The record-union., 1897-11-21
Raised to the Dignity of a Grave
Political Question,
Generally Disturbing the Peace Of the Cab
met Ministers.


dred Thousand Pounds 20 Char
ity, to the Exclusion of His
Heirs, Has Setback.
LONDON. Nov. 90 copyrighted By
the Associated Press, 1887 )-The dog
is admittedly playing a very i'm
pertant part in the politics of Great
Britain, the discomfort of dog owners
at the rigorous muzzling orders. which
have now been two years in force, hav-
ing raised the muzzle to the dignity of
grave political question. There is
abundant evidence that it influenced the
recent by-elections and that it is gem
orally disturbing the peace of the Min
lsters. The Marquis of Salisbury. dur
ing the course of his speech at the AL
pert Hall on Tuesday last admitted this
IN his usual cynical style, and on
Thursday night the Minister of Agri-
culture. Walter Long, speaking ar a
large political meeting, devoted his en-
tire speech to a defense of his position.
He quoted statistics showing the rapid
decrease of ra bies since the introduc
tlon of the order. In 1895, he said.
there were Cos cases of rabies in Eng
land, adding that in 1897 there were
only l41 cases, while of these only 81
nave occurred since June
The continued fine, mild weather has
added to the enjoyment of the country
house parties, which are now 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 a pack of barriers reg
ulariy, While the Duchess of Bedford
mas established her reputation as a
hrst-ciass shot, and in Bedfordshire
knocks over high rocketing pheasants
with the best shots among the men.
The storekeepers of London are in
arms over the visit of the Prince of
Wales, their best patron, to a large
department store this week. The heir
apparent carefully inspected the estab-
llshment, and made numerous pur-
chases.
The joy caused among the charitable
Institutions last week by the probating
OF the will of the late John Thomas
Morton, a big jam and provision ex-
porter, who left 100000 to charity. to
the exclusion Of his heirs, had a curious
setback in the case of the Morayian
Church Missions, whose beuuest of
t2o0,O00 promises to be a white ele-
phant of the most fornidab BILE and costly
kind. The Secretary of the missions
has published letter appealing to the
friends of the organization to cease
their congratulations, explaining that
while the money bequeathed will not be
available for a long time, when it is
actually paid not penny is to be de-
voted to the existing missions, but is
to be spent in establishing entirely new
enterprises. In other words, the unfor-
tunate legatees have been saddled with
an obligation to apply the immense
sum exclusively to the establishment
Of missionary undertakings which they
will not have the means to support.
The Lord Mayor of London, Horatio
David Davies, has declined the offer of
David Sellar, Chairman of the London
Tramway Company, who offered to pre-
sent the corporation of London with the
nucleus of an art gallery. Mr.. Sellar's
contribution consisted of about 200 old
Dutch, Italian and English pictures.
The declination of the Lord Mayor is
owing to the varied character of the
works" but it is an open secret that
the alleged Gainsboroughs, Constables.
and other old masters, after examina-
ion by experts, have been found to be
hardly of the character to form the
ground work of the city Of London Art
An episode of peculiar interest was
the enactment by clergymen, on We'd
nesday last, in Canterbury Hall. of the
first church play in recent years. IT
was entitled THE Conversion of Eng
and" was written by the Rev. Henry
Creswell, and was really q succession
IF ten historical tableaux, with the dia-
ogue of a stilted heroic strain to the
accompaniment of sacred music The
scenes included a Roman market. where
English slaves attracted Pope Gregory's
attention; meeting between Pope
Gregory and the monks, with King
Ethelbert, on the Isle of Thanet, and
King Ethelbert's baptism at Canter-
0ury. The central figure of the produc-
ton is St. Augustine. The costumes,
and chants were historically ac-
,urate. being the result of researches
In the museums Of London. Dresden
and Stockholm. The play is described
is "dreary entertainment
There are only four of the London
Iheaters whose doors are not opened,
although the season is already under
way, and two Of the four will be filed
Early in next month. Yet hardly more
.han half of the thirty playhouses are
paying their running expenses. Various
theories are advanced for the failure
If the London theaters to pay. the most
.redited one being that the increase of
suburban playhouses is keeping subur
1an playgoers at home. Another factor
which unquestiona counts is the
price charged for seats. An orchestra
stall in London theater costs ten
60 50), while other seats are
eorrespondingly high. Yet no theater
.an cut the rates without losing caste.
SMUGGLER FIRE.
ry,a Cs%uo <iou I'm the Mine Ronorf.