Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-03

One sees with dread the fine days go to
give place to dull. sunless ones.
The effort made in certain directions to
import American coal has not given the
expected relief. Ocean and land freight
charges are added to the American price,
and the retail figure is even above the pres
ent high charges for domestic coal. ..
Christmas Cards.
I inquired few days ago Of one of the
largest firms of Christmas card manufac-
turers in the city as to the prospects in
the card trade.
Far from the demand being smaller than
usual, the manager told me, this year they
had more orders than ever. Every sea-
son." he said, there is greater demand
for private cards-that is to say, cards
with names, views of places, monograms,
portraits Of the senders, &C."
1t was interesting to see the speed with
which the orders were executed. AS q
test / timed one order. 1t was for simple
folded card, with certain amateur verses
and a monogram upon it. In forty minutes
from the time the order was telephoned to
the printing room l had in my hand
dainty souvenir with the sender's initials
and the desired verses upon it, the whole
charmingy tied with lavender ribbon. IL
l had not seen it done 1 would hardly have
believed that such quick work could be
done in England. Our cousins are perhaps
learning something about haste.
A good many people are having pictures
of their houses particularly some charm
ing nest in the country or near the river)
either etched or photographed upon their
cards. 1 saw several cards prepared for
dogs to send to each other. Some of them
were very amusing. 1 hear that some OF
the most popular designs in Christmas
cards have been hit upon quite by chance
Last year a lady came in and asked to
have some private cards made to a par
ticular design. She did not care what she
paid for it if she got what she wanted. The
Al dc Of 1c ont of a
design suggeste, by this lady's idea. A
great many of the best designs come fire.
Paris. and one lady there receives f5o"
from one firm on condition that they have
first choice of all her ideas.
Khaki in Favor.
Many of this seasons cards will bear the
khaki impress. The firm 1 mention has al
ready in preparation 1900 entirely new
sets of cards. embodying some 5000 new
designs, based upon this subject, an
achievement which must be regarded as I'M
precedented.
Calendars are being treated in the same
way. Chromo-lithography in its highest
form heads the list of the various processes
which are being employed, while the art of
the etcher, the engraver, both in line and
pen, and the different methods of photogra-
vure and prototype have all been requi-
sitioned
Speaking of cards. hear that a firm of
picturecard makers in Holland were so GER
tain that Queen Wilhelmina would accept
Duke Adolf of Mechlinburg-Schwerin as her
future consort in preference to his young
err brother, Duke Henry, that $4,000 post
cards bearing the presentment of Duke
Adolf have had to be destroyed.
The City as BUS Owner.
The London county council intend to APP
ply at once for parliamentary powers to
run omnibuses. The present state of affairs
is peculiar. The council owns number of
tcfo he
fare in each case being only 1 cent. In
each case the omnibuses have some con-
nection with the tramway. Thus those run
ming over Blackfriars bridge convey pas
sengers from the southern tram lines to the
heart of the city or to harrington street.
Some months ago other bus owners asked
for an Injunction against the county coun-
Gil, and succeeded, but the case is awaiting
the attention of the court Of appeal, and in
the meantime the running Of the omnibuses
continues. There is probably no doubt but
that the county council will obtain the
powers asked for ultimately.
There are still people to be found. how
ever, who oppose on principle the munich
palZation Of tramwayS, but the experience
of London during the past year makes the
case of ownership and control by the local
authority an unanswerable one from an
economic point OF view.
Makes a Big Profit.
Here are some figures relating to such
portion of the tramway system OF the
metropolis as has been acquired by the
London county council. The councils
trans and buses carried nearly 11S0O0.0c3
passengers last year. The total receipts
from the undertaking during the year
amounted to f46S, $50, while the working
expenses were fS75. $3.50, showing profit on
the working of f92, SOL. To this profit is
added ETA, 967, balance carried forward from
the quarter ended March 81, loss, thus
making a total of f1O7, 94S, out of which has
had to be paid the interest and sinking
ended March 81, 1900 amounting to f53, 1O1.
leaving a disposable balance of f54, BAT.
When the county council has acquired the