Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-03-29
KING DID NOT PLEASE
London Disapproves Of His
Night Drawing Room.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
SOCIETY LEADERS RENT HOUSES
AT HIGH PRICES.
Death Of Sir Richard Temple Causes
Genuine Regret-London News
and Gossip.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

drawing room. II was the 1uHCliou
of it's kind to be held at night for very
many years. At the day drawing rooms OF
the late queen thousands used to gather
to see the commanded" guests go by in
their carriages, long lines Of which would
block the mall in St. James Park. but the
other night. very few turned out and so
London has another grievance, pleasure
cut off.
A lot of nonsense has been written In the
society papers about the terrible ex-
clusiveness that was to mark King Ed
wards court. Quite new order of things
was to be established from that which pre-
vailed during the reign of the late queen,
and dreadful perturbation was caused
among those who go to these functions
whether they would be included in the in
vitation. But a glance at the names Of
Friday nights court shows that the COM
pany was composed exactly as was that
at Queen Victoria's drawing rooms. 1t
was slightly smaller in number, because
the king intends to hold larger number
than the late queen was in the habit of
doing.
He also proposes to make them more at
tractive by supplying supper instead OF
allowing his guests to fanAsh. as was the
custom at the drawing rooms in the late
reign. This can easily be done, it seems,
by cutting down the perquisites OF the
titled and other flunkeys, who will find 1t
a very different thing to serve an alert and
business-like king instead Of an old lady
who troubled as little as possible about
how they managed the affairs of the court.
Society Leaders Become Frugal.
The chief object Of the leaders of society
here just now is to let their houses for
fancy rents for the coming season. and
many have already done so, Lord Tweed
mouth setting an example by letting Brook
House in Park Lane to Mr.. Whitelaw Reid
for $4,000.
A sad blow has been dealt, however, to
the ambitions of a large number of these
would-be moneymakers by hint that the
members of the British arstocracy who
are seeking to let their London houses to
foreigners for the coronation period. He
has caused the fact to be known that he
disapproves of this practice, which, II not
stopped. would result In the fashionable
quarters of the capital being peopled by
strangers at a time when the official eff
forts to render the season an exceptionally
brilliant one he thinks should be loyalty
supported by society. The king considers
that peers and peeresses should not yield
to the temptation to make money out OF an
occasion Of national Importance. Since
his views have become known mansions In
the west end have not been so easily OBJ
tanned; and there are quite number Of I'll
tied people who, fearful Of the royal dis
pleasure, are endeavoring to cancel the
houses to wealthy Americans.
Death Of Sir Richard Temple.
It Is significant of the affectionate regard
In which Sir Richard Temple, whose death
is announced today, was held that he was
almost universally known as "Dicky." He
was a quaint figure of man, short, plain
almost to ugliness. and with hirsute adorn-
ments that might have done credit to
colonel Of Bengal cavalry as Punch used
to picture these officers.
He was for many years great parlia-
knowledge of men and AFFAIRS and never
took part in any public controversy with
out making some humorous and suggestive
contribution to it; but, singularly enough,
his suprem title to parliamentary fame was
as Squire OF Danes" When he retired
from parliament in 1895 he was close upon
seventy years Of age. and his Indian career
had not tended to increase his physical
sion without Sir Richard Temple being
seen with what used to be playfully called
convoy Of smart ladies, mostly young
and charming. Nobody could ever tell how
1t has come about. but Sir Richard Temple
was admitted to be a parliamentary
Squire of Danes without rival, and the
reputation was one which he keenly en-
joyed.
Every one loved and respected "Dicky"
Temple, and his chivalry and perfect man.
ners exercised a curious fascination over
beautiful women. He was utterly regard
less of appearances. and I once saw him
most disreputable, and wearing hat that
must have seen almost many years
service as Its owner.
London's Many Clubs.
London is the paradise Of clubs. There
are hundreds Of them here, and some Of
them are famous the world over. 1t would
be interesting to get some inside notes
about some Of the biggest political clubs.
On the whole think the subscriptions and
entrance fees are less than In similar clubs
in America.
The Carlton Club. which has its head
quarters at "a Pail Mall restricts its MEM
bers to 1890. The entrance fee is ESQ, and
the annual subscription is 10 guineas. The
Reform Club, located at 104 Pail Mall, s. W.,
takes 400 members, who pay an entrance
Zee of f4O and annual subscription of IL
guineas. The Carlton. of course, Is con-
sentative and the Reform is entered as
strictly liberal" The Constitutional Club,
in Northumberland avenue, opposite Hotel
Victoria. takes 5000 members has an en-
trance fee Of 10 guineas or Z guineas, and
an annual subscription Of guineas or 3
guineas. 1t Is described as politically con-
stitutional." Then there is the Junior Con-
stitutional, at 1O1 Piccadilly, which takes
500 members, and requires an entrance fee
of guineas, with an annual subscription OF
3 guineas or guineas.
Inc NatlOnal Liberal Club at Whitehall
place. s. W.. takes 6, 500 members who pay
6 guineas annually but there is no entrance
fee. 1t is strictly LIBERAL" and Is the
cheapest club in London. It's home is a
palace on the enbankment near the Hotel
Metropole, well known to all American
travellers. There are many other political
clubs. such as the City Carlton, the City
Liberal and City Conservative. the Junior
Conservative. the Primrose, ST. Stephens,
the Eighty Club. &c. Excluding certain
clubs, such as the Colonial, which have no
limit to their membership, the National
Liberal takes the largest number. The
heaviest fees are those charged by the
Naval and Military, Oxford and Cambridge,
United University. each f42: the Reform
at f40. and the Junior Carlton at EDS us
London Slow to Adopt Automobiles.
London follows slowly in the wake of the
provinces in the matter of automatic loco
motion. We have our electric trans out at
Shepherds Bush. and for a time number
of motor cabs made transitory appear
ance in the streets Of the metropolis Ap-
parently. however they were not sue
cess. and soon disappeared from human
ken and the ribald jests of the London
cabby. Some time ago a motor omnibus
with a number Of privileged passengers
started on a trial journey from Northum.
her1apn aVpuna ont far % ~ EYn...