TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10538, 27 December 1899, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Tlie showers of shooting Russian Pear stars which were predictof •" ed to occur in, tlie middle Phenomena, of " November were ,no more visible in ma.n'y parts of the Continent than they were in London, where clouds obscured tlie sky during each of the nights when the phenomena should have been visible. Judging from what took place in a great many districts in Russia, where magnificent views of the great display were obtained, it is, just as veil that tlie weather was so unpropitious elsewliere. For large numbers of the country people of Russia, steeped in linimaginable ignorance and superstition, betrayed as great a terror of tbe meteors as was witnessed by Humboldt among the negroes , on an American, plantation during a former display. The Russian peasantry saw nothing in the -wonderful showers of shooting-stars but the prelude to awful disasters, ranging in their imaginations from a series of dreadful earthquakes to the final crash of the world dissolving in ruin. Each stream of light across tlie sky was another harbinger of the Last Day, and throughout the country districts the churches, kept open day and night, were thronged with. crowds of terror-stricken penitents. Some of the priests tried to calm the universal panic. Others, only a little less ignorant than their parishioners, so betrayed their conviction of impending doom as to heighten the general terror. Hundreds of thousands of people passed the three icy cold nights, during which tlie stars were to be seen, out in the open, and this happened not only in the half-civilised districts which abound in Russia, but in great cities, such as Odessa, where tens of thousands of the masses spent tlie nights in the streets and tbe parks. In many places the unhinging pxnic produced most fearful results, in the shape of the murder of their children by fear-maddaned parents in order to save them from the possible horrors of the destruction of the world. Savage Africa could produce no more appalHng example of the effects of fear upon an uneducated race than was thus afforded by the semi-savage people of "Holy Russia."

The general rule that a war War and affects the British book trade Literature, in proportion to its seriousness applies strongly to the present war.. London, booksellers interviewed a few weeks before Christmas, a time when the book trade is usually at its height, were mainly doleful as to the condition N of tilings then obtaining, and despairing as to future prospects. As was pointed out by one bookseller, the war had come- at a very awkward season of the year for his trade. Autumn and early winter ia the bookseller's harvest, time, but this season the war has dominated everything, and what books have been bought were those dealing with South Africa. All sorts of literature bearing on the one great question of the hour sold well—whether they dealt with it historically, in fiction, in books of travel, or controversially.; But the ooom in South African literature has in no degree compensated for the fearful "slump" in all other sorts of books, and one detects in the tone of tie worthy bookseller's remarks that he had- it in his mind to blame someone for the war taking place when it did, instead of in May, June, and July, when the . demand for South African books would have been a welcome fillip to the trade's slack season. The novelist who benefits,most by the war is, naturally Mr Rider Haggard, whose "Jess," showing the Boers in a decidedly lurid light; and at the some time dealing with, parts of the country affected by. the prese.nt war, has taken a fresh lease of life, promising a more vigorous career than yet experienced. Ther public is not in the mood for Olive Schreiner just now,.and so her books are only feeling the effects of the boom in a small degree, but, on the other hand, Mr W. T. Stead's pamphlet, "Shall I Slay my Brother Boer?" is having a big run. The war fever haa improved the usually good sale of Mr Kipling's works. The guns are speaking, and Mr Atkins is very much in evidence, and in the thoughts and hopes and prayers of his countrymen. Let us not forget him, or our reliance on him in time of danger when that time has passed, and he has played ihis part in the role of "saviour of his country." It is not surprising to hear that the war has not stimulated the demand for Mr Alfred Austin's poems; tlie Laureate's classicopastoral muse must detest the smell of powder and the eight Of bare bayonets. We can heartily conThe Contingent's gratulate the Govera- ■ Surgeon. ment on their choice = '••.■"'•'■ of a. surgeon to accompany New Zealand's second Contingent to South Africa. Dr. P. C. }Fenwick tried very hard to get the appointment for the first Contingent, but his failure only stinra-' lated him to renewed exertions when the despatch of a second force was first mooted, and he yesterday received the welcome intelligence that his services have been accepted. , Though young, Dr. Penwick has travelled extensively, and the knowledge thus gained will stand him in good stead; that he is skilful in his profession his colleagues and fellow practitioners woukl be the first to aAfiit, ana has enthusiasm for his work is as pronounced as his ability. Born in London twenty-nine years ago, he was educated there, at the University School and University Coliege. He studied his profession at the latter establishment, and at St. Thomas's Hospital, and in Germany, and in process of time was enabled to add a variety of initials to his name, among them being M.B. and M.R.C.S. Sir WilUara MacCormac, the greatest living authority on bullet wounds, was one of his chiefs, and if Dr. Fenwick realises his ambition he will meet the/great man at the front, for at the request of the British. Government Sir William relinquished the comparative ease of life in London for the probable hardships of campaigning in South Africa, thereby setting a noble example. After holding a few appointments as house surgeon in English Hospitals, Dr. Fenwick made a prolonged tour of Australasia, in the course of which he spent three month* in ChristcUurch, act-

, - 1 :W * ~ , ~- * • * , I "S'Si - ; J , ■ ■ —-, ,^A. j ing as assistant houte-surgeon under HtC% Martay-Aynsley. ' a tour of Cam's »Sw, Japan followed, and thto, after gorng by way of America, he came out ty.ChtjuJt-r , church in 1897, and lias remained $ since. His connection with the as lwrvorary surgeon, is -well known, b&lfcTl is probably less well-known attached to this kind of work that Lβ, refused several offers of lucrative posii<sj,o in England and elsewhere in order tiiafc might devote himsei. to it. Under circumstances ii is to be hoped Hospital Board -will grant Dr. montlts , leave of atwMve, so tliat if hi>Sifeli§i to get a position at tho front in South 4nfie£**i lie will bo able to return to take up his work at the Hospital, wL~X has been done ia Australia in honorary iospitaj surgeons being to the enre of contmgents for the tho meantime Dr. Femvick. is to b> gralulated on having attained his desire. No one of his many friend? &SM& that if he gets a chance hp will do 83 work in South Africa as any man ___~_ \^^i