The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-07

LONDON, Dec. 6.-The grip is unusually
severe this winter and has already been
felt throughout England, with the result
that all who can do so are leaving. Hun
dreds of people are on their way to India
to attend the Delhi durbar and thousands
are fiocking to the south of France and
the Channel islands.
Christmas house parties are being or
ganized at all the big country places where
the frost is rapidly spelling the hunting
and driving the guns" indoors to less
strenuous recreations. such as bridge whist
and amateur theatricals.
In East London the winter is having a
very different effect. The thousands of
unemployed persons daily congregate at
the dockyard gates. literally fighting for the
chance to do a days work. Unskilled la
borers are there in strong force and the
police find it necessary to protect the fore
men who distribute the work tickets each
morning.
That portion of the fashionable world
which can afford Christmas gifts is watch
ing the purchases OF the members of the
royal family in order TO follow suit. King
Edwards gifts this year run largely to pen
and pencil holders, cigarette cases and
delicate work-set cases, with new variety
of soft-tinted. semi-transparent stones
heretofore unknown in the realm OF jew
elry. Queen Alexandra is also partial to
enamel work This year she is giving many
photographs in artistic enameled frames,
whereas, the late Queen Victoria usually
favored silver for the same purpose. Queen
Alexandra's well-known fondness for
pearls leads her to distribute many OF them
among her more intimate friends at the
Christmas season.
The King Of Portugal made himself de-
cidedly popular during his stay in England,
besides proving himself one OF the best
shots in Europe. a keen motorist, clever
painter and a good musician. During his
visit to Blenheim Palace he treated the
house party there to a number Of French
love songs and Portuguese ballads.
1t is long since the London theaters and
restaul ants have experienced so profitable
a season as the present. The West End
o. sblaze nightly. all the amusement places
are crowded and theater supper parties
keep the fashionable hotels and restau-
rants busy until long after midnight.
In the meantime IL is estimated 5OO,OVc
persons are idle in the United Kingdom,
and the Board OF Trade returns show the
largest percentage for ten years past or un-
skilled persons out Oh WOThs WHhc tire PiO-
horton of skilled men without employment
Is constantly growing. The Woolwich ar
seuaI authorities have discharged 100 me-
chanics since the winter set in and are
nrenaring TO let out 1900 more. To the
army of people out of work must be added
IS. O00 members Of the army reserve who
have been released from service with the
coIors The worst distress naturally Is WIS.,
ible i'm the East Fad. A number OF news
napers have started subscription columns
and daily print narrowing stories OF half
clad school children. many OF whom are
without any food. except scanty luncheons
furnished by sympathetic teachers A
80 stsytinr public works I'm order to en-
niov a small portion of the idle persons.
TThs cenninE town suburb. where the dis
tress Is keenest. has appropriated S0,W'
al will meet Dec 10 consider the propo-
sition for calling conference OF municipal