The morning call., 1894-02-01

oy more money than il earnings ana eX-
penses are reduced by 30 per cent.
A commission is now sitting IN San
francisco taking evidence. as to the work.
Ing Of what is known as the Torrens sys-
lem Of land transfer, as il exists in Aus
traiia and portions of Europe. This
method of recording title enables one
search into the records, accompanied by
registration, TO answer all purposes OF
transfer. and is thus a sure mode OF es-
tabllshing proprietOrship, and Is very
| economical in the costs OF transfer. Any
plan which simplifies and cheapens trans
| Ter and gives absolute security is certain
| to be welcomed by real estate dealers and
| buyers. The commi ssion Is unders ood TO
be In favor of the TOrrens system In geh-
eral, but there are points OF detail to ad-
just, and it does not favor compulsory
application.
Chicago is said to have In its jails the
astounding number of 125 murdeTers. Per-
| haps not more than ten will be brought to
the gallows. In a smaller community a
few would perhaps be ushered out OF life
by Judge Lynch, but in Chicago the law
has its run, and very edifyng is Its course
In the case of murder. Other large cities
have considerable numbers OF like criml-
mails on their hands. Some OF them are so
long In jail awaiting yerdicts that they be-
gin TO think themselves aggrleved.
William Astor's paper in London is not
just the authentic source the news OF
Gladstone's retirement may be expected
from if the aged Premier has resolved to
stand aside and let younger men try. The
news is discredited. There are signs that
the Tories are now prepared to deal with
the Irish question in some broad form.
They are yielding to the evident drift of
public opinion that the principle Of home
rule is not revolution, but conservative
action likely 10 promote cohesion and sta
bility. Gladstone has carried this prin-
clple into recognition. and, foreseeing its
realization, he M ight be content to leave
the actual working out of the arrangement
to those who comprehend his plans and
ideals. 1t would delight the Tories be-
yond measure If he were to retire. They
have no other champions TO encounter at
all the equal of his mettle. But the report
is only father TO the wish of The Pail Mall
Gazette. which, from being radical organ,
is now Tory. Mr.. Gladstone is DOW at
BlarritZ, the guest of his friend Mr.. Ar
Unlisted, and Is laying in store of health
for the ordeal of the coming session, which
will not commence TIL March. IL was
proved last year that Mr.. Gladstone actu-
terry by the ard work of the session. He
was the hardest worked man in Parlia-
ment
Robert Buchanan, the poet and drama
tist. has with familiar egotism started a
controversy on the prosecution of Henry
Vizeteily for publishing translation of
ZOla's novels and on the freedom of litera-
lure. Law is law, and Vizetelly might
have kept out of Jail by keeping his PROM
ise. In 1888 he was prosecuted for pub
fishing certain work. He. admitted pub
lication and was fined $500 and liberated
on undertaking not to renew the offsnse.
There was then no thought of mprisoning
him. But in May. 1859. he was again ar
rested, and the Solicitor General said the
offence was now serious, because Vizelelly
had deliberately broken mis- undertaking
not to publish more Zola translations.
lola, on his recent visit to England, was
very friendly with his translator, but il is
a curious fact that he was averse to his
translations. In an interview he declared
that he would much rather see the edu-
Gated English read his writings in French
than give transiatiOIs to the uneducated
who could not comprehed him. And still
more strange, in view of the character of
La Terre" and POT Bouille." Is the novel;
lists declaration tnat "civlliZed society
should seek to defend itself against the con-
taminating influence of those writers who
would make capital by pandering TO the
morbid desire for obsceniiy which exists
more or less In all communities" He adds
that ''obsce nifty being a criminal offense
should be dealt with by an ordinary crimi-
nal court" In this utterance Zola must
have had in view writer's very far down in
the debaEch of coarseness.
According to Lady Jeune. who writes on
dinners and dining in the North american
ReUielc. the best test of popularity in So
ciety is the number of dinners person
Is invited to eat during season. Popular
people who can entertain, tell good story,
join In conversation with tact and who
are well known do not require 10 dine at
home. They are besieged with Invitations
and have their choice Of agreeable society.
When they settle down, however, as mar
rying may be termed. they must pay for
their own dinners and those of many
guests, and the very entertaining bachelors
who are not well off, but just have enough
to dress on and pay club dues, are thus in
duced to remain celibates. The wealthy
OF London are now turning night into day
by their habits. The average time set for
a dinner among the fashionable is S:15,
and the first course may not be served un-
I'll quarter before Q and the last perhaps