The record-union., 1898-01-09
Exceptionally Mild Winter Weather
Prevails at London.
Temperature Many Degrees Above the
Average For This Time of Year.
Country Houses Busy Entertaining
Amateur Theatricals a Posi-
tive Craze-A Scandal Agitat-
ing the Roman Aristocracy-
New Rules at the White House
Ridiculed by the London Press.

R1d1culed by the London Press.
LONDON, Jan. s copyrighted 1898,
by the Associated Press).--The weather
has been exceptionally mild, and trees
and shrubs are buadsng. Wednesday
was the warmest winter night in Lon
don since 1890 The temperature was
rs degrees. In the daytime the tenn
perature was % degrees, or y degrees
above the average.
All the country houses are most busy
entertaining, country balls, amateur
theatricals and tableaux being the sta
pie attractions. Theatricals have be-
come a positive craze and plays like
Rosemary and David Gar1ick," re-
curing the best acting, are unhesi-
tatingly chosen.
The Duke and Duchess of Devon
shire's party at Chatsworth has been
great success. The shooting was
excellent. On Thursday the Prince or
Wales, Earl de Grey, Lord Elcho and
five others secured a record bag, includ-
ing 500 pheasants Everything was on
the most gorgeous style. Instead of
the usual shooters luncheon at a keep
er's cottage, or in a barn, the Duke of
Devonshire had a huge tent erected at
a convenient spot, and an elaborate
luncheon was served there daily by the
servants. The Princess of Wales and
the ladies of the party drove there in
a four-hors brake with postillions and
an escort of mounted police. Both
the Prince of Wales and the Duke of
Devonshire wore astonishingly loud
shooting suits, with enormous checks.
After luncheon the Princess of Wales
generally accompanied the shooters to
the snap shooting scenes.
Lady Randolph Churchill and Arthur
Balfour, the First Lord of the Treas
ury, generally devoted the days to golf.
Theatricals on Friday night We're quite
successful.
A scandal is agitating the Roman
aristocracy The celebrated ducal
house of Litta-V isconti-A has re-
nounced its Italian nationality. The
/, Duke married Countess Rosa Tarsis, a
noted heanty. by whom he had two
daughters and some time afterward
boy. The Duke repudiates the boys
paternity. and accuses a very high per-
son. He has established the fact in
the courts that the child is not his,
but as divorce does not exist in Italy
the Duke has become a French citizen.
and has instituted proceedings
The Figaro says that the Duchess
of Marlborough formerly Miss Con-
suelo VanderbilD has been led by the
praise of injudicious friends to over
rate her Evolutionary gifts to such an
extent that her victims have nick
named her the Demon Reciter.'
The American racing colors which
will be seen in 1898 are about the same
as in 1897. The acceptances for the
Lincolnshire spring handicap include
James r. Keene's st. Cloud and Voter.
For the city and suburban. ST. Cloud
and Voter. and Richard Cookers Dob
bins and Pierre Lorrillard's Diakka are
entered. For the Jubilee stakes, Dob
bins, st. Cloud, Voter, Diakka, Bersak
and Sandia are on the list. For the
Hurst Park spring handicap the entries
include Voter, Diakka, Bersak and San
da For the Alexander Park and Met
ropolitan handicap Voter is entered.
For the Ascot gold cup. ]. r. Keenes
1Iriel viii be among the runners. St.
Cloud is also entered for this event.
The Ascot all-aged stakes will prob
ably find Bersak, Bloosen and Doric H.
at the post. St. Cloud is entered for
the Alexander plate.
The newspapers ridicule the new rules
of etiquette at the White House. saying
that President McKinley's protocol Will
soon rival President Faure's. who has
long been tainted with adopting mon
archical airs
Vanity Fair" quoting the rule be-
ginning. Invitations issued by Mrs.
Mckinley take precedence. over all 9TH
er invitations" says: Such rules prove
that under the stars and stripes 1t is
quite possible to be plus royaliste que
l. roi (more royalist than the King).
We wonder what Lincoln would have
said TO any oficious understrapper sus-
costing such rules?"
1t has been ascertained that the loss
resulting from the so-called Jewel
street fire (also known as the Cripple
gate fire. amounts to f1J0.00 (S3 i3O.-
600. The inquiry is dragging, the evil
dence obtained being direct. but toward
proving the fire of incendiary origin,
and in the direction OF demonstrating
that the fire brigade is inefficient.
George L. Watson has finished the de-
sign Of a very large steam yacht for
James G. Bennett. proprietor of the
New York Herald which Will prob
ably be built at Clyde
The Gar and Czarina will receive
their friends at the Paris Exposition
of 1900 In their own pavilion, which
will cost 100000 (S45000o).
The newspapers here Indignantly de-
ny the statement that Prince Arthur OF
Connaught is young Astor's flag at
Eton. 1t is pointed out that the two
boys live in different houses, which
alone makes this impossible. Aside
from this. il Is added that no flag lights
fires or black boots, sweeps rooms or
performs the other duties described
The st. James Gazette" says: The
absurdity and untruth Of the story are
patent to every English reader
Living tortoises. with their backs
covered with jewels attached by gold
chain TO ladies' dresses. are the rage
an Paris. They cost about ZIG $50.
rrhe Society for the Protection of Ami
mails Is agitating the matter.
The French Government has pur-
chased for $4,000 (S125.o0o) the large
mansion at Albert Gate, which has long
been occupied by the Embassy OF
France. 1t is also proposed to rent