New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-02
LONDON NOTES.
4 Contribution to Political Science
Water COIors and Portraits.
London. November IL

ST. Tames's Gazette for several years and
frequent contributor to the great reviews. has
been making close study Of the tendencies of
constitutional government In England. The re-
suits of lifetime of thought and observation are
gathered up in his "Governance of England"
published by Mr.. Fisher Unwin; and the reader
IS impressed with the fact that the author is
reasoner rather than a controversialist IL
would not be practicable to find out from these
pages whether Mr.. Low is a Conservative or
Liberal so complete is the process Of detach-
ment by which he separates himself from the
analysis Of principles and precedents. The para
doxes of constitutional government built upon
usage, precedent and tolerance without the
foundations Of written law, and of Prime Min
lister whose authority is not grounded upon Act
OF Parliament Order of the Grown are re-
stated in this volume; and there Is lucid exposi-
ton OF the relations OF sovereign, Lords and
Commons. There many volumes, notably
Sheldon Amos's Fifty Years." in which all these
matters are discussed in detail, but Mr.. Lows
summary is the most comprehensive and con-
venient which I have seen, and the Illus
trations and proofs are drawn from recent po-
litical history as we'll standard works of
reference.
Some of Mr.. Lows conclusions are confirmed
by the closest observers of what goes on in the
Houses of Parliament. The collective power Of
the British Cabinet without doubt is shrinking
from decade to decade. and the individual au-
thority OF the First Minister of the Crown Is
increasing. The Premier, with three or four
Cabinet associates behind him, orders the policy
of the government in emergencies; and his de-
cision is confirmed and registered when the
Cabinet votes upon it a matter of form.
While the House of Commons remains repre-
sentative body of Legislators. it's efficiency is
| ,,r,-,
processes of devolution by which a portion of
the business now left undone by Parliament may
be transacted by councils and committees; and,
borrowing idea from Washington, he sug-
gests legislative committee foreign rela-
tons. preferring Joint committee selected from
the Lords and the Commons to separate commit
tees representing each house. He contends that
the sovereign ought to exert direct influence
over the mana cement of foreign relations when
Parliament has only a limited and imperfect
control over them; and assumes that the author
ity of the will increase. since the King
do, has been shown in recent years. so
much work abroad when statesmen and Minis
ters cannot have that delicate personal relation
ship with ruling dynasties which much
depends The King. moreover is the head of
the empire, and there is no other; and this
points to one of the regions In which the infiu-
ence of royalty is likely 10 increase rather than
decrease. There is able chapter on the con-
version Of the House of Lords into a strong
Senate by the restriction of hereditary privilege
and the constitution of body of representative
and life peers. There is also most thoughtful
passage in the closing chapter on ASPECTS of
Change showing that the art of government
has not kept pace with the march of knowledge
and scientific effort in other fields and that the
nation does not have at Westminster as much
trai taIa
Member of Parliament" in Mr.. Lows opinion
may be no better equipped in the things that
make for the understanding of practical affairs
than his own chauffeur or perhaps even his own
outler' Not content with the declaration that
politics never was monopoly of the highly ed
ucated' he asserts that it is no longer business
Tor well meaning, public spirited people, en-
dowed only with exceptional allowance of
vanity or leisure
The exhibitions Of the Royal Society of Psirters
In Water Colors are Invariably the best In London
Tor mat class Of work. New members of estab-
llsheu reputation, are constantly drawn in and
the work OF the veterans is happily varied There
No "drsehts this season. as there were last
year, Out tnere are series of six drawings by
Mr. Henry : luke eight we'll balanced cornosi-
tlohS by Sir Ernest Waterow. brilliant works
OE MI IL. y Cameron and Mr.. Macbeth and
NNSAOLlASl of he a
Arthur Melville. These features would make
the exhibition an interesting one even If their
associates were painting below the level Of their
average work. Mr.. luke IS an accomnl;sbad
draughtsman, and his watercolors have frash-
ness and individuality. He has done spirited
sea pieces with ships, showing fine color in
water and sky. and two smaller drawings one
OF a sailor at work a shingle of sand and
the other or man rowing a boat toward the
steps or quay. The subjects are simple but
the technique is sure, and effects are produced
without an unnecessary stroke. The cluster of
boats at the quay steps is painted in low tones
and has something OF the feeling of Whistlers
etchings of Thames-si scenes Sir Ernest Wa
terlow represents the old traditions of English
watercolor painting and produces LANDSCAPES
conspicuous for atmosphere symmetry of COM
position and purity of tone His drawings Of
the Dorsetshire downs. the Hampshire meadows
La Bergerie in the Riviera. the Yorkshire moors
around Bolton Castle, the Bavarian Tauber and
other districts where he has been sketching are
carefully balanced compositions. in which he
discloses complete command Of his medium and
! Cameron uses so few pigments and depends so
largely upon effects of light and shadow that
his sombre autumn scene on the Tay NAV he
called an etched watercolor; and It is a strong
work. with the sternness of the wooded banks
softened by means of pale green in the fore
ground. Mr. Macbeth's Market Crier," with
two women in a stall surrounded with cut flow
ers. is aglow with brilliant color, and every
drawing near 1t seems dull and pale The err
ratio impressionism of Arthur Melville has ac-
quired pathos since his untimely death or the
five examples of brilliant, If wholly uninsured
blobwork the best is the drawing of the Little