Evening star., 1900-08-18

depression like the rest. The attendance
was fairly good during the early weeks, but
afterward fell away badly. But it is in the
sales that the Academy has most felt the
effect of the war and daher things that have
conspired to put the times out of joint
Last years Academy was something in
the nature of bumper one. and compar-
ison with it Is scarcely fair. But the re-
turns for the exhibition yesterday compare
badly with even an average year. OF course
1t Is difficult to gauge the number of pic
lures sold and the number returned on the
hands of the artist. so many being done on
commission. while others find a purchaser
on show Sunday. Tha most successful ex-
hibitor this year has been the veteran Sid
and realized big price, for them. The most
popular picture of the year seems to have
been Mr.. Dicksee's TWO Crowns"
The Twopenny Tube.
The Central London railway is not A
week old, and has already earned the name
of the 'Twopenny Tube because its fare
Is twopence all the way or any distance,
and the tracks are carried along two iron
tubes alongside each other. 1 have heard
people to whom draughts are hostile de-
scribe 1t as death-dealing tube This is
because 1t fulfills too amply the prophecy
that 1t would be the coolest place in Lon
don.
The draught created by the passage of
the trains Is SO severe that people ap-
hats on, and some who are not strong on
their feet are in danger of being blown
over.
Moreover the atmosphere. feels iciIy cold
by contrast with the sunbaked air of the
streets. The fierceness of the draught is
due to the carriages being constructed to
fit the tube much more closely than ever
has been done before. Consequently there
is not room for the air displaced by the
train to escape, and it becomes wind or
draught. In the city and south London
and city and Waterloo lines. which are
constructed on similar principles, but have
plenty Of space between the carriages and
the tubes, no inconvenience is felt.
Milne Scores Again.
Society has not failed to notice that one
of the officers chosen to represent the Brit
ish navy at the funeral of the Duke of
Saxe-Coburg was Captain Sir Berkeley
Milne, R. N, who figured in the recent So
ciety dispute with Mr.. William Waldorf
Astor. The Prince of Wales was credited
with having forced the ex-American mil
lonaire to publish an apology for his be-
havior, and 1t Is said that Sir Berkeley's
mission to Coburg Is intended to be an in
t:mation that the naval officer stands high
er now in royal estimation than he I'D be-
fore the incident.
Young Astor has Just left Eton. where
he was a great favorite. both with pupil
and masters. Among his contemporaries
were the late Duke of Albany's boy. who
has now inherited the title of Saxe-Co-
burg. They were both clever boys, and
were distinguished for their proficiency In
modern languages. for which they gained
prizes.
Many Theaters Closed.
Wars. deaths of royalties and the shah's
abandonment Of his visit have conspired
to put to an untimey end a not overgay
London season. London Is being deserted
by all who have anywhere else to go and
are able to leave town. One sure sign of
the expiring of the season is the closing
of the theaters. no less than twenty-one
of which have shut their doors. 1t Is
many years since few theaters were
open in central London as is at present the
case. There have been strong complaints
as to the falling away of business since
Christmas. and the spell Of hot weather
ten days ago quickly induced managers
to close houses which had been paying
none too we'll The Lyric and the Vaude-
vile closed their doors for the holidays
at the end of last Saturdays performances.
and the only choice remaining for theater
goers lies between the Savoy. Days. the
Shaftsbury, the Criterion. the Avenue and
Mr.. Penley's new house in Great Queen
street. Already there is great improve
ment in attendance at the theaters in con-
sequence of the fall in temperature 1t
would be interesting to Investigate how far
the increased number of suburban houses
has initiated against the central London
theaters. 1t has undoubtedly had some ef-
feet. One of the most popular of them
the Remington Theater. standing on the
site of the bishop of Rochester's former
residence reopens tonight for the autumn
season. with new four-act sporting drama
which Is selected to capture the suburban
playgoer. L. H. MOORE.