OUR ILLUSTRATED LONDON LETTER.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume V, Issue 47, 22 November 1890, Page 8

OUR ILLUSTRATED LONDON LETTER.

MEMORIAL TO PRINCE IMPERIAL.

A TRIBUTE has been paid to the Napoleon family by the erection of a memorial at Chiselhurst to the late Prince Imperial. The tribute, however, can hardly be called an English one, for the memorial is the gift of the Right Rev. Monsignor Goddard, the resident priest, but the exiled Napoleons have always been treated with respect by the people of England, and the fact that the Prince Imperial lost his life, as the memorial says, ‘ in England’s cause ’ — with, l>e it confessed, the ulterior design of dazzling the eyes of France—giveshim a peculiar claim upon us. The memo rial isadeeply moulded, canopied wall-tomb of medireval type,designed inlothcenturyGothicandisconstructedchietiy of Caen stone. The tomb is raised upon a step and has a frontal enriched with tracery enclosing the Imperial cypher and a Latin inscription. Upon the tomb-slab rests a recumbent figure of the Piince, life-size, in white alabaster. He is attired in the uniform of the Royal Artillery, which he wore during the campaign in Zululand. The background above the figure and under the arched canopy is diapered with small squares of terracotta, the centre of each square bearing the Napoleonic Badge — the Golden Bee. The Hanking octagonal piers on either side of the tomb are surmounted by the Imperial crown, and the crowned N is borne by shields. The work was designed by Mr Ingres Bell. The speech of Monsignor Goddard at the opening ceremony was simple and unassuming, and dwelt rather upon the ]>ersonal character of the tribute than upon the public ]>osition of the dead Prince. It is a singular fact that the Empress Eugenie made no acknowledgment of the memorial, and was not represented at the unveiling ceremony.

LABOUR CONGRESS.

The great Labour Parliament is now in Congress at Liverpool, and never, perhaps, has its proceedings been more carefully scrutinised. The labour struggles of the past year, it was felt, had given Trades' Unionism a new complexion ; and both sides looker! on anxiously to see how far, on the one hand, the aims of the ‘ new unionism ’ would be attained, how far, on the other, they would be guided bydiscretion. This changed attitude of unionism was indicted, to some extent, by the retirement of Mr Henry Broadhurst from the Parliamentary Secretaryship. Worthily and with dignity has Mr Broadhurst held this post, and he has the distinction of l>eing the first bona jide working man who has attained to ministerial rank by his appointment to the Under Secretaryship of the Home Office. It has long been evident, however, that Mr Broadhurst has not been in entire

MR SHIPTON. MR FENWICK. MR MATKIN. MR BROADHURST.

agreement with many of his co-Congressmav. This does not imply that since Mr Broadhurst gave up the trade of a mason to tread the stonier path of politics he has undergone any change in opinion, but new questions, such as the legislative restriction of lalwiur, have come to the front, and given rise to considerable discussion ami division. It is creditable to Mr Broadhurst’s judgment that he now retires l>efore differences ate accentuated, ami past services forgotten in iiersonal acrimony. He has been in Parliament since 1880.

Other members of Parliament who stand out conspicuously with Mr Broadhurst as labour representatives are Mr Abiaham (whom I have already mentioned), Mr Burt, ami Mr Charles Fenwick, who contested the Secretaryship of the Congress on the lines of the * old unionism. ’ Like_Mr Abraham, Mr Fenwick was a working miner. He went to work in the pits in Northumberland when only a l>oy of nine, with the scanty education that a colliery afforded : but his natural genius raised him above his fellows, and they rewarded him by sending him to Parliament. In labour questions, his advice has been sought by both parties, and he rendered great assistance with such measures as the Employers’ Inability Bill. Camlington is the little Northumberland village in which he was born, and it was for the Wanslieck division of the county that he entered Parliament in 1885. In the previous year he had represented the miners at the Trades’ Congress at Aberdeen, and he is still a member of the Executive of the Northumberland Miners’ Association. It is interesting to note the respect with which such unassuming members of Parliament a« Mr Burt and Mr Fenwick are regarded ; it is an evidence that, after all, politicians are divided by partizanship rather than by consideration of class.

