The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1888-02-18 00:00:00

W

lONDON CORRESPONDENCE,

We deem it right to state we do not at all times identify
ourselves with our Correspondent's opinions.

Members of Parliament ought to feel flattered ,
at the constant proofs they receive while the '
Houses are in session that the public regard them
and their proceedings with peculiar and ever-
abiding interest. Applications for seats in the
various galleries of the Commons pour in upon
them in a never-ceasing stream, and when they
take their evening stroll in the inner lobby they
are called upon at frequent intervals to receive
from the lobby that is without, visiting cards
bearing the names of constituents, demanding
immediate sight and speech with their repre- '
sentative in Parliament. All these proofs of
popular interest are touching, but it may be
believed that they do not always impress those
concerned as pleasantly as might be thought.
For, although they do not sometimes seem
to imagine so, even members are mortal, and
being mortal dislike to be worried. It is inadvis-
able, of course, to offend an influential constituent,
and, when a constituent sends in his card, there
is no handy method of immediately determining
his potentiality for good or evil. But it would
be a sad disillusionment for many worthy folk
from the colmtry districts who call on their
member at the House and summon him forth,
all wreathed with smiles, to the outer lobby, if
they could see the working of his face, and still
inore of his feelings, when their card is first
tleliveted to him by the hands of a trusty
baswenger.
As a rule the request to be made by constituent
to members is the very modest one of a ticket of
admission to one of the galleries, and, when this
has been granted, the representative of the
people can return to his place in peace. But the
grantee is not always so well off as the grantor,
for it is comparatively easy to get such a ticket,
but often difficult to merle effective use of it. The
accommodation provided for all strangers in the
British House of Commons is exceedingly limited
and the applications for admission are often three-
fold what can be seated. When any great debate is
expected, the number of tickets issued is occa-
tionally six or seven times in excess of the ac-
commodation, and then their possessors have to
ballot for places, with the result that a large
Dumber have to go grumbling away. But even
those whose good fortune in obtaining places they
envy are not altogether comfortable, for the gal-
leries allotted to strangers are rather cramped,
and the British subject who secures a seat is apt
to be made by the attendants to feel what a very
small person he really is. If he takes a book of
reference out of his pocket, or attempts to make
a note on the back of an envelope, he is
peremptorily told that he is out of order, and
bidden to replace book or paper in the pocket
whence it came. But although the person thus
treated may vow never to run the risk again, so
many others are ready to do so that the galleries
are never deserted, even on the dullest of
highta
It is early in the year to be complaining of
droeght, but the prolonged absence of heavy rain
or snow in most parts of the country is
causing serious apprehension as to what will
occur during the summer unless some great
change happens meanwhile. In some of the
country districts streams are as shrunken as if
it were the middle of summer, and what they
will be like by that period may conse-
quently be guessed. This is a matter which
has a much more far - reaching effect
than upon agriculture, great as its effect
upon agriculture must be, for unless
we speedily have an abundant fall of
rain or snow, the water supply of our
great towns will be so seriously diminished that
one hardly dares guess at the condition of things
which the summer will bring. Last year some
of the manufacturing towns in the north of
England were hampered in their necessary occu-
pations by lack of water; and if we are so com-
paratively short now in February, it is obvious
what an unhappy state of things we may come
to by July.
Easter falls comparatively early this year, and
the metropolitan volunteers who intend to par-
ticipate in the manceuvres which always accom-
pany that occasion are already actively preparing
for the mimic fray. The time when an "Easter
Monday Review' was the subject of ridicule as
a mere picnic at which much powder was wasted
has long since passed; and the manoeuvres,
ri,inkreou zrowaim-fignutlat.sl.!,x betnag.94
season, are regarded by all who know as a very
real and tangible method of making the volun-
teers efficient In any case they afford an
opportunity for the exercise of self-denial
