Waterbury Democrat., 1902-05-17
RAIN, SNOW AND HAIL
That is What Londoners Have
 Had for Spring Greeting.

Skating Was Enjoyed This Week in
 the Northern Part of the Country
 No Peerage Offered to Either Astor
 or Lipton-No Truth in Report That
 Lord Pauncefote Will Resign.
 London, May 17.-So far as it has progressed ill London. rain, snow and hail have been the harbingers of sum mer. Never has there been such an indictment spring. Americans who have come over for the coronation sit around ill doleful groups waiting for the sunshine that never comes. The women go to the opera and clubs in furs, and the men have long since re- yerted to their winter clothes, so pre- maturely discarded in sunny April No amount of festivities, and there are plenty of them, can diSpel the uniyer- sal gloom that the awful weather has created. In the northern part of the country there was actually skating this week, while an automobile trip to Scotland had to be abandoned on ac- count of the snow. London itself has been spared this last visitation, but cold northeast winds and perpetual rain fully brought the unsavory weather record of the metropolis up to that of the provinces, until to-day when it became slightly finer and warmer.
 What is worth seeing in London that is not obscured by rain is hidden by scaffolding. unsightly stacks of timber that run as high as the but tresses of Westminster abbey blot the national gallery out of the Trafal- gar square panorama, tnar Pall Mall clubs into lumber yards, which project their unfinished ugliness into the Lon don streets. until it is small wonder that the American visitor returns from sightseeing expeditions bedraggled and deiected.
 Where stands are not being erect ed, buildings are being cleaned All this disintegration, in which must be included the still almost impossible condition of the main streets, perpet- ually torn up, will doubtless have it's reward in a transyersable, beautified London by the time coronation actual ly occurs.
 As regards the London season, of which so much was expected. the fact is that, up to now, the town is more empty than usual at this time of the year. More houses are unoccupied, there are fewer private entertain ments. and trade in the west end is less brisk than in ordinary years. The Associated Press is in posi- ton to definitely deny that either Sir Thomas Lipton. William Waldorf As tor or Sir Ernest Cassel (who recently placed 92OO,OOO-$ -$1, ,OO0. .OOO- at King Edwards disposal for utilitarian pur- poses), will be made coronation peers as previously reported. To friend 1 Sir Thomas said to-day:
 "A Deerage has not been offered me, and if it should be, while appreciating the great honor, 1 would be compelled 1 to decline. I have no desire to get so l far. away from my friends. I am quite, satisfied to remain as I am" At the same time, Sir Thomas Lip ton could have q peerage for the ask | ing, and the king himself suggested it. London, May 1.-The foreign office
 officials here say there is no truth in
 the report, circulated in the United
 States, that Lord Pauncefote, the
 British ambassador at Washington
 has requested that on account of the
 state of his health his resignation be | T