Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-14
CLUB TALK IN LONDON.
The Habits and Personal APPeAranDs ol
Gordon Cumming.

BURNING A DUKES KFFEcTs-REFoRN m III
MANAoKHENr OF YuNIRAIs-A STORY o
FALLEN PArD1 m xoscow-ns. BURNETT =
RETURN SOON.
Special Cable Letter to The Evening Star.
LONDON, Feb. A.-Sir William Gordon Cum
ming has come from the background in whic
most people are content to spend the term o
their natural lives, and has been made to tax
his place in the center of the stage during tn
performance Of the new society drama, 9TH
Double Stake, or Did He Do It." Everybod
is watching him more or less and commenting
on how he bears himself in his new character
which may turn out to be the hero Of tn
comedy. The new leading man, who is forty
three years old, is light, with fair hair and q,
oval face He wears a small, bristly mustache
which he Is in the habit of drawing down will
his teeth and biting. When in London he live
in small house, 2 Harriet street, Lovndea
square. S.W., neat abode. which he took ovel
from Tommy Bowles," who was at one tim,
editor OF Vanity Fair. Here in the long din
Ing room, which is decorated with antlers anG
fine heads Of wild beasts from all countries, 70,
SIR william has shot big game both in Americs
highness the Prince of Wales. and many is thu
little party of ladies of high rank who have par
taken Of his hospitality.
BURNING A DUKES PERSONAL EFFECTS.
The great holocaust or pyre which burned al
Woburn Abbey for the purpose of consuming
the personal effects of the late Duke of Bed
ford, was strange and uncomely function
enough. A week ago two loads of faggots were
arranged after the fashion of the incubation in
tine middle ages in lonely spot near the abbey.
When the pyre was complete several boxes and
packages closely wrapped up in cere cloths
were brought out and cast on the pile of fagget Is.
Ihe bystanders were wildly excited and leaped
around, around, around, around"
about about, about about"
like the Macbeth" witches round the magic
caldron. The boxes would not burn. Mys.
terious rumors were breathed from mouth to
mouth, and the more superstitious limited that
the manner Of the dukes death had something
to say to the incombustibility Of his boxes
They would not burn any more than witchs
cat would drown. However, at last, with fear
and trembling, the boxes were broken open,
and all the wardrobe, from boot to bonnet, Of
the deceased magnet Uttered the ground. One
OF the canes was a portentous affair, presented
70 the late duke by some foreign potentate. At
the sight Of this wonderful staff Lord Hide
brand Russell started and grew pale, then,
with an excited and nimble leap, he snatched ii
from the flames and brandished it in triumph
The cause Of this incineration was a codicil
to the dukes will, which commanded that all
fashion Of the King Of Dahomey. Had there
been duchess she would doubtless have been
made the heroine Of q grand ''suttee," but in
default the boots and breeches were made to
take the place Of honor. The late nobleman
was determined to have full kit of clothes to
stand up in at the great uprising. After the
sacrifice the people felt relieved and went away
with chastened exultation,
FUNERAL Reform
few months ago Paris set a fashion which
there is talk about following. This was move
ment for funeral reform, and the cry now
comes up none too soon. The extravaganza for
funeral wreaths in which it has been the custom
to indulge, and which has daily been growing
greater, has at length worked it's own ruin and
has provoked the movement against this costly
fashion. At q funeral which occurred short
time ago the drawing room Of tho house of
mourning was 80 full Of flowers that only four
people could step into it at one time. Once in
q while one could not help admiring the show
The chairs and tables, the sofas the piano, the
pictures on the walls and the floor, everything
and everywhere the blossoms and wreaths Gov,
cred.
The reformers suggest that the notice Of the
death which appears in the papers should end
with the announcement: mo flowers" A
novel argument against the sending of these
tributes is that the petals Of the flowers serve
to keep the germs which are given off from the
dead body. and in the case Of people who die
from infectious diseases they may become a
positive source of danger, and like the bunch
OF roses which her jealous rival sent to Adrienne
Lecouvreur, be absolutely death dealing. Then
again the custom of preserving these wreaths is
denounced by many medical men, who contend
that they, containing as they do morbifc
bacteria, are a constant source Of danger and
menace to the healthy life Of those who after
ward occupy the rooms.
STORY FROM MOSCOW.
News comes that Moscow society is very much
upset by an incident which amuses the average
Anglo-Saxon mind and recalls in a dim way one
OF the heroines whom we all delight to honor.
1t appears that subscription Of million
roubles was required, but whether the object
was not sufficiently popular or the persuasive
powers OF the promoters not up to the mark.
the fact remains that the not altogether insig.
nlficant sum OF three hundred thousand roubles
was required. Urged by that necessity which
we are taught labored and brought forth inven-
ton the mayor bethought himself Of a rich
merchant and to him he appealed for aid. Dives
received the magistrate as Dives would and the
magistrate stated the case with all the eloauence
demanded
..Yes, said the merchant, 81 will help you"
II knew your kind heart would not DENY INV
request" interrupted the mayor
ION one condition." went on the merchant
Clear me out"
u accept the condition unheard," said the
mayor. What is it?''
''Simply that you 60 down on your knees and
beg me to give you the money"
why mott" replied the mayor.
And without more ado he went on his knees
and in that position of humiliation he asked for
the coin the charity needed-and got il. Like
another Godiva he had sacrificed his pride and
the dignity Of his position, but he had Gained
the money for the town.
Society is very much concerned and ia
anxious to know whether or not its honor is
lost The casuists are arguing both sides of
the question with great vehemence and Moscow
has at last got something to talk about in place
Of PATHS refusal to 60 there to sing, which has
been for some time the staple subject of con-
versation in that city.
PERSONAL NorEs.
Mrs. Frances Hodgson Burnett will take her
departure from England and return to WASH
ington. where she will set to work on two stories
and play which she has long contemplated.
but which have been postponed owing prima.
rily to the illness and then to the sad death of
her son.
The Countess Lilly Lewenhaupt. who was
formerly Miss Wilson Of New York, continues to
be one Of the most feted of the many bellies in
Stockholm during the season. A few days ago
she was received into the high social order Of
the !nnocents, and at the ball given by the
minister Of foreign affairs she had the honor of
dancing with Prince Eugene Of Sweden.
The Swedish government has sent an ac-
acknowledgement through Mr.. w. W. Thomas, IT,,