Evening star., 1901-09-06
TO AID HOME TRADE
British Queens Coronation Robes to
Be Home Made.
THIS WILL SET The FASHION
Object of the Cars Visit From
English Standpoint.
LONDON NEWS AND GOSSIP

ASANDSAN ANAS w ~ &AAS - ~ O~~S~
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
LONDON. August 22. 1901.
Queen Alexandra's encouragement Of
British manufacturers with regard to the
coronation robes, which she requests shall
be all British goods, will be welcomed in all
the seats of industry. and especially in
! Macclesield and Coventry. There is no
doubt that silk will be largely used by la
dies attending the coronation ceremony,
and If any heed is taken of the queens
wish-and 1t Is certain to have a powerful
influence declining manufacture will re-
ceive great stimulus. The silk industry
has been declining since 1860, and the COM
bined efforts of the late Duchess of Teck
and Sir Thomas Wardle gave 1t but tenn
porary improvement.
That the mills Of Macclesfeld and Coven-
try are capable of producing most beautiful
| silk fabrics is beyond all question, but Brit
ish manufacturers cannot impart to them
the delicate and beautiful shaues that char
| acterize French silks. 1t is at all times
difficult, II not impossible, to regulate the
| whims and fancies of fashion, and in the
| matter of silk ladies will nave the superior
shades of the foreign article What applies
to silk also applies to the velvet which will
be used in the makeup of coronation
dresses. large quantity of velvet also
comes from France. not because 1t is of
better quality than the home production,
but because Of it's beautiful finish.
VIII Aid Silk Industry.
Even If the queens letter does not have
| the effect of leading to as great revival
In the silk industry as home manufacturers
could wish it is safe to predict that it will
materially increase the work of the court
l
orders which Partisan houses would other
wise have received. The example of the
queen herself in this respect Is certain to be
generally followed.
The selection of Mr.. Abbey to paint the
coronation scene, by royal command, has
| made good deal of heart burning among
artists 1t is only the other day that the
commission to do the kings head for the
new postage stamp was given to an Aus
trian society artist, and thus led to much
indignation. Still, it is thought better to go
to America for a picture Of the kings cor
onation than to have the kings postal head
are very great, especially his mastery Of
color and the grouping of august person.
ages. He found at Saratoga some Of those
savage agsressions in color which educa-
| ton has brought into harmonies.
The Visit of the Car.
! Little doubt exists that the visit Of the
czar to the French army maneuvers was
| arranged to counteract the effect Of a
visit of King Edward to the German ma
| neuvers. Though King Edwards visit had
not definitely been arranged it would have
| taken place but for the Empress Freder-
| ick's death. In any case, the German
| grand maneuvers would have witnessed al
| most rapproachment between the British
| and German armies, for both Earl Roberts
| and Mr.. Secretary Brodrick were to have
| been there. Had King Edward also been
| present the significance of the gathering
would have been misunderstood. 1t was
| evident that the Franco-Russian alliance
| must DO something, and accordingly this
visit Of the czar was arranged Advantage
| Is to be taken Of the czar's presence to
| trot him around the country AS a matter
| of fact. despite the frantic joy Of the Paris
| shOpmen who expect trade, which has not
| been very fine in France during the last
| year. to revive and make good their losses
| the hands Of the French will shortly be
| obliged to go down into the hidden stock
! tngs to make up a loan for their northern
| ally. who always needs money. It will be
| heavy loan, / hear.
Removing Strand Buildinxs.
! The removal of buildings in the Strand
| to make way for the new street that is to
| run through to Holborn have revealed an
Elizabethan frontage in an exquisite state
| of preservation. The building is imme-
diately enclosed by Shorts wine house
1t appears. as far as the situation can be
| gathered from the roadway. that Shorts
| wine house must have built up its frontage
In such a way as to preserve the old build
| ing. That is as it appears from the street.
| The real fact Is that the Elizabethan struc-
| ture. which is revealed on the pulling
| down OF Shorts frontage, is brand new.
Hence its appearance of being SO well pre-
| served. 1t Is temporary structure, built
| In pursuance OF an agreement with the
proprietors Of Shorts to shelter the wine
business until the new premises in the new
| street are ready.
| OF Holywell street only half now remains
and the last tenants are flying before the
workmen. who are destroying one Of the
| few genuine fragments Of old London.
| Though something is being lost a maanifl-
cent improvement is being made. Some
| Of the slums which are being revealed as
| the work Of destruction goes forward are
positively appalling in their sQualor and
| poverty. They have been hidden from
| view behind one of the richest streets of
the world. into which their inhabitants
have come through narrow courts and half
concealed archways. The hideousness of
| the district finds faithful reflection In the
| pages Of Dickens, but few persons have
ever penetrated into the neighborhood since
| the novelist wrote, unless It be to identify
such spots as Tom All Alone's," which Of
recent years has been a children's play
| ground, but Is now to disappear.
Shifting of the Theatrical Center.
In connection with this rebuilding Of CEN
| trail London, which will transform the
whole face OF the metropolis In the course
OF ten years, We are witnessing a further
| shifting Of the theatrical center. Shaftes-
| bury avenue Is to be the new thoroughfare
| Of amusement. Almost all the new the
aters built of recent years cluster round
Leicester Square or Shafesbury avenue.
though twenty years ago the important
| houses outside the Strand area did not
| number three.
The Gaiety, which Is to come down, will
| be rebuilt lower down the street. but the
| Olympic the Opera Comique and the Globe
Theater. which is associated with the mar
velous triumph Of "Charley's Aunt" are
all to go, though they may have success
sors. The Adelphi has been rebuilt and
will open shortly with a new name and
seek triumphs in otherfelds. Adelphi melo-
drama will no longer have a home in the
| Strand. That kind Of play does not COM
mand public at West End prices.
1t received staggering blow in the death
OF Henry Pettitt. the dramatist. who wrote
| marvellous series OF plays, many of which
| are successfully touring to this day. The