Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-07

Clanricarde seems gradually TO have set
tied down into a recluse, dividing his
time between art and curio hunting ana
the management of his property. Some
times, however. his voice may be heard
from the cross benches in the upper
house. and on these rare occasions the
diplomatic and parliamentary training OK
his early life is manifest enough.
The death of Mrs. James Carlyle. niece
of Thomas Carlyle. who resided at Craig
enputtock i'm Dumfriesshire, removes an
important link with the sage. Mrs. car
lyle died in Edinburgh, whittier she had
gone to consult a specialist, and the in
terment took place in the ancient church.
yard of Dunsccre. where the Welshes OF
Cratgenputtock had an ancestral tomb.
where also the Grierson of Lag was
buried. Mrs Carlyle VASE a daughter OF
Carlyle's sister. Mrs. Austin of the GIN.
Amman. She married her cousin. a son or
James Carlyle. the sace's youngest broth
er. and settled with him at Craisenput-
took IS the first occupier Of the estate
after II had passed under Carlyles will
to the University of Edinburgh. Her
husband died young and left to her the
care of numerous family.
Mrs. Carlyle possessed the robust in
telligence. the sterling Individuality and
the laconic humor characteristic OF the
Carlylean stock. She was an earnest
defender of the Carlyles in all matters
appertaining TO the domestic life in Chel-
sea. Her knowledge OF her uncle's lit
erary history and modes of thought and
opinion was exceptional in her own fam
lily. Every year many hero worshipers.
some of them from America and the coll
onies. found their way to Craigenputtock
In her time. and were received by her
with a grace of hospitality not to be for
gotten Although in a position to dis
prove, from personal recollection, many OF
Froude's domestic revealings or inven-
lions about the Carlyles she was accus-
toned to talk of Froude with respect
and admiration. and cherished her copy
of his biography of Carlyle as monu-
mental and worthy of its subject. whom
she had known and greatly loved for
twenty years before his death.
Falling Oh in Postage.
On inquiry at the general post office
I find that there has been a considerable
falling off in the quantity of letters and
postcards sent by the American mail
now that the early novelty of penny post
age Is wearing Off
On the last NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Is
of the 2lad postage, ~, 700 letters and
postcards were sent to the states from
st. Martin s-le-Grand's. and October )
the number was $500. The correspond.
ing figures for October 10 and October
II. Mr. Briggs. the vice controller. tells
me, are 55 1000 and 5000. which probably
represents something like the normal
increase due to the change. The fig
ures for Wednesdays White Star mail
to the states from London were: Septem-
Der 30 the last Wednesday of the 2ixd
postage. 5000 letters and postcards: Oc-
tober Z, 1900 letters and postcards: Octo-
Der ii, $4,000 letters and postcards The
immediate jump up in correspondence.
due to the Introduction of a penny post
age. seems to have been greater in the
United States than in this country, since
during the last week of the 212d postage
CO., nH
in the first week of penny postage $4,000.
though a great proportion Of this CORE
spondence was advertising matter.
A discussion has been going on about a
luxurious dinner that 1t was said Victor
Grayson. who was suspended last week
from parliament, gave to labor friends
in the commons dining room. AS a
matter of fact. it Is learned that the
Luxurious" dinner cost 90 cents head.
The general run of entertainment at the
house is on rather frugal lines. 1t is
quite possible to get satisfying dinner
for a quarter and few odd cents. and
If you want to make what Mr.. Grayson
calls an excursion into the wine list you
can get a bottle of tolerabie claret for
20 cents.
Many members who want something
more actively stimulating drink sparkling
wine which can be obtained for Is cents
bottle, but. of course, the finest brands
of champagne can be got, as the house OF
commons cellar is stocked with great
judgment as we'll as economy. Ire stock
In the great Valentia vat stands at pres
ent at about 200 gallons of old Scotch
whisky, and this is the drink taken by
most members 1t is curious that very
little Irish whisky is drunk in the house,
though the Irish members are not re-
markably abstemious. The favorito
smoke of members is an excellent six
penny cigar made of tobacco specially
grown for the house of commons in Cuba.
But you can get penny Whit or half
crown Havana, according to your wants.
smoke room, and the smoker then is
usually either Mr. Herbert Gladstone or
Mr.. Keir Hardie. L. H. MOORE.