Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-12-27
CABLE LETTER FROM LONDON
The Fashionable World Has
Deserted the Metropolis.
SOUGHT REFUGE IN COUNTRY
Many House Parties Arranged
For Yulelide.
Once Again, Mrs. Florence Maybrick
Spends an Unhappy Christmas in Her
Prison Ceil-Another American Woman
Likely to be Elevated to the Peerage.
copyrlghted, 1900. by The Associated Press.

Copyrighted, 1900 by The Associated Press.
London, Eng, Dec. 22.-There will
be a merry Christmas in England,
though, in consequence, London is
already one of the dullest spots in the
United Kingdom. The fashionable
world has incontinently deserted the
metropolis, and sought refuge in the
country places. There Will be such
round OF house partie s as has been un-
known for several years. They will be
accompanied by the revival Of the
queer old customs which,, century ago,
made the season the occasion for un.
restrained merrymaking among rich
and poor alike. 1t would seem that
those who are able to celebrate realize
the necessity for detracting public at
tention from the events in South
Africa. At Osborne, the Queen will be
surrounded by the Duke and Duchess
of York, the Princess of Battenberg
Sandringham, the Prince of Wales will
entertain the Duke and Duchess OF
tife and their children with royal
Christmas trees. Welbeck Abbey,
Blemheim Palace. Hatfield House and
all the stately homes of England's
aristocracy are filling up with scores Of
guests, prepared to make the most OF
Yuletide. Balls, amateur theatricalB
| and entertainments without end have
been arranged, conspicuous among
which is the old English custom of
dance in the servants hall. At the
Duke and Duchess Of Devonshire's,
Earl and Countess Spencer's, the Mar
quis and Warehouses OF Londonderry's
and other places of the nobility, Christ
mas eve will be marked by the strange
spectacle Of buffers dancing with
Duchesses, footmen with Countesses ard
grooms with tho daughters OF Ear S.
while ladies maids, chambermaids and
cooks will hang on to the arms uf osl j.
net ministers and other male heads OF
| illustrious lines.
! Once again, Mrs. Florenca MAyi ri"S
spends an unhappy Chiistmas IL be
| Irison cell. In spite Of thu ynrit ut
| reports, her chances of llLe ty IRE ~
| brighter than last year. Sec etary Hny
| has forwarded to Mr.. Choate sew r.
private letters. which will shorty 81
| presented to the new Home Secretary
MIR. Ritchie. in acoordance with t4e
custom of approaching each new ecu
pant of that office. But, The Associated
Press learns thera is no possible chance
of anything being done SO long rs Lnil
Haisbury is Lord High Chanceilor
We're the cabinet to discuss the matter,
as it did once before, it could onif
refer it to the crowns chief adviser.
Lord HaIsbury, who apparently ma q
the May brick case the basis of a feud
with the late Lord Chief Justice, Ba Oh
Russell, of killowen, and cherishes i5
Just as bitterly nov as before Lo.d
Russell's death. When new Chan
cellur is appointed, Mrs. Maybrick
will have a good chance of freedom.
The Duchess Of Bedford, who is To-
ported to be especially interested in
Mrs. Maytrick, tells The Associated
Press that she only sees the celebrated
prisoner in the course of her regular
visits to Aylesbury Prison, not espe
oia ly in the interest of her case, and
does not intend to express any opinion
OF her guilt or innocence.
Another American woman is like
) to be soon elevated to the British
peerage, as Lord Salisbury intends to
recognize the Right Hon. Arthur Hugh
Smith. Barrys services to his party by
putting him in the House of Lords.
MIR. Smith Barry married the widow
Of Arthur Post Of New York, whose
sister, Mrs. Adair, is also we'll known
in London society. Others mentioned
for a peerage include Henry Cosmo
Orme Bonsor, chairman of the South
eastern railroad, and james Lowther,
M. Z. Lurd Salisbury has already
created nearly 80 peers. If the present
rate is kept up, the upper house will
soon be in numerical superiority over
the Commons
W. r. Hobbs. head of the recently
formed Canadian furniture combine,
who ia now in London, has decided
that the Canadians have no need of the
assistance of English financiers, which
was originally projected. A significant
fact showing Canada's progress is that
sufficient funds are easily obtainabls
there, while the new law, coming into
force January 1st in the United King
) dom, imposes an almost prohibitoIy
taxation on new corporations.