The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-11-30

the negro Jones lifted his bedragged
cording to the home secretary, not a
single outbreak has been attempted
or committed by one of them.
These same interests compelled the
resignation of Prince Louis of Batten-
terg from the post of first sea loard
of the admiralty. That they should
play such a large part In affairs is all
the more remarkable when one remem-
opposed to the government in politics
and exactly the opposite views on all
these questions are held by the liberal
newspapers.
Refugees Trouble British
OF the 100000 Belgian refugees who
have come to England some $4,000 have
passed through the governments
hands. Many of these unfortunate peo-
pic are now billeted on willing famil-
les all over the country. but there still
remain many who are giving the off,
Gals much food for thought. In a
population like Belgium's there are al
ways many families who, because of
the low standards that obtain in some
parts of the country, 1T is impossible to
task any British family OF sufficient
standing to shoulder the additional
burden in these hard times to support.
Thus the government will place them in
various institutions as soon as conve-
nient. Also among the refugees are
many who, although not actually crimi-
rails, nevertheless may be termed semi
criminals. 1t Is desired to separate this
class but infinite tact is necessary in
carrying out the scheme.
War and Theatreland
In more peaceful times parts of my
days used to be spent in writing on
affairs of the drama and the tickle
fortunes of theatre land. How far
away that time seems and how flat
and tasteless what news there is from
day to day appears. After many weeks
absence a few nights ago l dropped Into
a popular theatrical club where actors
and actresses, especially American,
we're wont to gather for companion
ship in the days "befo' de war" In
stead of room full of life and high
spirits filled with famous figures OF
the theatre, I found a half deserted
place in which the few visitors We're
talking dejectedly of the days news
or lack of news-from the front.
This is typical of the whole of
theatre land. Many of the houses are
precarious existence. The almost total
extinction OF lights in the heart of Ion
con at nights has acted like wet
blanket upon the spirits of the few
the atregoers and the one time popular
comedians OF the music halls find 1t i'm
possible to raise a laugh with even
their Oldest and best tried witticisims
The shortage of buses and drivers
thousands of whom have gone to the
front to replace the hundreds lost in
the recent retreat from Mons-and the
consequent decision of the bus COM
panies to run no buses on many routes
after II or even 1920 o'clock has alb
solutely put the lid on the west ond
CT London as night amusement
center.
Wonderful War Plans and Maps
In company with some thousands OF
others. including no, end of Belgians
French people and Canadians in ,lni-
forms, l stood in the Mall today to
see the King drive through on his
way to open Parliament and, thanks ia
a police pass, got close view of him
He looks well and in good spirits, but
rather tired. I thought, and no won
der considering that owing to the war
lie is harder worked today than he
ever has been in life before. That
is saying something, too. for unlike
his late easy going father, England's
sailor King, takes his duties as haad
of the state might seriously and never
has spared himself since he came tt
the throne.
Most newspaper readers one imag
ines, regard as pleasing fictions storie.
of the strenuous duties of monarchs
but have the word of a famous Lon
don business man who lately has beef
brought closely in touch with cour
CIRCLES. that buckingham palace i
| today one of the best and one of TIL
hardest working business houses II
London, and the King an indefatigabl
head, who never seems tired"
| King George always has been al
early riser during his years in thu
after $3.50 nowadays he Is busy In hi
study. BY the time his official ad
visers and helpers appear he has gon
over the dispatches and other docu
ments that have arrived by the earl.
delivery and made notes in the mar
gins of them. in readiness for thu
forthcoming conferences.
Numerous Dispatches
Merely the sight of the contents o
| tho numerous dispatch boxes woul,
make most men quail. Admiralty, wa
office, home office and India office al
contribute their daily quota. Will
| from the prime minister and chancel
| Tor of the exchequer comes a tremen
dous amount of pressing bushes whic
cannot be settled without the King
sanction, and thankful King Georg
must be that at this time contro
yersial matters have sunk into oblivion
All the dispatch boxes. which ar
blue in color. are taken to the palac
by the recognized special messenger
Of the various offices. Every box
fitted with patent lock to whic
there are only two keys. one for tn
use of the King or his chief secretar
and the other for the minister or OF
fetal from whom the power DO
comes. Then there are the dispatche
from the foreign powers-those fror
France and Russia being now espe
cially heavy-brought over almos
oaily by the "silver greyhounds," a
the Kings messengers are known froi
tie insignia they wear, and last, bu
BY no means least, the important an
wcighty dispatches. which are con
stantly arriving from the front supple
menting the many cypher message
from the commanders of the army an
navy. The King insists on going int
everything and seeing to 1t that tn
reeds of the various services are graz
pied with by the business heads {
the various departments. And In add
ton he gives daily audiences to tn
: | x~,i~t.+o~u ~ tho orowp Mr. As