Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-07-15
4 COSTLY PRIVILEGE
Earl Russell's Trial ,Ppvokes Hostile
Comment3nsE England.
CUSTOM LIKELY 80 BE ABOLISHED
Relic of the Time of jealousy
Between Classes.
LONDON NEWS AND GOSSIP
special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
LONDON. July g. 1901.
The trial of Earl Russell by his peers on
the charge of bigamy will commence on
| July 1s. The court will be set up. as at
present arranged, in the Royal Gallery, the
| fine hall in the parliament houses at West
minister which is decorated with frescoes
representing the browning incidents in the
careers of Nelson and Wellington. Such
trial is curious complement of new CEN
fury, new parliament and a new reign.
But lovers of sensations. at all events. have
nothing to complain Of.
Guilty, on my HONOR or Not guilty. on
my honor" according as the result goes,
will be the formula in which the peers will
pronounce their verdict Each peer deliv-
ers his verdict separately by word Of mouth,
and this is a most solemn and imposing
part of the trial. The whole body Of peers
practically constitutes the jury, and the lord
| high steward is the judge who presides over
the trial. He has to be specially appointed
for this purpose and is not the lord stew
ard of the household. who Is a permanent
state official. The temporary character of
the office will be signified at the close of
| the trial, when the official in question will
solemnly break his wand of office to show
that his functions have come to an end.
In the course of a few days the king will
appoint lord high steward for the trial to
| which every peer of the realm has been
| summoned by the lord chancellor. All the
Judges have also been hidden to attend.
The preparations are out of all proportion
to the magnitude of the offense, and the
cost will undoubtedly be very great 1t
will not be surprising If the impending trial
is the last of it's kind. The feeling is flndine
expression that this form Of privileges. ex.
cept in the case Of high treason or a capt.
tai charge should be swept away. 1t is a
| relic of bygone times, and not even the
| how, on1x VIA, NI>i
| their rights in this respect.
Picturesque as the trial may be from
some points Of view. 1t certainly is an
anachrontsm: 1t dates from time when
great prejudice existed between the or
ders Of society and when it would have
resulted inevitably in adverse verdict
for peer to be tried by the common peo-
pie. But it Is ludicrous NOWADAYS to make
distinctions Of this kind. No doubt when
the Americans really run England as I
see Is predicted in the papers at home, such
| privileges as this will be done away with.
Concession to Catholicism. -
1t Is certainly sign Of the times that
80 great concession has been made to
Roman Catholicism as Is indicated by the
suggested alterations in the oath which
| the King of England takes upon his Access
I sion to the throne. If the changes be ac-
! cepted the next king will not be obliged
| to offend his Roman Catholic subjects by
calling their religion, t'idOlatrous"
The recommendations of the committee
! On the subject have been generally favor
ably received. but the militant Protestants
| still object to the amended wording which
! In their opinion. does not go far enough in
condemnation of Roman Catholic practices
| by Protestant king. One passage for
instance of the amended form would make
! the king declare that the invocation or
| alteration OF the Virgin Mary and any
| other saint and the sacrifice of the mass
| as they are now used In the Church of
Rome are contrary to the Protestant re-
hgion." But this expression Of opinion
| does not convey-so some Of the critics
| consider-a sufficiently explicit and person.
| al reputation Of these particular prac-
| tees.
| 1t has been burning question in this
| Protestant country ever since the queen s
death, when the necessity for taking the
oath arose, and The Irish members of par
| lament nave been most violent about it.
| Legislators Taking Life Easy.
| Life in parliament at present is taken
very easily. I went up to the house to
SEQ member yesterday and found him not
IN his seat but on the terrace that over
looks the Thames, enjoying tea with
number Of ladies. He was not alone in
| his devotions to England's 20 o'clock god
| dess."
| Though there were 400 members within
| the precincts OF parliament, 1t was only
on very rare occasions that majority OF
| the legislative chamber. One generally
| finds that the strawberry season produces
| this result. The advent of the luscious
| fruit seems to bring hosts of charming la
! dies, and 30 long as these daintily dressed
| visitors are In evidence, the average mem
| Der has no time to bestow on the technical
details of national expenditure. AT all
| events II he has any Partially for legisla-
tive work. he is not allowed to crafty the
whim. He is simply monopolized by the
| fair sex. They want to survey the house
| through peephole near the door; they are
| full of curiosity about the buildings, want
| to see the dining rooms and, Of course,
| would like nothing better than stroll on
| the terrace. Once in that blissful haven.
| with the river in front and a sunny sky
| overhead. there is no escape for any gallant
| representative of the people. No matter
| how much he may prefer whisky, he has to
| take tea, and look as though he thoroughly
| enjoyed the beverage.
| In some respects the social aspect OF leg
| islatfve existence In England constitutes
ono of its most costly drawbacks. 1t is
| given on the authority of a north country
| liberal that during hours Of tedious debate
| members are driven to amuse themselves
| behind long cigars. They read, play chess,
tell stories, entertain friends. and not In
frequently drink more than the nature OF
| tnelr work renders necessary or desirable.
| Being aware Of these weaknesses. the la
dies naturally expect share of attention.
| That this is fully accorded to them Is OBJ
| Vious to every beholder.
| "nlte1r10rS Club FflSrlmA8e.
The Whitefriars Club made little pill
grimage to Wessex- on Saturday which
| would have delighted the hearts Of Amer
| lean admirers Of Thomas Hardy. This
| club is a cotere of literary men in Lon
don. and each Friday night in the winter
| months they meet and dine and smoke to-
gether. Among the members are Mark
| Twain. George Meredith, Anthony Hope,
Carruthers Gould. Richard Whiting. Gilbert
Parker, Max Pembertenj Thomas Hardy
and others. In the summer months. with
their wives and friends they make excur-
sions into the country. it may be to roam
with George Meredith down at BOX Hill.
On Saturday they went by special train
to Dorsetshire. and drove over the swell
ing uplands and across, the dairy meads of
the countryside made famous in Thomas
Hardy's novels. The places visited were
chiefly those associated with poor Tess.
The party descended at the wayside village
| of Wool. and drove to the tree-embowered
ruins Of Bindon Abbey, and some 'Friars"
even lay down in the stone coffin where
| Tess is supposed to have been laid by
| sleep-walking Angel Clare. Then came a