New-York tribune., 1904-08-07
LONDON NOTES.
Black Rods Disappearonce-Society
and Opera Political Salon.
London. july 21. =


London. July %. q
| brave soldier was Sir Michael Bidduph. He
had been in the Royal Artillery for eleven years
when the war in the Crirea broke OUT and he
| fought at Balaklava, Alma and Inkerman and
was in the trenches before sebastopol. One OF
his prisoners was Captain Stamati. who COM
manded a Russian fort; and they became init
| mate friends. When the over Captain
Biddulph went to Russia and visited at the
prisoners home; and he fell in love with Cap
tain StamatPs daughter and married her, as
many heroes in romantic drama have done when
| they have been fascinated by their enemys
charming daughters. He was in many cam
| paigns before he known general. and he
was so vigorous in health and took such pride
! in the service that he could not he induced to
retire from the army until he was sixty-seven.
| Yet. brave as he was in the Crimea and in the
Afghan wars. he fell into a panic when he at
tempted to deliver his first message at the bar
of the Commons as Gentleman Usher of the
| Black Rod He had been groom in waiting TO
! Queen Victoria for sixteen years, and was well
known at the court and in society, but when
he undertook to summon the Speaker and
| small group of Commoners to the House Of
Lords to hear the formal announcement OF royal
assent, he blushed. trembled and was speeches..
The Speaker himself prompted him, and mem
necessary words, and the clerks sought to con-
sole him by telling him that he had not done so
badly of his predecessors, for he had
not committed the indlscretion OF prcclaiming
that the Lords required" the presence Of the
| Commons when the representatives of the peo-
| pie were accustomed to the formula that their
| presence was requested"
| Black Rod was one Of the most conspicuous
| personaGes at the coronation. and gallant and
impressive was the fine old warrior in Ills robes
of state. He was in charge of the regalia. and
file OF Life Guards temporarily supported him
while he was guarding the symbols Of royal
| thOrity and sending them through the choir into
the theatre by the hands OF the appointed func-
tionaries OF state There was no sign of ner-
vousness IN the veteran on that proud day. when
he seemed several inches taller than usual and
followed the ceremonial from stage TO stage
with solemn face. If the four knights Of the
Garter. who held the canopy over the King.
had neglected their duty he would have
prompted them coolly enough, for he was one Of
the five officials of that most noble order of
knighthood. Now that the old soldier has fallen
before the black wand OF his last and only en-
e!ny, the Order Of the Garter is called upon to
honor tradition and 10 lend another Gentleman
Usher to the House OF Lords That was not
the usage in the days Of edward III. when Par
| lamentary courtesies were not exchanged be-
tween the peers and the commoner estates OF
the realm: but there was a Gentleman Usher to
open the door and 10 introduce the knights as
| soon as there was an order OF the Garter.
whether IT was instituted at a joust or tourna-
ment. OF the great lady Of tradition dropped
her garter and the sovereign fastened II about
his own knee. The order. with its chaplain.
register, chancellor and king OF arms. will sup
| ply substitute for Sir Michael BidduIph and
the new Black Rod will be fortunate II Parlia-
ment neglects to cut down the salary. That s
one OF the Parliamentary privileges whenever
the post is filed by royal appointment
Jenkins pops up like a jack-!n-the-box. 70 de-
| liver short homily upon the waning season.
! It has been bright CHEEKY season. with a
great many dances for young people and an un-
usual number OF engagements and weddings.
but there have been only few big balls the
! charity entertainments have been less produc-
tive than usual there has been an abundance
OF time for the opera. and not a few people !n
! Vanity Fair have seemed 10 he short of money
and forced to cut down expenses. Economy is
the only thing that really troubles jenkins and
this year the evidence OF distress in Belgravia
and Mayfair is appalling. 1t is not that there
fewer riders in Rotten Row, or that people
are selling their houses, that smart. hand
! some carriages are disappearing from Picca-
dy, for motors have become tho fashionable
| vehicles and they are Increasing in size and
| number II not in elegance Of design. There
are fewer balls those at Devonshre House.
Lady Iveaghs and Mrs. Cavendsn- Bentinck's
being the only brilliant affairs; the rich Ame-l-
cans are the only people who give costly
certs; many Of the great hostesses do not give
parties; there is less bridge playing, and there
are not many dinners. and such there
are reveal evidences OF domestic economy!
jenkins. with his discerning mind. knows what
is the matter. People are poor and do not
hesitate to say so. and a great many of the
really smart blurt out the truth that their
credit is exhausted and that they must stay
away from London the next season. II it were
not "shockingly bad form the social moralist
would be disposed TO talk about fiscal reform,
since 1t has become quite clear that something
must be done for the protection of society
The opera has prospered even II there have
been fewer balls and dinners. and il has been
revel of good music. with we'll trained band
and chorus and with exceptionally good man
agement With DR.. Richter in control OF the
orchestra and with early opening hour.
to exclude cuts in the scores. Wagner's operas
have been splendidly rendered and Mozart's
works have also been performed with unusual
refinement. Italian opera, with thirty-seven
nights, has rivalled in popularity German opera
and this unexpected result may be attributed TO
the brNancy OF the staging OF such works
Aida" "Rigoletto" "Un Ballo in Maschera,"
and even La Traviata." and to the fine work
IF Nine Melba Frauein Destnn. and especially
Signor Ceruso. There have been twenty-four
French nights and Nine. Calves acting has
been more spirited than ever. If "Fidelio" and