Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-08-25
From Our Regular Correspondent
Orr European Letter.

LONDON. Eng, Aug. 10, 1880.
There is a strong effort being made In
England to induce the government to
lower the inland telegraph rate from a
shilling to sixpence, for a dispatch Of
twelve words, with another half penny for
each additional word. and Mr.. Fawcett
the able administrator Of the postofice,
iavors the reduction. OF course, the
people will unanimously support the
movement, and it only needs the induce
ment Of the chancellor of the exchequer
and the appreciation of the ministry to put
the reform into execution. The energy and
efficiency with which the telegraph system
is managed here proves the advantage o.
the government ownership of the lines
No rival companies have to be consulted
and no private interests TO be considered
The telegraph is really branch of the
postoffice, and quite as much belongs tc
the public. and it would be far better for
the general interest of the people. if, in
all countries. dispatches sent by electricity
were managed by the same authority and
controlled by the same head, as commu
nications by post. All advanced civilized
nations will soon come to this. and the
next great step in national progress will
be the adoption of all railways by the
state, which should be run for the benefit
of the people. and not for private com
panies or individuals. In this country
under government management, the prof
lite IF the telegraph business are constantly
and rapidly increasing. The net amount
of profit for the first three months of the
present year reached 100000. and it is
estimated that the profits of the telegraphic
service for the entire year will not be less
than 100000. Here is substant ial
argument for reducing the tariff. which
would be tantamount to division of the
profits among the people who make use Of
the wires.
The London season is breaking up. In
spite of the delusion that parliament rules
everything the fashionable world
men and women of all classes, fashionable
and questionable, are fast leaving Lon
don. Some 60 to the north for grouse
shooting. q still greater number to the
Isle of Wight. and especially to Cowes for
yachting. Those who neither yacht or
shoot are preparing to visit the continent
or some of our numerous seaside places,
of which the one now attracting most
attention is Scarborough on the Yorkshire
coast. A new spa, or kursaal. or casino,
or something of the kind is about to be
opened at Scarborough; and in honor of
the event JudeS MaccaboSuS is for some
mystic reason to be performed As Mrs.
Osgood and many of the best English and
American singers are engaged for the
occasion, the musical celebration will GER
tainly not be without interest. Those,
who have no taste for music
may regale their eyes with the sight of no
less than twentyfour mayors, who have
been invited from various parts of England,
and who are expected to attend in their
robes with official chains of gold round
heir necks Scarborough is in more than
one sense the most entertaining of all our
places. Instead of taking their
meals apart as at other English hotels, the
'esdents at the hotels If Scarborough
meet two or three times a day-for break
asst, lunch and dinner-at tables d hote:
md it is customary during the season for
he inmates of one of the three or four
hotels recognized as being of first order,
o invite the inmates of the other hotels of
he same class to balls, picnics and excur-
ions of various kinds.
Our Italian vocalists, or vocalsts of
arious nationalities belonging to our
Italian companies, are taking flight in the
most opposite directions. Nine. Marie
soze and Nine. Trebell 90 to Mondor,
where the waters are supposed to have a
good effect on the throat and
m the singing powers generally; Nine.
nilsson is on the point of starting for
Aixles Balns; while Nine. Albani has
Ilready started for Spa. Mime. Patti
will take her rest at the castle she has
purchased in Wales.