which deserves all praise. Thousands of
young men working in various avocations in
London for their daily bread, and to whom a
cessation from toil would be welcome, cheerfully
in the cause of duty give up their holiday and
ttrldertake irksome labours for the good of the
Volunteer cause. It will be fervently hoped by
all that the occasion will never arise when they
will be called upon to exercise the knowledge
thus acquired; but the hearty goodwill which
they throw into their pursuit deserves every
commendation from their countrymen.
Although there are not likely to be any Court
festivities upon an extensive scale in celebration
of the "silver wedding" of the Prince and
Princess of Wales on the tenth of next month,
there will be sufficient attention given to the,
auspicious event to secure its not being for-
gotten. The Queen will hold a Drawing-room at
.Buckingham Palace on March 9, which will be
regarded as the "silver wedding" Drawing-room,
and this is expected to be very largely attended.
A ball also is likely to be held at Marlborough
House in celebration of the occasion, and later
in the Beason a special festivity will take place at
Sandringham. Presents for their Royal Highnesses
in honour of the event are already beginning to
arrive at their London residence, and some of these,
as well as others which are to follow, will be
found of great cost and magnificence. The
London season is likely to be rendered all the
more gay by the various methods which will
socially be taken to celebrate the event.
It is often a puzzle to those who have to work
hard for a living to discover how others, who
have to do nothing of the kind, manage to pass
the time. One method which appears
especially popular in London among the
tens of thousands who have nothing
to do but to live is to visit the
picture exhibitions, of which fresh specimens are
always being provided. The National Gallery,
of course, has always its visitors, as have also
the Royal Academy and the Grosvenor Gallery
when they are open. But, in addition to these
great concerns, there are many minor exhibi-
tions which are worth a visit. Scarcely a
week passes but a new one opens, and New
Bond-street possesses an abundance of them,
while Piccadilly, Pall Mall, and the Haymarket
have each their sprinkling. Apart from such
artistic attractions as they may possess, these
exhibitions form a very pleasant lounge for the
idle and an agreeable meeting place between
friends. In the midst of the contemplation of
the pictures, a little discoursive chat upon events
of the day, or the latest fashionable gossip can be
indulged in; and far less enjoyable methods of
passing a lazy afternoon can be imagined than a
saunter through one of the minor picture gal-
laries which abound in:the west of London.
Complaint is just now being heard from house-
owners in the most fashionable districts of the
metropolis to the effect that the larger dwellings
cannot be let. This is not only because of the
long-continued agricultural depression having
severely hit the very class which used to occupy
those houses during the season, but that the erec-
tion of flats and the erection of huge hotels have
tempted away many who would aforetime have
occupied a house to themselves. As for flats, it
may so far be said that they are fashionable
rather than popular, but to the hotels
both epithets can be applied. Many
members of Parliament, for instance, instead of
taking a houso for the session, as they used to
do, now hire rooms at an hotel, and find that, in
comfort, convenience' and cost, they are better
served. If they want to give a dinner to some
friends, they have no anxiety either as to cook-
ing or waiting, for they know that the hotel has
capacities which could be possessed by no private
establishments except the very largest, and they
can rest content accordingly. But the change is
a social symptom which is worth careful note.
A. F. R.

PERHAPS one of the most primitive of independent
kingdoms is the little island of Johanno, in the Co-
moro group. The Sultan boards any ship that may
call there, and endeavours to secure the washing for
his wives, while the Prime Minister peddles cocoa-
nuts and bananas.
AN English lord who visited America was at a
dinner given in his honour. A little daughter of his
host, who was too well-bred to stare, but who eyed
him covertly as the occasion presented itself, finally
ventured to remark: And are you really and truly
an English lord ?" "Yes," he answered pleasantly,
" madly and truly." "I have often thought I
_would

like to.see an English lord," she went on,-" and—and
—" "And now you are satisfied at last ?" he put
in laughingly. "N-o," replied the truthful little girl,
"I'm not satisfied. I'm s good deal disappointed 1"