The sun., 1909-06-06

American snakes Make 1rOuble
-Creek Attire In London Streets
New Orchids Exhibited-Talk Over
the Inyestiture OF Lord Granard as a
knight OF st. Patrick-Another
Plague OF Flies In Egypt-Rules for
AIrship Trayellers-At Messina.
LONDON. May 2e.--Empire Day has
no official existence, and the present
Government, like the last, refuses to
r.oognize it in any way. Nevertheless
|, was celebrated in London last Monday
on a very considerable scale.
For the first time since the movement
70 establish this new day in the calen-
dsr began the casual man in the street
could not help seeing that something
out of the ordinary was going on. 1t
il true that in many cases he had to ask
what it was. but the great point scored
BY the promoters Of the movement was
that they made enough show to force
that inquiry upon great number OF
people Apart from somewhat insig-
nifcant amount of bunting displayed
here and there-not enough in itself to
arouse the curiosity even Of that con-
frmed gaper at trifes in the streets the
average Londoner--the first noticeable
sign was seen about midday in the form
Of an eruption of school children wearing
red. white and blue rosettes. school med
ais and IN many cases carrying small
Union Jacks.
Nearl; all the London schools had half
holidays. The children in some cases
hal re"iews in the Fairgrounds with
short addresses on the meaning of Empire
a, In others they marched of to the
Thames Embankment to join in the parade
from there to Hyde Park.
1ha backbone Of this parade was formed
Of atou, 400 boys wearing the uniforms
Of their various leagues. There were
the Bois' Brigade in their pill box caps
perchnl over the ear, Lord Roberts, s
Bows il their soft cloth fatigue caps,
the hurch Guild Fovs in khaki suits
earring miniature inuskets, and crowds
of saien- Powell's scouts with bare knees.
loose necke,'ohiefs. shady sombreros of
the kind known as Bsden-Powells, no
Jackets and poles.
Beside, the school celebrations and pa
rade of children at Hyde Park several
eyents had been timed to take place on the
dav The lower stage of the huge Queen
Victoria memorial in front of Buckingham
Palace wa cleared of the unsiGhtlv hoard
incs which have disfgured the Mall for
years. Lord Strathcona unveiled a colos-
sal statre Of tho King in the Shepherds S
Bush exhibition and the Queensland
Government new Offices were opened in
the afternoon.
To what extent Empire Day may event
ua!v catch on here remains to be seen
This mas been its first celebration on any.
thing like big scale. and it cannot be said
that as vet there are any great signs Of
lis becoming really national event. 1t
is not a legal holiday and it is too near
Whit Monday to be made so.
Moreover. the Englishman in general,
and the Londoner in particular, would not
devote a regular holiday to the demon
stration of an idea. national. patriotic or
anv other. A quarter of a million or so
are tlking a holiday to-day to see the
Derby: still more, take 1t to see the Ok
ford and Cambridge boat race. Eighty
thousand people will come from all over
the country to see the final in the football
cup competition played at the Crystal
national legal holiday it is pretty safe
10 predict that it will be celebrated for the
most part by being fixed upon as good
day for some particularly attractive ath-
letic competition in various centres.
4 cricket test match against the Aus
,rslians would do for London; county
cricket matches. Marathons. just now, and
other such events would mark the day else
where, and the glorification Of flag and
empire would for the most part be left
to the children.
This indeed seems to be the main idea
of the promoters Of the movement but
they we're very sore at the Government
refusing permission for even the flying OF
the flag over Government buildings. The
greatest difficulty Empire Day will have
to contend with is politics. 1t has been
made party matter.
The chief movers have belonged to the
Conservative side, who claim monopoly
Of patriotism. Party feeling having crept
in. the natural result has followed.
Conservative Empire Day and a Liberal
Empire Day on separate dates would be
too much Of a good thing. Meanwhile
the institution is and will long remain far
from universal.
The London zoo is the latest scene OF
the American invasion. Fifty-one snakes
have just arrived from New York and to
Accommodate them an entire rearrange-
ment Of all the snake dens at the zoo has
been necessary. This caused an amount
n anger and disgust on the part OF all the
resident serpents which has never been ex-
celled by even the most rabid anti-Ameri-
can Londoners.
Yellow Face, the fifteen foot python.
has been the most difficult to manage.
He resented any proposition OF removal
from his quarters on account OF these
upstart American snakes. He simply
would not think OF leaving his den.
At last the keeper used strategy. He
propped the mouth Of bag open with
two pieces Of wood and Yellow Faces
curiosity did the rest. The keeper merely
assisted the last yard or tail inside and tied
up the mouth OF the sack. Yellow Face
was furious and did serpentine dance
In that bag, which was one OF the most
awe Inspiring things imaginable, to ex-
press his feelings at this trick.
The American snakes are ono OF the
lost interesting consignments which
have ever arrived at the London ZOO.