FROM THE MAGAZINES

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 24, 28 January 1911, Page 16

FROM THE MAGAZINES

ENOUGH SAID. It is told of King George.that when he was Prince of Wales,.he was,once travelling incognito on an omnibus, when the driver, having some trouble with one of his horses, shouted to it: . , "Come up, yer Royal 'Ighoesi! Gome up, will yer?" . '~ i The Prince asked the *bus man why he 'called his horse "Your fioyal Highness." 'fW'ell, sir," said the man, "that horse is so 'orty and lazy, I calL'im Yer Koyal 'Ighness." ~ .... '..*, The Prince asked no more question*. THREE LONDONS. Roman London lies'buried about eighteen feet below the level of Cheapside. In nearly all parts of the city there have been discovered tessellated j>ayements, Roman tombs, lamps, vases, sandals, keys, ornaments, weapons, Coins and statues of the Roman gods. When, a little over a century ago, deep sections were made for the sewers in Lombard street the lowest stratum was found to consist of tessellated pavements. Many coloured dice were lying scattered about, and above the stratum was a thick layer of wood ashes, suggesting the debris of charred wooden buildings. While building the Exchange the workmen came upon a gravel pit full of oyster shells, bones of cattle, old sandals, and shattered pottery. Two pavements were dug up under the French church in Threadneedle-street and other pavements have been cut through in several parts of the city. The soil seems to have risen over Roman London at the rate of nearly a foot a century. Still further must the searching dig to find the third London, the earlier London to the Britons. WOODEN ENGLISHWOMEN. In the eyes of their Continental sisters ■Englishwomen have made many strides in recent years in the art of being attractive. They look better, they dres3 better, they walk better, they talk better. And yet, in spite of their 'beauty and their clothes and their health, they—oh, how can I bring myself to say it? —they do not charm. Whyl What i 3 the difference between an Englishwoman and a Spaniard, or a Frenchwoman, or an Italian? I will tell you. It is a question Of life, or, rather, of liveliness. Vivacity is the word. We on the Continent are alive; an Englishwoman seems to think it is "bad form" to be alive. That is the only explanation I can give for her apathy, her listlessness, her plentiful lack of verve and gesture and facial expression, f What is the great overwhelming outstanding fact of Nature ?—nLife. What is the one great manifestation of Life?— Motion. If you do not move, how are people to know that you are alive? How are you different from a dressed-up waxen mannequin? Nothing so amuses and occasionally astounds foreigners Americans —as the phlegmatic manner in which an Englishwoman converses. Of the art of gesture she aeems,to,,know.and care absolutely nothing. Her talk lacks all the accompaniment of rhythmic" appropriate movement, for she talks only with her tongue. You cannot express yourself only with your tongue-—that is to say, you cannot if you wish to convey your thoughts effectively; for the tongue, even of.an Englishwoman, is only one of the instruments of speech. And that is why her thoughts might just as well be conveyed, 'by a printed, book or a phonograph. - She tells you that, she loves: "madly, passionately," in the same tone, and with the same manner, that she orders a leg of mutton at the butcher's. On meeting you she protests that she is delighted to see you with the same air that she. announces that it is likely to rain.—From "The art of gesture" in the Christmas number of the "Strajad Magazine."

GUARDIANS OP THE CZAR.

Emperor Nicholas and his consort are surrounded at the t Castle ■of Friedberg, in Hesse, by what may be described as the inner circle of their household; a circle Tvhich'some stigmatise as a nefarious camarilla. The chief is General Baron Fredericks, Minister of the Imperial Hduse, aiid , as such, ComptrollerGeneral; not merely of the entire Court, but also'of the vast Imperial property. It is no exaggeration to pronounce him the virtual vice-Regent of Russia. Next in importance to him is General Dedjulin, -former Prefect of Police of St. Petersburg, and now resposible for the protection of the Emperor, the Empress and their children. As all other considerations iare. subordinated to the safety of the Imperial family, his power is naturally very great and enables him to ' interfere in everything and everywhere. It is only fair, however, to state that he is thoroughly imbued with a sense, of the responsibilities resting upon I hinij ,and devotes his whole care and attention thereto; without seeking to play any, political role.

Then there is the Marshal of the Court, General Count Benckendorff, a brother of the nobleman,, of the, same name ■ who is Russian Ambassador in England. General Mossolow is another member of the camarilla. So is Prince Vladimir Orloff, who is fat, goodnatured, a favourite with the Imperial children, a constant companion of the Emperor, sunny tempered, and of no particular importance politically, save as an -instrument in the hands of others.

Then there is Count Benckendorff's chief assistant, Prince Putjatin. It was he who induced the Czar and Czarina to make that memorable pilgrimage to the tohib of St. Seraphim, at Sarowe, which was followed by "the long-delayed birth of a son and heir, namely,' the Czaroviteh, Alexis. Prince Putjatin won the favour of the Emperor and Empress in connection vi'ith' this pilgrimage, and further confirmed it when as a thankoffering, for the birth of the Cmrovitch, he presented, the monastery of Sarowo with a magnificent new shrine for the remains of St. Seraphim. • Finally, there are the Empress' two physicians, Dr. Grpte and Dr.' Bodkin, who do riot enjoy the confidence of their foreign colleagues, the latter insisting [that the Czarina has no organic trouble, and, that all she needs is freedom, form the attentions of her Muscovite doctors.

The men we nave just enumerated endeavour in every possible way to shield the Emperor and Empress from all contact with the-router -world.; partly because, they feel themselves responsible for the safety. of their .charges, partly bocause they .dread the interference of people.bent.on currying favour -with the Emperor and Empress, and who might oust them from their own place in the Imperial favour;, and partly, too, because they apprehend that if Nicholas and his consort were, to see too much of their foreign: relatives they might become less amenable tq the influence of their present entourage.