The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 6

THE MANCHESTER GUARDIAN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 19l worn jokes they "knew their Alice better A NOTED FRENCH AtTirm, Glasgow. The engine of the express tvas wrecked, but none of the carriages tvere damaged, and all tho passengers, though many of them were badly shaken, escaped iniurv. The driver of the goods train was 0DR LONDON CORRESPONDENCE. (BY PRIVATE WIRE.) London, Tcebday Night. Bright Christmas Prospects.

The postmen's strike abandoned, the policemen's strike still remote, and now the 'busmen's trouble settled the perturbed Londoner draws a long breath and hopes that he may reach the sublime Christmas that the Christmas card poets dream of. The probability of no 'buses on Christmas-day and Boxing-day meant tho wreck of thousands of family parties. One of the minor tragedies oi AXENDALE'S roB FURNITURE, CARPETS, VACUUM CLEANERS. jyTAX R. LAWRENCE (Nine years works manager to Wolseley Company).

ZS, BLACKFRIAR3 STREET. SEPAIKS UNDERTAKEN TO ANr MAKE OF CAB. PROMPT ATTENTION. A COPY OF ALL YOUR LETTERS will often ve yea worry- Tt ZANETIC System (copies you write) IS TUB MOST PERFECT. mtiay abcn.i It.

and extremely little trouDl. Vvaai (nt all particular, and free sampleto M. ZAXETIC. ZANETIU WORKS. I.ElCiiSTEH.

NOTICE. CHRISTMAS DAY. In accordance with custom, there will be NO ISSUE of the MANCHESTER GUARDIAN on CHRISTMAS DAY, but for tho convenience of advertisers the OFFICE in CROSS STREET will bo OPEN on that DAY from 9 30 to 11 a.m. TO-DAY'S PAPER. Leaders MF.XELEK l'oj uhuliy ami Unpopularity The PUtt in Mediterranean Trauu.

and the City Illustrations An Incident Alter the Portsmouth Fire Poor People's Ciui-TiJias Feast at Man- chosvr Free Tradt: Hall Christinas Mails on Trains Tho Trees in Plymouth Uruvc, Alanchegtor 6 6 6 6 New Aovels 4- Special Articles Christinas Mnio 12 India, and the African Grievance 7 M. Jules Clarttie 6 Humpty-Dumpty at the Theatre Royal. 8 Political Fcnttish Support of Women's Suffrage 3 FL-l. -r Footballers' Drill 3 7 he Dominions Germany and Canada 4 lli'h Cost of Living in Canada 4 I nreijftt- Christinas 7 Canal Tolls 7 tit Kvo 7 S--n at liiafOT -Council Police In 7 Alainiiii'-t Accident in Glasgow 7 Li- d- r-'tiikt: Council Gaining Upper li'auii 7 Th Tnil.lin non-iiuck 7 and 2 of Housing lmiuiry of Ghisjiiiw J'i'stul Strike 7 U'isclioldc-'s with Bur-lars 3 XL-i- (iidha'M Mur.lf-r: Corn oiidcnce v.iili tin- I'l-emier 7 Public i-'-hoois and tho Navy: Head Cuiifn. me 3 I.ivi- II a Door Weight: Disastrous Explosion 7 An Aviator's Death 3 The of a Uo.xcr AiVr a Fiyht 3 A Hale at a Motor Show 3 Dispute at Hull of Te.udit rs iicholarsliip Scheme kr West Hiding -J2 Manchester and Salforc Trams and tho Better Manchester Transport, Workers' Unrest Old Folks Christinas Tarty fi K-ilionl Highways Christmas in tho Tost Otlice Sport Football: To-morrow's Matches 7 Cricks: M.C.C.

Win Again 3 Ice Hockey Cambridge Beat Oxford 3 Billiards Auk ling Notes 3 Hunting Ccmmercla'. Mcuey Market ftoc-k Maikcts Manchester Harket 1 American Cotton Markets 11 American Produce Markets 1-1 An viiean Stock Markets 11 Commercial Financial Notes Manchester shipping 1A SI ail -ews Public Companies Correspn ndence Mr. llioks, M.P.. and th? pa.rlia. meut Act (Mr.

J. Swift McNeill, a -io McChuv) Mam-luster Band Performance anl'1 A' M-Drysdal, TOih Tand "ld 'iyie'it Tho Tory Split Manchester and Australia 8 IO CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENT. Tublio Acr.oiinceme-nts. 1 F'EamveJ iVegti. i iin-ens 1 tevu; 4 1 1 a ttM Auction THE GUARDIAN.

MANCUESTEK, WEDNESDAV. DECKMUEtt 24." 7lZ SUMMARY OF NEWS. GENERAL. Glasgow Postal Strike Over. Tho" temporary sorting clerks at the Glasgow It Office who smick three davs a'-o for Letter pay decided vestordav hv majonty to Mo back to work on "the" old tonus.

