Evening star., 1901-10-31

munication from the London trades coun-
Gil suggesting the desirability Of erecting
theater in the new avenue between the
Strand and Holborn, or in some other CEN
trail situation, so that higher standard
of musical and dramatic art may be en-
couraged and made more accessible to the
wage-earning classes. as is the case with
the state and municipal theaters in some
of the principal cities on the continent
The supporters of this proposal have at
least one important fact in their favor. 1t
is that the London county council have al
ready gone a long way toward providing
parks, in which open and closed gym
nasiums are an attractive feature to
swimming baths open at an almost nomlnal
charge, to cricket and foot ball grounds,
tennis lawns and bowling greens, where
these games are fostered and encouraged.
1t is agreed that no new principle Is raised
In the proposal, but that 1t is merely a
question of the degree to which an acknoWl-
edged principle shall be carried.
Another development of the same KIND
was revealed at Battersea, In Southwest
London, yesterday. There the borough
council opened new recreation room,
which they have formed out of surplus
swimming bath. Any man or youth over
sixteen can obtain admission to this room
for one penny a night, or four pence
week. He finds provided for him baga-
telle table, chess, draughts and other
games. The object of the council, as stated
by themselves, is to provide rendezvous
for the youths who have hitherto hung
about the street corners to the annoyance
of foot passengers. In few weeks the
gymnasium adjoining the recreation room
will be ready for use
Effort to Change Marriage Law.
It may not be well ksewnin America that
all marriages in England must, according
to law, be solemnized before 2 o'clock in
the afternoon and in y Shlifch or licensed
Nj, r,f NC pf43n A
movement is now on foot to have the mar
riage law SO amended&hat it will be possi-
BILE to have the marriage. ceremony extend
ed to the evening. The proposal emanates
from very smart section of the social
world, the opinion being that the event
can be far more brilliantly celebrated by
such an alteration than 1t is possible to do
at the present time. go RI
takes the form of an elaborate luncheon,
the guests, as rule. are more inclined for
slumber than for gaYety. and, though
dance sometimes follows in the evening, the
hoped by the .promoters Of this scheme that
the alteration will have been effected be-
fore next season commences. AS many bril-
liant weddings will, undoubtedly, take place
next year, society Is quite looking forward
to these evening functions, when toilets
and jewels can be displayed to the best ad-
vantage
System of Old Age Pensions.
A novel system Of old age pensions has
been inaugurated In q district in Banff-
shire. Scotland, through the generosity of
a native of the county who has risen to
greatness. The benefactor is Lord Mount
Stephen, who. since he achieved success
with the Canadian Pacific railway, has
shown an eager desire to share his wealth
with his old friends in the north. His first
idea was to establish thirty pensions of the
value OF Els per annum for old people In
two parishes. Over 100 applicants came
ber of disappointments, the number of PEN
sions was increased to fifty. The recipients