Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-31
WORLD TOUR FOR PRINCES
Interesting Gossip About Prince Of
Wales Son.
KING EDWARD AS A CENSOR
Scheme Of National Insurance al
London-Birthday Anniversary
of the British Museum.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

AS master OF the horse, 1t is Lord
Granard's duty to organize and personal
ly conduct royal professions. He will.
therefore. spend part Of his honeymoon
on the ocean hurrying home to see after
the state procession for the opening OF
parliament. He has on these occasions
to ride by the side OF the state coach
which conveys the sovereign, or to be IN
one of the royal carriages near to the
king. The new countess will, therefore,
be introduced at once into the full swim
of state functions and social-political
activities. She will no doubt attend at
one Of she earlier courts to be presented
after her marriage.
Ministerialists will welcome the Countess
of Granard as new hostess The
house which will be given her Will be
selected with a view to much entertain
ing. For the present the earl and countess
will reside in a hired house Lady
Granard's assistance in entertaining the
liberal party will be the more effectual as
the retirement last session of three or the
leading liberal hostesses seems likely 70
be permanent. Crewe House Is Tor saie
df it has not already been Sold and,
therefore, the Countess of CreWe Is not
likely to return. Lady Colebroke. Wife OF
one of the lords in waiting on the king,
has also given UP her house, and is not
likely to resume her place as a social
leader.
Lady Wimborne is understood to be de-
voting herself to Lord Wimborne. whose
health for some time past has been I'M
satisfactory. There remains Mrs. AS
quith, who presides over the principal
ministerial salon. which is SO large and
popular that there is room for an inner
and outer circle which may be taken 10
represent the cabinet and parliament.
The Prince Of Wales second son. Prince
Albert, who was thirteen last month. went
with his brother, Prince Edward. to Os-
borne Cottage yesterday. Ih1s step
means more to Prince Albert than to his
brother, because he is destined for naval
career, whereas Prince Edward Will ulti-
| mately join the army. After this term
Prince Edward is to be transferred to the
Britannia College at Dartmouth, the prin-
cipal school for naval officers, where he
will spend a couple of years.
When the two princes have finished
their allotted terms at Osborne and Dart
mouth they will, l understand, embark on
a world tour on warship, thus following
the precedent of the tour which was
undertaken by the late Prince Albert Vic
tor and the then Prince George, now
Prince Of Wales. on H. NJ. S. Bacchante.
On their return Prince Edward Will leave
the navy and enter the army. Here,
again, precedent is to be observed. as
the late Prince Albert Victor followed the
same course.
The future sailor of the royal family is
very earnest little fellow, with sense
of humor rather more keenly developed
than his brothers. He Is the best crick-
eter of the Prince of Wales sons. He Is
also an uncommonly good little conJuror,
and can perform many clever Tricks. On
a recent birthday King Edward recog-
nized Prince Alberts special talent by
commanding Mr.. Charles Bertram to ap-
pear before him at Sandringham, where
he gave an exhibition of sleight-of-hand,
much to the delight of the young prince,
ly,-I,a r,,riolr11- cuPcap6pd in pmulattng sew
eral of Mr.. Bertram's feats.
Closer South African Union.
The closer union movement in South
Africa is evidently making rapid progress.
Information received here today shows
that the battle will be fought ultimately
at the ballot box between the advocates
Of unification and the advocates OF fed
Grafton. There is no great difference be-
tween the two schemes. Whichever may
he adopted, the South Africans are unan-
imously resolved to shed three out OF
four governors, who at present enjoy
lucrative berths in the various South
African colonies. There are governors for
Natal, Cape Colony and the Orange River
| Colony. and the high commissioner, the
Earl OF Selbourne, who Is also governor
| of the Transvaal. In the aggregate the
| governors cost South Africa about Co.
| 600 per annum-
! that the abolition Of the governors In
| south Africa will accelerate the pace Of
| the movement, which has already made
considerable Roadway in the Australian
states for the reduction of the costs OF
REPRESENTATION of the crown by governor
| in each state, in addition to governor
general for the commonwealth, who costs
entire Australia the sum of 41O,OOO a
wear After the movement TO get RID OF
fS
| colonies there will be only four first class
| colonial governorshps avail able outside
| the empire of India, instead of the thir-
teen which exist nov 'o are s the pums
| Negotiations have not concluded yet,
understand, in the case of certain
| society lady whose name Is carefully
withheld, with regard to the publlca-
ton of her memoirs. Ever since t,1e
king came to the throne he has regard
| ed Il as one of his duties to prevent as
MANY scandals as possible concerning
the aristocracy from reaching the pub
lie. He undoubtedly considers that he
is doing good service to the state If he
| preserves the nobility from being point
ed at with any scornful finger. Hence
he interferes whenever there are signs
| that any noble names are likely to be
dragged in the dust.
| Tn the case in question the book. If
| published, would make revelations.
| probably thinly yelled. Of the state of
| society some years before the king
came to the throne The authoress had
exceptional opportunities of knowing
what went on behind the scenes, and
| is ready and willing to proclaim her
| secrets. For months now an endeaVor has
| been made, originating in high quar-
| tiers. to prevent the book from appear
| ing. There are no monetary matters
| raised in the negotiations. What the
| lady wants is to be openly restored 10
| favor in distinguished circles.
| There Is sufficient influence against
her to prevent any English publisher
taking the book should some modus
vivendi not be reached. but American
publishers would give her any figure
| she liked to ask If her MSS. comes up
to the expectations entertained Of it.
Old Age Pensions.
Some interesting figures are pub
lished today regarding the old-sge
pensions paid during the first week
| they come in force. These amounted
in the aggregate to s120,s78. Taking
this as an average. the years total will
be a6, 2S5,65S. against the 97.50o.O 900.
| finally agreed to by the house of COM
mons But while the government viii
| thus save over million on the esti-
mate toward the budget of 1910. they
are in a worse situation than Mr.. As
quith anticipated during the current
| financial year
| His estimated allowance for old-ass
pensions to be expended before April
was R1 200 900, whereas the actual ex.
penditure on the first weeks basis VIII
be over G1,5OO 600. So that an extra