The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-08-05
THE SILLY SEASON.
London Editors Trying to Get Fit
ting Topics.
Telegraph Gives Readers Something to
Talk About.

The English custom OF postponing the
holiday season until the last Of July or lst
Of August has never been 40 burdensome
as this year. The summer has already
taken rank as the hottest for 10 years, and
this, coupled with the fact that London
was never more crowded, has made town
life oppressive and exhaustipg for a month
past. Now the annual exodus Is in full
food. In another week Americans and the
toilers of London will be in full possession
of the town. Parliament will sit until
few days later, but parliament no longer
counts Englishmen Of all classes and
parties shake their heads when they refer
to IL and talk about the decadence Of the
house of commons. This, IL should be re-
marked parentheticelly, is all because tho
curse Of too great a victory has just begun
to work It's inevitable Generalization Of
the Unionist party.
But this letter is not to drift into po-
litical discussion. All England is wisely
unanimous In holding politics TO be the
one subject that is barred In this hottest
Of English summers. Londoners, by tho
way, have been using the same strong ad-
jectiyes 30 describe these unusual July tenn
peratures which New Yorkers are wont TO
employ when the mercury rises above 100
degrees In the shade. Now, hot weather
Is only relative term. Day after day,
when Englishmen have been discussing
despairingly the terrific heat" the ther-
mometer has never registered above SS de-
grees. But even that temperature is quito
enough TO forbid popular Interest In any
thing more serious than the silly season"
columns Of the newspapers and the really
pressing affairs Of daily existence
All London turns with more or less Gag
erness every year to The Daily Telegraph
for the teSt OF its "silly season" medita-
tions. The ID. T., as IL is appropriately
known In this connection, never disap-
points its readers. Last year IL was "The
Age Of Love" Before that IL was "Is Life
Worth Living2' But the melancholy list
is too narrowing even TO catalogue. The
process by which the flames Of public in
terest are kindled and then famed into q
conflagration is rather amusing. The sub
ject which Is to be used TO furnish mental
diversion for vacatiopless Londoners Is de-
cldcd upon with great care In editorial con-
claye The cleverest member OF the staff
then prepares letter to the editor" in
which no discusses the topic In as bold and
original a manner as he is able. The let
ter, signed "An Englishman, is printed
with all the prominence that would be
given TO the news of q change OF ministry.
The next day two or three other members
Of the staff, or perhaps the same one under
another signature, take ISSUE with the first
disputant and warmly advocate other
views of the question. Then letters from
"Vox Populi, Another Englishman,"
etc, open fresh lines Of controversy and
are printed with all the display that black
headlines and loaded minion can give
them. Then an editorial appears, In which
the arguments advanced by the various
disputants are discussed with grave i'm
partiality. BY this time the contents of
the editorial mailbag will show whether
the agitation has caught on" If IL has,
the editor has merely 20 select couple of
columns daily from the genuine contribu-
tions sent by his readers In order TO keep
up his silly season sensation" for a
month or more.
The first subject which The d. T. has Sc
lectcd for this summers discussion is
"How to Commemorate the Sixtieth Year
Of Queen Victorla's Reign" Ii will be in
teresting TO note whether this topic will
appeal to the readers of London's" greatest
circulation" newspaper. The discussion
has started off bravcly, and it is being
clcverly managed, with view TO interest
the masses Tho topic lacks the human
nature" element which touches each one
individually, and which has always been
considered Indispensable in reaching the
popular heart. Nevertheless the loyalty of
the English people, as whole, may re-
spond, and, II so, another proof will be
furnished Of tho enormous personal popu-
lnrity of the queen. The Telegraph has
mado tho shrewd suggestion that popular
form OF celebration would be a great fete
. in Hyde park, in which the 700, 900 school
children of London should participate.
There is somo division Of opinion as to
whether the nation should commemorate
on Sept. 23, the day on which the queens
reign becomes the longest In English his
tory, or that some notice be taken in June
next of the completion OF her sixtieth year
upon the throne 1t has already been sug-
gosted in parliament that Sept 23 next
should bo made national holiday. Lon.
don Cor. Now York Sun.