The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-02-18

LONUVtf Il w.
The illustrious possessors OF famil-
lar titles seem to be determined that
the middle class shall have, as far as
possible. a monopoly of London just
now. Nothing ike the exodus OF the
peerage from the capital and from
England, which has taken place this
winter, has ever been Witnessed
Dukes and duchesses, lords and Ia
dies, arc as plentiful along the Rive
ra as they will be in Hyde Park amer
Easter. Family mansions are closed
in Plccadilly, ia Mayfair, in Belgrs-
via, in the fashionable quarters with
in stones throw of Regent street,
and their proprielors are summing
themselves st Cannes or Nice, at
Mentone or Monacs. To Pass and
Biarritz there rolls the same migrate
nv wave. It's Influences are even
felt on the shores Of Asia aud Africa
A trip to COostsGtinople is now far
less Of an achievement than was q
pilgrimage to Paris thirty years ago;
an expedition to Algiers or Egypt Is
not regarded as exceeding the limits
of commonplace ques. after warmth
in winter.
Whenever the rich aud great go,
thither en- immense multitude Of those
who may be rich, but are rot great,
are certain TO repair. Middle class
society cortrives to be ss comfortable
as cUuld DO expected under the de-
pressing circumstances. IL dimes and
dances, walks and rides, and general
ly enjoys itself, much as it would do
if il were basking in the rays OF patri-
cian sunshine, or even in the smiles
Of Royalty. Some of the greet tribe
of tosdies and parasites may be dis
consulate; professional scandslmon-
gers may mourn the absence OF per-
sons who, when 10 London, furnish
them with an extensive capital, or
may feel stimulated to give a loOser
rein TO q malignant fancy by the dis
tanee which separates them from the
subjects Of their favorits themes the
Tittlebas Titmice of the town may
lament that they cannot feast their
eyes on the august equipages each
particular feature Of which they know
by heart. But the gaiety of the cap
ital is far from being eclipsed, aud the
mighty aud complex machinery OF
London life works with the same pre-
cision as usual.
Uatortuoateiy, however, there IS a
point 10 view from which csPltsi,
bereft for an extended period Of It's
titled aristocrscY, is very serious
matter. To the London tradesman
an absentee peersge is no JOKE, and
the passionate preference for foreign
over English pleasure haunts and
Fairgrounds which the British nobil-
ity nov EXHIBITS means a grave busi-
ness loss. West E1d shOpkeepers
are credited with the same power Of
which is the traditional
quality of the farmer; and the cry
that business is bad is interpreted as
one of sound and fury, signifsing no
thing.
As matter Of fact, the Industrial
and commercial condition Of London
is Just nov deplorable Some idea
of the prostratiOn which exists NAV
be formed from the meeting of the IN
employed 10 Hyde Park On Saturday
last. OF course large proportion OF
those who then came together are
systematic idlers aud loafers; but this
does not greatly detract from the sig
niieance Of the occasion. 1t Is not
only the building trade which is now
in q coGditiou OF abnor-
NAL depression. Dealers in oil these
articles Of luxury which have become
necessities 10 the well-to-do see, or
imagine that they see, ruin ADD hanS-
ruptcy staring them in the face. In
former years, if the dukes, aud mar
quises, and lords generally were nOs
in London, they were in England,
and the stream OF commerce between
the capital and the eountry-seats Of
the nobility and gentry flowed stead
lily.
Now they have crossed the sea,
and the only chance which the Lon
don trader has Of securing their pat
ronage would be to found branch es-
adjustments on the shores Of the
Mediterranean. The evil, as far as
the trader is concerned, is aggravated
by the maIign Influence of eo-OPers-
tion. If the superstitious belief in
the superior excellence of the stores
continues, and if the habit of spending
four or i've months of every year
abroad becomes confirmed among the
a,istocraey, the London tradesman
will sooner or later become as discon-
tented as the Irish tensntry. They
will not be without a good reason for
a dissatisfaction which may be des-
tined to have some unforeseen results.
If they choose to make their power
felt at the polling-booths when a gen
eral election comes, there is nothing
TO prevent their doing so; and, if they
chose to do so, one can scarcely be
surprised. With an appeal TO the
constituencies looming in the near ia
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