Evening star., 1900-10-27

|
merely their lay figures. Party and person.
| al spleen reused each nobleman to make
the most strenuous endeavors TO get his
candidate returned at the head of the poll.
| For this end neither money nor effort was
| spared The canvassing extended over a
| long period: the polling lasted fourteen
| days. During the whole of the lengthy
| campaign the earls kept open house" at
| their mansions. The historic seats of Hor-
! ton, Castle Ashby and Althorp were flung
| open to all corners. Sumptuous banquets,
| with the costliest wines, were provided for
the medley horde of voters. The mansions
| were thronged for weeks with gorging and
| swi!iing crowds Lord Halifaxs bright
| hope of winning the election was destroyed
| when his supply of fine old port gave out.
| In Its place the rabbe rout were given
| choice ciaret, but they mutinied against
| drinking such sour stuff and went over
| IN body to the opposition. Thus Lord
| HalifaXs nominee was at the head of
| the poll He demanded a scrutiny. how
ever, and after a trial lasting three weeks
| 1t was decided that the voting was equal
| 10 settle the point the ears agreed to toss
| Tor the seat. Earl Spencer won. and nom
mated man out in India. who came home
| to take the seat. The election and scru-
! tiny cost Earl Spencer S.oo.0UO while his
| opponents squandered 81 800 900 between
| them-a total of S2,G00000 for the election
| The contest ruined Lord Halifax.
| Investing in Constituencies.
| The best method of election in those days
was to buy up borough or parish. and
1
| you or your nominees. Men invested in
| constituencies as they now invest in con-
| sols- Lord Chesterfield, writing to his son,
! says he had been endeavorng to buy a seat
| IN the mouse of commons for him. But his
olier OF SZ3Oo Tor seat had been laughed
10 Scorn. None could be obtained for less
than $500, and for some $4,000 was asked
LORD Chesterfield was greatly surprised and
shocked at such sums. 1t was just then in
deed, that parliamentary honors were ris-
rs
! spent In buying up whole boroughs and
parishes by Sir Shafto Adair. For Cation.
a hamlet of twenty-five houses and 100 in
habitants, Lord Monson paid $500 900 But
1t was compact little constituency, abso-
lUtely comfortable to its owners will
do not know that the exact expenses or
an American presidential election have ever
been given or could be given. but when
Englishmen talk of American corruption it
will be just well to keep few of the
above facts in mind.
Increasing the Navy.
1t has become known in shpbuilding ana
shipping circles that one of the first duties
of the new parliament will be to consider
a somewhat comprehensive shipbuildns
scheme, with a view to placing the BRITISH
navy in position to balance itself with
the enterprise recently displayed by conti-
mental nations in the building of new ships
of war. Orders are about to be given for
six cruisers, but it was not thought policy
to announce a big naval program the
eve of a general election. 1t is now known
however, that such a program is in exist
ence, and that it will be dealt with
as the new cabinet is formed, and brought
before parliament in the naval estimates
next season.
The scheme embraces several line-of bat
tie ships fast cruisers and large number
of smaller craft. that private builders
who were disappointed in not being asked
to tender for the six fast cruisers now
about to be placed may content themselves
with the prospect of still more important
orders in the near future, as the new pro-
gram will be far too large to be undertakeG
at the dockyard.
To Widen London Bridge.
London bridge is to be widened. Not
withstanding the erection of the Tower
bridge and the opening of the Blackwell
tunnel, the traffic this principal high
way across the Thames continues to in-
crease, and at some parts of the day, were
it not for careful police regua tions. would
become absolutely jammed. The work of
widening is nevertheless not to be under
taken for two or three years to come, be-
scause funds not yet available. The
bridge as 1t now stands was begun in 1894,
and opened in 1881 by William ". 1t is of
granite, and cost including approaches,
Fl, 45S 600 1t is 92S feet long and the road
way is tifty-two feet wide. The old orig
inal London bridge which it superseded
stood about 100 feet lower down the river.
A Valuable Property.
An adventurer's share in the New River
Company is to be sold by auction in Lon
don next month. This is the water COM
pany that vas founded in Henry the
Eighth's time. The shares something
like f10 each. and the company had to con-
struct river that did not then exist.
Hence its name. 1 am paying rates today
to this company for the water sent into my
house in Westminster.
1t is not often that a full share comes on
the market, but one was disposed of last
WI Thn
which is shortly to be sold yielded a divi-
dend last year of close upon 5000. Such a
share qualities seat for the board. 1t also
confers the necessary real estate qualifica-
tions for parliamentary franchise and the
magistracy.
There is nothing wonderful in the
whole history of investments the growth
in the value of the New River Company's
adventurer shares from a nominal sum to
a huge one. Their value seems likely to
increase.
Objected to Americans.
Capt John Bertram Clayton. who died at
Nice, in France, short time ago. must
have had some grudge against Americans.
He was only thirty-nine years old, and left
an estate of over $70O, 900 to his wife in
trust for his daughters, provided they do
not marry Americans. The exact render
ing is as follows: The testator beaueathed
to his wife, Mrs. Octavia Clayton, his plate,
jewels, horses, carriages. furniture and
household effects, and the income of his eS-
tate during ner H1e- subject to Mrs. Clay
tons life interest, the testators residuary
estate is left in trust in equal shares for
his daughters Eleanor and Diana Pauline
Clayton. on their respectively attaining the
age of thirty-five years, and not having
previously married either a citizen of the
United States Of America or a member OF
the Hebrew race religion"
Capt. Clayton was north countryman,
and it would be interesting to learn the
reason Of his anmus against our country
men. I always attribute such animus to a
squeeze in American shares or some Chi
cago food corner.
A Victory for Ireland.
The women's exhibition at EarIs Court
closed on Saturday, and the attendance
was large account of the pending decla-
ration of the popularity of the various
sets of representatives of the Women Of
All Nations" During the exhibition each
visitor has been invited to fill up a card
saying which group most deserving
of prize. In this matter Ireland cannot
claim to have a grievance, for the half
dozen young women forming the Irish
group obtained 33095 votes in excess Of
ar