(p. 7) Police in a City Council. The were twice called into the Glas cow Council yesterday to eject Labour mcjnbrrs. (P- 7) Public Schools and the A'avj. At the Head Masters' Conference at Reading yesterday, Sir J.

A. Ening, Director of Naval Education, gave an address on the subject of the admission to naval cadetshipa of public school boys, explaining the intention of the scheme of special entry, the kind of (nullification required, and the character of the subsequent training. Dublin's OneRoom Tenements. At the last session of the Dublin housW inquiry, held yesterday, official returns wer? put in showing that 92.000 people in the citv live in one-room tenements. There is no development in regard to the strike.

(p. 3) Miners' Minimum Wage. Tho miners of Lancashire and Cheshire are askmi for an increase of the minimum wage from 6s. 6d. a day to 7s.

(p. j) Railway Collision Near Glasgow. An express train from Fort William full of passengers, collided with the-engine' of a goods train- last night at Lambhill, near gotten except in the mediaeval legends of Prester John. There is surely no such instance on record of a country emerging into greatness after disappearing so long from civilised history. It is as though the ancient Aztec civilisation had gradually emerged out of the civil wars of Mexico.

How came Abyssinia to keep its individuality through the changes that encompassed it? Something must be put down to its geographical position, flanked on the south by desert and buttressed on the side of Egypt by exceedingly difficult mountain country. Its early conversion to Christianity also helped. It has often been said that Mahometanism is the religion that brings out what is best, politically speaking, in African tribes; but if Christianity everywhere else in Africa has acted as a solvent of political nnity, in Abyssinia it has confirmed it. But the main cause of the success of Abyssinia is the strength of tho national character. The last three Kings of Abyssinia, Mekelek, John, and even Theodorf, were men of very remarkable ability, and a nation usually has the kings that it deserves.

The Ethiopians are a great people with a romantic history, and, tragio as the defeat of Adowa was at the time for Italy, few people now can doubt that had the battle resulted in victory for the Italians the disappearance of Abyssinia from the number of independent nations would have been a far greater tragedy. Mznelek was very well served by his generals, and it may be doubted whether his real greatness was in the art of war. The first connected story of the Battle of Adowa, the greatest defeat Europe has ever had in Africa, was published in our columns from the pen of Mr. A. B.

Wtlde, who acted as our correspondent during the war with Italy and knew the country as, probably, no other Englishman of his time did and full justice was done in the story to the military prowess of the Abvssinians. Ras Altjia, rather than Mexelek, was the hero of the victory. Yet Menelek was a great soldier because he was a great statesman. His were not the triumphs of military genius but of state craft and of unerring instinct in the choice of his generals. But what is, perhaps, most remarkable of all in Menelek character is the essential sobriety and reasonableness of his political views.

These are rare qualities in the ruler of a country which, in spile of its ancient history, is still semi-barbarous. Ho always understood the limitations of his strength like Abdurrahman of Afghanistan and Mosuesu of Basutolaml. ho gained his greatest successes by tho balance and sanity of his political thought in the moments of triumph which would have turned the heads of weaker men. But the greatest test of his ability has still to come. He made a great people into a great nation.

Will Abyssinia remain a united nation or degenerate into a loose federation of tribes united against foreign aggression but not by a common conception of State policy? Popularity and Unpopularity. Somebody said of tho late Duke of Devonshire, I do like Hartingtox there's such a you-be-damnednoss about him." This valuable quality distinguishes also the parents of a new quarterly which is to be born in America next month. While those who look after the other reviews are each telling us that his lovely charge is the darling of everybody who can read, the publishers of this ono begin by christening it the Unpopular Review," and go on to explain that it will not, if they can help it, supply any want folt by millions. "There is great need," says the editor, "for the dissemination of some disagreeable truths," and he gives some samples of the wares that he proposes to vend, such as disproofs of the fallacies "that something can be had for nothing," "that "the march of progress should be tuned to "tho pace of the slowest," and "that policies can rise higher thau their source." Well, we have known reviews to say these things and live. They have even thriven, in England.

This people mild politely smiled And vottd them delightful, like those with whom King Gama vainly endeavoured to render himself unpopular. Wo only hope the new review will not worry itself too much about airy popularity that it may incur. It is right for a public writer or speaker to renounce popularity, in a certain sense. That is to say, he ought to make it a rule to tell people what he thinks to be true and not what he thinks they might like better than the truth. But he ought to treat popularity not as an enemy, but only as a neutral.

Else he may be so bitten with the wish to be unpopular that he will shirk telling the truth lest people should like it better than falsehood. He may come to regard the assent of a great majority as a kind of taint, a mark of the many-headed beast, a proof of some fatal declension from duty in anyone who has brought it upon himself. One has known such people, both in politics and in art. Theirs is the malady of an unbalanced virtue, the "last infirmity of noble mind," much more truly than ambition is. The way to treat popularity and unpopularity is not to make a fuss about them, either way.

