Evening star., 1901-11-04
Trafalgar Day Celebrated.

TIME 10 COHe.
Trafalgar Day Celebrated.
Trafalgar day has been celebrated in Lon
don in the manner In which the Navy
League has educated the public-that is to
say, Nelson's monument In Trafalgar
Square has been hung with festoons OF
evergreens and has been the center of
constant stream of pilgrims throughout the
day. The decorations are on a less lavish
scale than has been witnessed in some
previous years. The eversreens are not
now carried up the whole length Of the i'm.
mense column, but terminate some twenty
feet from the base. In four years. time we
shall see the centenary celebrated In honor
OF the Trafalgar victory, and the more
elaborate decorations are probably being
preserved by the league for that occasion
As 1t IS there Is abundant testimony To the
grateful and effectionate regard which is
entertained by Englishmen for the great
sailor.
Wreaths of evergreens and floral tributes
were sent in great abundance The -four
large lions at the base Of the column have
each hanging from the mouth a wreath OF
evergreens, and not the least pleasing of
the inscriptions on the column itself is one
at the back, which reads ITO the Memory
Of the Gallant Sailors Of France and Spain
Who Fell at Trafalgar" Some of the
floral tributes came from the colonies
One of the most useful features of the
Trafalgar day celebrations has been the
exhibition of interesting relics of the battle
at the Museum Of the Royal United Service
Institution. Special prominence was given
TO the portion Of the main mast of the VIC
tory, which has shot hole right throueh
it, and which still bears the horseshoe
nailed there hundred years ago as an en-
blem Of good luck. The museum also has a
portion of the mizen topmast and Of the
jibboonl, both Of which were shot aWav rs
the fight proceeded. Hundreds of Amer.
leans every year visit this museum, which
is in Whitehall near the large hotels. and
many Of our countrymen are familiar with
the Nelson relics.
Lieut.. CeclPs Romance.
At last Lieutenant Cecil and his fancee,
Miss Jessie Balm. are married No doubt
the cables have kept you fully Informed OF
the exciting two weeks we have had in
the British capital over this romantic af
fair How the gallant lieutenant, who is
only nineteen. ran away from Belfast with
Miss Balm, her family accompanying, In
order to marry In Scotland where the war
ring Of Lady Frances Cecil, the mother OF
the youth, could have no effect. Lieutenant
Cecil being ward In chancery. the English
but love laughed at more than locksmiths
and Scotland took the refugees in and
helped them.
The English court thundered at them, and
every day we In London opened our papers
prepared to hear Of the discontinue of the
couple. 1t was for fully two weeks the
most prominent news Of the day.
Any Scotchman, however, could have told
the court of chancery that its writ forbid
ding the marriage Of Lieutenant Cecil and
Miss Balm was of no value in Scotland nor
was the warrant for the arrest of the lien
tenant which the London detectives took
down with them to Edinburgh. AS to the
warrant of arrest. the court or the detect
ives may have imagined that It wo1,ld he
indorsed in Edinburgh by a competent
judge. but the Scottish courts of law and
the whole people of Scotland are Jealous
of any invasion Of their rights in civil
matters by the court of chancery and the
lord president of the court of session point
blank refused to indorse the writ Accord
ingly. the London detectives were power
less and If they attempted to arrest Lien
tenant Cecil they would find themselves ar
rested for an attempt at KIDNAPPING IF
they escaped with him to England there
would be an international question raised
which would rouse Scotland from end to
end.
Found Immunity In Scotland.
Whatever the court of chancery can a,
in England to prevent such a marriage If
can do nothing In Scotland. BY the scotch
law girls of tw slve and boys of fourteen
can legally marry. They neither raopira
to have banns proclaimed nor to be m,
ried In church or by minister They
can marry themselves before witnesses and
without writing. and by simpIy fakina
each other for husband and wife: o,. thaY
may write the fact that they do so IN Tho
fy-leaf of Bible. and sign it without wit
nesses, and the contract is complete. if