The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-06
FLEE FROM Grip.
All Who Can Do SO Are Leav-
ing England ss
.-faae sic. 81 ri
On Account of the Severity of
the Disease.
FIGHTING FOR WORK.
Much IdIeness and Distress in
Labor Circles.
Christmas Shoppers Keep Look
out ON Royalty.

London Dec. 6.-The grip is unusually
severe this winter and has already been
felt throughout England, with the result
that all who can do so are leaving. Hun
dreds of people are on their way to In
dia to attend the Delhi Durbar and
thousands are 1ocking to the south OF
France and the Channel islands.
Christmas house parties are being Or
ganized at all the big country places,
where the frost is rapidly spelling the
hunting and driving the guns indoors
| to less strenuous recreations, SUCH as
bridge whist and amateur theatricals. In
east London the winter is having differ
ent effect. Thousands of unemployed
persons daily congregate at the dock
yard gates, literally fighting for chance
to do a days work. Unskilled 1aborers
find it necessary to protect the foremen
who distribute the work tickets each
morning
That portion of the fashionable world
which can afford Christmas gifts is
watching the purchases of the mem
| bers of the royal family in order to fol-
low suit King Edwards gifts this year
run largely to pen and pencil holders,
| cigarette cases and delicate enamel
work set with a new variety of soft tin
| ted. semi-transparent stones heretofore
unknown in the realm of jewelry. Queen
Alexandra is also partial to enamel
work. This year she is giving many
| photographs in artistic enameled frames
favored silver for the same purpose
Queen Alexandra's well known fondness
for pearls leads her to distribute many
of them among her more intimate
| friends at the Christmas season.
The king of Portugal made himself
decidedly popular during his stay in
England. besides proving himself one of
the best shots in Europe, keen motor
/ ist, clever painter and good must
cian During his visit to Blenheim pal
ace he treated the house party there to
a number of French love songs and
Portuguese ballads.
! It is long since the London theaters
| and restaurants have experienced 50
profitable a season as the present The
west end is ablaze with light nightly, all
the amusement places are crowded and
theater supper parties keep the fashion
able hotels and restaurants busy unth
long after midnight. In the meantime
it is estimated that 100000 persons are
idle in the United Kingdom and the
| board of trade returns show the largest
] skilled persons out of work while the
proportion of skilled men without en-
| ployment is constantly growing The
/ WOolwich arsenal authorities have dis
charged two thousand mechanics since
| the winter set in and are preparing to
let out four thousand more. To the
| army of people out CT work must be
added $4,000 members Of the army re-
serve, who have been released from
service with the colOrS.- The worst dis
t1ess naturally is visible in the east end.
A number of newspapers have started
subscription columns and daily print
narrowing stories of half clad school
| children marx of whom are without
any food except scanty Iuncheons fur
] nished by sympathetic teachers. A
! number of the T4or-lon suburban coun-
| ell are starting public works in order
to employ small PARTON of the idle