To hunt for general popularity is, from one point of view, much too great a compliment to 'pay to other people in the lump. And to hunt for unpopularity is just the same mistake, at bottom. For in both eases one makes too much of the way in which one's doings may strike Bomeone else who has little to do with them. Both ways of acting are aunosc equally parasitic. For people who live on popular applause would be like sunken balloons if this kind of gas were to fail them, and so would people who make it their hobby to shock a large public every time that they speak.

Both kinds of parasite have become dependent on the crowd on some sort of crowd, the one on its enthusiasm and the other on its indignation, and both alike lose the power of pressing on the track of their own thought and standing by whatever it may lead to. This kind of tracking does not necessarily lead either to popularity or to unpopularity, in any particular case. If one believes in the general inherent decency of human beings one will incline to think that on the whole, and in the long run, it leads io the winning of a good deal of their respect and affection. The Brights and Nightingales and Mere diths may begin by being jeered at, but in Che end they make their way even to popularity Florence Nightingale, indeed, to enormous popularity. But to gain it in that way they have to leave it out of account; they go their way, and it is added unto them, or it may be.

We hopo the editor of the "Unpopular Review" will go his way un-vexed even though many think well of him. Unpopularism turns easily into anti-popu-larism, and then the editor might spend all his time in buzzing round King Demos and tiying to sting him and any courtiers that flatter him, whereap if he simply keeps away from court and uses forethought and afterthought he may say something to the purpose. The Fleet in the Mediterranean. The battleships of the First Battle Squadron, which have been cruising for the last two months in the Mediterranean, arrive at their home ports to-day for Christmas leave, and with their return comes the announcement of arrangements completed for another Mediterranean visit. On the 14th of January the Commander-in-Chief of the home fleets, with his flagship and four of the latest commissioned battleships of the Second Battle Squadron, is to go south, calling at Portuguese ports which used to be more constantly visited in the days when fleet exercises took place off Lagos than they have been and then, going on to Gibraltar, Malta, and the Mediterranean ports of other Powers.

The ships which accompany Sir George Callaghan belong to the Orion and King George classes, and they all carry the 13.5-inch gun, a heavier and more powerful armament than that of any foreign ship now in commission, so that our fellow-subjects and friends in the Mediterranean will have the opportunity of seeing in the space of two months a complete division both of the earlier type of. Dreadnought and of the later and perfected follower of it. Cruises like these, with opportunity they give of seeing foreign "stations, are good for both officers and men. They help to give back to service in the Navy part of the variety and interest which used to be one of its chief attractions an attraction sadly diminished since life afloat has meant, for those serving in the bulk of the fleet, nothing more than tho arduous monotony of continual exercising round our own coasts, with no better inducement for shore-going than is afforded by the somewhat exiguous delights of Kirkwall and Lamlash. Naval life is more arduous and exacting than most of us on dry land realise, and it is desirable that it should be lightened as much as is compatible with efficiency in business.

This new Admiralty policy has its international importance as well; it is both a symptom of and a help to better conditions in tho North Sea. Wo hope that in the summer, when the Baltic, is open, it will be extended there as well. The interchange of courtesies between our officers and sailors and those of other nations cannot but promote friendlier feelings all round. Trams and the City. It would be unreasonable if the Manchester Tramways Committee were disanoointed with A A the "Better Manchester" deputation which waited on them yesterday, or if the deputation were disappointed with the Committee; it would be doubly unreasonable if anyone were to suggest, that either of them wasted their time because no promise was made that any one reform should be promptly carried out.

The proposals of the deputation were discussed, point by point, and it is imnossible that such a discussion should not have its in fluence on any Committee that is willing to listen to reason, which the Manchester Tram ways Committee certainly is, and increase its desire to carry out any reform for the nublic. convenience which can be squared with the general requirements of the tramways management. It may quite well be that on some points the reply of the Committee failed t.n convince the deputation. In that case they ana tnose whom, they represent will, of course, maintain their ground and seek to enlist further public support in the hope, finally, of convincing the Committee. On the other hand, the Committee might very wen, wo tiiiiuc, make a practice of taking tho public a little more into its confidence.

It aoes excellent work, and if sometimes it cannot assent at once to suggestions which many people will think reasonable, it would loco nothing by explaining rather more fully the aimcuities winch it has to meet. Some difficulties are probably due to tho necessity of arranging terms with Salford why not by the way, a little healthy agitation in Salford over these things? and others that larger schemes, which comprise sundry minor proposals, are under consideration. Jiut so long as the citizen who is keenly anA rightly interested in his trams does not unaerstana what all the difficulties are, and is not convinced by those of which fc. he will very properly go on agitating for what no tuuijis win De improvements. And the Committee, surely, will not blame him.

