Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-05
GOSSIP OF LONDON
Departure Of the Shah Makes
Dull Times.
NEWS VERY SCARCE
PAPERS HAVE TO RESORT TO
NEW DEVICES
Churches Are Closed and Everybody
Who Can Has Gone to
the Country.
special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

express company on the American side of
the water to do work that should properly
be undertaken by the government 1t is a
matter OF regret and surprise to all Ameri-
cans living here that SO advanced and up
to-date country as their own should lag
behind In SO important a matter.
Lord Londonderrys last annual report as
postmaster general announced that the re-
peated efforts to induce the United States
post ONCE to enter into an agreement for
the establishment of a parcels post with
this country having failed much consider
alton had been given to other projects for
the establishment Of service 1t is now
announced that such an agreement has
been concluded In cooperation with the
American Express Company.
Mr.. Austen Chamberlain, the new post
master general, appears to have made
good bargain, one shilling for three pounds.
being less than the postage to most Euro
pean countries, but the United States gov
eminent will exact a fee of one shilling on
each parcel entering their territory. 1t is
not stated what the British government
will receive on parcels from America, but
probably similar fee will be taken. Great
Britain will now have a parcels post to
practically the whole civilized world SER
vice with Russia having been arranged last
year.
The refusal Of the United States to enter
into the arrangement seems to point a
moral for the antitrust speeches Mr.. Roose-
welt is now making, and which are also
creating much interest on this side. The
new charge for parcels will be a minimum
of shillings PACKAGE l shilling for the
postage Is collected by the United States for
what no one knows, and one to the express
company. This, of course, is in addition to
what may be charged for duty on the goods
The total charge minus the duty is shilling
less than 1t could be done before, for the
smallest package cost us 81 to send home by
express.
Dull After Shah's Visit.
Now that the shah has left us London
promises to be rather a dull place He
has put off the advent Of the silly season
by week or two, but we must now resign
ourselves to the inevitable sea serpent. Some
Of the London newspapers have already
started a correspondence in their columns
to make up for the lack of more exciting
copy" 1t is not rs Marriage a Faiure?"
this time, but one esteemed contemporary
has started with rs True Love Played
Out" Whether or not true love has
played OUT 1t Is certain that news" is
nearly played out, as every journalist knows
to his cost. The law courts are closed,
parliament is taking holiday, the clubs are
empty, and all the usual sources of infor-
nation seem to be closed. The literature
most in demand are the guide books and
railway time tables, for most people who
have not taken their holidays are making
arrangements TO 90 so.
August is generally looked rpoD as q
close time for the preachers In London
and today finds the ma jority of the best
known pulpits of the city either empty or
occupied by strangers. Therefore country
and transatlantic visitors who are anxious
to sample London's star preachers are apt
TO experience sore disappointment. No SER
vices are, of course, being conducted at
westminster Abbey, the Chapel Royal of st.
James and Savoy are closed and services
are also suspended in the long vacation in
the chape!s of the Inns of Court Most of
the nonconformst preachers who draw big
congregations are out OF town. DR.. Parker
Is still prevented by illness from being at
the city Temple. American preachers over
for holidays are very useful in filling these
vacancies, more than half a dozen occupy
ing the nonconformist pulpits last Sunday.
Peers Turning to Catholicism.
Gradually the peerage Of the country is
becoming tinged with leaven of Roman
Catholicism. This Is not so much by the
creation of Roman Catholic peers as TO the
converting of Protestant peers OF their
heirs to Catholicism. Among the more en-
inent "'verts'' in recent years are the Mar
qms OF Hlpon, the late Marquis of Butte.
the late Lord Denbgh and the Earl Of
Loudoun. All these families were formerly
Protestants, but probably In all cases, ex-
cept perhaps that Of Lord Rfpon, their
descendants will remain Catholics. There
on the death of the present holders threat
en- to become Roman Catholic peerages.
The son and heir Of Lord Ashbourne, the
Irish lord chancellor, is a Catholic, and his
children will be brought up in that faith.
Niscount Encombe, the little grandson and
heir of the Earl of Eldon, himself a Prot
estant is being brought UP as a Catholic,
as Lord Eldon's eldest son, the late Lord
Encombe. joined the Church Of Rome on
his marriage to Lord Lovats sister,
Catholic lady; and now the marqulsate of
Headfort is likely to become Roman Cath
Ole peerage as Lord Headfort's infant son.
the Earl of Beehive, the offspring OF his
marriage with Miss Rosie Boote, the Gaiety
actress, has been baptized by Cardinal
Vaughan.
Country Balls and Parties.
Not only are the country balls to be re-
ViEed and country house parties to be
much gayer in the coming winter season.
but there will also be much liveler sea-
sons at the winter resorts. Brighton,
about the only English seaside resort
known to Americans, which has suffered
more than any place from the depression
Of the last three winters, is preparing for
very gay season. The Holly ball, the
Yuletide ball are to be revived in full
glory. II they achieve the success which
the fancy dress bah and the polo ball used
to have Brighton visitors will have good
not commence till well on in September,
the town has been fuller of visitors during
August than 1t has been for many years.
August is usually much too hot month
at Brighton but the GOODNESS and rain Of
the present month have driven holiday
seekers to try Brighton because of the null
tiplicity Of its indoor attractions on rainy
days.
The announcement that Mr.. Beerbohm
Tree has obtained the kings permission to
alter the title of his theater from Her
Majesty's to His Majesty's, raises an i'm
portant question. What ought to be the
description Of regiments bearing the royal
appellation? There is that crack yolun-
teer corps, the Queens Westminster Regi-
ment. Several regiments Of regulars are
Queens" and several more Princess Of
Wales" BY strict rule the former ought
to become kings. and the latter Queen
Alexandra's regiments. Nothing, however
appears to have been done in this direc-
tion as yet. When any step is taken it Will
be necessary to alter all future queens
regiments to Queen Alexandra's regiments.
Insurance on Late Queens Life.
A simple question addressed to the man.
agement by a shareholder Of the Drury