Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-29

civil service, while Mr.. w. L. Mackenzie
King, c. NJ. G.. will represent Canadian
opinion, Sir Cecil Clement Smith. the
distinguished Ex-Governor of the Straits
Settlements and Ceylon. will voice the In
terests Of those colonies, md Sir A'exan-
der Hosie, acting commercial attache OF
the British legation. in Picking, will stand
for British interests in China itself FL
nally the rampantly anti-oplum party Will
be championed by Mr.. Robert LaidlaW.
Scottish member Of parliament with ex-
tensive eastern commercial interests, who
last year spent several months In the
east studying the question, especially In
relation to the operation of the Chlnese
imperial edict against opium and the
continuance of the sale OF the drug In
British colonies.
1t was largely owing to his agitati
that the British government declared
against licensing opium dens any longer
in Hongkong. Straits Settlements. Fed
Grated Malay States and Ceylon The or
ders from London to stop the traffic IN
these crown colonies has reused storm
Of colonial protest, for the local revenues
largely come from opium licensing.
The delegates are instructed to encOur-
age China as far as possible to continue
the restriction, and they will endeavor 10
secure the assistance of DIR. Wright and
his two colleagues from the United States
Pope's Jubilee Gifts.
Plus X continues to be the recipient OF
very muniacent gifts for his jubilee. In
the main, these are religious, and really
if the truth must be told, the pope finds
himself in the position of so many brides
Of having innumerable duplicates of the
same articles. The Emperor of Austria
sent a magnificent cross with precious
stones of perfect water. but perhaps tbs
most interesting present came from Spain
The young Queen Victoria. the queen
xl,n tnfo nj O Ilrt
ladies joined. and sent twelve beautiful
chasubles of various liturgic colors en-
broidered in gold. accompanied by all the
inen necessary for the celebration OF the
mass. much of 1t adorned with real lace,
while the converts were most magnificent
in their gifts. the Sacred Heart of Madrid
alone, for instance, sending fifty copes.
200 chasubles. six dozen SUPPLIES, and
SO on.
A special room has been set aside in the
Vatican for the presents. which begin to
assume enormous proportions but which
can only be seen by outsiders by special
permss on. The room is guarded night
and day by the papal gendarmes. who
look very fierce. and who Elance at every
one who enters most searchinSly SO that
Would-be thieves have little chance. In
fact the gifts are almost unknown at the
Apostolic palace, although things of great
value are scattered throughout the differ
ent rooms. many Of which are never en-
tered for long periods. except for purposes
Of cleanliness.
Some surprise has been occasioned
about the court during the past few days
by the sudden cessation of all prepara-
ton for the proposed state visit of the
king and queen to Berlin toward the END
of January. II is now believed that this
visit has been indefinitely postponed. if
not, indeed. entirely abandoned. Though
the real reason for this abandonment
would be- of course, the recent disclos-
ures, this would not be the reason of
ficiaily' given, and some other pretext
would be found Naturally King Ed
ward is not, overpleased with recent
events. and though the kaiser is doing his
best to induce the king to reconsider his