ROYAL VISIT TO CHESTER. The preliminary arrangements for the visit of the Kinjr and Queen to Chester on March 25 on their way to Knowsley, where they wiu for the Grand National, were completed yester day. The King and Queen will receive a civic welcome at the station and drive hi an open carriage to the Town Hall, where an address will be presented and presentations made. The King will open, by pressing a button, the new wings at Chester Infirmary. SIR CHARLES SWA iVJVr M.P.

A CHANGED SPELLING. The "London Gazette" announces that the King has granted to the Right Hon. Sir Charles Ernest Schwann, M.P. for North Manchester authority that he and his issue may use the surname of Swann in lieu and instead of that of Schwann. The Duchess of Westminster distributed Christmas presents and toys at a party given to poor children at tho Corn Exchange, Strat-ford-on-Avon.

The Duchess of Albany will open a historical bazaar and sale of work at the Stratford Town Hall, London, on April 30. The marriage took place yesterday afternoon, at St. George's Church, Hanover Square, London, of Dr. Nathan Mutch, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs.

Mutch, of Moss Cottage, Rochdale, and Miss Eileen Arbuthnot Lane, youngest daughter of Sir Arbuthnot Lane, of Cavendish Square, London. The officiating clergy were the Rev. Canon Wilson and tho Rev. p. N.

Thicknesse. The bride's dress was of white brocaded charmeuse draped with Carrickma-cross lace applique, the gift of her mother, with a train of soft ivory chiffon velvet lined with white tulle and eatih, white bn her hair she wore an old Limerick lace veil caught with small clusters of oraqge blossom. man ineir eiuei seemed at times a little puzzled at the sequence of ments in tlie semi-uarv. --with the same lack of consciousness that tney would have shown before the nursery fire. Alice was played by "Little Cora Goffin a child of unusual talent.

Cora cannot have been more than twelve yeait. spoke the lines of her long part with the assurance ot an old nana, uiw v.r,11or?nn. and tOOK ner use iittio inu encores with the enviable enjoyment ot un- 1 Af TT'iirrlun Coffin OS tll6 spout cnuuiiouu. Mad Hatter quite capturea me iU oncv crent.lpness in D.1S in 1110 emiviicu, xiio it scenes with Alice, the White Rabbit, and tho AAAviiirr Mire A. scenes with aiicc, iuo 1 1 11 cAAmillfy like seir-possessea niue iuouuimu 0 jolly romp with father before bedtime.

Ihere were several dances to some rami melodies, which the children of the audience seemed rather at a loss to account for. My neighbour paused in nis enuiusmsuf fid reply. A few moments later he nearly fcilf j-ktr 171 llliriii nil rtuviu va a- ww. c-. 3 rl T7iM-Uoop.

thntirrh not all imuicuuiu "ii'v ,1 I 1 ot these were 111 tlio oook euner. .4 Railway Minstrel. Not in entire forgetfulness and not in utter nakedness, but "trailing clouds of glory, a figure burst into our compartment at Water loo. It was an astonishing apparition a correspondent) this dismal afternoon brown frock-coat, black and white checK waistcoat, old rose-coloured trousers, silk hat with horsehair curls neeninc undcrneatil, lone flaDoins? collar, and loose tie of Tango colours, his other equipment a small banjo. Should oirn lis liffl nielodv? No? Verv well, o-pntloinon." he went Oil breath lossTy, "I'm just going to Vauxhall and back anain.

Claohani Junction too far 3d. or 4d. fare. vauxhall alwavs my lay Christmas tune. All trains stop there, you see-soldiers, sailors, crowded Portsmouth, Aldershot.

Devoimort home furlough. Only a peunv ride to auxhall. but plenty or xmie no end of stops before Waterloo. They've been prettv well primed on tho way ready for a bit of fun. Oh, mostly ragtime I give 'em, but there's a song just out 'Take me in your arms and say you love me' sentimental inst strum it that does go down.

Like to hoar it? No? Oh, very well." And so on, and having collected from us more pence than made his fare he dashed down the steps for tho "up" line, and before our train moved on he appeared in a corridor train on the other side of tho station among a crowd of iollv soldiers and sailors earning his honest pence. Ho knew his market, he said. "No end of these trains Christmas time." The Turkey Market. Those speculative folk who wait for Christ mas Eve to pick up a cheap turkey are this year likely to be disappointed. As a rulo there is a surplus in the central markets at the end of tho clay's sale, and the dealers, rather than hold their stock over the holidays, sell it by mock auction.

But this year there is a marked deficiency, due to the partial lauuro ot trie Irish supply, which is said to oe some turkevs short of tho estimate Prices aro consequently harder, and rule about twopence a pound above those of last year. with a tendency to harden in view of the demand. The market is well pleased with tho position, if a little regretful that it will ho unable in the end to fulfil all nossiblo orders at ruling prices. The man who comes home to his family to-night without his turkey win im tho victim or an inexorable economic law, but he will probably find that evsn fundamental truth may cut a poor figure ubeu as an excuse. The Last Resort.

