Evening star., 1909-09-05

of all public clocks.
No power, it appears. exists to secure
mean time. In 1903 the city authorities
obtained bylaw to compel all public
clocks erected after that date to be syn
chronized with Greenwich time. This.
however, does not apply to existing clocks,
OF which there are many as eighty
six. Twenty-eight of these do record
Greenwich time. The others. including
twenty mine church clocks. which might
be expected to tell the truth, neither
keep official time nor agree among them
selves. The British Science Guilds pro-
posed reform is certainly long overdue,
and in their efforts to bring it about the
guild NAV be assured of the support of
united London.
"Tipless" Scheme in Hotel.
There will be found many delightful in
novations at the new Strand Palace Ho-
tel-built on the ste of the old Exeter
Hall, almost opposite the Cecil-when II
opens its doors shortly. but one which
visitors to this palatial establishment Will
probably appreciate most Is the attempt
of the propretors to run II as a "tipiess'
hotel OF recent years the tipping nul-
sance In London has grown TO De almost
unbearable. and how keenly the puphc
resents ii is in a way shown by the great
success of the several restaurants which
bravely announce mo gratuities. In the
best hotels where attendance is charged
for al a ridicuously high figure, tips nave
become the last straw on the back OF
the patient customer and there IS no
doubt that a hotel free from this CALLING
method of extortion will attract the man
OF moderate means, quite apart from any
other consideration.
Clubmen Out of Town.
Pail Mall in August is hardly the des-
ert that some writer's would lead US to
think is the case, but it is certainly de-
serted by all but very few of its club
babitues Decorators are still busy with
the various premises. but there are signs
of returning vitality as the month draws
10 a close The Athenaeum, for instance.
has exchanged its customary dinglhess
for a clean stone-color coating of paint
and with the figures of the freze stand
ing out in dazzling white against vel
low background. and the stately figure OF
the Greek goddess. cleaned to look IKE
new bronze. is practically ready, as Tar
"a the exterior of the building Is con-
cerned to welcome back its members
TO the splendid isolation" of that tenn
ME of the Muses.. Other premises, too.
are undergoing the yearly cleaning, Wnlch
can be conveniently carried out only when
clubland is empty. Nothing as yet can
be seen above the boarding of the new
premises Ton the site of the old war Of
fee in Pail MalD of the Royal Automo-
bile Club, but dummy full scale sec
ton of the classical front of the building
has been set up for criticism or admira-
ton.
Painters Beautify "the Temple"
Every year in the doldrums of the law
year the white coats and long ladders
of the painters appear in the temple. but
il is some years since they made such
a demonstration in force as they are
doing now. The window frames and ex-
terror cornices of Kings Bench walk arc
being painted from the top of the row
TO the river end. and the effect of the
fresh paint among the old red brickWork
is very pleasant. Wren is supposed to
have built this part, at least as far as
the Tudor street gate, through which the
AlsatianS used to rush when providence
gave them the opportunity to PINK
tempers and their clerks and burn their
books. The gateways at No. and > are
pointed out as Wren's finest and most IN
genious examples in the use of brick, and
I notice that in all these dCorways many
Of these small rubbed bricks are de-
caying and Clipped, and urgently call
for treatment. One would hesitate to
nary, London society in delicate building
of this kind, but the temple authorities,
although they have made some hoWhng
mistakes in the not very remote past,
have now Mr.. Reginald Bloomfield as their
architectural adviser, and he is the most
distinguished student of Wren in the pro-
fession.
| The royal commission, which has been.
| appointed for the purpose of making an
inventory Of the ancient and historical
! monuments in England. from the earll-
est times to the year 1900. and OF speci-
fyinE those which seem most worthy OF
| preservation. Will shortly conclude the
| first branch of its inquiry. The county
| of Hertfordshire has been specially Sc
| lected by Lord Burghclere and his col
| leagues as a typical one, and every par
| ish and village has been visited for the
purpose of compiling return as 10 the
| historical monuments and constructions
cont aimed therein. their present condition
and their history generally.
Naturally. Friern Barnet, with its asso-
Citations with Warwick. the king maker.
and the battle, which takes it's name
from the town, has come in for their
special attention. After due verification
by the local authorities the report on
the county as whole will, it is antici-
pated, be issued at the end of the year.
1t is hoped that mcst of the monuments
reported upon as being OF national or
local importance may be accompanied In
the letter press by series of thumb
nall photographs. Each county will In
| turn be submitted to similarly search
| ing investigation, although this may not
| in every case be undertaken by tire COM
mission itself The records thus obtained
| will in due course be placed in the Brit
| ish Museum.
Shakespeare's Globe Playhouse.
| Sir Herbert Tree will unveil October 8
the mural memorial marking the site of
shakespeare's Globe Playhouse. 1t stood
| on the bank side in Southwark, not far
| from London bridge. but all vestiges of
| the building disappeared long ago. A
| brewery now occupies the site, and the
| district is wilderness Of warehouses and
dingy streets. Some landmarks. even to
guide tthe curious Shakesperean explorer
/ to the sadly changed place where the
great dramatist conducted his theatrical
enterprises will be convenient. The Won
der is that some such memorial was not
! erected long ago. To the Shakespeare
Reading Society is the credit due for TAX
ing the matter in hand now. The design
| includes bronze relief, representing the