Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-22

seem on SooQ terms with the prince, nc
| remarked. DO you think you could
persuade his royal highness to SMOKE an
| Irish cigar?' Sir" replied Mr.. Burns.
ut is the duty Of his majesty's minis
tiers to protect the heir apparent from
attempted assassination.
Illness of Lord Curzon.
Lord Curzon's health is not what 1t
might be. and Il is now feared that he
will be unable to take much further part
In political work this session. Indeed.
his medical advisers have warned him
that he must take a complete rest Tor
at least three months. or the conse-
QuenceS may be serious. Consequently
all his engagements for some weeks TO
come have been cancelled. and he has mad
to give up his proposed visit to OXFORD
next month. Lord CurZon was In hopes
Of being able to revisit Persia ana some
portions of Russian Turkestan this sum-
mer. but this will not now be possible.
There is nothing that need give rise TO
any alarm in his condition. but he has
not yet quite shaken off the enects OF
his severe illness. and the strain upor
him during the past few weeks has been
very considerable. The death OF MS
charming American wife was a greater
blow to him than most people ina sined
He now proposes to rest quiet At ms
country seat. and will probably employ
his unexpected leisure in literary work.
Barton Manor. the kings house in the
Isle OF Wight, Is now being thoroughly
renovated and a new wing built. II being
his majeSty's intention to spend con-
siderable amount of time there this sum-
mer. Barton Manor stands on portion
of the Osborne estate. and was specially
reserved by King Edward for his own
use. though he has spent very little time
there since he came to the throne. In
future, however. he hopes to be able to
visit the Isle of Wight frequently.
His majesty will be present In person at
both the international regatta at HYDE.
in connection with the Olympic games. at
the end of July. and at Cowes the follow
ing week, and will this year give all his
entertainments at Barton Manor, instead
of on the royal yacht. as in previous
years.
Some time ago the Prince of Wales en-
tered into negotiations for the purchase
of Norris Castle. but these fell through:
so that when in future the Prince and
Princess of Wales desire to visit their
sons at Osborne. Barton Manor will be
placed at their disposal.
Shakespeare Memorial.
The plans for the Shakespeare memorial
are shaping fast. At a meeting of the
general committee at the Mansion House
1t was announced that q site has been
chosen. Five possible sites were consid
ered-Hyde Park Corner Lincolas Inn
Fields. the south bank of the Thames.
the Green Park and the crescent at the
top of Portland place The last has been
chosen. and the king has agreed to the
dispossession of the Duke of Kent. whose
statue at present stands there. The next
stages will be a competition open to all
English-speaki races, for the design of
the memorial and the raising of money.
The first stage of the competition will be
by small sketch designs to be sent in by
the end of July. Six competitors will then
be selected for the final stage. COMPETE
tors are to regard $4,000 as the outside
limit. The committee of selection will
consist Of the American ambassador, Lord
Esher. Lord Plymouth. Sir E. Poynter.
Sir Aston Webb Mr.. Belcher Mr.. Thomas
Brock and Mr.. Sidney Colvin. Lord Reay
Is to be chairman of an International COM
mittee for raising funds. which hopes to
work with help from the diplomatic corps
and a ladies' committee is to be formed.
AS American subscriptions will be in
vited, 1t is suggested that an American
artist should be appointed to the commit
tee Of selection. and the disclosure of his
identity is awaited with interest.
Drawing Room Socialism.
Socialism used to be preached at the
street corners. but it is now invading the
boudoir and the drawing room. 1t is the
really smart thing this season for host
esses to invite their friends to lat homes
to hear the creed Of socialism expounded
by Bernard Shaw, Granville Barker. Mr..
Masterman, NJ. P. and Miss Mary Near
thur. to mention only few of the more
popular preachers of the new gospel.
Though the audiences are chiefly COM
posed of what Mr.. Bernard Shaw has
rudely called silly women in big hats"
the lectures are listened to with profound
attention. and sometimes questions are
asked, very fearfully and timidly. while
occasionally something like a debate takes
place.
1t is extraordinary to notice the number
of women who are now capable of speak
ing in public. 1t is not so strange. how
ever, when one knows that women in So
ciety are now rushing to classes where
they learn the art of pubic speaking.
Their excuse is that they want to be able
to help their husbands. fathers and broth
ers In their election campaigns. and they
acquire the art with great ease and IA
ciity.
The Duchess of Marlborough is credit
ed with awakened socialistic sympathies
She, at any rate, has developed a keen
interest In social questions.
But the vanity of society still continues
apparently. The king and queen. | hear,
we're displeased at the number of women
at last Fridays court whose compilations
bore obvious signs of artificial color.
After several women. including some
young girls, had passed. the king turned
round to the queen and remarked how
astonished he was that the young daugh-
ter Of a celebrated peer should have com
to court with painted face. In recent
years this practice has become very
general When it was confined 10 mid
dle-aged matrons anxious to preserve
their fading charms. the king. who has
a large tolerance in these matters, did
not make any remark. but 1t was easy
to see that he was shocked at the num-
Der of young women at Fridays court
whose faces shone with rouge. Il is
probable that soma notice may be taken
Of the matter before the next court.
Talk of the Stage.