Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-19

| financial year. This. 1t is said. will include
t psNtle ships OF his design. which will be the
biggest ever launched in this country the
displacement to be 1900 tons The chief
improvement on the King Edward type will
De tnat the new vessels will be more heavi--
ly armored, with the necessary accom-
paniment of greater gun power and ahovs
all, that there will be an Improvement in
speed But the purchase of the Chilean
vessels viii probably have to be me. Inv
curtailment of some portion of next wears
program, and IL this is so / presume that
fewer cruisers will be provided for. as the
British service is very well OFF In this class
of ship.
Move to Retire Judges by Compulsion.
There is a very large number of lawyers
in the house of commons. and a movement
is on foot among the many members Of the
bar tc induce them to endeavor to get par
lament to pass a resolution to the effect
that judges, when they have completed if-
teen years service. which entities them to
soriy retired
This suggestion is coupled with the pro-
poSat that to meet any block in the business
OF the courts arising out of exceptional
circumstances the lord chancellor should
be entitled To call on the retired members
of the bench to resume work for time
and be paid for such services. In this way
1t Is argued. any demand for a permanent
addition to the judiciary might be ignored.
But the treasury. which is so much inter
ested in such matters from the financial
point of view, would probably prefer to add
TO the cost of the judges of first instance
than increase the non-effectve charges.
especially as two lords of appeal in or
binary would be involved in the suggested
changes. and their retiring allowances
would be $4,000 a year each.
The pensions to these two lords Mac
naghten and Lindley. and those 20 Lord
Justices Stirling and Mathew and Justices
Wits. kekewich and Grantham who are
eligible to retire at this moment. would
amount to t25.'O0 year, very consider
able item. which would ere long be largely
swollen under the scheme, as several other
occupants of the bench are approaching
fifteen years service
Mr.. Austen Chamberlain would certainly
prefer fll,0O a year for two judges. with
the prospect of adding to the revenue from
fees for extra litigation disposed of, than
! have a dead weight as represented by The
sum mentioned Besides, such a scheme
could hardly stop at the high court. but
must be extended to the county courts. with
very considerable additions to the pension
fund, which is already very high in this
country for sums given to those in high
places
Door Covered With Human Skin.
1 hear that the historic Pyx Chapel in
Westminster Abbey, the massive door OF
which is a familiar object in the dark
cloisters. is about to be lighted by cleo
tricity and thrown open to the public. The
chapel is now under the control of the office
of works. At one time it was the depos-
tory of the regalia of the Scottish kings,
and it was here that the famous robbery Of
the 100000 which had been collected for
| the Scotch wars by Edward took place.
The nature of the concession to the pub
lie may be inferred from the fact that ac-
cess to this remarkable apartment with
its double doors of oak, has hitherto been
possible only by the aid of seven keys in
| the possession of as many officials of the
exchequer. In former times the govern
ment standards and assays of gold were
| deposited here.
| Among the other contents of the place
are a curious stone altar and some ancient
| chests, in which state documents. ex-
| chequer tally sticks and other things are
stored. The woodwork of the inner door
was formerly covered with human skin, a
warning, doubt, TO the burgIariously in
clned, but little, if indeed any, of this
gruesome covering remains
A rare collection of Shakespeariana was
| sold at London auction room yesterday.
The large sum of f120 was paid for TIL
caSket made from the wood of the mulberry
tree planted by Shakespeare at Stratford-
on-Avon. 1t was presented by the corpora
ton of Stratford in 1863. to George Keate.
in recognition of his services to the memory
of Shakespeare.
The picture described as the unknown
portrait of Shakespeare" is a great Curios-
a portrait of the poet taken when he lay
on his deathbed, the lineaments being those
of a man borne down by sickness, the face
pale and wan, and the eyes sunk deep, but
retaining their wonted luster. Though the
painting is evidently the work of an ANA
teur dashed off on the spur of the moment,
the evidence has convinced the authorities
that in looking at it we are gazing on the
features of the immortal bard as they must
have appeared when he was approaching
DEATH
he far
chief rarities of purely literary kind one
was a copy of Shakespeare in ten octave
volumes from the libraries of Gray the
poet; Edmund Malone and Richard Heber
containing valuable annotations etc by
these owners. The copy sold for f120.
Playing at Royal Palaces Dispiriting.
Those actors and actresses who are hon.
cred with commands to appear at royal
palaces do not find the experience a pleas
IRE altogether unalloyed. The complete
absence of applause or demonstration Of
approval of any kind is very disconcerting
and unnspring, and particularly on
those occasions when the players are nat
urally somewhat shy and embarrassed.
Sir Charles Wyndham. when recently
playing before their majestieS and their
guests, the King and Queen of Italy. at
Windsor Castle. took the opportunity Of
gently limiting to the king that this want
OF notice of the players efforts made them
exceedingly uncomfortable.
Sir Charles said. in a brief conversation
with his majesty after the play: do you
know, your majesty, that honored as I
am to appear before your majesties, have
never experienced an ordeal more difficult
than for an actor to play his part without
word or sound of approval or applause"
The king, with his usual urbanity, re-
piled: THAT is only our way, that is
nothing. 1t was charming, quite charm
ing"
The late queen, when command perform
a Windsor O.
customed to tap the table which stood at
her side with her fan when anything par
ticularly pleased her. and this recognition
greatly pleased the performers.
1t would rob acting of half its glamour If
audiences were to copy this royal fashion
and receive the most thrilling speeches IN
dead silence.
Interesting Art Notes.
A lady artist for the first time makes her
bow to readers of Punch in the pages OF -
the Christmas number The III. Cowham'
who contributes three clever illustrations
TO a poem called Polly and Harry is