Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-04-17
THE BRITISH BUDGET
&
Uncertainty About It hsturbs Trade
in England.
QUESTION Is 20 THE TAXES
Sugar and Grain Dealers Laying in
Large Stocks.
LONDON NEWS AND GOSSIP
NEWS AND GOSSIP

stock and stored up / believe that corn
importers are also doing all they can to
bring big cargoes of grain before it is pos
sible to impose even registration duty.
Shipments both from Russia and America
have been accelerated, and even If duty
be imposed it is not likely to bring much
into the treasury for some time. On the
front opposition bench 1t is generally be-
ieved that there will be a sugar duty equal
to a halfpenny pound, and there would
not be much surprise if the chancellor of
the exchequer proposed a registration duty
on corn. In the city, however, there is a
feeling that the chancellor will not impose
any new taxation. 1t is pointed out in
support of this view that for the ordinary
expenditure the revenue Is not only suf-
hcfent, but would leave considerable sur
plus. The idea, therefore, is that the gov
eminent will borrow the whole of the sum
that is required to carry on the war until
July-that is to say, sum of between fifty
and sixty millions. City men, however for
get that the ministers are practically
pledged to pay a considerable portion of
the cost of the war out Of the revenue of
the year. and any departure from that prin-
ciple would be a direct breach of their
promises. That, of course, is no security
that they will not do So but amongst their
own supporters there is feeling that it
would be cowardly thing to throw the
whole cost of the war on the public debt
and to shirk the duty of proposing in
creased taxation.
Artists "ShOw Sunday"
Last Sunday was what is known as
Show Sunday" the day on which artists
gave their friends a private view of the
pictures they will send to the Academy
Among the better known painters much
was shown which possessed great beauty,
though there is nothing which is likely
to be considered a work of genius. Prof.
Herkomer's enamel portrait of the kaiser
came in for very large share of attention
and admiration. Sir. L. Alma-Tadema ap-
pears this year as portrait painter with
a canvas of Prof. Aitcheson as well as
with several of his beautiful Greek pic
lures. Mr.. Frank GoodalI shows some
work which is fully worthy of his reputa-
ton, and his at present unfinished pic
ture of the Sphinx and Pyramids" which,
however. will be further completed before
the Academy, opens, ought to rank one
of the works of the year.. John Golfers
portrait of the Duke Of Cornwall is a tell
register of birthsetaoin tn ar araraododod
ing one, and it will be popular. Unfor-
unlikely to exhibit this year, and another
absentee will probably be Mr.. Luke Fildes.
Among the pictures that Will command
attention in the Forthcoming exhibition at
Burlington, House " Dis Mr.. Herkomer's
sketch of Queen Victoria. taken in the
death chamber at Osborne House on the
morning of her maJestys death. A curious
story pertains to the Picture Mr.. Her
komer was scommissioned,sb the Graphic
to make the sketch Ii was Intended to
publish it1as a Supplementary plate to the
weekly issue, after the fashion of the fam
Gus Empty Chain that Fgaye a. pathetic
Mr.. Herkomef1 had every facility at his
disposal for completing hfs work. AS he
was leaving Osborne, carrying with him
his precious sketch the king expressed a
nSir TO iActxy
pleased with the work that he requested it
for his private possession. There was, of
course, no appeal against! this natural de-
sire, and thefraaders of the Graphic lost
the prize intended for them. But his
majesty made no objection to Mr.. Herko-
mer's request to exhibit the sketch at the
Royal Academy. The king, in fact. ap-
proved the suggestion and expressed his
desire that the sketch might have assigned
to it the sole possession of one of the rooms
available for exhibition purposes. These
as rejected exhibitors know, are few
enough. The difficulty being pointed out
his majesty did not insist on the condition
but the sketch will have appointed to it
a special position.
Following precedent, it is intended to
have a great picture painted of the coro-
nation ceremony to be held in Westminster
Abbey next year. Definite choice of a
painter has not yet been made, but / I'M
derstand that Mr.. Abbey, r. A. has been
approached on the subject. If he finds it
possible to accept the commission the pic
ture will be far above the average of such
work, for the subject is admirably suited
for the hand that painted the professional
picture of Richard III and Lady Anne
which was the glory of the exhibition of
1896 and gained for Mr.. Abbey his r. A
ship. The distinction of being: selected for
| such historic work is, of course, very high,
but the work involved in the way of spe-
cial sittings for portraits is so vast that
| no possible remuneration would repay a
| man commanding Mr.. Abbey's price for
ordinary work. He is still engaged upon
a series of large decorative panels illus
trating the quest of the holy grail under
taken six years ago for the adornment of
the public library at Boston, Mass. 1t so
nearly approaches completion that Mr.. Abb
hey has arranged to visit the United States
in the autumn. carrying with him the final
panel. This journey would have been &C
complished two three months ago but
for the extreme self-criticism of the artist.
After long labor he had completed the last
panel, but, examining 1t one morning he
came to the conclusion that it was full of
| faults. Taking up brush, he painted the
beautiful picture out and began again.
Interesting Find at Chelsea.
| An interesting discovery has just been
made at Chelsea, which is exciting good
deal of curiosity. The old Six Bells in the
Kings road, one of the most ancient
licensed houses in the west of London and
largely patronized by artists and sculptors,
lor the SAKE OF It's DOWNING green and Its
| medieval aspect, has been in process of
demolition and among the foundations
workmen came upon an immense piece Of
ivory that was at first a puzzle to all who
saw it. closer examination revealed an
| urmistakable resemblance, to tooth of
colossal size and a communication with
the South Kensfngton Museum established
the fact that 1t was a real mammoth's
tooth. 1t is about fifteen inches broad
nearly foot deep and Weighs about six
teen pounds. The tooth is in a perfect
state of preservation, and, though it was
split in two by a workman's pick, during
the first moment of curiosity, the two parts
easily joined. All the Jchara cteristics of
this huge molar are strongly marked-the
indented surface of the masticating upper
part, the line below which the major por-
ton of the tooth was sunk in the gum and
the sharp points of the prongs. The tooth
was found about six feet below the sur
face, but close search has failed to re-
veal any corresponding remains The
search, however, Is being continued. for as
there is hardly county in England in
which tusks. teeth and other bones of the
mammoth have not been found, there is no
reason why Chelsea should not yield its
full quota of fossil ivory.
Question of Housing the Poor.