CLIPPINGS.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8781, 30 April 1894, Page 4

CLIPPINGS.

The Daily Neivs states that on the last night but one of the opera season in New York, on the artists coming forward the audience loudly demanded " Home, Sweet Home." Accordingly a piano was wheeled ou the stage, and the curtain was again raised, Madame Melba singing Bishop's popular melody, and M. Jean de Reszko accompanying, the prima donna on the pianoforte. This is probably the great tenor's first public appearance as a pianist.

An interesting series of postage stamps with views commemorative of the life of Columbus was specially engraved and issued by the United States Government in connection with tha gr-at Columbian exposition at Chicago in 1893. This issue was brought into* use for that year, ana tho enormous number of 3,000,000,000 was originally ordered, it being supposed that the stamps would be in great demand among collectors. It was estimated that the profit en the issue would be 2,500,000d01, but the result was not up to expectations. Arrangements for substitution for the ordinary issue were, however, agreed to by the publishing contractors, and the special issue was limited to 2,000,000,000, the result being a saving of 96,300d0l ou tho general supply of stamps.

In the auriferous country north and north-west of Bendigo in the Whipstick scrub an impetus is likely to be given to prospecting (says the Aye) by a find which was made there recently. A lad named James Pianto, while .on the way to school, found in a wheel track on the road a lump of quartz weighing lib, freely studded with gold, more than half of the specimen being gold of solid character. It is valued at £40. There are several reefs in the vicinity, but it is not known whether the stone came from one of these or whether it fell from a passing dray.

Mr J. S. Lemon, in the American Journal of Psychology, notices tbe very great influence of weather on the health and temperament, and through them on the customs and habits of men in all ages. This is reflected in the salutations of all nations, in their religious ideas, particularly in their conceptions of the future life, and a thousand petty details of everyday existence. It affects even crime. Suicide is known to depend largely upon the weather, and it has been calculated that in India 48 per cent, of certain crimes disappear when hot weather gives place to cold. The health of idiots and those afflicted with acute mania, is especially dependent upon weather, and its effect on the nervous system is such that many persons can anticipate weather changes from their own feelings. Accidents in factories are said to be much more frequent in bad weather than in good, and physiological phenomena like kneejerk seem to be dependent on it in some measure. Its effect on the appetite is well known, and tea-tasters, who have cultivated the sense of taste kill it has become almost abnormal, say that in good weather this souse is more delicate than in bad weather. No systematic study of all these facts and relations has yet been made, but sach a study would doubtless well repay the investigator.

Mr Gwyllyrn Crowe, who died suddenly recently, was well known as the conductor of promenade concerts at Covent Garden. His " See-Saw " waltz attained an excessive popularity a few years ago. Mr Crowe fought at Ainu, Inkerman, and Sebastopol, and held the medals for each. An interesting story is told of him in connection with Inkerman. The Russians, in making one of their final charges, got up so close that our men, who had expended all their ammunition, w«e fighting with clubbed muskets. Suddenly the Russian captain fell shot, but

not dead, at Crowe's feet. As a soldier wast in the act of bayoneting the wounded tnau tho latter mado a Masonic sign, which Crowe, who was a Mason, uudorstood, and he saved the cfGccr'a life. Thirty ye»r« after the same otliccr, a grizzled old gcuotal isays tho Westminster Gazette), rccogniaad Crowe conductinc at Covent Garden, and insisted on his cracking a bottlo of champogne with him.

Victoria is, says the Argus, losing large numbers of its tobacco smokers and alcohol consumers, owing to the attractions offered by Coolgardie. This may pleaae the Women's Christian Tcmperanco Union and kindred organisations, but it is deeply de. ploied by the Customs department. Tho tnau who smokes aud drinks is tho besS friend of tho Treasurer, and may always ndy on a warm shake of the hand from the Miuister for Customs—in his public cap*, city, of course. Dr. Wollastou, 'he Secre. tary for Trade and Customs, has written (for the Minister's perusal) a short but ■.. plaintive report on the loss of so many of the department's best constituents. He points out that according to the rate afe which emigration is increasing ever immi. gration, no fewer than 20,000 people will ■". be lost to the country during the current year, and that a 8 these will principally comprise the users of dutiable articles—, such as tobacco, spirits, and beer—the long in reveuue will be considerable. Last yea? ■ the population was estimated at 1,174,000*' and the net revenue collected through tho Customs was £1,947,000, or £1 133 2dpe» head.