Evening star., 1907-08-18
HOUSEHOLD OF KING
Many Changes in Edwards
Encourage.
DEATH MAKES PROMOTIONS
Prime Minister Gets Worried Over
Peerage Selections.
SUGGESTIONS FOR ENNOBLING
Alleged Finding of holy Grail Brings
Forth Materialistic Criticisms
From Celtic Scholars.


Special Correspondence OF The Star.
| LONDON. August 3. 1907.
Though the London season has formally
ended with the Goodwood race meeting this
| week the dull weather and the prolonged
| session of parliament have combined to hold
| many Londoners in town later than usual;
| consequently though some of the theaters
| have closed for the summer vacation others
| are doing well. their receipts being swelled
by hosts of American and other visitors in
addition to tie regular London playgoers.
Simultaneously there ave been very
many changes made in the royal households
both in London and Berlin. His majesty's
encourage has suffered more severely from
the inroads caused by death than III any
previous year of his reign. The sudden
death of Sir Arthur Ellis led to a sequence
of promotions. in which Sir Douglas Daw-
son, the Hon. Arthur Walsh and Sir Berke-
iey Milne have s..,.red; and SIR William
Broadbent's decease created a vacancy in
the medical establishment. which is only
partially dealt with while that of the Earl
Of Liverpool left the board of green cloth In
the charge of Lord Farquhar acting
ord steward. the destination of the post be-
nS still in allegiance.
Power in German Army
In Berlin the recent changes among the
changes in his immediate encourage. Chief
among them is the impending retirement of
Gen Won Hulsen, chief of the military cab
met. This is one of the most important po-
sitions in the German army, though it has
| nominaiiy no existence in the military
hierarchy. The chief of the military cabinet
is supposed to lie sort of private secretary
of the kaiser for army affairs The promo
ton In the army is supposed to lie in the
hands OF the kaiser, and the lists are pre-
pared in the military cabinet in the Behren
StraSSe. But as it is manifeSty impossible
Tor the kaiser to know all about every Off
Ger in the German army, h for the most
part signs the lists prepared for him by
Cen. Won Hulsen. One can easily under
stand how influential such a position is and
how a man holding it can influence the
army for good or ill.,
Prime Minister Worried.
The British prime minister is a very wor-
ri"d man just now. Not only has the over
laden program of the government reached
such point of arrears that not even let
tisoning half the cargo can get the min
istry into harbor up to scheduled time but
the allegations made in the house by Mr.
III. {. Lea. NJ. P. as to the sale of titles
for heavy contributions to party funds
nave reached the ear of the king and made
him very angry. His majesty is under
stood to have made himself acquainted
with the views concerning the matter of
some of his friends who are in degree
detached from the party struggles of the
h.oment. Ever since his accession he has
shown himself impressed in a special de-
gree by a belief that the throne should not
merely in theory. but In fact, be ''the foun-
tain of honor" and when the time comes
for the full truth to be told concerning the
still somewhat mysterious withdrawal of
the late Marquis of Salisbury from the pre-
miership in the critical summer of 1909 It
will be found that this belief had not a
little to do with precipitating a ministerial
change which has had far more wide
reaching results than at the moment
Seemed possible.
Last week, therefore, the premier was
summoned to see the king and to explain
several points to him. No doubt Sir Henry
,ta. Iai.ippeii .p BannerInan was able to show
that the allegations were somewhat exae
gerated, but 1t is probable that the next
list OF Recommendations will be closely
scrutinized by his majesty. The latest sug-
geStion is that the letters patent accom
panyfnS the title given on a noltfcaI roc
ommendaton should state the reasons Of
the honor being given. The premier re-
iuseo , 10 pledge himself to this, but the idea
Is strongly supported In some liberal paners
Laughter has also greeted the further eng
gestion made by Mr.. Lea that where no
scod reason for preferment could be given
.ne price OF purchase should be engrossed
on Inc documents.
Botha's Daughter Engaged.
when Gen. Botha, the Boer leader. who
" " premier oi the 1ranSVaal COLONY
was In London at the colonial conferanoa
he was accompanied by his daughter who
made hosts of friends The announcement
has Just been made that this cbor,,,ir,,.
young woman has become engaged H.
asreeaoie manners and fresh unsnoiIad
nature united to the most handsome nhvsi
cal charms mace Miss Botha extremely
popular during her visit, and she had no,
Deen long mere before her name was NpLad
with number of eligible bachelors.
MISS MISS Botha however: was not fancy
tinguished Offers made to her were Do
cllned with thanks. She has chosen one
Of her own race for a husband-Mr. Ian
member of the Inner Temple and was call
ed to the bar Just Ten years ago He now
practices in South Africa. His family is
OF very old Cape Dutch stock. and a near
relative of his is the well-known Cane Town
merchant of the same name.
Ghost-Hunting Fad.
There is curious revival in society lust
no" or shost hunting and such like diver
sions There are at least three societies or
associations for explorations of 'spooks"
and the members thereof take themselves
very seriously, indeed. Several well-know,
London houses are said to be haunted-one
in Berkeley square is famous, and so is a
smaller one in Park street These and
other houses are carefully watched and
the fnanliestations-lf there are any-dis-
cussed and scientifically analyzed. Hsunted
country houses. too, are in demand and
the fashionable house agents will tell vou
that whereas formerly more or less duIV
authenticated ghost was drawback 70
letting, II is now distinct advantage Two
prominent politicians and their wives as
also an American lady, who has married
an English title, are prominent among the
spookhunters.
Finding" of Holy Grail.
The strange story of the finding of the
Holy Grail. the latest sensation of some
excited London newspapers, rests for its
historical foundation on the assumption
that the sacred vessel existed at Glaston-
bury some time in the middle ages. 1t is
extremely difficult. of course to prove a
negative. but there is every reason to be-
heVe that no one ever supposed 1t to have
been there after the days of King Arthur
The Morte dArthur," which. be IT re-
hehoerea' was printed when the monks
We're still GLASTONBURY