Last week, letters I received from the the country' told of roses still in full bloom in the open air, Someone likewise wrote to one of the papers telling of raspberries of good flavour which had been gathered on the previous day in their garden. Yesterday the thermemefor registered from 20 to 25 degrees (Fahr.) in Staffordshire and. Derbyshire, which is the lowest temperature ever known in these parts during the month of November. In town the conditions have been much the same; on Wednesday evening we had quite a heavy fall of snow, which still remains unmelted on the roofs of houses and in unfrequented stroots. Yesterday mori ning the streets were almost impassable horses were falling in all directions and fact-passengers had the greatest difficulty in remaining on their feet. 1t proved an unexpected piece of luck for the unemployed, as by ten o'clock 10,000 of them had been.engaged in the Metropol-iran boroughs alone to clown the snow away. Many of them are doubtless hoping that the leaden-looking sky to-day may mean another snowstorm to-night, and so more work to-morrow, as, although the problem of dealing with the unemployed during the coming winter is under serious consideration, nothing has yet boon definitely settled. Mr. Long's achome will probably be carried cult. Under it each Metropolitan borough will appoint a Committee whose duty will be to investigate all cases brought under its notice and to classify them. They are tobe divided into twoclasses—respectable mon who are known to be industrious, bat who through no fault of their own are in temporary distress; and men who are more or Jess permanently out of work, well known in the colonies as. "loafer For the first class it rious committees may be able to find mediate work, if only of a temporary kind; nnd for the second it is hoped that work in labour colonies may be provided, though their acceptance of it is qui another question. One is reminded of Mr. Jesse Collings's three acres and a cow scheme, and of "Panch's" man who liked his tators ready dug!
Interesting Exhibition at Earl's Court.
It was rather a happy inspiration of the Institution of Gas Engineers to choose the very month of the year in which King: Fog usually holds high carnival in our midst for the holding of a gas exhibition, as it is claimed that the one thing which will do more than anything else to rid us of fogs is the discontinuance of the use of coal fires for domestic purposes. It is claimed that everyone who cooks his food through the medium of a gas stove helps to banish fogs. If he uses gas fires for heating purposes as well, so much the better. The present exhibition is the largest of the "ind ever held in England, and it certainly seems to be very popular, judging from the crowds who are flocking there every day. Gas stoves of every imaginable pattern are on view, a lightning griller, which is ex hibited for the first time is attracting a great deal of attention. It is called the Gorilla griller, which is somewhat difficult until you get used to it; but I tasted a steak which had been cooked by it in 3} minutes and it was most perfectly done. Many of the newest gas stoves have a coiler fixed above them, of sufficient size to supply hot water for all ordinary household purposes, with the exception of the bath-room, where water can be instantaneously heated with a geyser, of which there are 8 eral new models. To popularize the exhibition quick cookery competitions are held twice daily. Either a breakfast or a luncheon is cooked by the competitors and marks are given both for speed, and the quality of the work done. I saw Tuncheon consisting of filleted plaice entlete and mashed potatoes, potate chips, cabinet padding, and cheoso straws cooked, dished up, and served yesterday in twenty-seven minutes. So far the lady who did that has established record for the week, but of course may be beaten, Each week the winner of is to remain open four weeks.
The " Standard's" New Proprietor.
Since Mr. C. Arthur Pearson purchased. the "Standard," rather more than a fortnight ago, the paper Eas received a good deal of free advertisement—as to its future policy, owing to the number of letters on the subject which have appeared, and have been copied into nearly all the daily papers. In the first Mr. Pearson objected to certain criticism on his purchase of the paper, and he wrote to the "Spectator" to this effect. In this letter ho remarked that no writer on the staff of the paper had loft, and that Mr. Curtis, the only member of the editorial stof who had gone, had not written in its columns for some fifteen ars. Mr. Curtis, who had acted as editor of the paper since 1899, and previously to that had been sub-editor for a period of fifteen years, naturally resented such a remark, ud at once wrote to the "Times" giving the reasons why he could not seo his way to remaining editor under Mr. Pearsou's regime. He did not see how the proprietor of the "Daily Express," professedly Liberal, ud of the "St. James's Gazette," avowedly Conservative, but both Chamberlainite organs, could possibly wish to publish the " Standard" as a Conservative Free Trade journal, especially as he was the Chairman of the executive as his editor, nor did he ever have the least intention of doing ea, and as to the "Daily Express," he had heard it called many things during its short c#reer, but never " Liberal" before. Mr. Winston Churchill has been busily engaged in discovering the number of daily papers which Mr. Penrson either owns or controls, and he finds there are no less than ton, four of which are published in London and the remainder in the provinces. Mr. Churchill thinks the information is likely to arouse some disquieting reflections, but I don't think people generally are feeling any great anxiety at present, though I fancy several of the old members, of the staff in Shoo Lane sre just a little unossy, more especially those who, owing. to length of service, would in the ordinary course have shortly retired with a well-earned pension; to them the change in the proprietorship of the paper may have very serious consequences. It is known that Mr. Curtis himself only learnt the news through the medium of the daily press.
In the Theatrical Worl! eral {changes are contemplated in the near future. After a most successful run of more than a year's duration, "The Earl and the Girl" is to be withdrawn during the next few weeks and a now musical comedy substituted at the "eric. It is to be called "A Bed of Roses," and it is suid that Mr. Passmore will be well provided for and that Messrs. Evett and Lytton will play the part of dashing Guardsmen. Miss Louie Pounds will not be in the cast, a8 she is to take up Miss Zena Dare's part in "The Cxteh of the Season," Miss Dare being required elsewhere.
At the Prince of Wales's a new musical comedy is likewise in rehearsal, in which Miss Madge Crichton and Mr, G. P. Huntley will make their re-appearance after their long American and Australian tours. Its title is to be either "The ith Madcap" seems more difficult then its composition sometimes, and it may soon become quite " usual thing to leave it to a member of the first-night audience, as was done on a recent the Alhambra, motograph views, which wore thus called Whirling the Whirls." aK
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.