Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-09
Special Correspondence Of The Star.


This must be the first house of commons
for many years to boast nearly a score
of members who have not reached their
thirtieth birthday. Lord Turnour was the
baby" of the last parliament. but he
must now resign that honor to Lord
Wodehouse. who is seven months his
Junior and was born on November II,
1883. 1t is startling to think that any one
should have had time to get born, edu-
Gated and elected to parliament since the
date of the Phoenix Park murders'
Next to these youthful prodigies comes
Lord Dalmeny. who is twenty-four, while
Mr.. E. 8. Montagu, Mr.. T. G. Agar Ro-
bartes, Mr.. David Davies and Mr.. H. d.
McLauren are twenty-six. Twenty-seven
is the mark of viscount Castlereagh. Mr..
H. w. Carr Comm, Viscount Dalrymple
and Viscount Helmsley, while Mr. Dudley
Ward is twenty-eight and Mr.. Godfrey
Howard, Mr.. NJ. II. Hicks Beach, Mr..
Steward Bowles, Mr.. Mitchell Thompson,
Mr.. g. L. Courthope and Mr.. Wedgwood
Benn claim twenty-nine years apiece.
The number of claimants for the honor
of being the father and grandfather OF
the house of commons is becoming con-
fusing. Sir Wilfred Lawson was play
fully described by the speaker as grand
father of the house." but he Is some
places removed from being Its oldest
Mr.. Samuel Young, the nationalist repre-
sentative of East Cavan, or to Sir c. M.
Palmer, both of whom were born In IozL
and have, therefore, passed their eighty
third birthday. The veterans next in or
der are Sir Francis Powell seventy-nine'
Sir Wilfred Lawson and Sir John Baker,
seventy-seven: Sir Henry Fowler. sev-
enty-six and Mr.. Jesse Ceilings, and Mr..
Finch, the father of the house" In the
sense Of continuous long service, is only
seventy-one.
King Alfonso, whose picture Is 80 ire
quently in the papers just now, has an
absolutely uapsburg face. and If he were
not clean shaved he would bear marvel
ously close resemblance TO Philip Nv. A
friend who is just back from Spain says
that the young sovereign is spirited rider,
who is introducing point-to-point races as
well as steeplechases. 1t may be as well
to correct mistaken impression that Irin-
cess Ena, after her marriage, Will De
obliged to witness bull fights. She most
certainly need not unless she chooses. Tor
many Of the most august younger ladies
Of Spain never set eyes on an arena. 1t
is true that when she was queen regent
the present queen was forced to attend
them against her will but no queen consort
in these days would be so compelled.
One of the three leading patrons of Irish
racing tells me that Lord Aberdeen has de-
cided not to subscribe either to Punches
town or any other Irish race meeting This
is an absolutely unprecedented action on
tho part of any lord lieutenant. and may
lead to an amusing sequel If the king full
fills his present intention of going over to
the Punchestown meeting. The leyee this
week, however. was quite as well attended
as any in the last year Of Lord Dudley's
regime.
Lady Aberdeen is beloved by the poor
Of Dublin, and she does an enormous
amount Of good. Occasionally, however. in
England she has carried her democratic
tendencies too far For instance, at one
period she not only dined once a week
with her servants, but made some Of the
older ones cab her by her Christian name,
which must have proved more embarrass-
ing to them than to her. Her economy is
also we'll known, but the following tale
has never been In print. though it is quite
true:
During her former rule In Ireland she
gave large chfldren's party at the castle,
and the only refreshments provided were
milk in Jugs and hot potatoes cooked in
their skins and served in bowls. Numbers
of the children were so disappointed that
they would not touch the frugal fare and
one little tot of five went UP to Lady Aeber-
deem and said: Would you like a penny
to buy sweeties with. because If SO I'll give
you one" Such anecdotes as this one ara
not rare about Lady Aberdeen, but she is
one Of the best of women
The latest of London's deep tunnel rail-
ways. known as the Waterloo and Baker
street railway, now completed and soon to
be opened for traffic, was inspected yes
terday by the Tramways and Light Rail
ways Association. This line. which is four
miles long, belongs to the Yerkes group,
and Is important principally from the fact
that It has connection with more of the
railway termini In the metropolis than al
most any other line. as 1t joins up eight
local and ng-distance lines
1t is intended to give two-and-one-half
minute service, increasing that as neces-
sity arises to one every minute and quar-
ter. The cars are entirely of steel. and the
trailer cars will seat flfty-two people. The
seats are covered with the, usual straw
colored mating. over springs. The demo-
cratic tradition Of the tube will be con-
tinued-there will be no frst-class cars AS
for the different and distinctive colors for
the stations-designed so that the habitual
passenger may know his destination at q
glance-Baker street Is an arrangement OF
light blue tiles on white ground Water
loo is green and brown and Kennin pfon ia