The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-06-16
PLUCKING AMERICANS
LONDON sHOPKEEPERs REAPING A
HARVEST FROM OUR TOURISTS.
Little Money Now Spent by English
the Effects CT Recent Hard Times.

Copyright. 1895. by the Associated Press)
LONDON, June l5.-Strange as II may
seem. in spite OF the fact that London is
more throngei with visitors and tourists
than for several years past, there is gen.
eral complaint that the season is not up
TO the high-weter mark OF former years.
1t is claimed that this is due TO a paucity
Of court functions the frequent absence
of the various branches OF the royal family
from the capital and last, but not least,
TO the fact that many of the great English
families are still compelled to curtail their
expenses considerably in view Of losses OF
various descriptions due to the hardness
OF the times resulting in the contraction OF
rent rolls and other such inconvenience.
As a result OF this economical spirit pre-
vailing among members of the aristocracy
none OF the entertainments given have APP
preached in lavshness those of former
days. Naturally, this state of affairs caused
a good deal of grum5ling among the swell
western tradesmen. but they are some
what making up for ii BY catering TO the
crowds of rich or well-to-do Americans who
are now here for a time at least. brilliant
birds Of passage, who spend their money
royalty.
linen, again, Ill SOCldl tlIClcS Tic Oll NOA1i-
plant is heard again that the young men
who appear at the balls are recruited from
the highways, and that the really smart
young men will not dance and are daily
becoming more difficult to please. AS proof
of this assertion it is stated that for
recent ball the Marchioness OF London
derry herself sent out invitations to tive
hundred bachelors, and yet she only Sc
cured the attendance of 80 OF them. An
other marked. feature of the season is the
decline in popularity of Hyde Park as an
outing ground. This may be due largely
to the fact that bicycles have SUPERSEDED
horses to a great extent and it is found
to be more diverting to watch the wheel
riders in Battersea Park than TO watch
the equestrians in Rotten row. Indeed,
it is now quite 1.-The thing to picnic in Bat
tersea Park formerly looked on as quite
a pebeian resort, and especially to break
fast there.
keepers only salvation lies in the Am
cans who are arriving here in larger nd
bers this season than ever before. As a
result of this influx OF TRANSATLANTIC visitors
the various prominent hotels of London
during the past few days have been doing
really phenomenal business. The M hagers
of four of the largest hostelries have been
interviewed on the subject and they joined
in saying that never before in early June
has there been such rush OF ocean
have been turned away from the big hotels
and among them were many OF the passen-
gers of the new American line steamship -.
Louis, which fine vessel completed her
maiden trip across the Atlantic on Thurs
day morning last. Incidentally, ii may he
mentioned that many of the passengers OF
the st. Louis had trying experiences after
arriving in London. With their baggage.
large and small piled outside and inside
cabs they spent most of Thursday driving
hnu ho y looking for Accommodations at
the hotels or elsewhere. Naturally, TINS
state Of affairs is causing hotel men OF the
t irlslSn saw ca that they are more convinced
every year that London is taking the place
which Paris formerly occupied In the hearts
of Americans for shopping purposes Be
that as it may, there is no doubt that all
the American tourists are making longer
stay here this year than usual.
So far as fashion Is concerned IL is
noticeable the ladies are becoming more
and more startling as the season advances:
For. instance, fashionable west End
| ladies' head gear Poised its front is
| a dove with outstretched wings around
| small riviere of diamonds
The investiture for the birthday hcncrs,
which will be attended by the new knights,
! is to be held by the Queen at Windsor
! castle At o'clock in the afternoon, on
| ceremony promises to be more interesting
than usual. The newly made knights will
| attend a luncheon which is TO be spread
in the famous Waterloo. chamber of the
! castle At 3 o'clock in the afternoon. on
the finally selected day, they will go TO the
| white drawing room where, in the presence
| of officials and number of distinguished
visitors. the Queen will perform the GUS
tomary ceremony of investiture.
Some one who recently heard the Princess
| of Wales speak has rushed into print to
announce that she has such foreign
accent that she says "shannel' for 'chan-
! mel" What is more remarkable is that all
! the members of the English royal family,
/ including the children of the Prince and
Princess. have marked accent
| 1t is announced that the Queens will has
become so long by reasons Of the many
| additions to ii since the document was first
| drawn up that il will now be bound in
| book form.
telephone line to London, Edinburgh.
Belfast, Glasgow and Dublin was. opened
this week with much ceremony. The
charges for three minutes conversation
with Edinburgh or Glasgow are As 6 i SLID;
with Belfast, 6s Cd (sl.69 with Dublin,
rs Cd Gl.S0, and with Liverpool. x, ed
62 cents)
The Bimetallic League is about to move
into big quarters and will make an adj
dition to the number of its clerks. The
league is very active at present and Is
sending out great numbers OF pamphlets
| to all parts.
letter from Florence. Italy, says that
determined attempt has been made to
minimize the recent earthquake as the city
absolutely depends on it's American, Eng
fish and Russian visitors. The letter adds
! that Florence is in dangerous condition
and the churches ard museums are showing
many ominous cracks and that there are
signs of desolatlon everywhere.