IT'S AN ILL WIND.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1712, 17 June 1884, Page 3

IT'S AN ILL WIND.

Some time ago (says the London correspondent of the Manchester Guardian) an estimate was made after considerable inquiry of the sum of money expended in London by virtue of what is called the London season—mainly, of course, in what are really frivolities, which add very largely

to the volume of British trade. The ►estimate amounted, for what is considered a good season, to no less than £2,500,000 sterling. But even in a poor season 12,500,000 is said to he spent. 'The season of 1881 had begun singularly well and promised to be exceptionally brilliant, and in the calculations of tho London tradesmen there was only one element of doubt and danger, that is to say, the fear of a dissolution. The death of tho Duke

of Albany, however, has utterly ruined the prospects of the West End shops; and although the orders for mourning will go in a great way to make up tho loss, the net deficit on the turnover of the season is estimated as high as two millions of money. Even if an effect should be made to pick up the broken threads of society after Whitsuntide there will be no such expenditure as had been contemplated. The balls at least will be few and far between, though dinner parties, and perhaps garden parties, will be resumed very much as usual soon after Easter. The natural effect of tho discontinuance of balls will be to send people to the theatres as soon as the period of mourning has expired, and theatrical managers and agents are looking forward to good business at a time of year when business is usually far from good, owin« to the attractions of nature and societv.