Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-10


with which fast mail steamers sailing UNI.
der foreign flags between Southampton and
New York is increasing just now is one or
the most remarkable features of the time.
From Liverpool there has been no new fast
mail steamer under the British flag since
1893. and there is only one new fast steam
er now preparing to run from that port.
while from Southampton there are two new
North German liners within the last two
years. ard third is shortly to follow.
There Is one Hamburg American fast
steamer nearly ready. which may prove to
be the fastest in the world. while the Amer.
lean line has just resolved to build several
fast steamers. Liverpool will really have
to do something to maintain Its reputation
Memorial to Gladstone.
The anniversary of Mr.. Gladstones funer-
al is made the occasion of a suggestion to
the authorities who govern the Palace Of
Westminster. 1t is that a memorial brass
tablet should be placed In the floor of West
minister Hall to mark the spot where the
coffin rested before the funeral in the alb
hey. This proposal Is not now made for
the first time. 1t was put before the com
missioner of works last session. but II was
nOt acted upon because of the difficulty Of
creating a precedent. There Is, l believe, a
mark on the floor, which came there I'M
officially but nevertheless effectually iudi-
Gates the position of the catafalQuc. Tradi-
ton will DOUBT hand down the historic
interest of this mark from generation to
generation. There are brass tablets al
ready in the hall. but they tell OF state
trials. of events which marked epoChs III
English history Mr. Gladstone's memory
will. perhaps, more fitting,y be perpetuated
by the SPOKEN word ilV!ng IN ths memory
OF the custojiaus Of the hall, and recalling
a scene which cannot fade in the memory
of any VINO witnessed II
Old Tradesmen's Signs.
chatty paper on the revival of trades
mems signs. by Mr.. ]. Starkie Gardner. en-
nvCned a meeting of the Society OF Arts
last night Reviewing tlic history of trade
signs in this country. the lecturer said that
some existing signs vie with and even sur
pass our oldest families in their venerable
antiquity. The Tabard and Bell in South
wark. for example. We're mentioned by
Chaucer In 1879. and the White Hart, hard
by. was Jack Cades headquarters. and had
been immOrtaliZed by many writers from
Shakespeare TO Charles Dickens. the
White Hare in Bishopsgate bore, Ill quite
recently. the date 1880 on its front.
The Bears Head in EastcheGp was men
toned I'm the time of Richard II. and was
once Lond0ns principal tavern. It was
in this tavern II Prince Hal and his two
brothers made sub riot that they meritei
the attention of the mniiaeval ''chucker
out and were taken before the maGis
trate- There was a great massacre of pop
ish signs upon jhe demise of Queen Mary,
but tile Pupes Head in Cornhill. which ex-
listed in 1864. and the M.tre in Cheape. ex-
tant in l415. are notable survIyals. Coming
Cpw- to more recent times. Mr. Gardner
touched upon the fashion which came into
existence century or m -e ago of hang
ing OUT actual pictures illustrative or de-
scrptiEe of the name of the house, and re-
called that paintings by En- gIish academic
fans. such as Hogatth. Wilson. Morland,
Crcme and David Cox. have been made to
do duty for this purpose. Judging from the
fact that f5@0 paid for a figure of
Shakespeare for a sign in Little Russell
street, Drury Lane, the profession, he said,
was not a bad stepping stone to higher hon
Ors.
The Womun's Congress
The meeting Of the international Council
of Women in London will last from June
2G to July 4. On the opening day the
Countess of Aberdeen will deliver the presi-
DENTAL address in the Westminster Town
hall. and an official reception will be held
III the evening at Stafford House. The
business is divided into five SECTIONS. so
mat curing the congress iI"e meetings Will
be held simultaneously. Ever subject of
interest TO women will be discussed. from
WOmens suffrage dow1waris. Recreation,
however, will not be altogether neglected.
The bishop OF London is giving a garden
party to the members of the congress al
l'ulkam Palace on July l. and three DAYS
later they VIII visit Gunnersbu-y Park.
DELEGATES are expected from every
European country as well as from the col
on!es. large number will attend from the
United States.
RoOI< Teas the Rage.
The latest craze is the book tea a num-
Der of gussts-the sexes equally represented
are asked to afternoon tea, and each is
to wear a badge denOting a book. The
book is not necessarily a novel, though the
run is on novels. nor is 1T necessarily a
modern book. though these are more gen
orally selected. The badge, which is little
toy, must express the title of the book
The guests arrive decorated, each supply
ing their own decorations. and each has
to guess the titles of all the others. Some
people are. very stupid at it; some very
quick And there is skill. too. not only In
guessing the titles. but in making the or
ders. Two little wooden shoes, for in
stance, announce themselves. A pair of
very small dolls are the Heavenly Twins.
A bicycle attached TO a ribbon Is the
Wheels of Chance. And so, with Nudes
catalogue, one could go on Indefinitely.
There are two prizes, one for the guest
who guesses most. and one for the guest
whose badge has been most difficult to in
terpret Much tea and some time are con-
sumed. and men and women show them
selves TO be children of q larger growth.
II