LONDON TOPICS

Evening Star, Issue 19662, 15 September 1927, Page 9

LONDON TOPICS

i BETTER DREAMS August 11. American friends tell me that, though they understand our natural irritation, wo must not take Mr Gibson’s Geneva talk too seriously. Presently Washington will, alter the pressing Presidential emergency of the moment is past, dream a better dream, and almost certainly wo shall have another naval disarmament conference summoned soon. Then, with tho air clear of domestic pre-occupation, and no necessity lor political wire-pulling, things will be far nicer, and everybody will come to a final agreement that will perpetuate the good work of the first Washington pact. This is doubtless all very consoling. and obviously most sincere and well informed, but it rather overlooks one fact. Had Mr Gibson’s private instructions at Geneva let him accept either ours or the Japanese plans, we might have looked to saving something like £20,000,000 per annum towards that American war debt. Not since some of the German Zeppelin raids has the city been so disorganised as this week, owing to the collapse of the hi" insurance building in Cornhill. While tho police were contending with huge crowds of would-be sightseers, anxious to view the impressive debris caused by the debacle, it has been necessary to close both Cornhill and Lombard street, to all traffic. The result has been an unprecedented jam of vehicles, often extending right away from Ludgate Circus to the bank. An ominous crack developed in the roadway between the fallen insurance building and tho Royal Exchange, and minute measurements were taken of this fissure at frequent intervals. Meanwhile the remainder of the insurance building, now open to the sky on all its floors, lias been evacuated, and tho staff of 300 is idle. AVork has also been _ entirely suspended on the new building of Lloyd’s Bank adjoining the collapsed offices. SERBIAN DEBT SETTLEMENT.

I understand that tho last and the least of the European war debts (Russia excepted) to this country was the subject of an agreement which was signed at the Treasury last week. The total amount of tho debt is about twenty-five millions sterling. It will he met on approximately the same terms as the obligations of tho smaller European nations have undertaken, beginning with an annual payment of about £150,006, rising gradually to a maximum of £600,000. Tho prospect of recovering anything from Russia depends on political rather than financial factors, h.ut otherwise all tho outstanding credits of this country in Europe are now arranged on a clear basis. PRINCE’S HOME IN THE WEST. Within the past twenty years, in the area reaching from Lake Winnipeg and the Lake of tho Woods to the foothills of the Rockies, a wonderful agricultural “empire” has arisen. Tho four provinces of the West have picked up, and are now overtaking the sum total of agricultural products in tho five provinces of tho East. The fact that the Prince of Wales has a homo in this area has been of tremendous importance. it lias attracted many settlers who have considerable private means, and who are farming their properties with all the latest scientific knowledge available. I met yesterday a well-known member of the House of Lords—little if ever seen at Westminster—who with his stalwart sons lias built a fine homestead and cultivated large farms in this area, and whose own handiwork is now worth in tho region of 200,000 dollars. Rich men, despairing of finding health in spas or watering places of America and Europe, are trying the natural life of vigorous hard work, and finding themselves far happier and healthier thereby. “TIM’S” BETE NOIR. I knew John Dillon pretty well. He was a cpicer political anomaly. There was never a doubt about either his integrity or his ability, but, though lie was from first to last a stalwart of the old Irish Nationalist Party, he never tilled tho bill. Long-winded and dull in debate, Jacking in any sense of humor or even of tun, liis outlook was more than of an unusually jaundiced Rnglish Radical Nonconformist than of a genial .Irish Catholic. Privately he was a kindly soul, and loyal as a Toledo blade, but he had none of tho point or glitter of Spanish steel, and publicly, even under hydraulic pressure, not one. drop of join do vivro could Air Dillon’s personality yield. Al ay be that was why lie was Air Tim Healey's favorite hole nuir. “Tim” called him at different times “a melancholy humbug” and “a sick raven.”

Some time ago an appreciative Curie man published a book, consisting of nothing but verbatim extracts of things Air Dillon and Air Healey said about, each other on public platforms in Ireland. It was a complete compendium of ornate abuse, barbed with malicious wit on one side, and raw with sullen rage on the other. Mr Dillon’s big moment in the .House of Commons was when “Joe” Chamberlain called him “a good judge of traitors,” and Mr Dillon, china-white with wrath, retorted by calling Mr Chamberlain, then Colonial Secretary, “ n damned liar.” I never heard a phrase more conscientiously articulatedOf course, he was promptly suspended, after n beautiful “scene,” and “Joe” resumed his speech, exactly where ho left off, with a suave “ As 1 was remarking, Air Speaker I” “ LABBY’S ” ABIDE. But the. real hero of that historic occasion was neither Air Dillon nor Air Chamberlain. It was Air Labouclicre, then very much alive and kicking, and with a solid claim pegged out to the coveted corner seat below the Opposition gangway, whoso latest tenants have been Air Horatio Botiomlcy and Air Lloyd George. Fancy Horatio sitting in “ Lobby’s ” seat —like an icectcam on a hot plate! When Air Dillon, talking just over “ Lobby’s ” head, called “Joe” an adjectival liar, a hoarse bellow of fury went up from the Conservative honchos. “ Joe ” was the idol of the Imperialists, and Mr Dillon’s phrase was Hat blasphemy. But “ Labby,” who had listened to Air Dillon’s outrageous phrase with polite appreciation, glanced across at the epileptic Alinislerinlists, and lisped, with a delightful affectation of surprise at their outburst: “It’s quito true!” They suspended Air Dillon, but the artful “Labby” had his fun for nothing ! HOTEL PROBLEMS. The Alinistry of Labor regulations, which forbid foreigners coming to this country to socle employment, arc creating a peculiar problem for the hotel proprietors. Hitherto cooks, chefs, maitres d’hotels, and head waiters have always been secured from the Continent for the London hotels, and the chief hotels in the provinces, but now they can be brought over here only in exchange for Englishmen. But as Sir Francis Towle, the head of the Gordon Hotels, which comprise the Hotel' Aletronole, Victoria, Grand, and the new Mayfair, pointed out other ‘Vlny. there are few, if any English hotel emplovees who want to go to Continental hotels. Thus hotel proprietors are compelled to search for employees among Nearly 90 per cent, of employees in most hotels are Englishmen, but in this country we have never taken up the catering side of the hotel business as they have in France, Switzerland, and Italy. Consequently we have few men who can adequately fill the posts of chief and mnitre d’hotel. As the for-

