Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-10-13
From Our Regular Correspondent
European Letter.
LONDON. Eng, Sept. %, 1880

In addition to the cheering news from
Afghanistan, the people of Great Britain
are rejoicing over rich and abundant
harvest. This fact will do more than
fattering speeches from ministerial bench
es, or even from the throne itself to
appease the discontinued and discouraged
masses, who for the last few years have
found nothing plentiful but wants and
taxes. 1t may almost be said that Gen
eral Roberts victory has saved the sit
uation of the liberal party in England
which has lost heavily since the accession
of Mr.. Gladstone to power, not only in
consequence of a series of military dis
asters in the east but from equally
damaging political events at home. The
Irish disturbance bill fascs had greatly
weakened the majority in the house of
commons, and met defeat of fl We to one
in the lords. The party was rapidly going
astern, and Mr.. Gladstone must have felt
the ground slipping from under his feet,
even while luxur iously floating in the
! GrantiNy Castle. A single brilliant
victory in Afghanistan, although obtained
at heavy cost of British blood and treas
ure. has turned the tide, or, at least,
checked it, and the ministry may now
rest and be thankful" during the long
vacation The session has been long,
and arduous, and most anxious one,
and the results as enumerated in the
queens speech, indicate substantial pro-
gress in the cause of liberal legislation
1t is not 80 much what has been done, nor
what has been left undone that has injured
the party, but what the ministry most I'M
wisely attempted to do, that has given the
liberals such blow between the eyes.
One of the remarkable features of the
London season which has just terminated
has been most lavish display of flowers.
Flowers we're to be seen everywhere in
enormous quantities-in drawing rooms
in corridors, in boudoirs, in banqueting
halls, and on the robes of danes of fash
ion as we'll. One hundred thousand
pounds, it is being said. will not anything
like cover the seasons flower bill OF
fashionable" London. This taste fol
flowers has been growing for some years
and last season it probably eliminated
Never before, at any rate, has there been
seen in the course of few months such
profuson of gay blossoms for household
decoration and personal adjournment. The
London flower trade assumes great var
iety of shapes, from the "buttonhoe" ant
more gorgeous bouquets for use at wed
dings and balls to the costermonger'
barrow. loads of growing flowers in pots
The chief flower factories, as they may bt
called, and the rose and violet ia rms, are
within an hours ride of town. There are
farms whose specially is to provide rose,
for the million, and nothing hut roses
tea roses, white roses, moss roses, fairy
roses, blue roses, and yellow roses; in
short, roses of every size and color, species
and variety.
The only emperor who seems to fear
nothing of his subjects, is Francis Joseph
of Austria. He has been tramping it
through his Polish domains of late and
has been met everywhere with genuine
enthusiasm on the part of the PEG.
pie. They turued out in throngs to
to meet him aud greet him. Their dresses
! are of the most varied and picturesque