The record-union., 1897-12-12
Everything Detokens Merry Times
During Christmas Holidays.
Newspapers Protest Against Expenditures
Of the Smart Set.
Controversy in London Circles
Over the Reappearance of Oscar
Wilde as Dramatist-Eroh-
mans theatrical Trust Criticiz-
ed by the English.

LONDON. Dec. 11.-(Copyrighted.
1897, by the Associated Press. I'm
wonderfully mild weather. everything
DetokenS Christmas. The shops are
crowded, but many Of the newspapers
are protesting against the expensive
ness OF the smart set. For the first
time, on the other hand, British manu-
factufers are able To compete with
Germany in cheap toys especially tin
soldiers, a which there is much extii-
tation. The principal novelties in all
the stores are motor cars driven by hot
air, and American Indian wigwams big
enough to contain children in correct
Indian costumes. Christmas parties are
projected on an unusually festive scale,
particularly at Blenheim. where num-
bers of variety performers have been
engaged. Old fashioned Christmas
sports Will be INDUCED in.
The big schooner yacht designed by
George L. Watson, which is building at
Henderson's yards, and which was
supposed TO be for the Prince of Wales,
is Tor Charles Ewing. NJ p for
Ayrburgh, who has travelled extensive
ly in the East, and who takes great in
tcrest in yachting
There is controversy over the ques-
ton Of Oscar Wilde's reappearance as a
dramatist. \ prominent manager is
preparing to produce his latest play un-
der a thinly yelled pseudonym. There
upon the "St. James Gazette says:
The manager has failed to grasp the
facts that this dramatists career at
respectable London playhouses must
be considered closed
Paris, however, does not share this
antipathy A theater in that city an
nounces that a play written in French
by Oscar Wilde, will be produced
shortly.
In an interview published by the "Gil
Bias" Oscar Wilde declares the British
Will forgive anything in the case of one
who amuses them.
Charles Dana Gibson's London"
appears among the Christmas books.
and is much criticised by the artists
and newspapers.
The Daily Mair' says: His people
on Bond street are simply the people of
| Fifth avenue transferred They are
never here except as American tourists.
His Hyde Park corner is crowded with
these American invaders, while the
First Night is simply a practical joke
of the same description. His drawing
room is a conceivable presentation of
the White House. 1t is certainly no
function of Buckingham Palace"
Lord Rosebry, az the dinner of the
| Gimcrack Club at York on Tuesday,
advised all those who are contemplate
! ing racing to refrain from doing so,
as it is expensive and exceedingly too
engrossing for any one having any
thing else to do
The English press. particularly the
dramatic papers, are bestowing con-
siderable denunciatory comment upon
what they are pleased to term "Froh-
mans dramatic trust American
trusts are a subject of great solicitude
on the part of the British here, where
the drama holds much larger place
in public interest than it does in Amer
ica-managerial movements are es-
teemed correspondingly important.
This tendency to the organization of a
theatrical trust which the English think
they have discovered preSages in
the mind of certain critics the downfall
of the drama in the new world as an
institution conservative Of art.
There is another side of the story
put forth by London representatives of
the American managers. They attrib-
lish promoters. because of the inrOads
which American attractions are max
ing
Sir Henry Irving has been appointed
lecturer for 1898 at Cambridge, and
the students are delighted with the new
departure.