The San Francisco call., 1904-06-26

leading house and estate agent. II
she wants land at her price she must
go into the country
Through the generosity OF his
mother-in-law Lord Craven has after
some years OF waiting become pos
sessed OF a mansion in London. Mrs.
Bradley Martin has presented her for
mer town house to her daughter, and
the present season will see the COun-
tess and her husband entertaining on
a liberal scale. Since their marriage
Lord and Lady Craven have been pre-
cluded from taking much part in the
London season simply because they had
no town house. Her Ladyship is not
given to extravaganza and could not
see the sense Of paying the extortion-
ate rents demanded in the West End.
Coombe Abbey at Coventry. where
Lord and Lady Craven have hitherto
spent most Of their time, will not be
entirely deserted. Mrs Bradley Martin
will be there or at her place in Scot
land, when she is not in London. 1t
is not her intention to set UP a Lon
don establishment for some time, and
when she has occasion to come to Lon
don she will stay at some Of the fash
ionable family hotels. She is getting
tired Of the increasing excitement OF
the London season, and her intention
IS to live more in the country in the
future. If she had her choice she
would prefer Lord Craven's other
place in Berkshire but his Lordship's
connection with the Berkshire Yeo-
manry makes it necessary for him to
reside there during a portion Of the
year. Coombe Abbey is an expensive
place to maintain. and as it is the
intention Of the Martins to live quietly
for some time 1t is not expected that
they will spend much Of their time
there. The fact that the servants. ex-
cept those who will be transferred TO
Chesterfield House, are about to be dis
charged is taken as an indication that
Coombe Abbey will not see many so
ciaI functions for some time. What
ever entertaining the Martins do dur
ing the present year will be done dur
ing the shooting season at their Scotch
home in Invernesshire.
The Hon. John Lee Carroll OF Mary
land was, during his stay in England.
a constant visitor to the House Of
Commons, where he evinced much in
terest in the debates. He appears to
have friends among all sections of poll
ticians. One evening he was the guest
of John Redmond the leader of the
Irish party, the next day he was es-
corted by Major Seeley, who is in re-
volt against the Tories on the subjects
OF Chinese labor in South Africa and
the fiscal policy of Joseph Chamberlain.
while later on in the evening he was
the guest Of the Prime Minister at the
Carlton Club.
II King Edward had his own way be
would divide his time about equally
between sport and science. 1t is not
generally known that he IS an entnu-
siastic weather prophet and when he
had the time he was devoted student
of geology. Since he came to the throne
he has had each Of the royal residences
fitted up with an observatory, and on
clear nights he occupies some hours on
the roofs studying and observing the
heavens. For a private observatory the
one at Frogmore is one of the most
scientifically equipped in Europe. When
his Majesty is not in residence there.
he insists that a copy of the special
report Of the observations be sent to
him each day. and these he carefully
compares with corresponding periods
during previous years. His medical ad-
visers know that his meteorological en-
thusiasm has cost him many a severe
cold.
The promised arrival OF the artist
Jan van Beers from Paris comes as
most welcome news to many Of the
beautiful American society women in
London, who have hopes Of perSuading
the master to let them give him sittings
for a portrait. For all this artists
most notable successes have been with
the portraits Of the fair ones from the
United States. His great patron in
England is Lily, Dowager Duchess OF
Marlborough, and 1t was as a mark OF
gratitude to her and her husband that
Jan van Beers gave the famous supper
a few years ago at the Continental Cal
lery. when the late Duke of Marlbor-
ough was the guest of honor and John
Aird, the great engineer of Nile fame,
was also a special guest. The table
around which the guests sat was Of
crystal, lit up from beneath by electric
lights The menu was no less than a
foot long and the dinner itself one
series of surprises. A pie was brought
in and placed before Jan van Beers.
and when this was cut out came
flight of Java sparrows. Magic lantern
views were thrown upon the ceiling.
and for the entertainment Of the guests.
artists so varied in methods as Melba
and Florence st. John, the musical
comedy favorite. warbled from behind
a screen. One point always to be re-
membered was the profusely befrilled
shirt worn on this occasion by Jan van
Reers-who was the host of some fOrtyr
to fifty men. leading representatives OF
all the arts and professions.
The protege of the Americans in
London and on the Continent comes to
England. however, not in his capacity
as a great portrait painter; but. on the
contrary. TO hold an exhibition of his
landscape work at the Dowdesweil
Galleries. for he is most anxious to
prove that the man who is portrait
painter can also be a landscapisG