The herald., 1897-11-21

cal style, and on Thursday night the
Minister of Agriculture, Walter Long
speaking at large political meeting, de-
voted his entire speech to defense OF
4 his position. He quoted statistics show.
ing the rapid decrease of rabies since the
| introduction of the order. In 1895, he
said there were Cos cases of rabies in
England, adding that in 1897 there Were
only 141 cases, while of these only 81
have occurred since June.
!; MINOR MATTERS
The continued fine, mild weather has
added to the enjoyment OF the country
house parties which are in full swing in
all parts of England.
The autumn has developed two fresh
specimens of the new woman" among
the aristocracy. Lady Clifford is per-
sonally hunting with barriers regu-
larly, while the Duchess of Bedford
shire knocks over high rocketing pheas-
ants with the best shots among men.
The storekeepers of London are in
arms over the visit of the Prince of
Wales, their best patron. to large de-
partment store this week. The heir ap-
parent carefully inspected the estab-
lishment and made numerous purchases.
The joy caused among the charitable
institutions last week by the probatinS
of the will of the late John Thomas Nor
ton. a big jam and provision exporter,
who left e500,000 to charity to the ex-
clusion of his heirs, had curious SET
back in the case of the Moravian Church
Missions, whose bequest of 9250.000
promises to be white elephant of the
most formidable and costly kind. The
Secretary of the missions has published
a letter appealing to the friends of the
organization to cease their congratula-
tions. explaining that while the money
beuueathed will not be availa BILE for
long time. when it is actually paid not
penny is to be devoted to the existing
missions, but is to be spent in establish
ing entirely new enterprises. In other
words. the unfortunate legatees have
been saddled with an obligation to apply
the immense sum exclusively to the es-
tablishment of missionary undertakings
which they will not have the means to
support.
The Lord Mayor of London, Mr.. Ho-
ratio David Davies. has declined the Of
fer of Mr.. David Seller. Chairman of the
London Tramway Company, who Of
fered to present the corporation of Lon
don with the nucleus of an art gallery.
Mr.. Sellar's contribution consisted of
about 200 old Dutch, Italian and English
pictures.
The declnation of the Lord Mayor is
owing to the varied character of the
works. but it is an open secret that the
alleged Gainsboroughs Constabes and
other old masters, after an examination
by experts. have been found to be hard
ly of the character to form the ground
work of the city of London Art Gallery.
An episode of peculiar interest was the
enactment by clergymen on Wednesday
last in Canterbury Hall of the first
church play in recent years. 1t was en-
titled The Conversion of England" was
written by the Rev. Henry Cresswell
and was really a succession of ten his
torical tableauX with the dialogue stilt-
ed. heroic strain to the accompaniment
of sacred music. The scene included Il
Roman market" where English slaves
attracted Pope Gregory's attention.
meeting between Pope Gregory and the
monks, with King Ethelbert on the ISL
and of Thanet, and King Ethelbert's
baptism at Canterbury. The central
figure of the production is St Augustine.
The costumes, scenery and chants were
historically accurate, being the result Of
researches in the museums of London,
Dresden and Stockholm. The play is de-
scribed as "dreary entertainment"
There are only four of the London
theaters whose doors are not opened
although the season is hardly under
way. and two of the four will be filled
early in next month. Yet hardly more
than half of the thirty playhouses are
paying their running expenses. Various
theories are advanced for the failure of
the London theaters to pay, the most
credited one being that the increase of
suburban playhouses is keeping subur
ban playgoers at home. Another factor
which unquestionably counts is the price
for seats An orchestra stall in
. London theater costs ten shillinSs
($2 50) while other seats are correspond
ingly high. Yet no theater can cut the
rates without losing caste.
"Satans Invisible World Displayed"
or "Despairing Democracy is the SEN
title Of a sensational book deal
ing with the Greater New York cam
paign which w. y. Stead. editor of the
Review of Reviews will giv4 to the pub
lie of England and America next month
as the fruit of his recent trip across the
water. This book is to be companion
piece Of If Christ Came to Chicago