The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-14


the effect that the young man is deeply
smitten with the charms of one of the
Prince of Wales daughters, but this may
safely be dismissed as baseless. Cupid also
figures in another version, which has more
probability in it, and the third confidently
asserts that Nazrrilah is merely waiting
for the arrival of consignment of goods
from his father, which he IS to distribute
as presents among those who have been
kind to him here.
But whatever may be the real cause the
fact is that the Shahzada remains, and is
even contemplating giving great recep-
ton at Dorchester House next week, to
which he has invited the Prince and Prin-
cess of Wales and big crowd of notabii-
ties, three-fourths of whom have gone out
of town in consequence OF the abrupt sus-
pension or collapse of the fashionable sea-
son, and who certainly will not come back
to dance attendance upon the Afghan
Prince unless it should be announced that
the Prince of Wales has accepted the in
vitation.
The experiment of making tobacco an
ally of religion promises success in the
estimation of those who have undertaken
it. The invitation to partake of free
smoke at Christ Church Chapel in the East
end on last Sunday was responded to by
more than 200 men, who are the poorest of
the poor. A few came smoking; others
carried pipe i'll their mouths with the
bowl inverted to denote emptiness.
The gentleman who was to conduct the
services and who himself blew cloud
from a brier-root, commenced to distribute
the tobacco. 1t was done economically.
The supply was contained in a bag, and
each recipient received enough to fill two
pipes. By the time all were served and
plentiful wreaths of smoke were curling
roofward, several ladies who were there to
assist in the service took seats on the plat
form and the religious part OF the proceed
ings began.
First there was prayerful exhortation,
and though apparently it was attentively
listened to, it was curious to see the pipe
bowls and tobacco smoke half screened by
one hand, while the eyes were reverently
covered with the other. Then there was a
hymn, in which the female portion of the
congregation joined, but not many of the
men, it being difficult to smoke and sing
at the same time. They were as quiet and
orderly as could be desired.
After that came what they evidently en-
joyed more than all elsa hymn sung
with much sweetness by lady. Probably
they would not have ventured to applaud
it, but the chairman, who still pulled his
brier, clapped hands, and they all followed
with great vigor, their faces testifying how
much they were in earnest.
A chapter was read from the Bible and
the chairman took up the theme. 1t was
the miracle of the six barley loaves and
two fishes. He delivered a simple dis
course that lasted half an hour. BY that
time the limited allowance of tobacco had
been smoked out, and after the browning
hospitality of a cup of tea, with slices of
bread and marmalade for all, the proceed
ings came to an end.
The Sunday afternoon sacred smoking
concert is likely to become permanent in
stitution in Whitechapel.
There is much agitation among the
Paris Conservatives because of the threat
ened abolition of the department. class.
Professor Petitpas, the patriarchal pro-
lessor of maintien, has reached the limit
of age and retired. 1t was he who taught
all the best actors and actresses and sing
ers of this generation TO salute, place
chairs, sign treaties, courtesy, plunge dag
gers into their own and others bosoms,
faint and otherwise intermingle stately
gesture with defamation and song.
NJ. Mounet-Sully of the Theatre Fran
Gals and NJ. Gailhard OF the Opera are en-
deavoring to convince the Ministry of
Fine Arts that unless the chair of Pro-
will suffer. Their opinion is shared by
most of the playwrights and composers.
There is good deal ST comment in Paris
because Lord Dufferin has dismissed all his
French servants at the British embassy in
that city. The necessity of this action was
imperative, and it is startling expose of
one phase of European diplomatic methods
in this day and generation. A couple OF
months ago servant was observed open
ing the ambassadors dispatch-box. The
box was given to him locked by Austen
Lee, whose office is on the ground floor.
The servant procured false key and tam
pered with the box on the staircase. A Sec
ond time he was sent upstairs with dummy
QlSpdtClCo, elA w do ACdOlA5 thCll
by the ambassadors private secretary.
He, of course. was packed off, and the serv-
ants received notice to leave, and have
been charged with excellent characters.
Some years ago, when the same measure
was taken at the German embassy, one OF
the secretaries said it was no use keeping
French servants. Through patriotism,
whether or not strengthened by love OF
gain, certain number invariably endeav-
ored to spy.
The English law is a peculiar thing. For
instance, the Court of Appeals has just de-
cided that a bequest of $4,000 to British
yachting association, the income to be used
to purchase an annual cup for the best
yacht, is illegal. The law says that prop
erty can only be tied up in perpetuity in
favor of a charity, and though, for this
purpose, to charity is allowed the widest
possible meaning. by no court has it been
extended to cover wide variety of objects.
The cup, it was urged, would benefit the
community by encouraging yacht-building
and good seamanship, but there are few
sports which do not indirectly benefit the
community, and the Court of Appeals
could not see its way to regard the en-
couragement of sport as being charitable,
even in the mildest sense of the term.