Evening star., 1902-04-19


emy pictures in the catalogue, including
the one shown last year, Among the Cliffs
of East Kent"
Contributions of the Immortals.
There are some very interesting paint
ings among the contributions of the i'm
mortals. Among the portraits the first
place must be given 70 Mr.. Luke Fildes
King Edward VII" and Mr.. Sargent S
presentment of the beautiful Duchess of
Portland. Sir Alma Tadema draws his in
spiration from ancient Rome and paints
the Emperor Carcacalla robed in white
entering bronze doors. The scene affords
full scope for the artists peculiar skill.
All the paintings and other works of
art have been sent to the Academy, and
are now in the hands of the hanging COM
mittee. Although room can only be found
for some 1000 works, nearly 1000 have
been submitted to the judgment of the art
experts, and as a consequence there are
certain to be 10000 or more rejected 1t is
no easy matter to form a decision under
such conditions, and if occasionally some
meritorious productions are excluded and
some mediocrities admitted it is small
wonder. AS a rule the biggest percentage
of the rejected cenvases are those of large
dimensions, a fact which ambitious paint
ers would do well to reflect upon. Many
a fine picture is left unhung owing 70 lack
of room, though it must be admitted that
MANY poor ones of leVidthan proportions
sometimes find places on the walls of the
academy. Many readers of The Star will
have an opportunity to judge of the merits
of this years Academy, as hardly an Amer
lean who comes to London in the summer
neglects to go to Burlington House to see
the pictures.
Lord Roberts to Retire.
All the military clubs accept without
question the rumor that Lord Roberts
will retire from the office of commander
in-chief Immediately after the coronation.
The work is undoubtedly very heavy, and
it has been heavier during this regime than
for many years. Lord Roberts is now,
moreover, an old man: and, having assist
ed War Minister Brodrick to frame and
launch his scheme of army reform he is
justified in thinking that he is entitled to
leisure and freedom from official strain
and worry. Great were the hopes when he
returned from South Africa that the army
was about to undergo sweeping reform,
but these hopes have not been realized AS
to Lord Roberts successor, the universal
belief in the same military circles is that
the Duke of Connaught is already marked
out for the post. 1t Is said that the ap
pointment would be popular. Undoubtedly
it would be as popular in some quarters as
1t would be unpopular in others. There Is
nothing to be said against the duke per-
sonally. He Is an industrious soldier, had
not traded upon his rank and is described
as competent officer. He has not been
tested in the South African war, where
many large military regulations have been
suddenly pricked, and he therefore remains
still a high military potentiality.
The chief objection that will be taken to
his appointment as commander-in-chiefw Will
be that when the Duke of Cambridge had to
resign the office the understanding on the
part of the public was that it would not be
filled again by any member of the royal
family. That such an appointment should
be in the hands of one closely related to
the reigning sovereign is regarded by some
as not to the public interests; but Il will have
one merritt viii check society ladies and
aristocratic families from worrying the
head Of the army on behalf of their rela-
tives. The more unapproachable he makes
himself in this respect the more readily
will the general public forgive his birth.
New War Office Under Construction.
At last some progress is visible in the
construction of the rev war office in
Whitehall. All last year navvies were at
work digging hole twenty-five feet deep,
and these were followed by workmen who
laid down a concrete foundation six feet
thick, with immense retaining walls to keep
back the pressure of the street. 1t was not
until last September that the first brick
was placed in position, and since that time
more than six millions have been laid. while
10000 cubic feet of worked Portland stone
and 800 tons of steel girderS have been
worked up Two floors have been COM
pleted-the basement and subbasement-
which brings the structure from the foun-
datiOn line. to a 1901 OF SO ABOVE the IeNei
of the roadway.
But as large as are the quantities already
used they are as nothing compared with
what will have to be worked up before the
building is out of the contractors hands.
When finished the new war office will con-
tain 400 600 cubic feet of worked Portland
stone 900 tons of steel and % 600 900
bricks 1t may be some consolatio to the
British taxpayer, who viii have to meet
the bill that all the material used is of
British origin, the contractors being spe-
cially exempted by stringent clauses from
going abroad for bricks, cement, stone Gr
steel required in the construction.
Ladies' Choir Movement
The most interesting musical development
in the West End churches just now is the
ladies' choir movement. 1t is likely to be
further stimulated by a competition for la
dies choirs which was recently held in
the Kensington town hall. These choirs arc
in no way In rivalry with the ordinary male
choir They do not even sing as a choir on
Sunday. What they do is to carry a
musical service on week days, when the
| ordinary choir cannot attend, the boys
being at school and the men following their
respective business pursuits. On saints
days and other festivals that may occur on
week days the ladies' choir steps in and
sings the service. The effect is exceedingly
| good and a communion service sung by
the ladies is generally brighter than that
Of the average choir, despite the loss OF