Evening star., 1902-03-08
the invasion" would be swift and com-

| the invasion" would be swift and CONS
plete.
| Mr.. George Robottom. the London rep.
| resentative OF an American shoe manu-
| tacturer. recently applied to the agent Of
one OF the largest companies In London for
rates OF insurance on the lives of his wife
and himself. as well as on the household
| goods. He explained that he was perfect
| ~ willing to take out policies in an English
company, provided the premiums asked
were no higher than those Of an American
| concern. The agent sent q deputy TO Mr..
| HoDottoms residence, who asked a. few
vague questions. and then observed mys-
leriously that he would see about IT." Mr.
Robottom was surprised. to put II mildly.
when he received the following letter next
| day:
Dear Sir: thank you for your ,nouirv
on proposed insurance. but 1 never take
the trouble to compete with any American
offce: so IL you wish TO insure in one Of
them by all means do so.
Il regard this letter as a rare curiosity"
said Mr.. Robottom.
After getting It photographed for SOU
Venir purposes / shall send 1t to the head
ONCE OF the company this agent represents
and request an explanation. While 1 am
In England am willing to do business
with English firms. provided they can meet
prices obtainable on the other side of the
Atlantic 1t is new experience, however,
to have cash proposition so bluntly re-
fused. and am strongly tempted to follow
the agents advice and take out policies
with an American company.
Old Landmark Disappearing.
New Inn. one OF the old inns of the
chancery court, is disappearing in the con-
nection with the Strand improvements, and
the court will shortly be asked to decide
how the proceeds Of its sale shall be ap-
piled. The surviving members Of the inn
contend that the amount should be divd-
ed among themselves. There are only
| about fifteen OF them, and the London
county council has given f157 800 for the
site. II the members had their way. there
fore. they would each receive the sum Of
10000.
The sergeants. when they sold their an
cient inn about a quarter of a century
ago. received a much smaller sum. The
amount they received was only about
f1,0OO. Steps have, however, been taken
by the attorney general to ascertain
whether the members of the New Inn are
entitled to divide the purchase money
among themselves At the instance Of the
incorporated Law Society-a body deeply,
interested In legal education = he has
brought an action against the treasurer OF
the inn. with the object of obtaining de-
cision that the property is held subject to
trust for charitable purposes.
New Inn. like all the old inns Of the
chancery. was originally training ground
for the inns of court. Bar students were
compelled to lay foundation OF legal
knowledge in these preparatory schools be-
fore they commenced their studies in the
legal univerSities." The inns OF chancery
were open to students for both branches Of
the profession. but eventually they fell ex-
clusively into management of solicitors.
New Inn. which has been in existence over
400 years. was attached to the Middle Tenn
ple which when 1t granted the Society OF
New Inn a lease of the property for 300
years at a nominal rent OF "a a year. re-
served to itself the privilege OF sending a
reader" to address the students in the
quaint little hall. That lease has still
about $50 years to rum and the Benchers
81 q ha
clients" Of the New Inn, have a financial In
terest in the proceedings which the at
torney general has taken.
Todays inauguration OF the new govern
ment telephone system was an important
and interesting event Notwithstanding all
the delays and disbursement and the
damper which came to the hopes of so
many when the announcement was made
that the post office would not undersell the
National Telephone Company. something
like 1900 names have been received as sub
scribers to the new system. OF these. how
ever not more than 300 were actually cou-
pied up to the central exchange this morn
ing. and able to the lines on the first
day. There was no ceremony Of any kind,
but after one or two OF the exchanges had
been rung up by the way OF q test the
operators watched their little rows OF
lamps. and soon had the satisfaction Of re-
ceiving calls on the new silent system and
connecting subscribers. I am told that tho
new system works admirably, and that
there Is almost q complete absence Of buz-
At present. however, the only government
lines In use are those to the northeast Of
the central exchange. strictly business
area Of offices and warehouses.
Sons Of Late Rev. Newman Hall.
The narrow gulf which divided the non-
conformity Of the late Rev. Newman Hall
from the Evangelical wing Of the Church
Of England finds accentuation in the fact
that his two sons are clergymen Of the
Church Of England. One, the Rev. F. H.
Hail. is the popular dean Of Oriel College,
where the founders Of the famous oxford
movement were wont to foregather, with
Pusey, Manning, Keble. Wilberforce and
Newman as the leaders. The Oriel Of to-
day Is hardly reflective Of their tenets. be-
ing very broad in it's religious character.
The other son is the Rev. +. Vine Hall.
one Of the minor canons Of Worcester Ca
thedral, and a composer Of a good deal OF
church music.
Some very interesting pictures are to be
seen in the West Eng galleries just now.
At the Dudley Mr.. Walter Severn Is show
ing some eleven sketches of London streets.
particularly the spacious and picturesque
thOrOughfareS west of Piccadilly Circus.
Miss Nellie Syrett, sister of the young lady
whose play was recently accepted in open
competition by the Play -Goers Club. has
on view at Fordhams gallery some charm
ing paintings silk, while at the Wood
bury old masters are to be seen in a note
worthy collection. The work Of the great
est master Of the art Of mezzotint. Valen-
tine Green, can be judged in a series Of
fifty prints at Messrs. Colnaghi's rooms in
Pail Mall Green reproduced in the form
OF engravings the works of some of the
English masters Of the period Of Reynolds
and Gainsborough, and his work will al
ways stand as a specimen OF what the art
of the engraver can do.
The Anglo-Japanese agreement came too
late fer much topical allusion to be intro
duced into the pantomimes. However, pop
ular feeling on the subject is being allow
ed expression at more than one Of the mu-
sic halls, while at the Alhambra the next
ballet Is to be Anglo-Japanese and shop
keepers are finding that few things attract
a crowd around a window in a busy thor
oughfare quicker than a good photograph
of one of the Japanese ironclads.
L. II. MOORE.
Expensive Smoking.