Those who know the Shafteabnrv Awnn best are never surprised at anything they see in that theatrical thoroughfare, where at anv moment a green Irishman, tall-hatted and shillelaghed, may dash out of some court, nr an exquisite ot the Revolution stroll slo wl back to his lodgings. But even Shafteslmrv Avenue was interested in the strange scene in a littlo side street to-dnv. wlmn sandwich-men lined up to be transformed into auu so aavertise a circus. On one side, amonar tho ornwd of fiiri'm 1 come onlookers, 6tood a man with a hamper Pull 1 v. uiutmu juiiiuinunn masKs; on tho other the destitute, with tlm JU ILL- pany not yet engaged, waiting for Circe to Luvn late.

Dome ot them- took it hilariously, lauehino- iinm-u-innd j.i ia Lilt; glanced sideways to watch their mates being capped with monkeys' heads or swinish snouts. uuwi sumu queer masK stifled their own laughter. The cat and the bulldog walked v.um.i:uieuiy enougu amid cheers The man with the little elephant's head fol lowed the fox and thp liznrd rdioni-fnii. IT 1J i 1 L3 the blue-nbsed monkey struggled for a last whiff at his nine Tlnf rmo. 4-l, nits mvii evidently felt the indignitv keenly, and one re- oeiiLeu it; lor mem as tney looKea so anxiousl to see what sort of mask was allotted, flushed as it was their turn to hold tlio It was nrlH rAliof when 1 a pausing before some dignified face, rejected j.1.- ri: 1 me luoiiau uHjiiKcy neaa in ins hand favour of some nobler mask, a nolnr lion, but at its best the procession, which was to be all the pantomime manv street children wouici see, was a pitirui spectacle and un-worthy of the City.

The Secretary oi the Fabian Society. I am informed that Mr. Edward R. Pease who has been secretary of the Fabian Society for twenty-five years, has resigned from th office, and has been succeeded by Mr. Vi liam Stephen Sanders, the organising seer, imiii jus association with the Fabian Societv in tho l- 1 iii.

a. utunr. iiunvtT. win capacity or honorary secretary. There are few men in this country who have so much knowledge of the Labour movement in England as Mr.

Tease has. His political activities have been very many, although his name and personality aro known to very few persons Chiefly ho is a committeeman, and on such bodies his wide knowledge of affairs is in valuable Some years ago he published a very useful book on The Drmk Traffic and lately ho revised the late Thomas Ki'rkun's History of Socialism." His successor Mr Sanders, is a lecturer on Socialism and Labour politics. He was at one time election aeent for Mr. John Burns in Battersea. He spent several years in Germany, and has consider able knowledge of the German Socialist movement.

Mli. ASQUITH. The Prime Minister returned to London yesteTday from Easton Grey, Malmesbury hut goes baok to Wiltshire to-day. Mr. Asquith spent some hours at 10, Downinir Street, but was not visited by any of Ms Ministerial colleagues.

THE QUEEN AXD PERSONAL SERVICE. The Queen, in addition to the toys and scrap, books for the girls in the Princess Mary Villaee Homes, Addlestone (Surrey), has sent a Prayer-book for Rose Bloxham, her protege The Queen originated the scheme under' which various ladies take an interest in one particular girl. Sir Joseph Walton, M.P., who has made a moTe extended tour in Australia and New Zealand than his colleagues of the Empire Parliamentary party, arrived ia London on Monday. aiKi su.111 to xin: uj "Well, how did you like the lobster's Titi.i 4. U1- 1ia rnt.lipf doubt- XL 111 at DEATH OF M.

JULES CLARrrir 31. Jules Claretie, till latK- the Comedie Francaise, and aut11T' of'r novels and plays, died in Paris man Jules Claretie was a man of cuiu im uiignt, navo v. i i e- quail lie. man littlo or genius it ho less universally things in general. His mind i nr.

i "ri-i still, and his pen kept pare journalism, drama, historical literature. He did good work partment, and quite good in jourr years his ''Lifo of Paris" 1 I piace in tne reunieton of the fen Paris, the It was goou things, like a hoa-i. reader from the beginning to two or three columns of 1 At the outset Claretie or young men who, viie-i their darkest for tho cause of on a press campaign The discipline was a good" one' the severity of the press Iair. the writer to sav what lie infinite subtletv and art 11., master of all the resources to to avoid the pitfall of a nrosi step. It was an educaiii.n iu wiping the mouth and savin- no evil after biting paignersof tho '13 period who outspokenness were either kiil- tho victims of tho they were not thev had dumb under tho intolerable ing to keep a civil Tho new generation still Ul it you like, but it was the is, clean shirt.

