Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-12
BRYCE YOUNG At 68
New Ambassador Well Equip
ped Mentally and Physically.
TAKESSTRENU0US EXERCISE
Nice Problem Created by His Selec-
ton for Washington.
BRITISH CAPITALS GOSSIP
Beerbohm Trees Spectacular Produc-
ton of Anthony and Cleo
patra a Success.
BRITISH CAPITALS GOSSIP
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

Although some criticism has been passed
on the appointment Of Mr.. Bryce to the
British embassy at Washington on the
score of age, l am assured by unionist
member of parliament who knows the
chief secretary we'll that no objection
ought to be taken to his appointment on
the ground of his eight and sixty years.
Mr.. Bryce, he says, is physically as
well mentally quite ten years
younger than his age. Recently my friend
accompanied the chief secretary In tour
over the north of Ireland and he was struck
by Mr.. Bryce's wonderful physical powers.
He would cycle for miles on bad Irish
roads without sign of flag, and leap from
rock to rock with the nimble fearlessnesS
of school boy.
Intellectually, Of course Mr. Bryce Is in
his prime. 1t is true that he has shown
some timidity in dealing with Irish ques-
tons in the house of commons. and has
latterly bowed his neck to the nationalist
yoke, but the prime minister would not be
guilty of such an unpatrioti, and criminal
derelction of duty to send an ambassa-
dor to America to represent Britains gil
gantic and even vital interests at Wash
ington without assuring himself that the
representative is physically, and in all other
respects, thoroughly well equipped for the
enormous responsibilities of his position.
Mr.. Bryce's translation to Washington
creates nice problem for the prime min
lister. In the ordinary course there is little
doubt that Mr.. Winston Churchill would
have been offered his post but there is
every reason to believe that the precarious
nature of his seat In northwest Manchester
will operate against his chances. 1t is well
understood that the under secretary for
the colonies owed his victory last January
to the support of unionst free traders and
great many Of the Jews in the constftu-
ency This support is by no means likely
to be repeated, and Mr.. Churchill would
run great risk in recontesting his seat.
Thus Mr.. Bryce's successor may have to
be sought elsewhere. Strangely enough,
Mr.. Birrel has himself been mentioned in
this connection. but probably he desires a
less laboriouS position. 1t is much more
likely that he will go to the duchy of Ian
caster on the retirement of Sir Henry Fow-
Ter, which Is expected.
New French Taxes.
The latest additions to the already long
list of taxes in France show that the min
lister of finance is almost at the end of his
resources. They are on pianos and titles
of nobility 1t Is reckoned that 100000
people own pianos. and a ten-franc tax
will therefore bring in two and half mil
lion francs. 100000. But the most unre
publican tax of all is the tax on titles of
nobility, as this means the official recog-
milton of an ariStocratic caste. OF late
years counts and barons have been spring
ing I'D like mushrooms In France. l have
no doubt that thousands of these people
will be only too glad to pay the tax If in
return they get a sort of government guar
antee of their rank
A number of French noblemen promptly
declared they intended to drop their titles,
but this the minister of finance promptly
declared they could not do. Their titles
stick like Nessus shirts, and have to be
paid for. Tie most amazing point is that
the fire-eatng editor of the Intransigeant,
NJ. Henri Rochefort, will have to pay the
tax, for, though he dropped them fifty
years ago, he possesses the titles of Comte
de Rochefort, Marquis de Lucay. This tax,
it is estimated, will bring in 100000 francs,
exactly the sum the minister of finance has
to find to raise the salaries of members
of parliament from 5000 to 1900 francs a
year. 1t would, therefore, have been easy
to avoid the necessity of imposing the new
tax if the members had refrained from
voting themselves this handsome addition
to their salaries.
Gay Season in Paris.
Now is the most active season in social,
theatrical and political sense in Paris. Re-
ceptions and dinner parties are numerous
in society, the theaters are in the height
of their prosperity, parliament is hurrying
through it's labors on the budget and its
solution of the church question in order
to snatch few days rest at the end of
the year. The premier, NJ. Clemenceau,
being unprovded with a wife, there are
fewer official ceremonies in the ministerial
set than is ordinarily the case.
The most charming, accomplished and
fashionable of the ministers wives is Nine
Cailloux, wife of the French treasurer
Mme la Ministre des Finances is an
tremely beautiful woman, with a distin-
guished mien and figure, heightened by
good clothes. She is an American by BIRTH
but of French origin, having been born in
louisiana Unfortunately, Nine. Cailloux
has just lost her father, and is conse-
quently debarred from taking part In social
festivities this winter. Hence the fine suite
of rooms placed at the disposal of the min
lister in the splendid palace of the Louvre