The Washington times., 1901-09-17
FOREIGN TOPICS.

O[tLLOZG O/ IL -.
1t Is estimated in London that at least
2Ooo coronets win be required for the
peers ana peeresses who will be sum-
moned to attend the coronation of King
haward next year. As, in silver-gilt,
these may be put down roughly at an
average of about Ell each, the cost for
the head-dresses will thus be about f34. 600.
were the peers to indulge in gold coro-
nets, the united cost would be something
IKE 4l2o0V to Gl30,000, for a gold coronet
costs from so to 70 or so guineas, accord
ing to the rank for which it is required,
though the dukes coronet is by no means
the most expensive. The top price be-
longs to the head-dress of an earl, be-
cause it not only requires the most metal,
but aiso the most work. While silver
is the metal now being universally en-
ployed for making coronets, it is a silver
of special alloy and of greater fneness
than that used for ordinary work. AL
though the intrinsic value of the silver
would not amount to a couple of pounds
one peer has decided on a copper coronet
though the amount he will save by this
economy is very small indeed.
A new company has just been formed at
Geneva for the purpose of issuing acci-
dent assurance policies to Alpine guides
The plan is not absolutely an innovation.
Since 1895 the Swiss, Italian, and German
Alpine Clubs have all made arrangements
with insurance companies enabling guides
to insure themselves for the season; and
the three guides who perished on the
Dent Blanche in the great accident of
1899, Zurbriggen. Furrer, and Vingnier.
were actually insured, the two former for
1900 and the latter for 5000 francs.
What is wanted, however. is an exten-
sion of this scheme. which would enable
a climber to insure his guides for a par
tcular ascent. just as he can insure him
self for particular railway journey. 1t
was calculated last year. in an article
In the Revue Alpint," that premium of
franc per climb should be sufficient for
a policy of 4,o0O francs. This, of course,
Is on the assumption that policies would
1e taken out for all climbs, easy and
dangerous alike; but the Alpine clubs are
probably quite strong enough to enforce
a rule to that effect.
The New Zealand Government has ap-
pointed trade commissioner to travel
the world in search of new markets for
New Zealand produce. The gentleman Sc
lected is J. Graham Cow. who, prior to
going abroad, Is at present touring the
possible regarding the products in the
country available for export. He will go
in the first instance to South Africa, and
subsequently, to England, the Continent
and the United States. seeking wherever
an opening presents itself, to direct at
tention to some product Of which New
Zealand has surplus. In this way 1t Ia
hoped to find some altogether new outlets
for some of the peculiarly New Zealand
products, the uses and value of which are
at present not well known outside the
colony. Mr.. Cow will also during his
travels endeavor to direct attention to the
wonders and beauties Of New Zealand,
and thus increase the popularity of the
colony as a tourists resort.
The menus of the two luncheons at
which the Russian sovereign will be the
guest of honor in France will be verita-
BILE works of art, intended as fitting SOU
venirs of the memorable occasions.
NJ. Devambez, a former "Prix de Rome"
will design the card for the Dunkirk re-
past. The plan most likely to be adopted
represents the port of Dunkirk crowded
with vessels of all nations. Approaching
from the distance, and in an sureole of
sunlight. is the Russian yacht Standard.
NJ. Guillonet the author of the menu
selected for the Reims feast, handles his
subject allegorically. The centre place is
occupied by woman seated on a throne
(or, perhaps, a Republican armchair).
This lady symbolizes France. Like Sa-
rah Bernhardt in a certain photograph,
France has her pet lion crouching near.
Two plump cherubs one wearing Rus
sian headdress and the other the Phry-
gfan cap OF liberty, are receiving on the
wing, from another winged servitor, a
rather ponderous palm branch, which has
evidently Just been handed him by the
lady with the lion. for her arm is still
outstretched.
A few flowers, plants flags, and allie
gorical animals round out the tableau.
Some interesting figures are contained
in the annual report of the London Board
of Trade on changes in wages during
1890, which has just been issued In it
Mr.. Llewellyn Smith states that the year
1890 was the eliminating point of the up-
ward movement of wages which began in
1886. Not only did the general level of
wages In the United Kingdom stand
higher at the end of 1900 than in any
other year for which statistics exist, but
the rate of increase during the last year
was unprecedentedly high. No fewer than
], ,112. .6Si workpeople. or about one-seventh
of the total number employed, received
no less than f2l2. .000 per week, while only
%, ,0l0 sustained decreases to the unimpor-
tant amount of G., 500 per week The net
weekly rise of 9209,0 600 compares with
f9l. 900 In 1898, and Gsl,OO in 1885 AS in
the two previous years by far the larger
amount of the increase is accounted for
by the rise of miners wages which rose
on the average nearly Is sd per week in
the course of the year. and accounted for
f16s. 400. or SO per cent of the total weekly
increase Of wages.
Taking into account the various dates
at which the changes came into operation,
t is estimated that the additional amount
disbursed In wages during 1900, occasion
ed solely by the increase Of wages re-
corded by this report apart from any
change in the number of the working
population, was not less than G6,O0O,OOO
Toward the end of 1900 signs were not
wanting that the period of rising wages
was drawing to a close. During the first
of wages, though still more widespread
ihan the decreases, have not balanced
Them in amount. SO that for the first
lime since 1885 the net effect has been a
'ali amounting to nearly 930 600 per week.
he decline being most mapAed in mining
md iron and steel trades which recently
1ad shown the greatest rise.