New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-20


degree Of assurance when trade balances are
heavily against Europe. American stocks, espe-
cially those of the speculative class. have been
depressed along with South African and other
shares raying ftfully after every decline
This depression is due to general causes. and
also to unfavorable reports OF leading Amerl-
can railways. which do not yet show marked
increase Of business.
Two notable law cases have been decided by
the London courts One Is medical siahuer
suit: one physician thought that his brother
case had been grossly mismanaged by aho,hef
doctor and commented upon 1t sharply. Inc
second physician brought suit for libel and won
It after a prolonged struggle, receiving 80 oail
ages 1t is q doctors quarrel ana Is not YET
ended, for the case has been appealed. Inc
obvious moral is that ordinary medical etiquette
IS well founded and that doctors ought not u
talk too much about professional ignorance Inc
other suit has been the main topic or conVersa-
ton in the West End during the week. IL WIS
q libel action brought against MI. Lapoucheie
by q begging letter-writer who had been eXposeu
by Truth" after receiving 500 from the hoyai
Bounty Fund at the instance of Mr.. Arthur Bar
four This ministerial mendicant conducted HIS
own case. but was exposed in a destructive
was finally laughed out of court. verdict was
not rendered against him until he had persisted
IN calling Mr.. I.abouchere to the witness box.
The courtroom resounded with merriment DUR
ing this fencing bout, and the entire trial was as
funny as French farce. The verdict leaves MT
Balfour in the awkward position Of having al
lotted to an unworthy applicant portion OF the
roval bounty designed for unfortunate literary
mon. 1t also overwhelms Mr. Labouchere with
well-merited tributes on all sides for his pubic
spirit in exposing can't humbug and imposture;
and this really is his browning virtue
over 1000 dolls on exhibition that night in
Albert Hall for the final masquerade and re-
cepton before going into retirement In hospitals
inhrmaries and warehouses. seemed to roll their
ewes and be beside themselves with delght Whiie
the great throng Of visitors sossipped ABOUT 'he
trial II was marvellous show OF COILS III GUS
tunes designed by fashionable Jenny "rehs Oh
the West End. and with bewildering stage
setting Of $4,000 toys. purchased Tor the neg
,oc,ed children of London with Truths toy
fund Pitt Sing. Amy Robsart the HaE
Parisienne the Light of the Harem. Charleys
Aunt. the Due de Montpensier. Lohengrin. Mr.
Gladstone, Henry VIII, Francis !, the Mistress
Of the Hounds and the Queen OF the May
all took part in this masquerade or Wonderland
Among the most daintily dressed dolls were
those costumed by Mrs. Alexander and Mrs
Trueftt. but the loveliest of all was one dressed
nv Marie Corelli and named after little Jessa-
mine Dale Of 1.-THE Mighty Atom" To complete
this beautiful charity for the poor children OF
London and TO make it worthy Of the best
Christmas traditions Of Dickens. $4,000 crackers
and 1900 sixpences fresh from the mint were
added.
hot OH
40 the Truth office every year with an at
tendant bearing a bag Of sixpences for poor
children and a letter explaining the object or
his benevolence His name has never Deen
revealed II he died two years ago. as Is gen.
orally believed, the instructed executors con-
tinue his bounty so long as the truth 10y
Fund shall remain in operation.
English country houses are already filed fo-
The Christmas holidays and the midwinter
shooting There has been great revel at wei
heck Abbey where the Duke Of York with the
Duke of Devonshire and the Duke of MARI
borough has been shooting over the preserves
OF the Duke of Portland. There was splendid
country ball for 500 guests in the picture gal
lery Illuminated with 1000 incandescent lights;
Jenkins was on hand to describe 1t with fervid
rhetoric and nothing was lacking TO make the
rova, visit an impressive social event Lord
Rosebery has been entertaining shooting
party at Mentmore. The Marquis OF Bath has
discontinued his usual Christmas gift OF meat
and bread to the villagers Of Longleat on the
novel plea that Sir William Harcourts death
duties have imposed an intolerable burden upon
his estate This is the arstocratic method OF
Furnishing Radicalsm; yet Radicalism oc-
casionally gains recruits among peers; the ne"
Lord Darnley Is described with bated breath
ny a Conservative journal strong Radical
but when bill of particulars Is furnished MS
Radicalism reduces itself to hostility TO vac
cination and muzAlins Of dogs
The marriage of Mrs. J. Coleman Drayton 10
Mr. George o. Haig, member OF wei-Kho"h
London mercantile house. was quiet cere-
rnony. attended by small company OF ac-
ou.,n,apces General Patrick Collins signed the
church register and the wedding breakfast was
served at the brides house in Mayfair
Christmas shopping has gone on merrily dur
ing the week. While only two hours or sun
shine have been officially reported the holiday
trade is reported to be heavier than IN recent
wears Certainly the prices obtained TOT Dric-a-
brac and old silver at the holiday auctions al
Christies and elsewhere have been hieh. An
exception is to be made in the case of splendid
relic OF William Pitt a silver salver with coat
of-arms crest. motto and euiogistic inscription
This brought only GA 1ss. under the hammer
The holiday markets are so well supplied with
rame that good beef mutton may almost be
considered Injuries for a Christmas dinner.
An exhibition of water-colors by the old mas
,ers ~ the English school has on opened at
tho Guildhall but does not compare favorably
with the UNIQUE show of last spring. Three one
man exhibitions are nearly ready. The classical
works of Lord Leighton VIII be shown at the
ROYAL Academy: Mr. Watts's symbolic art VIII
ne illustrated al the New Gallery; and the WORKS
NJ Ford MADDOX Brown Will he collected al the
Grafton Gallery. -Four Cainsboroushs have been
added to the National Gallery. two landscapes
and portraits of his daughter Margaret and two
ne. dogs Mr.. Frank Bowcher has carried off