which the old eatl is largely indebted to the dowry of his wife, the daughter of the Marquis of Bristol, one of the wealthiest of our English Marquises. It will be remembered that Lord Dunlo’s clandestine marriage to Miss Belle Bilton took place last summer near Hampstead Heath, the bridal party consisting of the principals, a friend of Lord Dunlo’s, and the sister of the bride. A LONDON FIREMAN. The Policemen have taken on a higher game just now than the pilfering of little boys’ marbles, or even the courting of pretty cooks. ■ They want more wages, higher pensions, a new Home Secielary, ami a variety

of other trifles which have driven them from the sweet comforts of area to ‘ indignation ’ meetings, where they have aired their grievances with perfect satisfaction to themselves. They have resolved, if they don’t get what they want, to come out on strike. What a hanest for the burglar! I have great sympathy for the policeman, as I indicated in this column recently, but what have I ami peaceable citizens done that we should have to transpoit all our silver plate and valuables to some foreign shore for security, and lie ourselves night after night, with loaded revolvers below our pillows, in constant dread that we may wake on the following morning, as an Irishman would say, to find ourselves murdered ’ Let the unhappy one take a leaf out of the fireman s book. Comparatively little injury—grave though it would be—would result to the general public by a firemen’s strike, but like sensible men they are seeking to effect their object by means of a memorial. Let us hope that the authorities will give timeous heed to the men’s demands. A strike in the public service—especially among those to whom our lives and liberties are entrusted —is not to be trifled with.