The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-24
LONDON GOSSIP.
Politics. Pleasures, Pictures
and Plays.
The Duchess and the Draw
ing Room.

On 4On1O WcoK Earl Russell rose In his place In
the House OF Lords and maze a speech, ending
with motion for the production OF certain papers
connected with foreign AFFAIRS Earl Russell is
eignty-two years old ne has been twice Premier.
twice Foreign Secretary, twice Colonial Secretary
and once Home Secretary; has filed many other
Important offices OF State, and as Lord John Rus
sell sat IN Parliament from 1918 to 1861. And yet,
with all this experience, while making what was
for him stndiously moderate speech, he asked
questions and moved for the production OF papers
which, Unanswered and produced, would have made
every European Minister extremely uncom ortaole.
Lord Deroy, ike the Chancellor In Tennvson's
"Day Dream" in courteous words returned reply,
paid due compliment to Lord Russell's patriotism
and energy showed that q compliance with his re-
quest would occasion something more than great
Inconvenience. and, .'smillng. put the question
by" Lord Derby has earned Tor himself great
credit by his genial diplomacy on this occasion.
HOURS OF LABOR IN FACTORIES.
Mr.. Mundela, Mp. for sheffield, has brought in
Factory Acts Amendment bill 1t proposes to
raise the minimum age Of children employed In
factories from eight to ten, and OF full timers to
fourteen, and to reduce the hours OF labor to
women and adults to tty-iour a week. The Home
Secretary, IN reply, announced an intended gov
ernmental measure, according to which the hours
week, and The age OF haftimers raised to nine Tor
the next twenty months, alter which 1t viii be
raised to ten Professor Fawcett protested against
further legislative interference with women and
adult labor, and the debate was adjourned for two
weeks.
THE NEW "wHIPn
The ONCE OF ''whipper inn to the opposition
sc ans to be very fetguing one and to be not
much reished MI. Arthur Peel, who took upon
himself the duty OF summoning and worrying INTO
attend ince the members ftle liberal party soon
as they were out Of office, has given up the berth
after very few weeks experience. 1t is said
that his health has broken down, and that he will
have to 60 abroad for rest and quiet. Mr.. Peel is
iorty-nve years OF age; he is the youngest son OF
the great Sir Robert Peel and brother OF the
by MI. W. p. Adam, ''Wlllie ADAM" as they call
MIN, pleasant and courteous gentleman, but
without much influence or will.
THE DRINK.
While the ''women's whiskey war; is raging
with you the new licensing bill brought in by the
government Is occupying our attention. The
great point OF this measure Is that 1t seems to
have disappointed everybody. Clergymen coun-
try squires. landowners and magistrates complain
with great bitterness against the extension OF
the hours OF keeping open public houses till eleven
p. NJ. The Licensed yictuaers Association have
held q great meeting to express their regret that
halfpast twelve Is fixed for the latest closing hour
for London and their opinion that the hour Of one
O'Clock Is absolutely necessary to meet the require
ments Of the metropolis. A large class OF London
ers are furious that the exceptional censes under
which certain houses could be kept open till q
later hour, are to DO Withdrawn. 1t Is
useless, they say, to talk about their clubs
for there are but few clubs at which supper can be
had, and II they have ladies with them they ask
where can they 60. Even under present clrcum-
stances that question is very difficult to answer.
II Some sne would start In London place like
Delmonaco's, as well done and as strictly con
Quoted, ne would make . fortune.
THH QUEENS DRAWING ROOM.
The ceremony Of "the drawing room" is very
well known to some OF your fair readers. It means
the presentation to the Queen OF the younger
female scions Of aristocratc families, and is
the means BY which the more mature fe-
male members OF the upper ten pay their
annual homage to their sovereign. As q
ceremony It Is simple enough the ladies
merely passing in single file before the Queen and
making q salutaton, which she returns But
although this reads as very easy performance II
is, In fact. most trying ordeal, and one against
which most indignant protest Is just now being
raised. The ceremony begins at two O'Clock and
its length, OF course, depends upon the number Of
ladies taking part in It, This number mas now
grown to be SO enormous that the Queen, who has
to stand all the time, finds the fatigue too much
for her, and during the latte portion gets one OF
the Processes to take her place. Last week the
throng was 80 immense and the arrange.
ments for ingress and egress SO shame
ful that many ladies who left theil
half DID oocb
until nearly seven p. NJ, and then in q most pitt
to eat-their splendid Partisan dresses crushed
and rumpled, their feathers broken, their laces
torn. 1t is truly complained that what the British
matron looks upon as her greatest honor, giving
her. as 1t Is supposed to do the cacet OF respecta
bllity though some very dubious persons have
been received OF late years., Is dearly bought OF
such cost. So long as the drawing rooms are
held in the wretchedly narrow area OF st. James
Palace, and SO long as the present enormous crowd
insists on attending tnem 1t will be impossible to
obviate the difficulty. As o remedy 1t has
been suggested that instead Of passing before the
Queen the ladies should be drawn up In line. down
which Her Majesty should pass. Or, again, that
the ceremony should be held in the evening" which
would give 1t more OF the character Of reception
''PREcEDENCE" AGAIN.
The absence OF the Duke ana Duchess OF Edin.
burgh from the last drawing room has given rise
to great talk. 1t is stated that the great question
of precedence is still being mooted, and that as
the Queen refused to allow the Duchess to take the
pas Of the Princess Beatrice the bride decided or
keeping away from the ceremony.
OTHER REASONS.
other reasons have been assigned which your
correspondent can best express BY some quota
tons from the London journals.
The Times OF yesterday says
The absence Of Her Royal Highness the Duchess
OF Edinburgh from the last drawing room has
been very generally remarked upon, but, SO far al
we know, the real though very obvious cause hos
not been assigned. We believe We have g0od
grounds for announcing that Her Royal Hlghness
has hopes OF an event that would increase ner owr
happiness and that OF the Duke OF Edinburgh, ant
which would be most welcome to the loyal subject.
OF Her Majesty, who are ever del lighted to gree
every addition to her family.
To-day the Morning Post responds as follows:-
We have been requested to state that the para
graph which was published by a contemporary
yesterday respecting the Duchess OF Edinburgh
was inserted without the authorization or knowl
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