BLEEDING THE PEERAGE. London, March 26,

Misa Birdie Sutherland (in private Emma 'Watkins) of the Gaiety Theatre, should the other morning feel satisfied with herself and the world when she woke up. Five thousand pounds damages is a satis factory solatium oven for a prospective coronet. Indeed more than one of the Gaiety ladies who have married into the aristocracy would, I feel confident, assure Misa Watkins that in scooping the dollars and retaining her liberty she has dis tinctly scored. Proceedings in Court on Monday were lamentably short. There was a long dry contract case to finish before 11 Sutherland v. Majoribanks" could bo called, and on two occasions the heroine of the piece (almost concealed beneath a leviathan hat in which every known shade of pink and mauve had its place) made a premature entrance. On each occasion, however, her counsel, Mr Gill, Q.C., was at hand to whisper, “ Whoa I Emma 1" or some such pleasantry, and she speedily, disappeared again, smiling. At last, however, the eventful moment arrived and a tremendous array of counsel took their places. When the stage does patronise the law (at some one else’s ex pense), it does so handsomely, and the retainers on Sir Edward Clarke’s and Mr Gill's briefs are said to have been entirely worthy of the surroundings of the case and the Gaiety Theatre. The redoubtable Birdie is a damsel vigorous as she is virtuous. At the theatre 'tissaid they slightly vary a popular songin the “ Shop Girl," and call her “ Beautiful, bountiful Birdie." Anyhow, she is a fine and large young lady, and looked charm ing enough in her big hat, quirt black cloth jacket, and fur necklet, as she took her seat at the end of the solicitor’s bench. She was accompanied by another yong lady also liberally dowered in the matter of good looks, said to be her sister, and by her solicitor. Counsel engaged in the case had meanwhile taken their places. Sir Edward Clorke, Mr Gill and the rest of the lady’s legal champions to His Lord ship’s ’ right hand; Mr Asquith and Mr Lyttelton on the opposite side of the big Court. 