Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-20

an extent by the Size and grotesQue char
acter OF the ''ale stakes as they were
ing them to not more thaa seven feet in
height. Charles I again allowed the citi-
Gems OF London unrestricted license as to
the character of their signs, but his son,
Charles II, taking advantage Of the great
nre, abolished the privilege altogether, and
caused all trade emblems to be aff1xed to
the lace of the buildings. Eventually the
practice pom se,r OF numbering houses having be
picturesque fashion fell into general dis
use.
Energetic Autograph Hunter.
The autograph collector has Joined with
the journalist in hunting down the Boer
generals. Hitherto, however, genuine sig
natures have been about as scarce as gen.
uine interviews, but today fair American
succeeded where hundreds of Britishers
have failed. In the glory of transatlantic
self-confdence she invaded Horrex's Hotel
and laid determined siege to the stronghold
of privacy so that despite the exertions of
secretaries capitulation had to be made.
General Botha was the hostage offered and
the lady retired triumphantly with his
signature
The generals are holding quite little
court in the Strand Hotel, but admission to
to defeating the ubiquitous professional in
terviewer. With the fear of Downing street
in their hearts they have made it about
as easy to get information regarding their
movements and views as to pass the bibli-
cal camel through the needles eye.
Ecclesiastical Eccentricities.
London is quite deuged with ecclesiasti-
cal eccentricities. The Rev. Richard West
more has formed a sect Of non-conformist
friars. The most sensational announce
ment, however, is that reported as made
NV 1,o T
at one time a clergyman Of the Church OF
England. He now calls himself the pastor
of the abode of Love- on Clapton Com
mon, and on Sunday night he proclaimed
himself to the congregation there as 1.-The
Lord Jesus Christ who died and rose again.
and assembled into heaven Many newspa-
per men have been trying to see Mr. Pigott,
but he has been "too busy" His church is
magnificent building. which cost over f16,-
600, and 1t was crowded when the declara-
ton was made. The reverend gentleman's
apostles are principally elderly ladies
afflicted with religious hysteria, and appar-
emily qualifying like Mr.. Pigott for resi-
dence in a mental sanitarium
London's Theaters.
London has more than sixty theaters-I
believe the exact number is sixty-two-and
about ten music halls, emitting the smaller
ones, whose special object is merely to at
tract customers to some particular licensed
premises. VI the tHedteiS twenty -ciSHl al
to be found in central London and are usu-
ally spoken of as West End houses. More
than half of the thirty odd theaters in SUI
burban London have been erected WITHIN
the last ten years, and various views have
been expressed as to the effect they will
have ultimately on the strictly London
theaters. Experience seems to show that
they have assisted rather than injured the
West End houses.
1t is certain that the theaters within easy
reach of the Strand and Piccadilly have
never been better attended than they are
Just now. 1t is not altogether surprising
Sir Charles Wyndham must be more than
satisfied with the house which bears his
name in Charing Cross road, for he Is put
ting up still larger structure In st. Mar
tins Lane only stones throw away. Both
inside and out it will be a good looking
building The exterior is entirely Of white
Portland stone. The spacious interior will
be huge circle, decorated in ivory white,
with hangings of Rose-Dubarry.
This is not the only central London theat-
er we shall shortly have, for others are to
hand the Opera Comique has already dis
appeared, and the Globe and Olympic are
coming down to make way for the Strand
What is to be the fate of
the Lyceum, of every present memory, is
not yet known. but it is almost certain
soon to be a thing of the past. Suburban
London is also soon to increase the list of
Its theaters. numerous though they already
are. Mr.. Mulholland, who coming to Lon
don ten years ago as a highly successful
provincial manager at Nottingham and
revival of theatrical enterprise in suburbia,