The sun., 1900-04-10
LONDON HIDES ITS GRAPE.
A GAYER Patriotism REPLACES
THE WINTERS 0RIM LOYALTY

Theatres and Music Haiis Again fiiIsd and
the War Il NOD tn. only Topic-Dsfeat
Of the Biii To Estend the Punishment oi
Criminals by FIoGEinE-A Contempt oi
Court Case-slRvsry IN the soudan'
LONDON. March 3i.--Life Is worth living
again In London. The town Is no longer
msusoleuni. It's theatres. concert rooms and
music halls are filed once more. Grape and
mourning have not disappeared. but they are
hidden behind bright colors-the rcd and the
green. the white aud the blue OF the national
smblems. The flags OF Ladysmlth Day still nv
In most Of the streets. md gayer patriotism
has taken the place OF the sad and almost grim
loyalty Of the long dark winter The London
Of two months ago was place to hee from
the London Of to-day Is the good old London oi
old The war 10 no longer blight anda curse
upon the spirits OF all men-but did not IN
tend 10 speak OF war in this letter, The desire
OF the moment Of most Iondoners is to ignore
u until important events shall again make II
,he dom inant topic. People are talking OF the
Queen's = visit 10 Ireland. OF the latest plays. oil
the defeat OF the bill to extend the punishment
OF nogging. OF q peculiar contempt OF court
ease and OF the usual variety Of social gossip
and scandal.
Most Americans will find point Of distinct
general significance In the fact that such
representative journal az the London Tunes in
plain spoken editorial has criticised Parlia-
ment for refusing to extend the use OF the
whip to an additional class Of criminals. Cor
poral punishment Is freely prescribed In Eng
lsh courts for two classes OF offences. Birch
ing is commonly ordered by police court
Magistrates in various cases OF msdsmeanors
BY boys. and experience proves that 1t is more
effective and more salutary for mischevous
and incorrigible youngsters than imprlson-
ment would be. The use OF the cat" II quite
another matter. 1t was introduced by special
act about twenty-five years ago, when the
crime OF Rarrotng had become alarmngly
common In London. and after u member Of
Parliament had himself become victim OF
these ruffians. Certain judges almost in
variably add HoRging to their sentences In
cases OF robbery with violence. Others on the
other hand never order II. so that the admins-
tration OF the law has become almost a lottery.
and It's efficacy is thus rendered more than
doubtful.
The bill which has Just been defeated by q
vote OF 1Sj to 72 proposed to add ioggIng to
the present penalties for assaults upon women
and children. The measure was opposed by
both Sir Matthew White Ridley. the Home
Secretary, and by his predecessor. Mr. Asquith.
Mr Wharton. the int roducer Of the bill. has
had long experience as a Mag strate and he
pointed out that it IL chiefly the wives and
daughters Of workingmen Tor whom protec-
tion IL needed IL the punish ment OF aogging
Ia necessary and efficient In the case OF gar
roters and other criminals Of the same class
vhv should |, not he applted 10 IN. brutal ont
raues with which this bill proposes IN dealp
The Uome secretary him self said that "it cer.
tainly aeemed n stranpe thing that whiIe
doeelne could be ordered for robbery with
violence IL could not be ordered for far erayer
offences against the person OF women and
children" In fnct. a few wears ago Sir Mat
thew White Ridlsy backed bill identical with
Mr.. Wnnrton's. which was approved by the
Homs secretary OF the day, He has now
changed his mind. and has coma 10 aeres with
Mr.. Asouith. who disapproyes Of f,ogginy and
revoIts again Il the idea that brutal crimes
should ba Lrutally punished
sir Matthew surprlsed the Hmse bv saving
that the crims of rarrotinp which eyervbodv
supnosed had bsen chscke ed almost exclusivelv
by the Tree use of IN. cat. had been brought
10 an eni as n serious danRer beiors tbs Houss
of Com hons in A az of manic resorted Il lavis.
lation.I Ths Times remarks that the Home
secretary has given the public 10 evidence in
support OF this assertion. MIR Asouitb char,.
tably argued that in the beast who outraees a
woman or child there are remaining "sparks
or self respsct and A ssnss of human dignity
which n carefully watched and dtended might in
course Of time burn into A purityipp glow. but
which would he in great danger Of eytinc,Ion
NV such measures as tho hin rronosad " no