New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-08
LONDON NOTES.
Lao against Treasure Hunters
French Compliment to Mr. GOSse.
London. January 81.

London, January ~.
The conversion OF London and other English
towns into treasure islands is one OF the sur
prises of Journalism For weeks various news
papers have been seeking to increase their circu-
Iation by Offering rewards for the discovery of
buried treasures or concealed disks and medal
lions and by giving crcuitous directions and
ambiguous cues for finding them. Crowds Of
searchers have collected in the localities indi-
Gated By the advertisements; country rOadways
and town streets have been blocked with noisy
gangs of explorers: stone walls have been ram
sacked. orchards dug UP, private gardens in
Tested with tramps. chimney pots upset and
dwellings invaded, and romantic employment
has been provided for thousands Of vagabonds
and loafers too stupid to follow directions and TO
solve intricate puzzles. The magistrates have
been compelled 20 protect the highways and pri-
vate property from the ravages Of this horde of
treasure hunters by sentencing scores of offend
ers TO pay small fines and by threatening them
with. criminal prosecution. Rival newspapers
print the details of these proceedings in court.
and emphasize the warning that it is necessary
TO punish the instigators Of these silly treasure
hunts since II is impracticable to build asylums
where the unemployed can be lodged and kept
out Of mischief The Times" which has been
selling enormous editions Of the Encyclopaedia
Britannica" by literary competitions and puzzle
lotteries. remarks solemnly: 1T is evident that
there among thousands OF idlers
who can be reused into spasms OF activity II
there Is the chance Of getting something which
is not 10 be earned by regular labor skill
They will sit up all night and roam about all
day IL the outcome depends upon luck. Only a
good gamble gives spice to life" That matronly
journal. if I may use Horatian phrasing. has
itself been dancing among the wanton satyrs in
fits glaring schemes Of advertising albeit it has
81 g,,Sr
rather than open air pilgrimages and wholesome
exercise the highroads and public commons.
The readiness. however. with which thousands Of
idlers and tramps can be drawn into guessing
matches and buried treasure hunts is one Of the
most significant signs Of the times.
English law is supposed offer adequate safe
guards for the protection OF the public against
marauders and disturbers of the peace. The
lawyers themselves not willing TO admit that
there is any default In the resources OF statute
and precedent and some Of them make brave
efforts TO demonstrate that the newspaper pro-
prietors responsible for these treasure hunts can
be restrained by injunction from publishing in
elements to trespass upon public and private
rights. They have not. however, succeeded in
making out a strong case against these in
genious efforts to push circulation by interest
ing the masses in open air puzzles and hunts
with blind cues. One OF them. writing from
cases as having direct bearing upon this new
form OF trespass. one is an action against
racing agent who walked up and down a public
road for the purpose OF obtaining information
about the form and performances Of horses. and
the other is the prosecution Of an enemy OF sport
who made a practice OF frightening birds by
standing near the butts and alternately opening
and closing a large umbrella The racing tout
and the umbrella fiend were convicted OF tres
pass. the ground that they wero making an
ulegitimate use OF public highways: and the
learned lawyer reasons from analogy that the
tramps and loafers who are blocking the roads
and digging holes with ali sorts OF implements
are equally culpabe. and that the wicked news
| paper owners. instigating their operations by
promises OF lucrative rewards can be prose-
cutsd. The Attorney General VIII need better
warrants than these before proceeding by IN
junction against the owners OF newspapers pub
fishing treasure hunt advertisements. He will
probably consider It more prudent TO admit that
the lawmakers have not been able to forecast all
the resources Of modern Journalism and 70 pro-
vide safeguards against Ingenious "touting" for
circulation lie may even be enough Of n philos-
opher 10 conclude that this Is a thoughtless age.
when anything has a little run OF its own
and is speedily forgotten.
King Edwards great achievement in estab-
fishing cordial relations between England and
France has been accepted with equal satisfac-
ton on each side Of the Channel. The CONNER
cial classes have had their international reunion
| in Paris with exchange OF compliments and
| good will. and NJ Rodin has been received in
London with cordially and respect the best
| representative OF French art. The time has now
/ come for exchange OF courteses between the
/ literary and intellectual workers OF the two
/ countries, and Mr.. Edmund Gosse who made a
few nights ago. most brilliant speech I'm praise
Of NJ Rodin is singled out for an exceptional
| honor He is TO be received In France as a spe-
cial representative OF English literature dis
tinction Of which he has a right to be proud. on
| February he is 10 deliver in Paris discourse
| IN English the Influence Of France upon
English Poetry" before the societe des Con-
ferenciers. conducted by Brunetiere. Edouard
| Rod and Gustave Deschamps This is a very
| academic body. and its membership includes the
most learned and intellectual men in France
The address is 10 be delivered In English at the
| request Of the members. and the subject has
been chosen with tact "A means Of acBnowI-
edsing the compliment paid to English litera-
ture. There viii be a dinner IN the evening at
the Restaurant Durand. where Mr. Gosse will be
the guest Of honor. Seven members Of the
French Academy have already signined their in
tention to be present. including Anatole France.
F. Brunetiere Gabriel Hanotaux. J NJ. de Her
edia and Paul Bourget It is expected that NJ
Hanotaux VIII take the chair and representative
poets novelsts historians critics and men of let
tiers will be among the guests. This is perhaps
the first time that an English author has been
received In France as representative Of
tional literature. Mr.. Gosse will speak i'm
oh at he and he hoe ,arty