Tho old gaa- disgust of them, hut the j' own in press and tribune. like so many in rraiuv, as a was a war correspondent in lobfa, and lad ho of volunteers in the Natiimai editor, and perhaps part comic paper ho wrote the himself under dill'dcnt soon escaped from that into a work, aud at length his and his assiduous into prominence as a man bo taken unawares by any literary energies. As a Novelist. His novels were nearly all one or two were tho books ei" 311 Tho "Million" had great iV on the money worship of Monsieur le but might have held its own in French as the masterpiece of its accidents were serious. The book was one peculiarly snitci tho idea or a man of iho.uh j.ryv.:;, origin who goes to Paris to ciin-: j.

and who, with a genuine belief finally loses his lu-ad. and w. character, in tho temptations i.i and becomes only tho his own earlier ideal. There stuff of a first-class novo! r.r first-class play. It was at tir-: be a play, but just when Claretie act of planning it for the st.ip? lv that Sardou was contemplating the same kind, and rather' than ciii-r competition with that powerful jins-aa he began to recast it in the other i had hardly got half through this t.i.-k nl.o.i ho found that Daudet was nt almost precisely similar idea, with Roumestan." However, ho i.

and it had considerable would be idle to deny that his two rivals, the last especially, tn.ik a of the wind out of his sails. Nmna" advantage of ministering to ihf tate fr sonality; its hero was Gamb- tta in Claretie was persistently dogged by of ill-luck. He saw and that he had them all to hinis ii. only to ini that others, Dumas the Younger in jr.e Zola in another with had and naturally appropriated honours of the discovery. Perhaps there was a fault C.

Claretie's universal interest in this a away something of that special them which seems to be tho all in tho public. He saw too much of lis, could not linger long enough ever- si-part of it for tho most preraa results. In tho arts especially sidedness is sometimes the failing. Ho was hardly of nlio, Mignon, win their knowledge of iioaw-7 secrets by nights of sorrow and tears. Ik occasional defect was a sort of cln apn'S- tho estimate of life.

He thought a saying a fine thing when he rppate'i Janin, who should have known better. one ought to live "so as to have- funerall" even forgot all about coring it. But in any case it would luvs 3 tho bathos pure. Director of the National Theatre. Perhaps that was tho reason of at the Theatre Francais as an admiri-trav" It was a high post, for the ruler of tlw: house is a Government noiniiioc.

between tho company and the f-' supreme over the entire staff. Claretio was not sympathetic" comrades, who were at th time his subjects. The qnnrrc. thrashed out in public was no making head or tail nf it haps about as much as this, that ministrator was all in an hr" able sense for strict business in the ment, and the company required something else in the shape nf a allowance for the temperament of He probably made the mistake "i 'r that because he was a man of Vttor hoved him to be moro than usually -s; in business. M.

Pen-in, his heavy damages against c'(. hardt for broach of contract, nt collected the money. M. IVrrin, was only a man of affairs. M.

Claretie retired from the r'-'- director onlv last month. SCOTTISH PEER'S ESTATES TO A sale of great ar. Scotland is to take place next year greater part of Lord Kintore's offered by auction by Messrs. K- Rutley, by direction of the 'J, -Kintore. The properties, whi- 1 the family for generations, torical associations, and extend -Xix" acres, producing an income of over s--'V- annum.

SINGULAR ACCIDENT TO A Ml1. vs- A remarkable accident beMl Davies, M.P. for Montgomeryshire. turning from a run with his 1 Monday evening. He was ridirvr path on his way home, and in the P--.

not observe a wire clothcs-lino the path. The wire caught him u-e: brfaking- several teeth and otherwise his mouth and face. The Chancellor of the Exchequer a--" Ellis Griffith, M.P., attended at -'f'j terday an exhibition of paintings Evans; young- Welsh artist who commissioned by the Chancellor t-chequen to execute a painting of -ri School at Llanystumdwy village. ivn educated. The.

paintings on view the cottage where Mr. Lloyd brought up. "Mr. Ltoyd George leaves for the Continent to-morrow wees- -I slightly hurt. (P- 7) Shortage of Teachers.

The West Riding Education Committee yesterday adopted an extensive scheme of scholarships and "intending teacher grants" whereby lurther inducements will be offered to children to become teachers. (p- 12) .4 Fireproof Train. The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company has built a train which, it is believed, is virtually fire-proof, although lighted by gas. The additional safety is secured mainlv by replacing the outer woodwork with steel. (P- 7) Today's Weather.

Wind between north and north-west, light or moderate, fresh or strong locally changeable, some rain or sleet showers moderately low temperature is the forecast for today. (P. 12) SPECIAL ARTICLES AND LETTERS. We publish a special article by our musical critic on English Christmas music, in which lie deals with the settings of the chief hymns and tho revival of carol music. (p- 12) Our Toronto correspondent in an article deals with the growth of closer trade relations between Canada and Germany.

