TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13597, 4 December 1909, Page 8

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

MrKennerleyßumford ivnot Critics the first person to retaliate Under against criticism in "The Fire. Times." though he is per-

haps the first to assault a critic of the most famous paper in tho world. A few years r.go the theatrical critic of "The Times"' was excluded from a leading London theatre because of his attitude towards some of Mr Henry Arthur Jones's plays. The dispute was amicably settled by the withdrawal of the management from their untenable position. When the last mail left England a pretty quarrel was going on between Mr George Edwardes and the '-Westminster Gazette." Mr George Edwardes is the greatest musical comedy magnate in England, and his success in persuading the public that acquaintance with "The Country Girl" end other aerated works is part of the whole duty of man (and woman), seems to have turned his head. After a phenomenal run "The Merry Widow" gave way to "The Dollar Princess," and a few days later the critic of the "Westminster,' , in his notice of "The Mountaineers" at the Savoy, made some disparaging remarks about the "book" of "The Dollar Princess."- In face of the fact that the critic had commented very favourably on "The Dollar Princess. 'Mr Edwardes was very angry. To be attacked in a notice of a rival production—it was too much! So he trained his guns on the offending paper. "It appears to mc to be an anomaly to advertise in one column and to be attacked in another," ho wrote to the "Westminster," and therefore he had "'instructed the managers of my various theatres to withdraw my advertisements and to cease my connection with your journal, as it has now become a menace to roe." The "Westminster," of course, stuck to its guns, and was backed up by other papers, while Mr Edwardes's rivals no doubt enjoyed the quarrel immensely. "If the musical plays which Mr Edwardes produces at his 'various theatres' are half as funny es his ideas about the newspaper Press/ wrote the critic of "The Times" in an article that must have made Mr Edwardes squirm, "we do not wonder at their popularity." Doubtless by this time Mr Edwardes has realised that he has been very foolish and has given the "Westminster" a good' advertisement.

That mundane What Wβ thing, the sausage, Sometimes Eat. the butt of the

amateur wit's shafts, and an object of suspicion to many, escaped very lightly at the Pure Food Congress recently held at Paris. The only recommendation made was, "If any constituent parts of sausages contain a greater percentage of water than the normal ingredients of sausages, that fact should be declared on the package." At the Congress also, the Pork Butchers' Society from the Canton of Geneva expressed the opinion that the wares of pork butchers should be made in future by professionals only. Another decision arrived at was that in future no chicory may be added to coffee unless such addition is clearly indicated. In the grocery section it was decided that all jam which is not prepared exclusively from fresh fruit and sugar must bear a label to that effect. A small quantity of cochineal added as colouring does not prevent the article from being classed at "pure sweets." In future the Congress will move that the name of sardines be permissible for sardines only. Sprats, it appears, even without their heads, are different in many ways from sardines, although they are often sold at such. And little mackerel, small tunnies, and a little fish called chinchard, are to be taboo in future under the name of sardines. The French wine trade carried a resolution permitting the introduction of a percentage of sulphuric acid in its manufacture of wine, despite energetic protests from the president of the Academy of Medicine, and a warning from a Russian delegate that this decision would probably result in the total exclusion of French wines from the Russian market. Many startling disclosures were made at the Congress of the way in which clever chemists "sophisticate" the food supply of the people. In fact, there are said to be few foods that are not "treated" in some form or another. A London expert gives the following examples:—"Millions of gallons of vinegar are produced from crude acetic acid and labelled 'Pure wine vinegar. . Champagnes are largely manufactured from apple juice and perry, a.nd claret drunk in England is. frequently innocent of grape juice."

Details of the suffragist Methods outrage et the Bermondof sey election deepen the Corrosion, impression that the tac-

tics of the suffragist extremists may result in loss of life before long. There was a deliberation and disregard of consequences about the deed that show that the fanaticism of these women has reached a highly dangerous pitch. Mrs Chaplin smashed a glass tube of liquid on the ballot-box, and the stuff bespattered come of the officials, one of whom was injured in one eye. Miss Nielands made a similar attempt at another booth, and injured her hand- in the act. An emphatic denial was given to the statement that the liquid was corrosive, but the condition of Miss Nielands's hand was pretty conclusive evidence on the point. Mks Nielandss statement to an interviewer throws en interesting light on extremist methods and ethics. She is, it may be mentioned, a good-looking young lady of twenty-two. She explained that pickets having waylaid Mr Asquith for fifteen weeks without success, it was. decided to take stronger measures. The idea of invalidating ballot papers had been under consideration by the Women's Freedom League for 18 months. Bermondsey was the first election since the forcible feeding of women began, so it was regarded as

the psychological moment for a protest of this kind. "Wβ are quite prepared to accept the consequences. When we first discussed it, we thought it might entail five, or perhaps ten, years' penal servitude, but we are prepared to lay down our lives, if necessary, to secure our objects." Miss Nielands was good enough to say she was 'r.ither glad" that no one was injured by her attempt. The injury tn her hand 6he made light of, as befitted a martyr. "I was a little excited," she said, "but the worst was waiting a week for the day to come round. The nervous strain was very trying. I have hardly slept for several nights." Of course Miss Nielands expected to he regarded as a political offender, and treated accordingly. Everything these women do they regard as a political offence, from breaking windows to assaulting Cabinet Ministers.