The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-02-26
LoNDoN's HOSPITALITY.
Immense Sums Expended in Enter
tanning Distinguished Guests.


From the Boston Transcript)
When the city entertains distinguished
guests it lavishes its money with a pro-
fusion more BETTING an Eastern poteniate
than a body OF thrifty city men, says Tit
Bits 1t is, indeed, no uncommon thing
for the city fathers to spend on the enter
tainment of guest much more than his own
weight in gold, a compliment surely of
which even emperors may be proud.
The city was never moved to more
prodigal hospitality than in 1876, when
it entertained the Prince of Wales on his
return from India. In honor Of the re
turn OF the wanderer'' the lord mayor and
corporation spent no less than sl3I. S95. or
sufficient sovereigns to outweigh two
princes, even Of his present ample proper
tions. Nine years earlier the city was
almost equally lavish, when II entertained
the Sultan at cost of S123,069. In 1893
it cost the corporation $50 035 TO welcome
the Shah Of Persia, although in the fol-
lowing year the Car was brilliantly enter
tanned at cost of 5000 less.
Thanksgiving Day cost the city $685.,
or almost as much as the Cars reception,
and the jubilee rejoicings of 1887 left the
city poorer by s5S 000, The Prince OF
Wales wedding, thirtyfive years ago.
was the signal for great display of city
hospitality The amount spent in enter
tion to this the corporation spent $4,000
on the diamond necklace and earrings pre-
scented TO the Princess. When the Queen
attended the lord mayors banquet in 1887
the corporation spent SiO,S6O in entertain
ing her: and the outlay when she again
honored the city, fourteen years later,
was SIS 10 Thus on nine entertainments
alone the city has layished no less than
1865, 055, or an average of 47,5iO for each
guest.
In contrast TO this regal entertainment
il is interesting to note that in 1T2I
George II was entertained at a cost OF $lSS;
King Victor Emanuel in 1855 for $500,
! and Mr. Stanley eight years ago for $500
The marriage of the Duke and Duchess Of
York cost the city sl9,240; in 1891 the
German Emperor was entertained for
SIS $40; the Shah in 1889 for Sl0.240, and
the King of Denmark in 1898 for the very
moderate sum of sS,S25. 1t marks the
unstable character Of city hospitality that
1t cost TO entertain an emperor. a shah, and
king less than one-third of the sum
lavished on the Sultan in 1867.
Religion ut the Paris Exposition.
Rome Correspondent Of the Pail Mall Gazette)
Cardinal Richard, Archbishop of Paris.
is at present in Rome for the purpose Of
| LAYING before Leo XIII new project for
| organizing at the Paris Exposition of 1900
| n display of ecclesiastical art, history and
relics illustrative of all forms OF religion.
| the Catholic faith holding, of course, the
PRINCIPAL place a scheme of this kind was
| suggested before. when the Exposition was
| first mooted. The Pope, at the outset,
seemed to sanction the idea, and in speak
| ing with Cardinal Gibbons he displayed
what might even be called enthusiasm, but
| when he became more fully acquainted
| tlu found 81
| discussion of the different religions was
| projected, the Vatican retired into its shell
| and refused to take part In the scheme.
| OF course, without the adhesion of the
| Church OF Rome both because of the i'm
portance of the Catholic religion and be-
| cause it is the faith of the country where
| the exhibition is TO be held, the idea had
! to be abandoned.
| Now 1t is revived under another form
| namely, that the Vatican should partici-
pate in a kind of religious exhibition re-
| sembling, but on larger scale. the reli-
| gious and missionary show so much ad-
mired last year at the fair in Turin.
1t would comprise a great panorama in
! GLIDING all the most important events In
| the history of the Church since the begin
ming of Christianity down to our days. re-
productions of all the Popes, of all great
| Catholics, and of the monuments connect
| ed with the Church, such as the Holy Sep
| ulchre Calvary, the Mount of Olives the
| Catacombs, and the principal churches and
shrines. Moreover9 there would be repre-
sensations Of musical religious master
pieces and museum of sculpture and the
best paintings of religious subjects. Ac-
cording 10 the 'pr0fnoters. this scheme
should result in the apothesis of Catho,i-
cism at the opening of the twentieth CEN
fury; but it is a question whether Leo XIII
can be induced to again change his mind
! on the subject although it has been pGAtA-
ed out to him that il would be strange not
| to allow in Paris what was not forbidden
at the Worlds Fair in Chicago.