The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-05

these facts. nearly 10 per cent. OF all the coal
got was left in the pits and lost forever.
He said: -" British miners will probably ex-
port 100000 tons OF coal this year to other
countries who manufacture at less cost than
we do with our cheap fuel. and who send their
goods over to us duty free. and then undersel
us in our own market" He was not prepared
to advocate duty on imported manufactured
goods. although he would not object to it, but
ne could not see why England should not put
duty OF Cd per ton on all coal exported. Such
tax would tend to keep valuable fuel at home.
where England would undoubtedly want 1t be-
fore long and It would bring in sl.O0U00O per
annum. which would give los per week to
10000 old or disabled miners. and thus pro-
vide for golfers the old-age pensions of which
80 much was said. The evidence all pointed to
ono thing. namely that In fifty years they
should practically be dependent on the United
states of America for cheap coal. iron and
steel. and when this came about they or their
sons would find out that an alliance with the
United States for coaling the British Navy was
imperative.
The latest man with grievance here is the
overworked actor" From n study OF his case
there Is certainly much to be said for him.
More from the necessity Of being constantly
In the public eye. it appears. than from inher-
ent snobbish weakness, he is now being con-
stantly operated at high pressure as a fashion,
able charity machine. The old footlight tag
that we must please to live who only live to
please" has its grim meaning now for the
blue-lipped Thespian The following is given
as page from the diary OF a popular actor.
with the names modified from motives of pru-
dence or fear:
IL o'clock Meeting, of the committee OF the
Actors Charity Fund.
II O'clock Rehearsal for the new piece. Tho
y Manruyres Of the Gay Lord Algy."
23Q -, oGF0r nIs s Smiths matinee in Aid OF
O'Clock Entertainment at the Bazaar for the
o Benefit Of Something or Other
to lO'cock-Study Of new part in new piece
Sto II o'cock-The nightly performance.
l2:3Q o'clock-Garrick Club to discuss terms
with manager for next season.
And so on. Tomorrow he will probably
have to begin rehearsing his share in another
charity matinee. which is to take place next
week He will have to devote himself to re-
hearsing his part in the new play at his own
theatre; he must spend a couple Of hours at
the costumer's: there is the laying of founda-
ton stone at which he must be present. there
is another meeting Of some professional
charity. He is asked to appear on behalf OF
this or that. During the season he will be
seen. probably. at not less than dozen per-
formances OF this kind. He may only appear
on the stage for five minutes at each of Them
and the unthinking believe it to be cheap
way OF earning a reputation for generosity
But that five minutes represents very often a
good many hours work. hours spent at re-
hearsal. in making up in waiting ones
turn
The lay mind asks why attend such funo-
tons II there 10 no pleasure or profit in them
The professional answer is that they are bust
ness and nothing else. He has to be there: he
is invited and must go. He dare not offend
Lord Brown or Lady Robinson They are
friends. and they have friends. and they form
a most valuable part Of his value to his man
ager. An actor nowadays, to be a leading
actor. must have a "following,' for this
following is considered in his salary.
More than this. his name must be in
the newspapers as among those present."
to fashionable actor this is as the breath OF
life. Not that he is necessarily a snob: far
from it; as often as not he hates the whole
thing and thinks longingly Of punt and a
fishing rod up the Thames But advertisement
to an actor is merely business. and must be.
He lives by public favor and he has to tickle
that public by every legitimate means in his
power.
But 1t is the charities which are responsible
for most OF the calls upon him. They grow
more numerous each ycar-"beneilts" for
firing brethren who very often do not retire.
matlneeS LOT tne lunus OF some more or 1858
deserving institution. This season there has
been. roughly speaking. one such affair each
week. and many more are announced.
Certain well-known players will probably
be in every one Of them. At Drury Lane. at
the Lyceum. at the St James's and Her Majes-.
tvs. there will have been long procession Of
them before the dog days come. The Actors
Association. the Royal General Theatrical
Fund the Dramatic Benevolent. the Actors
Orphanagc. the Rehearsal Club. the Chorsters'
Association. are only a few Of the big pro-
fesSional charities.
Alcoholism In France has been somewhat of
puzzle since authentic statistics showed that
the people. who thirty or forty years ago were
among the soberest nations in Europe, are now
the hardest drinkers. The head OF Paris
mission dealing with the subject says this week
that. putting aside the wine and beer that are
consumed. tho chief cause OF the increase OF
drunkenness is the enormous quantity OF alb
sinthe and similar alcoholic drinks now uni
versally used for not only do the masses in
the industrial centres drink TO excess. but in
every part OF the country. in the villages and
hamlets far away from the main routes. the
passion is developed. Last summer in a beau
tiful valley in the Savoie he found the same
sad state OF things. men and women the slaves
of alcohol. DR.. Legrain. the chief doctor Of the
great asylum at Vile Evrard. has taken up the
subject with great energy. driven to it by what
daily comes under his observation among the
insane. 20 per cent OF whom. he says. are
directly or indirectly there through drink.
Throughout Normandy the people drink
men, women and children The babies get
brandy in the cradle. it is put into the bottle.
and the soup is made with brandy. Says DR..
Brunon: You should see the people coming
away from the drinking shops on a Monday
evening Father, mother, children. friends.
holding each other up and Keeling along to-
gether."
The universal custom has been greatly de-
veloped by the fact that since 1882 there is
practically no obstacle to the sale OF alcohol in
France. Any one can retail it. and thus
grocers coalsellers. creamshops. and drygoods
shops all sell it freely. There is said to be a
drinking shop for every twenty-one electors
throughout France, or one for every seventy OF
the whole population. In some parts as in
Normandy. every other house sells drink. and
In Lille. in a certain quarter. in every house it
can be purchased 1t is beyond question that.
| once the Dreyfus disease is eradicated. the
| question OF alcohol will be the first problem in
| France. NJ. Dupuy. in his semi-retirement
| t1,,fr