(p- 4) Swift McNeill writes on Mr. Joynson-Flicks's suggestion that the House of Lords should avoid dealing with the Home Rule Bill. (p. 12) POLITICAL. Municipal Support of Women's Suffrage.

Tho Glasgow City Council by a large majority yesterday decided to be represented on a deputation to the Prime Minister in support of women's suffrage. (p- 3) MANCHESTER AND SALFORD. The Manchester Tramways. Members of the "Better Manchester" tho 3Ianchester Tramways Committee and urged the need of a number or improvements in the working of the tramways. The Tramways Committee leplied that some of the suggested changes were impracticable, that 0110 had been tried and was a failure, and that others had been under consideration and would he adopted as soon as it was advisable to do so.

(p. 8) COMMERCIAL. Cotton Prices. Futures rose to 22 and spot 10 points in the New York cottan m.irket yesterday. At Liverpool American spot was at the close, a decline of 1 point.

Futures were very steady, 2 to 3 points up. Egyptian spot was partially lowered 5 to 10 points futures were 1 point down to 1 point up. (pp. 10 and 11) Money and Share Markets. The- demand in the London money market yesterday was again chiefly for advances into the new year.

For these 0 per cent was paid outside the Bank and per cent at tho Rank, which reported a large business. On the Stock Exchange Consols rose i. The Government broker was in the market. Home railway stocks were only a little more active, but duotit lions were firm. American securities fully reflected the improvement in New York 011 the previous day.

(p. 9) Shipping Amalgamation. It is reported that Messrs. William Mil-burn and London and Newcastle, Tvser and London, and T. Ji.

Rovden, Liver pool, all of which aro engaged in the Aus tralian and New Zealand shipping trade, are arranging to consolidate their businesses under tho title of the Commonwealth Steam Navigation Company. (p. 12) FOREIGN. Panama Tolls Controversy. A resolution intended to settle tho Panama tolls controversy has been introduced into tho United States Congress.

It pro poses to suspend the granting of free passage to American coastwise shipping. (p. 12) Mexican Rebel Threat. Tho Mex ican Constitutionalists have threatened to destroy any ships, irrespective of nationality, which enter Mexican waters carrying arms for President- Huerta. (p.

7) Menelek. The death of Menelek, Emperor of Abyssinia, often rumoured but now announced officially at his capital, might ten years ago have led to European complications. Abvssinia is the United States of Africa, and it is rare for a new king to succeed without civil war. When Napier invaded Abyssinia to release Theodore's prisoners at Magdala ono of the luckiest expeditions in English military history, he found the country divided against itself, and much of his success was due to the assistance of th rebels. Theodore's successor, King John, came from Tigre, the northernmost province, and he was at constant war both with Egypt and with his southern provinces.

Menelek himself came from the south, and his accession was a triumph of the Shoan province over Tigre It is almost too much to hope that his erand- son, Lidj Yasou, will be acknowledged as Kuiperor without bloodshed. He is only seventeen years of age, and his father. Ras Mikael, is head of the powerful Galla the southernmost of the united states. Soon after the breakdown of Mknelek's health five years ago, his Queen Taitou, who was acting as Regent, had to be deprived of her office on account of wr intrigues against Yasou; and though the country has been quiet since then, nothing is more lifceiy tnan tuat ligre. now Meselek is dead, will make another effort to recover its lost headship of the Abyssinian States.

Such a war ten years ago would almost certainly have involved Europe. It would raise no difficulties now. By an Agree ment concluded in lyuo England. France ami Italy recognised the independence of Abvssinia, and not one ot them has an nniu for interfering in the internal affairs of the country should civil war break out. Abyssinia is the only country in Africa that ha maintained its independence; and that inde pendence, it is reasonable to hope, is now secure against foreign ambition and internal discord.

Abyssinia is one of. the oldest countries in the world. Its kings claim descent from that. Queen of Sheba who visited Solomon. It resisted absorption by Egypt; the ancient civilisation of the Greek colonies left no mn permanent mark on the country than Alexander conquest on Bokhara and Persia: and the great Mahometan invMint.

of Africa swept round the base of Abyssinia and left the uplands untouched. It Christianised from Egypt in the third century, ana a tew centuries later it entered urxm a sleep that lasted nearlv a thousand ver forgetful of the world by which it was for- London is the separation its vast differences mean to working people. For a man and wife and two children living in Highgate to visit relatives in Battersea, for instance means an outlay of about 4s. for the party. It is only on great days, such as Christmas, that such an excursion can be planned, and a 'bus strike would have made impossible many euch social events.

