GOSSIP AND NEWS ITEMS.

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 7169, 3 October 1888, Page 5

GOSSIP AND NEWS ITEMS.

I am very sorry to hear that Mrs Lynn Linton, who is now staying ut "Wiesbaden, is suffering from bad eyesight. She will not be blind, but that is tiio bust that sho at present dares to hope. Much interest is taken (writes a London correspondent) in sporting and club circles in the case of a plunger who has attracted attention during the last few years by the extent of his bets, and who failed to settle last week for a small amount. Not much sympathy can be felt for a man who is stated to have run through a fortune of over dBSOO.OOO in a couple of years. It is said that the amount in question was small and that it was an oversight, which will be made all right.

An unrehearsed scene in a theatre was occasioned at Nottingham on the 15th inst. by the vagaries of an infuriated bull. The animal kuobked down and injured several persons in the market place, and afterwards rushed into the Theatre Boyal by the stage door, where it did considerable damage amongst the scenery. Several property deer used in forest scenery ware conspicuously exposed, and these the ball savagely attacked and destroyed. The animal charged at the stage carpenter, but he slipped aside and the bull's horns went; through a side wing. Eventually the bull was driven into a cul-de-sac and despatched by a bullet from a Martini-Henry rifle.

A present of a complete train has been cent by a recent steamer to Li Hung Chang from France. It was specially made for the Viceroy of Pechlhli at Lyons, and is composed, of six carriages, of which three are for the Emperor and his chief Ministers, two for the guards, and one for the luggage. This train is to run on the short railway of six kilometres specially constructed near Pekin for the instruction and edification of the young Emperor. The carriages have been prepared in a luxurious style, and bear the Imperial arms of the dragon. The marriage of the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough before the Registrar of St. George's, Hanover square, was a surprise. The Standard, at the time of the marriage, gave prominence to an opinion oxpresseu in New York, that the marriage was not a legal one, in consequence of one of the parties having been divorced for infidelity. The State of New York, however, recognises ps binding the marriage of a person or persons who have been divorced, if such\a marriage is considered legal in the country to which either of them belongs, but it does not recognise a marriage celebrated only In New York. This particular law is only a municipal or local law; but as all the Duchess's fortune is in\ New York, it is most important there should N be no doubt on the subject. Counsel gave it as their opinion' that the marriage was not a legal one unless celebrated in England, and it was accordingly celebrated about a fortnight ago. A story is going about which, If true (says the World), is one of the moats disgraceful of the many petty meannesses the Treasury is constantly committing. In order to facilitate the progress of tne work which was necessary in the' English Court of the South Australian Exhibition, to be held at Melbourne {sic), the Victoria Government advanced £2000 to theßritlah Commissioners to pay wages, erect staging, &c, which was to be repaid bj» the English Government. Now that the money is due the Treasury are making difficulties about its repayment, on the ground (that the Government of Victoria volunteered to lend it, and, nofr having been asked to do so, cannot expect to ba repaid. Oureonduct to the colonies has always been of the shabbiest kind whenever we have had any occasion to act with them; but such a breach of faith as the repudiation of such a paltry sum "would hot only be unpardonable in Itself, but would hold us up to the contempt and ridicule of the world, and, what Is far more important, our colonies. Imagine Germany behaving in such a manner, even to the most most wretched, fever-etricken tract of country she might annex in Africa! The Commissioners are Lord Carnarvon. Lord Rosebery, and Mr Chfldere, and I do hope they will Insist on M* Goschen and the Treasury repaying the amount at once.