The New York herald., 1875-02-22
LONDON GOSSIP.
Fashionable Life in the Metropolis Per
Cent hterest" and
Theatrical Notes.

Theatrical Notes.
LONDON, Feb. 4, 1875.
With the opening OF Parliament tomorrow the
London season may virtually be said TO com.
ence. though many OF our fashionable ladies'
will not come up from their country homes until
alter Easter, which this year alls unusually early.
1t was the Queens intention TO open the session
In person; but the illness OF Prince Leopold has
compelled her to forego the idea The Prince OF
Wales mas 20 ne over to Brussels o ns'Ing visit
to be present at the marriage OF the Princess
Louise, OF Belgium The Princess remains at
Sandringham during her husbands absence.
Prince Leopold Is much better that any fatal
termination to his present illness Is no longer
looked Tor; and the fear which beset the great
world and the milliners iailors, norlsts and
others who minister to It's pleasures, that a
court mourning might put a stop to the festivities
OF the season has been dispeleh. House agents
and those Interested In such matters aiilrm that
the forthcoming season will be specially gay and
lively, though we do not as yet near Of any Contt
nental or Eastern potentates (wlta the exception
OF our old friend, Sir Jung Bahadoor, OF NepauD
who are coming to visit lis.
THE VACANT JUDGEsHIP.
This event did not after oil 60 to Mr.. HuddIe-
stone, as I anticipated, out to Mr.. Field. q. e.,
the leader OF the Midland Circuit. Mr.. Hud-
destones friends are greatly annoyed, but
Lord Cairns excuse is said to be that he
dared not imperil the seat for Norwich, watch
Mr.. Huddlestone now holds. At present there are
NO more vacancies in the judicial Bench, though
several are expected. A rumor Is current that
Chief Baron Kelly intends reslgnIng, In which case
he will probably be succeeded by Sir John Holker.
the solicitor General THIS will make room for
Mr.. Hardlnge Gfrard, Q. c., who Is one Of the
truest and aoest supporters OF his party.
EIGHTY PER CENT.
On Friday last the publisher OF the London
World newspaper was summoned before Sir
Thomas GABRIEL, one OF the city aldermen. TO
answer charge OF having published In that
newspaper u libel on Messrs. Bass and Beyfus, OF
Sackvllle street. series OF articles on "West-
End Usurers," IN which the names, real and as
sumed, the addresses, and the previous occupa-
tions OF the harpies no prey upon young men by
lending money at enormous interest has appeared
in tle World. and caused = remarkable sensation
throughout the country. The prosecutors claim
thar, having been mentioned IN. TINS list, their
characters for respectabiltty nave suffered harm;
aud In his opening speech their counsel gave vent
TO large amount OF tail talk. But when
Mr.. Bass was placed IN the witness box, Mr.
George Lewis VINO appeared for the World, elected
from HIM In cr0ss-eXamnatt)n av0wals so damag.
Ing auu 50 extraordinary IuuC cVoH tue OruIndry
irequenters OF the Court VINO are accustomed to
such scenes, were astonished. This man con.
ressed that he had charged AS much as eighty per
cent; that he mad been In the habit Of lending
money to young men under twenty years OF age
at college; that he had sworn afildavits as an
army agent he having no claim to the title; that
he had induced army officers 10 pawn their CON-
missions. he advancing money at irightiul per-
centage upon them; that an unfortunate victim
nad been pursued by him In one Court ana by his
partner In another Tor the same debt and, finally,
that not merely had they been usurers themselves,
but they had found the money lor most OF the
notorious scoundrels who, as usurers, play upon
the young and iouiish Tho Iurther hearing
OF the case Is adjourned until tomorrow. but
there seems no doubt which way the decision will
be. may say that, TO my own certain kn0wledge.
the editor OF the World has received hundreds OF
letters from men In al classes OF society thanking
him Tor this much needed exposure.
TIE EDITOR OF THE LONDON TIME5-THE NEW
BUILDING.
Mr.. Deiane, the editor OF the Tinaes-the man
who really Yields "Jove's tnunder''-ts stated to
be much out OF health. His medical attendants
ana his friends are anxious that he should retire
for time rom his arauous labors aud seek rest
and change OF air but ne declares that, with The
ParIamen, ary session just coming GU, TINS Is lin
pJsslOe, ana mas determined to stick to his post.
square, kncwa to Visitors Is :t.e Ti,aes ONCE"
IS now but small part OF the gigantic whole.
fine pile OF building has been erected, abuttng
queen Victoria street, III winch are the editorial
and managerial rOJns. since the escapAde
OF Mr.. Sampson he city Offlccs OF the Times
has rooms in this building, where ne
IL more Immediately under cUnirU Within the
last twelve months great change has come over
the spirit the Times, wnicn seems to have
aroused lrsell from the lethargc state into winch
II had ialien ana TO be using the enormous re-
iur nnyn q nfasp
pOrarles, 1t undoubtedly possesses. Tnts change
may be ascriped to the advent to increased power
IL now the general manager OF the paper. Mr..
Water, Jr., son OF Jonn Walter ID. r., for Derks,
and the largest owner o, the Journal IS now taKins
ward to as It's future editor.
AN AMERICAN CLUB.
The long felt want Ol American club In Lon.
don Is, IT. Is said, about to be supplied. prOpU-
sltlon Is anoaL to engage hLuse III the best
portion OF Plccadlly, and TO lorm q club which,
tnough not exclusively composed OF Americans,
VIII nave lOr the majority .! ITS members citizens
81 sne uncd m stnss Many 10 OF me
npon the project, ana there would seem TO be no
reason why sucI an establishment should not be
as successful rs the Washington In Paris.
HONORs To LITERATURE.
You Will have heard by caule that Mr.. Disraeli,
world oi literature. proposed 10 recognize the
merits OF two OF It's most distinguished hvlug pro-
lessons, and offered Grand Companlonsnip OF the
Bath to TnOmas Cailyle and bar0nercy TO Alfred
Tennyson. The nonors mus rendered were in
both instances dcclined, as might nave been cx-
pected by thOs, VINO knew the men. Mr.. CARLYLE
Is now IN his elghtleth year. For at least l0rty
years he has been lnvelgnlng with crushing irony
against tituiar ranxs and distinctions as wind
bags and snams, ana 1t " as not likely III his Old
age ne wouu allOw his name to be added to the
list Uf the ''hunkies," 'rorked radlshesn and
"Lismal creatures having the nOnOr 70 be-" as ne
calls them. Win the Poet Laureate tho case was
different. He has children, and his eldest son.
Harold Tcnnys0n, Is saio to DC u bright, capable
young man. But u Daronetcy Is hot nov the
honor 1t was han century ago. 1t has recently
been given as a reward lOr political services 10
rlCn bankers aud pdrDenuS Ol many Kinds to the
doctors who attended tue Prince vi Wales III his
illness TO the city merchant who happened to be
Lord Mayor at the time when any royal visitor
was received by the city OF London. THIS may
nave had something 10 40 with the reason when
induced Mr.. Tenny son TO decline the Orfer. Ger
talnly lie could not nave pleaded want Of funds TO
sustain the dignity, AS Ire Is understood to be u
rcn man, and II he mas not, Ike his own sir
Robert, lands IN Kent and mcssuages IN YORK, he
has very pretty estate In surrey ana another In
rne Isle OF Wight.