The sun., 1908-02-09
loneliness of tho vast dwelling oppressed

loneliness of tho vast dwelling oppressed
him.
UnhapDily. the "BarOnne.- who has
enormous influence over The King and in
whose name the property has been ac-
quire1, has decided not to take over the
furniture OF the previous owner. and in
stead abe will furnish it anew to suit her
taste. Modern style" will be the keynote
Of the new decoration. and the refined
elegance OF past centuries will soon be
only a memory Of Balainoourt.
One OF the most apprecable attractions
Of the Belgian sovereiRn's new estate is
that It is only one hours run in an auto
mobile from Paris. and IL he must go to
Brussels he can get there in four hours.
In the advertising columns Of one or
two Berlin dailies the following advertise
ment appeared the other day: -Wanted.
honorary customers for new restaurant
shortly to be opened. Address &c.
The oddity OF the wording having struck
a newspaper man, he made inquiries. IL
appears that not everybody Possesses
the qualifications Of an honorary customer
By this appellation Ia understood dummy
customer. tall. OF distinguished mien and
appearance. elegantly dressed and a good
nationalist. who can discreetly boom
the business and draw custom.
Men who fulhl these conditions are en-
gagged to act az ornamental guests and
receive free board for fortnight or maybe
a month. Their appearance alone is ex-
pected TO give the desired tone 10 the house.
They must show themselves every day.
and with the manner Of a grand seigneur
order expensive dishes and wines from
respectfully bowing walters, who address
them az Herr Doktor,' Councillor
Count or Baron, while their real names
are most likely quiet piebeian.
An amusing scene occurred last Sunday
at the Ordensfeet or banquet following
the great annual investiture which iS held
at the Royal Palace in Berlin. The En-
peror's guests on this occasion included,
as usual, some estimable Persons OF humble
position who had earned some minor
decoration, such "a q life saving medal
or the Order Of Civic Merit. but were I'll
versed in the ways Of society.
The old custom still obtains that the
sweets served with the desserts may DO
taken homo for the bairns and one Of the
guests, workingTnan, caused much Quiet
amusement by laboriousIy tying up in a
huge red cotton handkerchief brought for
the purpose a great quantity OF candies,
nuts and fruit. Contentedly he placed the
bulky parcel next 20 his plate, but whom
tho party broke up the knot sipped and
a shower Of dainties rolled on the floor.
Seeing the poor mans discontinue the
Crown Prince. who happened to be near.
silencing an outburst OF laughter. spranK
to his aid and put him at his ease by helping
TO collect the booty. which was then tied
up more securely and borne away in tri-
Utnph by ite happy possessor.
Another citizen OF low estate. visibly
e1hilsrated by copious libations Of German
champag gne. strobe up to another member
OF the imperial family. shook the astonished
Prince warmly by the hand and said in the
broadeet Berlin dialect:
"Inever thought you had such Jolly times
at the Palace! But will tell my pals all
about them. l will indeed!'
The fight against the drink evil is nowhere
conducted with more viEor than in the
northern states Of Europe. In Finland
a new law entirely forbids traffic in spiritu-
Gus liquors, and in Norway the municipal
authorities deal very severely with those
who show traces Of alcoholic abuse.
In Sweden and Denmark the temperance
movement is making rapid headway among
the lower classes Of the population. and
from the Farce Islands. Danish possession
in the North Atlantic. the news comes that
the local authorities have been asked by
popular vote to stop drink traffic and drink
consumption absolutely and completely.
Out Of 5000 voters, male and female, only
100 were In favor OF the continuance Of the
existing optional conditions.
The 100 objectOrs will probably find
ways and means to evade the Official ban.
and it IL interesting 10 note that in Norway,