It would hardly be fair to call Mr Fenwick’s opponent, Mr Shipton, the apostle of the ‘new unionism,’for he has put it on recoid that it is ‘egotistical in its assumptions, reckless in its assertions, abusive in its attacks, and not over scrupulous in its methods or in the means taken to secure its ends.’ At the same time.it cannot be denied that the disciples of the ‘ new ’ were to some extent courted by Mr Shipton. He is best known as the Secretary of the London Trades Council, which refused to subscribe to the Eight Hours day by legislative enactment. Mr Shipton laboured under the undoubted disadvantage of-no£ being a member of Parliament, but he is a well-read man, and would very likely be able to soon overcome this disadvantage. He has taken a prominent part in the discussion of questions relating to our fiscal system, and was an advocate, like Mr Burt, of Baron de W orms’ Sugar Bounties Convention. He is also a warm supporter of bi metallism. Mr W. Matkin, the President of the Congress, is a Lincolnshire man, now residing in Liverpool. He is secretary of the Carpenters’ and Joiners’ Union, of which he has been twenty-six years a member. He is now forty-four years of age and is a prominent figure in trades unionism.

PATTI’S THEATRE.

A journalistic colleague of mine, who was fortunate in being present at the opening of Madame Patti’s newly-built theatre at ‘ Craig-y-Nos ’ the other day. gives me an interesting account of the inaugural performance, which was in every way the success that had been anticipated. A brilliant assemblageof guests were biought togethertodo honour to the occasion, and the bijou temple ofthedrama wasasource of surprise and delight. The building is stated to have cost the fair diva £5,000, and has been built by her principally with the laudable view ot giving various charity concerts in the future. The stage is provided with all the latest devised mechanical improvements, and is illuminated by over 250 incandescent electric lights, while the oichestra is sunk after the latest fashionable method below the level of the stage, so as not in any way to intercept the vision of the audience. The auditorium, which is spacious and lofty, is surrounded by majestic looking Corinthian columns, supported by massive pila-ters embedded in the walls, the lower portions being decorated in a charming renaissance style in wrecto relievo. Round the frieze the names of the most popular composers and litterateurs find a place, that of Rossini occupying the post of honour in the centre of the proscenium. The act drop is adorned by a magnificent painting of Madame Patti-Nicolini as Semiramide driving a chariot and ]>air. The floor of the auditorium admits of being readilyraised by hydraulics, so that in a comparatively few moments the whole theatre can be transformed into an elegant l>allr<>om of large dimensions.

It is worthy of note that Mr W. F. Hulley, the composer of the opera performed before Madame Patti, the librettist, Mr J. C. Manning, and in fact all who took part in the proceedings, came from Swansea, a town only a few miles from Craig-y-Nos. Madame Patti singled out two of the performers, Miss Pollie Jenkins and Miss Ethel Flynn, for special compliment—an example of the gracious and kindly acts for which the fair dica is so conspicuous in her character as a hostess, and indeed at all times in her private life. Among the poor of the district her goodness is proverbial. ‘ Craig-y-Nos ’ may be translated into English, ‘ The Rock of the Night,’ but its character is redeemed by the palace of light and beauty which Madame Patti has set up theie as her ‘ home, sweet home.’ DOCKERS’ PROCESSION. Yet another event is to be added to the calendar of moveable feasts by the institution of what is to be known as ‘Dockers’ Day.’ This festival in Hyde Park is designed to celebrate the anniversa’-y of the great laliour struggle of last year, which was almost elevated tothe importance of a national upheaval. There were the it<l ml KI-at-o t-|>a t-v-vvmnote,

DOCKERS’ PROCESSION,

Yet another event is to be added to the calendar of moveable feasts by the institution of what is to be known as ‘Dockers’ Day.’ This festival in Hyde Park is designed to celebrate the anniversa’-y of the great laliour struggle of last year, which was almost elevated to the importance of a national upheaval. There were the usual processions, the usual blare of the trumpets, the usual waving of banners, the usual crowds, the usual speeches, and the usual enthusiasm. That applies, however, to‘demonstrators’ themselves; for, although the weather was of the finest character, and there was the average Sunday afternoon attendance in the various parts of the Park, little interest was manifested in the proceedings by the general public. There were platforms, and at all of these a resolution was adopted expressing unbounded satisfaction at the solid advantages secured by means of the great dock strike, and hailing with delight the rapid organisation of labour, and the repeated successes of Unionism. At the same time it was observed with regret that there hail been strike failures during the year, and the belief was expressed that these were mainly owing to the plentiful supply of ‘ blacklegs ’ obtained by employers from the ranks of the lowest paid, and unorganised ; ‘and that this source of supply could be cut off by a more general organisation of labour, and by providing work for the unemployed through a reduction of the hours of labour. Acknowledgment was also made of the generous contribution of Australian workmen in aid of the strikers of last year. The demonstration was conducted with perfect order and decorum.