CLIPPINGS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8480, 11 May 1893, Page 4

CLIPPINGS.

An extraordinary instance of success, in spite of being sorely handicapped in the race, has (says the Sketcher), recently occurred at Berlin. At the University in the Prussian capital, a student named Max Meyer, of the age of twenty-eeven, propounded with such brillianoy and intellectual power his thesis on the differential calculus that the examiners hailed his prowess with -acclamation, and at once proclaimed that he was deserving of a special degree as doctor. The point of the story lies in tiie fact that Max Meyer ia blind, and has learnt to read by touch alone. Perhaps the most notable parallel to his case is that of the late Professor Henry Fawcett.

The Woodville Examiner says :—There was rather an exciting scene at the bear exhibition on Friday uight. One of the showmen, in wrestliug with a bear, was severely thrown by the bear. Thi3 caused a row between the showmen which ended in a fight. The bears then got loose and went through the tent, which was crowded "with children mainly. A wild scene of excitement ensued, and it is a wonder no one was hurt.

With reference to the story which we recently republiehod from the London Tablet about Sir Charles Clifford, the Auckland Herald points out that Sir Charles Clifford had nothing to do with either the selection of the Rev. F. Lloyd to read prayers at the opening of the first session of Parliament, or tue prevention of Anglicanism being recognised as the State religion io New Zealand. Mr James Macandrew, of Otago, was the moving spirit in the selection of the clergyman, seconded by Mr T. S. Forsaith, member tor the Northern Division (Auckland), and, as regards the prevention of the recognition of a State church, Mr Forsaith and Captain W. C. Doldy were the prominent actors.

The question, What is sacred music 1 is discussed by the Rev. F. L. Wiseman in a recent issue "of the Methodist Times. After combating the notion that music ie aacred or secular according to the woids to which it is set, he says :—" Each piece must be judged for itself. If it ennobles, if it raises longings for the higher or the purer, if it is the expression of a lofty and purified spirit, if even it has caught the better feelings of some baser soul, who could deuy its sacred character? . . . There are many who would be shocked at the idea of singing a aong like 'The Worker 'or * Tho Requital' on v Sunday, and above all in a church— they are secular songs ; but they will swallow without a murmur, indeed they will enjoy, ' Sound on Alarm 'or ' Honour and Arms,' because they come from an oratorio. Albeit it is only in the Apocrypha that you can find about Judas Maooabseus ; and as for Harapha, his song, though immensely stirring, is as barbaric and unchristian as the god he worshipped." Truly a Daniel or a Wiseman ie come to judgment in these latter days, and his words are worthy of attention by all and sundry.

Are. the Government going to enter into competition with the newspaper proprietors? The postage stamp business v soon followed by another innovation, concerning which the Evening frua remarks :—" The latest issue of telegraph forms have on the blank space on the back of each form advertisements—one drawing attention to the superior qualities of a certain brand of wfiiskey; another dwelliug on the curative effects of a , prompt and effective remedy for all diseases of the throat , ; the third stating the advantages of 'afiood stimulating manure, , and" so on. These advertisements are all printed in the blackest of black type, and as the paper is very thin the type shows through plainly, and makes it difficult to read what is written by the sender o! a mee«age. Thin advertisement inuovation cannot improve the efficiency of out telegraph system, as the difficulty in reading the messages must interfere with their despatch."

At the Wells trial the other day Mr Justice Hawkins remarked that there ate 4000 barristers. That (comments the Daily Chronicle) w*e the approximate number about thirty years ago, when the learned Judge waa at the Bar, bat the number now i* nearly 9000. It must give paoae to not a

few ambitious young men to find the order of the Coif double it* members in thirtw in 1785. ihe "King's Couneel" w eve «oA Uty ?,n 1Ml T, tho w , bole B« (,f Engirt but A2? AxJnn° London was then paid £600- It took forty yeara for the Bu to be as numerous ag a h, a 8 ft t that date. At the beginning of Lcr Majeety'e roiga hi only eleven year* the Q.C.'e numbered seventy, and the Bar had with astonishing vapidity grown from 900 to over 2000 if was in 1861 (in the day ß of Hcnrv Ilawkin. Esq., Q.C), that there were WiCS gowns and 125 "silk..' 1 In knoSS years the latter class had become 180 etrow ' and the rank and hie of the loni/ rJ& totalled 5800. Now there are 220 %5t Counsel, and the members of the four In« of Court could be mustered at about 10 a3 strong. n And yet the cry ia *• Still tW

The Young Man About Town of the &* may have hw fault*, but ho ie at least r* rowdy and noiay in his ftmwsemenU uS his father bofore him. So Mr Q j" «£, points out in the amusing article on '•«•! » Life in the Past and Present, » whtoifi communicate* to the Daily Telegraph Vk masher "up to date" would eefm » i milksop to the beau of Ihe >£L **J 'forties* When Mr Sala Z, Z?f ?* Dickens was writing •• a gay young Rentleman of the h!L fashion would spend thee e with the police in the »tr2u *?d T, v H off door-Lockers and betuSi uUln « would be thought none the woraTof t going roaring and raving drunk tobtd fivi nights a week. There was one purUcnUrl dashing blade, the Honourable BiUy O who kept quite a museum of curio«uJ* which he hail acquired iv his nocturnal (Jβ predatious—brusa door plates, knocks tradesmen's signs and the like-all looUl rt et eniiis in the public tlioroughferm Nowadays (says the St. James's Ga:nts\ the Honourable Billy would not be v hero but, in all probability, a convict. V«» certainly we have softened our mauuet* eveu if we,have not greatly amended out morals.