The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-25
EVIL OF LONDON SOCIETY
VANITY FAIR CALLS ATTENTION TO
THE GROWTH OF INTEMPERANCE.
Women Are as Bad as the Men-Lady
Henry Somerset Resigns the Presi-
dency of the British w. T. A.

for bringing into prominence the intemper
ance habit of society. In the course of a
long article the Vanity Fair says: THE
women are as bad as the men, Prob bly,
the length of the London season is chiefly
responsible for the evil. From the begin
ming of May TO the end of July the sea-
son is one stretch of fatigue. Long be-
fore the first six weeks are over pleasure
has become nothing but pain. The women
drag themselves YEARLY from house to
house, and manage to do this by the aid
of incessant stimulants."
Developments at the inquest which fol-
lowed the terrible death of Mrs. Frances
SamuelsOn. whose hair, while in the hands
of the hairdresser, took fire as the result
of the petroleum hair wash being used to
dress it, have caused the most intense in
terest 1t appears that this wash, which is
called Petrole, has been generally used of
late in London. The newspapers are filled
with interviews on the subject and a ques-
ton will be asked in the House of Com
mons with a view of prohibiting the i'm
portation of the article
Lady Henry Somerset has resigned the
presidency of the British Woman's Temper
ance Association. She recently addressed
sociations asking them not to approve or
sign petitions to Lord George Hamilton,
secretary of state for India, against the
renewal of the contagious diseases acts for
India. The branches, almost without ex-
ceptiOn, refused to be governed by Lady
Henrys request, and she has consequently
resigned the presidency of the association.
The letters of Mr.. Stevens, the Daily
Mail correspondent now at Beyruth give
an amusing picture of discomfort, solemni-
ty and extortionate prices during the prog
ress of the Wagner performances. He
says: LAS we crawled nearer the place
we seemed entering an outlying province
of a country town. All down the long
train buzzed the American tongue. Out
of each window looked a group of Ameri-
can girls. Four girls and a woman to one
elderly, weary looking man was the pro-
portion; and as it always, happens the
man was working away with the baggage,
the porters and guards, and getting re-
freshments for the comfort of the girls
1t is announced that the Hon. Winston
Churchill, eldest son of the late Lord Ran
dolph Churchill. will stand for Parliament
in the Conservative interest at the next OPP
portunity Lord Randolph's younger son,
John Henry Churchill now seventeen years
of age, will study for the bar.
The Earl of Rosslyn, who has been prom
inent in the Prince of Waless set and
mixed up in private theatricals and sport
ing matters with the Prince, was in court
on Thursday in a moneylending transac-
ton anything but creditable to him. he
judge, in charging the jury, said there was
and that was shady Earl Rosslyn had
asked a money-lender to let him have $500.
The latter had agreed to make the advance
if the earl would give him a due bill for
G375 and purchase a perfumery business
for 5000. This, continued the judge, the no
BILE earl did. and now sought to evade pay
ment of $500 because the perfumery was
not worth ESQ. THE noble earl continued
the judge, has put himself in a very awk
ward position; but the money-lender is en-
titled to the ordinary rights of a British
subject, and Earl Rosslyn cannot evade
payment"
General Miles, having finished his investi-
cation of the military system in England,
has gone to Carlsbad, from which point he
will go to Russia where he will meet the
Car He has asked permission to inspect
the Russian troops. In England General
Miles has been afforded every privilege.
He has been permitted to visit the arsenals
and barracks, to sample the soldiers ra
lions and to examine their equipments.
Though some of the newspapers recently
protested against the granting of such priv
ileges to foreign officers from the continent,
no mention has been made of General Miles
in this connection.
Ali Paris is discussing Tuesdays duel be-
tween Catulla Mendez, the poet, and Lugne
Poe the actor and manager of the Ceuvre
Theater. arising out of a literary quarrel
1t was the first time Poe had fought, while
Mendez was an experienced duelist. The
fight was long drawn out, and the fate OF
the French duelling system is involved, be-
cause the question is raised whether an adj
versary may indefinitely run away from the
point of his opponents sword distinctly
leVeled for the encounter. Poe adopted re-
treating tactics until his adversary flung
down his sword, saying that he was ready
to die from exhaustion if necessary, but not
from fatigue from running after a poltroon.
Poes seconds declined challenges, but sew
eral duels are expected to follow.
At an interesting sale of relics of Bonnie
Prince Charlie this week the highest price
paid for a single lot was $3.50, given by ].
L. Johnson, of Chicago, for bedstead used
by the prince three nights before the battle.
The Beresford-L orillard stable has won
e5S1 in stakes alone during the American
season Another American horseman has
aggregated &1,1S3.
The rifle competitions at Bisley this week
have provoked a curious variety of opinion
among the experts, but they are all agreed
as to one thing, and that is that the shoot
ing has been too good" Dozens made the
highest possible score, repeating the feat
during the shooting Off Some new method
of scoring is now imperative.
After his disastrous attempt on two con-
tinents to infuse the breath of popularity
into THE Seats Of the Mighty" Beerbohm
Tree has hit on an undoubted success in
1.-THE Silver Key" The play is another
pretentious display of the romantic school,
with gentlemen in velvet and buckles and
wigs and laces and many fine phrases and
much galantry, as was the ill-fated THE
Seats of the Mighty" Yet it pleased the
public, which is the final test. The sale of
seats has attained an unusual figure and
Mr. Tree will probably make tbe play his
mainstay for next season.
The Tree of Knowledge" which George
Alexander is to produce at the St. James,
will be q return to the problem play. The
heroine will be a woman with a past whose
tribulations are to be portrayed by Julia
Second Mrs. Tanqueray," which Mr. Car
tons play is said to resemble. The stua.
tons of the play are undoubtedly strong
and the final act is said to be particularly
effective.
Anthony Hope Hawkins in response to
question by the correspondent as to the
report that he was engaged to Miss Ethel
Barrymore, who is now playing in Secret
Service in London, said: There is no
truth in it whatever The papers have had
me engaged to several young ladies and l
could not marry all of them If even any
of them would consent" He was asked if
he would write book on America after
his return from the trip to the United
over there" he replied. Indeed, l will be
there too long to write any impressions. l
understand that no traveller ever writes q
book who stays in a country more than a
week and l will be in America three
William Gillette is staying at the Isle of