The Saint Paul Globe

"RAINING IN LONDON"

ENGLISH METROPOLIS APPROACHING THE HOLIDAY SEASON WITH TURNED UP TROUSERS.

QUIET TIME AT OSBORNE.

NO FESTIVITIES PLANNED FOR THE WINTER SEASON OF THE COURT.

SEALSKINS ARE GOING BEGGING.

Prices Realized at the First Big Sale Twenty Per Cent Below the Normal.

LONDON, Dec. 12.—With mild and rainy weather during the past week London has been at its worst and already the exit from the Metropolis of distinguished people, intent upon enjoying the Christmas holidays, is very general.

The queen will leave Windsor castle next Friday (Dec. 18), for Osborne, where she will receive a family party during the Christmas holidays. The party this year will consist of the duke and duchess of Connaught and their children, Princess Louise and the marquis of Lorne and the duchess of Albany and her children. There are to be no festivities of any kind at Osborne during the winter residence of the court.

Mr. and Mrs. George N. Curzon were among the queen's guests at Windsor during the week.

Prince Charles of Denmark and his wife, Princess Maude of Wales, are going to Copenhagen at the end of the coming week, for the first time since their wedding. The delay of Prince Charles in bringing his wife home has caused a great deal of dissatisfaction in Denmark, and has aroused much comment, it being even stated that the princess refused to leave her own country. A suite of twenty-five rooms has been decorated and furnished for their reception in the immense palace near Copenhagen, of their uncle, the king of Greece.

The fat cattle show at the agricultural hall, Islington, has been an unusual success. There were 574 entries, exclusive of poultry, and the queen, the prince of Wales, Lord Rosebery and the duke of York, were big winners.

At a meeting held in Edinburgh, on Thursday, to promote a memorial to the late Robert Louis Stevenson, Lord Rosebery presiding, his lordship alluded to Stevenson as the successor of Sir Walter Scott and said he desired to see a memorial that testified to Stevenson's passion for Scotland and in Scotland for Edinburgh.

An interesting artists' gathering was that of the new Vagabonds' club at the Christmas dinner given to Lord Roberts, commander in chief of the forces in Ireland, on Wednesday. The hall was filled with a brilliant assemblage. Justice Jeune presided and among those present were Mrs. Humphrey Ward, Zangwill, Conan Doyle, Gertrude Kingston and George Grossmith. One of the features of the evening was the presence of a lady reporter at the press table. At the conclusion of the banquet she calmly produced cigarettes and indulged in a smoke.

SEALSKIN SALE.

The first big sealskin sale of the season occurred on Wednesday. Although the offerings were far below the usual number, being only 60,000 pelts, there was a great decline, averaging 20 per cent in prices. The reason given for this is that the trade in America has not recovered from the turmoil of the election, and that there was scarcely a buyer or a commission from that country on Wednesday for the really high grade skins, which they generally get at any cost.

In view of the belief that the Rev. George F. Pentecost, the American Evangelist, will probably accept the call to New York, his successor is being discussed here, and it is generally thought that Rev. Dr. John Watson ("Ian MacLaren") will fill the vacancy.

At the Northampton dog show on Wednesday, the Prince of Wales' Lapland sledge dog won the first prize in the class of foreign dogs. The princess of Wales' small Borzoi dog Ala took two first prizes and two special prizes.

There was a first performance at a matinee at the Court theater on Tuesday of Hurst's comedy, "A Woman's World," which turned out to be a weak and conventional production.

The "Circus Girl," produced on Saturday last at the Gaiety, has been the chief theatrical attraction of the week, and promises to be a great success. The music is catchy, and the topical songs are bright and pointed.

Sir Henry Irving has at last definitely decided upon the cast of "Richard III," which will be produced on next Saturday night, Dec. 19. Sir Henry will adhere strictly to the original text and there will be no fusion of the commonly accepted Colley Cibber version.

The incidental music which Edward German had expressly composed for George Alexander's revival of "As You Like It," has been a feature of the comedy.

There will be a decided change in the cast of "The Gay Parisians" next week, Dec. 14. The play has now been running for eight months at the Duke of York's theater and the business is still very large.

There is some talk that Mrs. Patrick Campbell and Forbes Robertson will again join forces, probably on the termination of the actress' engagement in "The Sorrows of Satan," at the Shaftesbury theater and that they will undertake a revival of "Magda."

The United States ambassador, Mr. Thomas F. Bayard will distribute the prizes and deliver an address to the students of the Bristol Merchants' Venturers Technical college next Thursday.

AN AMERICAN ACTRESS.

Mary Elliot Page, the American actress, who was under engagement to Charles Hawtrey and who appeared at the St. James' theater in "The Prisoner of Zenda," sailed on Dec. 11, for Australia where she will appear in "The Sign of the Cross" and "The Prisoner of Zenda," under the management of Messrs. Williamson and Musgrove.

George Edwardes informs the Associated Press that as yet he has not decided upon the personnel of the company with which next season he will tour America. It has not been determined as to the nature of the play which will be given, but in all probability the company will make a tour of the world appearing in a round of Gaiety theater successes. Marie Tempest will undoubtedly be the leading lady of the company.