TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 8350, 8 December 1892, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

The relics of Dr. Neill, Value of the Lambeth woman Murderers' poisoner, were offered to Eelics. Madame Tassand's waxworks, but ~ the P" ce asked was toorhigh, and bo business was done. This circumstance led a representative of the Pall Mall Gazette to seek out Mr J. T. Tussaud with a view to having a chafe as to tho market value of such gruesome .exhibita. It would seem that the market ha 3 gone up. Iα the old days Mr Tussaud regretfully observed the things were invariably brought to them without any trouble on their pare. Id ia only within the laat few years that the relies have had any recognised value. When Calcraft was hangman they could always get the laet clothes worn by the murderer if they, wanted them; but, alas! "the old privileges of the executioner are now obsolete." The Mia Pearcey relics, cost, including removal, nearly 42500, and Deeming'a kitchen at Dinbam Villa J2570. Many relics have been acquired for a few shillings, sometimes yeare after the commission of the crime. Mr Tussaud gave an interesting account of the origin of the Chamber of Horrore. It started, he said— "In the thirties—in this way. Tne old lady used to show the waxworks in provincial town halls and theatres. At Oxford a don , complained to her that Fiesehi (who tried to murder Louis Philippe) ought not to be shown iv the same room as the Queen. So all the criminals were collected, and thereafter Dlaoed ia. a separate room. It was first called ,tho Dead Room —a name that the old employees still use. 1 think Punch was chiefly responsible for the ttfcle of Chamber of Horrors." There is an extra charge made for admission, js visitors may remember, and it appears that about two-thirds of those who enter the main building find, their way into the Dead Eborn" also. Incidentally Mr Tussaud mentioned another fact of considerable interest For many years he said Napaleon relics were an absolute drug in the market Wβ are glad to see signs of a Ladies' coming revolt against long Skirts, skirts. The Woman's HcraU Nottingham have agreed iilPyilpi: a short akirt for walking in muddycifr Bnowv- -weather during the approaching , winter. They convened a meeting by 1 sending out and met at the Social Guild Institute, when it was decided, after animated discussion, that the ekirtßhould be at least five inches off the ground. Twenty-one young ladies signed their names as agreeing to this, and pledging themselves to begin wearing the short dress on muddy days as soon as the costume could be made. It is a cogent illustration of the power of the tyrant faehion that before adopting such a very obvious and common-sense proposal the young ladies should Jmve felt it necessary to send out circulars, hold a public meeting, pass: 'resolutions, and solemnly bind themselves under hand arid seal. However, we are glad to see such a -move in 4§ie right direction, aad iiope thfr example w&l soon be imitated out here. This is scatter- to which the Women's Institute might profitably devote its attention as early as possible. i In view o£ the fact that The Opossum the opossum has now ' ia been successfully accliNew Zealand, matised in New Zealand, and distributed in various 'parts of the colony, the Wellington Acclimatisation Society has issued,a circular (a copy of which has been handed to us by Mr Birch) giving some account of the habita of the animal and its value from a commercial point „of view. It appears that the first black opossums were liberated in the bush at. the back of South Kiverton {Invercargill) by Mr a T3asstilan, sen., of that town; in July, 1853, and that some years after one or two opossums, (presumably Australian grey opossums) escaped from confinement in the same neighbourhood. Both black and grey opossums are now found in the Ei vex ton bush. These animals, in the course of thirty-one years, considerably increased, and in 1889 the then ment, on th* application of the Southland Acclimatisation Society, brought the opossum under the operation of the Protection of Animals Act, 1880. Some, o&'thesatfclera afterwards became tormented* wiEE doubts as to whether the opossums might not in-course of thne develop into a nuisance, and tho Government made en<Juirie» on the subject from the Australian Governments. The replies received, . which were sammarised in,* tnis column ftboofe eighteen months ego, are now being- circulated by the Wellington Acclimatisation Society together with the circular to which we have referred. It will be remembered that they were of a& entirely reassuring character. Mr I. C. Plaate, who is an expect, jfcates that the alleged damage done to orchards is imaginary, or, at least* exaggerated. Tasmania is the orchard of Australia, and fruit is one of its. chief staples of prodnction, yet no little harm is caused by this auupal, and so well i* its commercial Tftlue appreciated, thai ft dose season is prescribed for it, and, indeed, for all marsupials. Secondly, the opossum is a timidr&uimal; easily frightened away, and constantly retreats from the presence of man into wilds and less settled districts. Moreover, it breeds but oace & year, and produces only one young at a time; so thalia no respect can it become s> pest like the rabbit Oα the other hand it is of gresfc commercial value, seeing ia the liorfdoa market black Taamaniaa skine

realise «p to 8s each. Mc Piaate declares that from specimens caught in the Btverton bu3h he can vouch that; in New Zealand they grow even larger and prodnco fur of better quality. The Southland Acclimatisation Society are trapping opossums and distributing them mall narta of New Zealand, so that in the course of a few years we may see a profitable trade ia opossum skins established.