Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-24

have been founded by the dozens ever since.
One OF the most important is the Society
of Workingmen's Rifle Clubs. Of which Earl
Roberts is president, and which was inaug-
urated at meeting at the Mansion House
IN the spring OF last year. Since December
last the parent body has been instrumental
IN forming thirty-six miniature rifle clubs
The society's aim Is to induce large num-
oers OF wage-earning people to occasionally
utilize their evenings In manner which,
while interesting to themselves, win also
prove profitable to the state.
There are many places which. used only
partially Tor other purposes, could be tenn
porariy utilized during the winter season
for rifle shooting. To establish rifle club
fully equipped with the apparatus RECON-
mended, rifles, ETC., hall or room of forty
feet or more in length is required. and a
sum Of Els will more than cover the initial
cost, while without the apparatus small
club could be started for Is. The profit on
the sale Of ammunition and a small sub
scription from members will cover the cost
Of maintenance. The committee are now
arranging the details OF miniature Bis
ley'-that Is, a competition open to all
miniature rifle clubs-to be held in March
next. Some valuable prizes have already
been offered.
Pretty soon every man. woman and
child in Great Britain will be able to
shoot. and then let foreigners beware. The
workingman learning to shoot Is amusing
in the extreme. Place MIN on a horse and
give him gum and the picture Is complete
Look out for him in our next war.
Decadence Of the Port Of London.
The decadence Of the port OF London is a
nightmare which once a year on an average
stalks over the chest Of the sleeping COM
mercial world, and wakes it with a shdver.
The shiver just now Is much more pro-
nounced than usual, and Mansion House
conference has been summoned to discuss
reform. That reform is needed IS patent,
otherwise big steamship lines like the P. &
o. would not be transferring their business
to Southampton, which Of late years has
taken from both Liverpool and London.
But more telling is the fact, not so general
ly known, that within the last twelve years
or so in regard to the trade at Its port Lon
don has descended from the proud position
Of monopolizing 40 per cent Of the whole Of
Brltain's total, and can now boast of only
II per cent. There are stage whispers that
the Mansion House conference Is merely a
move in a Morgan scheme to AmericaniZe
Britain's greatest port but then the city
seems at present to be badly suffering from
Morgan mania or Morganitis, and inclined,
with at times little reason, to connect the
Rhodes Of the financial world with every
big commercial movement. If Mr.. Morgan
should take hold Of London 1 suspect that
it would be good thing for the commercial
world here. 1t needs it..
India Attracts Fashions Attention.
Hundreds in the fashionable world are
turning their eyes to India and getting
ready to go to Delhi for the coronation fes-
tivities there in January. Among the So
ciety folk contemplating the Durbar trip
are the Lord of the Marches, the Earl OF
Fowls and his countess, leaving her abey
ant barony Of Fauconberg to the care OF
her lawyers. Mrs. Letter, Lady CurZOn's
mother and Miss Daisy Letter have arriv-
ed from America on the Kaiser Wilhelm der
Crosse, in order to participate In the great
ceremony at Delhi. Earl Percy has ar
ranged to visit the Durbar. but the recent
changes in the government, which absorb
his lordship in the ministry as under secre-
tary for India. have changed his plans and
he will not now go.
Works of Meissonier on Exhibition.
There Is now on exhibition at the Cooper
alton Art Gallery a small but choice collec-
ton of the works of Meissonier, lent by Sir
Horatio Davies. NJ. P, an alderman, who in
common with the present lord mayor and
the late Sir Robert Fowler. has done much
to redeem the city fathers from the charge
OF caring only for money and other material
things. The works, eight in number, are
representative Of the great painters art at
his best periods, in the fifties. sixties and
the seventies. The pictures dead with all
manner of subjects|andscapes seascapes
and portraits, with the landscapes and sea-
scapes always subordinated. The French
school of painting q am speaking more par
ticularly Of such as Corot, Diaz Millet and
Daubigny) is attracting much more atten-
ton over here and at least one notable ex-
hibition of works by French painters is
- ''' l. H. MOORE.
More Work for Them.
From the Chicago Tribune