Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-04
Earl Of Cork Emulates Booth Tark-
ington and Gets pulled" for
Drunk and Disorderly.
Special Correspondence OF The Star.

schel.
Lack of space is, of course, the most
serious objection to burial in the abbey,
except in the case Of very great men. The
subdean of Westminster, Canon Duck
worth, favors the cremation of persons
whose remains are to rest in the national
valhalla. If urns were used instead OF
collins, says the dean, a valuable saving
of space would be effected. Some peo-
pie object to cremation, but 1t is on purely
sentimental grounds. With the diminu-
ton of available sports for burial. 1t Is
recognized that cremation is becoming
necessary
Another solution to the problem is pro-
posed by the Dean of Westminster. the
Rev. ]. A. Robinson. The dean-suggests
that the chapel or pyx, one OF the Oldest
ward the Confessor. should be utilized for
burials. This historic chapel is at pres
ent consigned to dirt and decay. but 1t
could easily be rescued from its unde-
served oblivion and converted into a su-
perb valhalla II this were done, the dean
is confident that the difficulty Of finding
room for abbey memorials would not re-
cur for generations. All who are &C
quainted with the abbey regard his scheme
as a splendid one, and we are likely to
future.
Was an Infant Prodigy.
Lord Kelvin, although in his own de-
partment the greatest scientist of our
time, was the most modest of men. Since
the. cessation of his more active work at
Glasgow University he frequently at
tended scientific gatherings in London.
But his appearance was that of a humble,
attentive student, who was anxious to
pick up some crumbs of information
rather than that of a master of the sub
ject under discussion. lending encourage
ment to lesser men in their endeavor to
impart knowledge. The little old gentle
man, slightly lame, with an almost simple
look. gave no one at first sight the i'm
preston of being the greatest physicist of
the generation. 1t was when he began to
speak that the audience had an indication
of his power. Although an infant prodigy
in the thirties, he preserved his remark
able intellectual power to the last.
The matriculant of Glasgow University
at eleven, full-iedged MA. at fifteen, the
second wrangler at Cambridge at the age
of twenty-one, and professor of natural
philosophy at twenty-five was as v;gor-
peers. Only future age can rightly
measure Kelvin's exact place among origi-
nal investigators of scientific truth. but
that place must necessarily be high. There
was a touch of misunderstood poetic i'm
agination about one of his utterances-
many years ago-in which he suggested
that life may have been conveyed to this
planet by meteorite bearing it's germs
from the mossgrown ruins of some other
world But at gathering at Univer-
sity College four and Il half years ago he
showed how firm was his belief in orea-
tive power. Science. he then said. posi-
lively affirms creative power. and added,
they only knew God in his works but
they were absolutely forced by science to
admit and to believe with absolute conf
dence in a directive Power. in an inf1u-
ence other than physical, dynamical, cleo
trcal forces.
Was a Keen Politician.
Lord Kelvin had a house in town in
Eaton place, Belgravia. and was accus-
toned to spend the London season regu-
larly at this residence. He moved good
deal in select metropolitan circles and
took much interest in sport. and espe-
cially in music. He was also keen
politician on the unionist side. and took
a great amount of interest in the details
of local government in Scotland. He was
more wealthy than was generally believed.
and I understand the chancellor of the
exchequer will profit considerably by his
decease in death duties. The late peer
had an intimate commercial interest in his
lucrative marine inventions. and. being a
Scot of frugal habit and conspicuousy
simply life. his expenses were kept down
to the minimum.
Kings Christmas.
King Edward and Queen Alexandra re-
turned today to Sandringham having
competed their Christmas shopping They
always spend Christmas and their per-
sonal festivities on their own estate in
Norfolk. Their majesties are expanding
some f2CCO on Christmas gifts. and one
Bond street firm alone has already re-
Nt,, 81,
ace amounting to nearly $500 Many
of King Edwards presents ARE rare
editions of books. especially bound in de-
signs chosen by his majesty. To his men
friends he is giving waistcoat buttons of
novel design. gold cigar boxes. cigarette
cases and match boxes. snuffboXes. very
thin watches handsomely embellished with
the royal monogram and elegant walking
sticks.
AS usual. they are giving each OF their
daughters a magnificent pearl to add to
their superb ropes, each of which gains
one pearl every Christmas This pretty
custom was begun when the princesses
We're little children. OF course. g very
large number of presents are arriving at
Sandrinsham for their matesties, and
the ceremony Of receiving them will be an
elaborate one. All the gifts. with labels
and inscriptions. wilf-be laid out for their
inspection on their arrival and a truly
wonderful display they will make.
Among them will be presents from
every crowned head in Europe. The
kaiser's annual gift Is a boars head and
wonderful marzipan cake, while a Spe-
cial messenger invariably arrives from St
Petersburg laden with great jars of Rus
sian caviare from the car and hand
some present for Queen Alexandra from
her sister, the Dowager Empress of Rus
STA.
Christmas Tree Trade.
Over 90 900 Christmas trees arrived at
Covert Garden yesterday. and altogether
something like 10000 have been dealt
with during the last few days. BY to-
night at least 100000 trees will have
passed through the market. Most of them
are from Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire.
Until recently they were imported from
Germany and Scandinavia, but lately the
freightage by rail and sea has proved pro-
hibitive. so that the English home coun-
ties have captured the trade.
What this means to the British culti-
vator may be gagged from the fact that
in the United Kingdom alone some 1000
600 trees are requisittoned for the festive
season. 1t Is very profitable trade,
bringing in a revenue of about ESQ. 900
gross profits each Christmas Covent
Gardens supply of holly and mistletee
comes almost entirely from abroad. chief
ly from Normandy and Brittany. About
700 tons are imported annually from those
two countries alone. English holly, which
is of a better quality than any other kind.
is brought very largely from the New
Forest.
Cork Was No Stopper.
The Earl Of Cork. who was fined at