eignors at present filling these positions in tho big hotels hero old and retire, there is no one to fill their places. Another effect of tho regulations is that hoteliers on tho Continent are unable to send their employees to this country to learn English, and this is increasingly necessary, as more English-speaking people than ever are spending holidays on the Continent. FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED. An Order-in-Council has just abolished one of the most romantic jobs in tho country. Tho post is that of coroner to the Admiralty, which dates back to Edward I. Its institution was due to a decision that county coroners, themselves antique had no jurisdiction over the sea, but solemn controversy arose as to where the sea ended and a river began. This was settled by declaring that the dividing post was where one shore was invisible from the other. But it did not work well, and in the reign of Richard 11. an Act of Parliament decreed that the Admiralty should deal with “ deaths of men in great ships hovering in great rivers.” But, unfortunately, a seaman fell from a ship into St. Katherine’s dock, and tho county coroner obtained a writ against the Admiralty coroner for interfering. The new Ordcr-in-Coun-cil puts a stop to a curious compromise arrangement, whereby the inquest was the right of tho coroner who first got the body. LONDON’S AUTUMN SHOW. It is amazing what excitement has been aroused by the fact that Piccadilly is “up.” Those shopkeepers who feared it would ruin their trade must by now be reconsidering their opinion. Never have the Piccadilly pavements been so crowded as now that the roadway' is empty. Not only are there tragic groups of unemployed, who sleep in the adjoining parks by night _ and keep vigil all day in tho hope of a job, but hundreds of idlers are constantly watching the workmen engaged on remaking the roadway. These spectators arc strangely variegated. White spats and broken boots, silk toppers and soiled caps keep company round the Piccadilly barricades. The electric drills exorcise an equal fascination for East Enders and West Enders. People are coming to “see Piccadilly” in private cars and public charabancs. It is the piece de resistance of the London off season—the most popular autumn “ show.” BETTER THAN OIL! During tho recent London, season’s considerable sales of wines, spirits, and liqueurs attention was directed to tho fact that American visitors were often extensive purchasers. In all these cases the purchasers have left newlyacquired “ cellars ” behind them in store on returning home. It is, of course, impossible to take intoxicants into tho United States otherwise than illicitly, and few, if any, of these wealthy Americans were likely to embark on smuggling, Tho explanation seems to be that the American purchasers are convinced that there will sooner or later be modifications in tho Prohibition laws, and that when it is possible to import wines and spirits into America a big profit 'idll ho reaped by those who can immediately lay hands on choice stocks In those dappy days tho man who “ strikes alcohol ” will bo richer than an oil king. IMPERIAL ART ACADEMY. In these lean times of big Budgets and heavy taxes we have no money to spare for even tho most admirable objects. One fears that this may prove fatal to tho interesting project which has brought to London that distinguished Italian sculptor Professor Sciortino, honorary director of the British Academy' of Arts. The scheme is to establish that century-old institution on a truly Imperial basis at Rome, with its own building on a site offered by an Italian local authority, and with suitable accommodation for all art purposes, forty studios, a library, and lecture rooms. It is suggested that, with each dominion allotted its share of this equipment, tho inedest sum required—about £50,01)0 —might easily be forthcoming by proportionate contributions all round. Jt is the sort of scheme to appeal strongly overseas, and if the big dominions set the lead ihe British Treasury may be moved too. PHYSICAL JERKS. Tho L.C.C; has followed tho example of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, and Swedish, instead of German drill, will henceforth he the basis of London school children’s daily physical jerks. It is a sensible change, made after careful inquiry by exports, who found that the Swedish system is more desirable. not only as tile .sounder from the physical culture point of view, lint also as the mure pleasant and enjoyable. Tho latter considcralion in itself would almost justify the change, though some of the older school teachers rather resent innovations that will necessitate) learning new movements for which mid-dle-aged physiques arc not always very supple. Incidentally it may be remarked that at the moment the Ji.A.F. is far ahead of cither tho Navy or tho Army in its physical jerks regime, which is entirely Swedish.