Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-04
WHILE MEETINGIN LONDON
Parnellites Very Proud of Their Vic
tory Over Fullam.
CLIMAX OF THE NEW LONDON FAD.
The Missing Word Craze Comes Under the
Governments Ean
DUKE OF EDINBURGH AS A FIDDLER


assumed such large proportions that two
days, Wednesday and Thursday Of next
week, will have to be given up to it. Pro-
tectionists are sanguine of molding the con-
ference to their will, and bi-metallists are
equally confident that they will induce the
great gathering to pronounce in favor of
the double standard as the best remedy for
the depression which, it is the fashion to
say, Is crushing the life out of British agri-
culture
An attempt has been made to lure the
present free trade Minister of Agriculture
into his proteetionist parlor, but Mr.. Gard
ner has declined the spiders invitation to
step in. His letter declining the invitation
is however, very polite, and shows that ne
fully appreciates the importan ce of the con-
ference. After carefully considering the
matter he has, he says, come to the conciu-
sion, although with some regret, that the
official position which he holds precludes
him from being present in an independent
capacity, but the proceedings of the confer
ence f'wiI he watched by the Board of Ag-
Ticulture with sympathetic expectation, and
suggestions will be considered in the re-
speetful spirit which such a meeting de-
IerveG"
A scheme OF the Bi-MetaIIists.
Preliminary steps are, it is said, being
taken toward the formation OF an inde-
pendent Farmers party, but inquiries war
rant the belief that the bi-metallists are at
the back OF this movement and that it will
have no practical result
Mr.. Gladstone took tea the other day
with Mrs. Labouchere and utilized the
occasion to talk politics with her husband,
from which facts it is assumed that Mr.
Lsbouchere has been induced to promise to
obey dutifully the crack of the party whip
next session. But the assumption is quite
wrong. Mr.. Labcuchere will duly play the
part of the candid friend which he has cre-
Rted for himself, and, among other things,
he will make determined attack upon the
Governments policy in Uganda and in
Egypt.
The ParneIIites were naturally jubilant
when they succeeded in having Mr.. Fuilam,
the 1nti-Parnellite who was elected to rep
resent Southmeath in Parliament, deprived
Of his seat, and there is prospect that they
will have further cause for joy in the case
of Michael Dayitt, against whose return
from Northmeath a petition has been pre-
sented to the court As in the case of Mr..
Fullam, clerical intimidation in favor of
Mr. Davitt is charged by the ParnelliteS
To Be Called Down for Intimidation.
It is expected that the judges, after un-
seating Mr.. Dayitt, will report Bishop
Nulty, of Meath, and several priests of that
diocese to Parliament as guilty of intimida-
tion. 1t has been stated that Mr.. Davitt
desires to resign his seat and to stand again
for election without priestlY assistance, but
under the charge of undue clerical infu-
~ pofh ha ell a6 m the
stewardship of the Chlltern hundreds.
Many of Her Majesty's postofices have
displayed signs this week reading, mo
more shilling postal orders; all sold" This
is the latest effect of the "missing word
craze" which has seized Britain. One pool
alone, that managed by Pedrsoa's Weekiy re-
ceived during the week ending last Tues
dav more than 217, 900 shillings, each ac-
companied bv guess as to the missing word
in q phrase the week before. The sentence
occurred at the end Of q paragraph describ-
ing the practice of the Romans who, when
they invaded Britain, are said to have
beaten their bare legs with nettles in order
TO neutrslize the effect of the cold.
A Sample of the Way It's Done.
The closing sentence was: ''To our minds,
such rigorous treatment hardly seems -"
The S54, QUO in the pool was divided among
the go individuals who sent in the word
"enjoyable, 'esch receiving the snug sum of
Sl15 for / shilling risked. 1t looks like an
easy trick, and especially if one makes ju-
dicious use of a book of synonyms and
sends in l5 or 20 words with as many shill-
ingL
At all events, the little game has cap
tured John Bulls rapacious heart, and from
Aberdeen to the Lizard the silver streams
are pouring into London. The pool men,
toned is but one of dozen. The amount
paid in for the current week will probably
exceed 500, 600 shillings, or $4,000.
Here there is 3 great lad or folly, almost
unknown q month or six weeks ago, sud
denly developed into national importance,
and of all others, slow. conservative John
Bull is the victim. With what superior
keorn he would look on ii France or Amer
ics should be swept by such q mental con-
tagion.
The Government Moves Against It
Already public moralists have raised q
loud protest, and the big London dailies,
which print carefully prepared race tips
every day, have united in condemning the
new craze on high moral grounds
Mr.. Gladstoue's government has been
compelled to take paternal cognizance of
the people's reckless scramble to get some
thing for nothing The Treasury has sum-
moned one of the pool managers, the pub
Usher of Pick Ne Dp, to answer in the Police
Court on Monday for violation of the lot
teries act. All publishers running word
competitions will unite in the defense of
the new craze. Their main reliance is that
competitions are contests of skill, not of
chance, and they quote high legal authority
In their support The country is breath
lessly awaiting the issue
Mr. Asouith, Home Secretary, says that
~ the competitions are not pronounced
illegal upder existing laws he will ask Par
lament for special enactment prohibiting
ali prize compositions, which are now the
chief features of cheap wecklisL