Also it meant for many people that there would be no Boxing-day trips out of town, for tho journey to and from the station with out 'bus aid would have ended the pleasure. The arrangement between the companies and the Union is that the services of last Christ mas-day and last Boxing-day are to be run this time on the same voluntary basis. 'Bus men are paid so much a journey, so thero is not the ame difficulty with a voluntary system as on' a weekly payment system. This means a Sunday service up to five o'clock on Christmas-day, with a late service on a few routes, and a curtailed service on Boxing-day. Against Increased Armaments.

I hear that the movement against the growth armaments is to be supported by au important public meeting on the eve of the session, probably in the Queen's Hall, at which the list of speakers will include repre sentative men from different parts of tlio country. Those who have been taking part in the movement have been greatly encouraged by the widespread interest and sympathy which it has enlisted, the effect of which, it is now hoped, will be reflected in the final decision of the Cabinet on next year's Naval Estimates. At the same time, it is recog nised that if the work already done is to produce its full result thero must ho no relaxation of effort before tho meeting of Parliament. What tho retrenchment party have in view, it should be explained, is not merely to enforce some measure of caution in the increasing expenditure on armaments, but, if possible, to bring about an actual diminution of the Estimates as compared with previous years. Bucken's Visit to London.

I hear that Professor Rudolf Eucken, of Jena, will visit London during next May. He will deliver an address to tho Modern Lan guages Association on "The Science of Lan guage," and it is hoped that his visit Will bo marked by some recognition of his commanding position in tho intellectual life of tho world. It is understood that Oxford Uni versity will present him with tho honorary degree of Litt.D., and there is some prospect. I am told, of M. Anatole France appearing in the list on the same occasion.

The success which attended M. France's visit has suggested the idea of promoting a. similar banquet to Dr. Eucken. Already a large number of distinguished people have intimated their intention of attending should such a gathering be arranged, and I understand that steps will bo taken early in tho new year to carry out some such plan.

Lord Morley's Birthday. Lord Morley of Blackburn completes to morrow his 75th year, and men of all opinions will join in wishing him many happy returns of the day. He is staying at his pleasant retreat in Wimbledon Park, and is in excellent health. The anniversary of his birthday fall just five days short of that of Mr. Gladstone a day still commemorated in sonic parts of tho country.

It may bo worth recalling that when Mr. Gladstone was Lord Morley's age ne was passing tnrougti one oi tlio most stormy and difficult times a Prime Minister has over experienced. Ho had already celebrated his political jubilee, and was nearing his second term of office as chief Minister of the Crown. Mr. Morlev was at that time editing the "Pall Mall Gazette," then a Liberal organ.

Flo was not elected to Parliament till a year or two later. In 18S6 ho joined Mr. Gladstone's third Ministry as Chief Secretary tor Ireland, and lia.s since filled the offices of Secretarv for India and his present office of Lord President of the Council. "Peter Pan" Revisited. At the end of the first act of "Peter Pan" at the Duke of York's Theatre this afternoon a rain of silver thimbles tinkled on tho stage enough thimbles to furnish a score of homes under the ground.

The curtain came down, and at once a dozen children in the front of the pit set up the cry "We want Peter Pan! I he curtain shot up again, Peter, the Peter wo have known since the times when those small children were babes in arms, appeared smiling, but a trifle bored with adoration. That was the way he treated Wendy when the freedom motiv sounded on the Pan's pipes calling him from the fireside to have a good time and lots of fun. Yes, the children still believe in fairies, and once more the dancing soul of Tinker Bell waxed bright on the wall. Tho children in the pit clapped their hands as if they would never grow old. They believe in fairies while the footlights are aglow as zestfully as Dickens believed in Christmas.

A boy" with a head tousled like little Michael's was giving his impressions of this real world. Of the flying in the beginning he noted that while Wendy flew like an angel the boys flow as if they were sliding downstairs. The romping was passed as being good, hearty, nursery romps, without any nonsense about sparing the furniture. The red-Iitten house in the tree-tops was the most sensible thing. "Why can't wo all go and live like that?" Elders had the duller job of noting the littlo differences from last year.

In the foyer a warm debate went on between two old gentlemen. The point was whether it was an innovation for the children to dance in their nighties in the nursery under the ground One was sure they used to do it in their pyjamas. Changes now are criticised like a strange piece of furniture in a cosy room Certainly there was a new Hook in Mr" Godfrey Teasle, but the cliildren made inni comfortable in their hate from the start Mr. Teasle laid, himself out to the lot of them. He rolled the part over his tongue lusciously like a curse, and was romantic even in looking for the tear in his breeches.

Perennial Alice. Some of the more whimsical passages of "Alice in Wonderland" would baflJe a quick-artist, but as much of i i JJUH. can be dramatised makes, with the addition 1. 1 (A.l,lAt,n,l 1, or some uiu-iaoiiimicu iuu, a very good children's play. The youthful audience at the Comedy Theatre this -afternoon evidently enjoyed every word of it.

To judge by the grown-up laughter at some of the more "time-.