Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-23


Horse Traction Fast Disappearing.
Any one living In London can see that
the motor car IL gradually driving its/horst
rival or the streets. and in two or three
years horse traction viii be no more. With.
in the next few weeks three more com
panies will launch their motor buses on the
streets Of London. The most novel Of these
will be the electro bus which. as its name
implies. Is to be propelled by electricity. I,
| is claimed that the new driving power Will
be more economical than petrol, and thai
the electro bus will be less noisy than the
motor bus. Two other companies are also
about to place new motor buses on the
streets.
With the increasing use of automobiles
for commercial purposes the growth OF
motor omnibuses. and the gradual introdue-
ton upon the streets Of large number OF
motor cabs handsome in appearance and
hanson in style, the county of London will
shortly have to adopt a new registration
letter. This will mean that over 10000 cars
and cycles have been registered in the
metropolis since such step was made COM
pulSory, for to prevent the use of five fig
ures besides the letter the authorities
changed the latter when the first 10000 was
reached, and as this number has now been
nearly doubled fresh identification mark
will have to be found, unless 1t is decided
to continue with the appropriate 'L.C..
which took the place of "A
With regard to the tremendous increase
in the number of motor omnibuses their
popularity has, of course, apprec:ably at
fected the tube railways and the horse
drawn buses. and the latter are compelled
to reduce their fares on many lines. Those
progression proving their enterprise by
not only competing on the main thorough
fares, but by connecting many of the out
lying suburbs by cross-country routes. the
was once long. tedious journey into a
short, pleasant run. The dangers of side
slipping have not disappeared. as was
shown this winter, especially after slight
slant. and the majority of Londoners pre-
fer to risk the small possibility of delay OF
the hare to the certainty of the tortoise, q
comparison by no means too wide
Historic Bridge to Be Enlarged.
Southwark bridge, one of London's ear
liest bridges and prominent in Dickens
stories, is about to be enlarged, and we'll
known architect suggests that 1t would be
desirable to resume the old practice OF
having shops or booths on the sides of the
bridge. Any one who has seen print OF
old London bridge will remember that there
were lines of shops on each side. The presi-
dent of the Royal Institute of British Archi-
tects proposes that in the widening OF
Southwark bridge this arrangement should
be revived. The line of buildings on each
be openings each side SO as to allow
views of the river, and the height C the
shops would be limited to two stories:
The architect does not recommend this
scheme wholly on picturesque grounds He
wisely bats it with great financial attrac-
tons. The shops, he says, would let each
at from EGO to G400 rental, and would
bring in about e24.Ooo year. part OF
which would go to pay the interest on the
money spent in widening the bridge. The
president also suggests that the treatment
which he proposes for Southwark bridge
should be applied to Blackfriars bridge;
Senior Don Jose Cusachs has painted a
portrait of King Alfonso for the Spanish
embassy in London. and it forms the most
interesting feature of an exhibition of the
artists work opened the other day at the
Spanish gallery in Conduit street Senior
Cusachs is not elasqueZ nor can his
majesty lay claim to the distinguished ugli-
ness of King Philip-so the portrait may not
be immortal, but it is, at any rate, a pretty
and tasteful piece of color work
King Alfonso sits astride gawky young
chestnut. the background for horse and
rider being purple tent embroidered in
gold with the royal arms. He is wearing
a steel cuirass which glints brightly be-
tween the deep crimson of the holster and
the pearly wilderness of the great white he'll
met plume. which casts a slight shadow
on the young kings face. 1t is not a great
portrait. The features are curiously vague.
and the swarthiness of the complexion
which every one noticed when King AL
ed, to say the least. The expression is ex-
pectant-almoSt wiStful. SOY
Prince Edward of Wales.
Preparatory to entering upon his caree,
at Osborne, as naval cadet, Prince Ed.
ward of Wales is undergoing at the mo.
ment a severe course of reading with his
tutor. This mainly consists of European
history and literature. and is, of course
being followed out on very systematic lines
According to reports. the prince is no very
tractable pupil, and has no great amount
Of affection for books, preferring an out
door life and plenty of movement. The
studious member of the Prince of Wales
family Is his second son, Prince Albert whC
| is said to be far better read than his elder
brother. 1t is practically settled that wher
the two princes have passed through Os
borne. and have taken cruise on a war
Ship their naval studies will be suspended
for a time while they go into residence a
one of the universities.
British and American collectors are nov
taking the same view as the French abou
Sir Thomas Lawrence. His popularity ha:
been steadily increasing In the last ter
years. Last year Mr.. Woods Miss Emily
Ogilvie' which he had bought in 1855 ir
his own salesroom for 1913 guineas, was solo
for 5000. and Mr. Pierpont Morgan is sale
| to have paid over 91O,OOO for Lawrence's
masterpiece. Miss Farren,' which was
shown at MeSsrs. Agnews a few months
ago. Two years ago 1t brought 22Ot
guineas. then Lawrence's record in the
salesroom. Last week at Christie's his
Miss West" brought 1900 guineas. Hopp
| ner's portrait of Mrs. William Fftzroy
brought 1,25O guineas. and Moreland's we'll
| known The Happy Cottagers' 2,sOt
guineas.
The collectors who now give huge price!
for Lawrences and Hoppners are not i'm
possibly drawn from what used to be con
sidered the impregnable army of academ,
supporters. At any rate the market il
mid-Victorian Academy works continues t.
decline. Five pictures by the late Valentin,
Prinset were sold for GO guneas for tn,
| five. The Pre-Rapahaelite pictures are al
most the only modern works that are alb
| solutely secure in the market now, ant
there was no surprise when Rossettis Httl,
panel "She bound her green sleeves on m!
helm brought 100 guineas.
L. H. MOORE.
THE SPANISH LIBERALS.