Cliptomania.

Evening Star, Issue 6808, 23 January 1886, Page 2

Cliptomania.

Elder S. N. Haskel, of California, who recently visited Auckland, writes as follows in the ' Bible Echo and Signs of the Times' regarding New Zealand :—'.' The people of this Colony are different in some respects from those of any of the other colonies of Australasia. A combination of Irish wit, English courtesy, Scottish honesty, and American enterprise is seen in both the people and in the Press. America owes its greatness to the fact that tens of thousands of every nationality in the world flock to its shores yearly. In this respect New Zealand resembles America more than does any of the other colonies."

Mr Leslie Stephen's "Life of Iljeury Fawcett" has been publisiiod. In his early bojhood Eawcctt declared that he would be a member of Parliament, although the avowal was invariably laughed at by his school-fellows. He set about training himself in the following manner:—At the age of fourteen we learn that "he preferred study to boyish sports, and, in spite of prohibitions, would desert the playground to steal into a copse with his books. He was best at mathematics, caring little for Latin and French. He learned long passages by heart, and wandered in the fields repeating them aloud. In an old chalk-pit, which was a favorite green-room, he would gesticulate as he recited, till passing laborers had doubts as to his sanity.',' The movement for the abolition of tkose time-honored Scottish institutions, the sacramental fast days, has gained greatly in strength of late. In Glasgow the days have been abolished, in so far as their public religious character is concerned, and hare been turned into holidays pure and simple. The same has been done in several of the smaller towns, and it is announced that on the approaching fait day in Dundee there will be no service in the five parish churches there. The U.P. Churoh led the way in the movement, and the Established Church is now following. ' ' A handsome volume has lately been presented' to Miss Gordon, sister of the late General Gordon, containing an illuminated address, sympathising with her in her beand alluding in a touching manner to the virtues of her brother. The preparation of this memorial, or address of oondolenco, whfch has been signed by princesses of' Great Britain, peeresses of the realm, and'wives of bishops and of mfembera

of the House of Commons, as representing the women of the United Kingdom, lias been under the supervision of several noble ladies. An amusing story of the kindness and good nature of the German Crown Prince is now current in Paris. The Prince, while making his annual tour of inspection through the garrisons at Baden, a short time since, arrived, in the strictest incognito, at the hostelry of a little place called Wolfach. The rain was coming down iu torrents, and the smallest hotel boy was sent out to the carriage with an umbrella, under which he was to escort the new guest to the door of the inn. All who know the gigantic stature of Prince Fritz can well imagine the frantic but unavailing efforts of the boy t > get the umbrella over the visitor's head. The Crown Prince, seeing the hapless urchin's dilemma, picked him up, tucked him comfortably under his muscular arm, and marched unconcernedly into the hotel, holding the umbrella over both. Koehler Pasha's funeral, which took place at Constantinople, was a very grand affair. Greater honor was shown than if he had been a Turkish field marshal of great renown. It was evidently the design of the Sultan to seize every opportunity for emphasising the friendship existing between Turkey and Germany. A whole regiment of cavalry led the funeral cortege, with one of infantry, arms reversed, following behind. A large number of Palace officials attended, and every department of State sent its representatives. The procession, with the carriages of the officials and private friends following in the rear, extended over a mile. It shows the absence of fanaticism among the Turks, and the respect they really have for Christians, that the little chapel of the German Hospital was crowded wi th Turks during the funeral service, all reverently attending. General Koehler was an officer of distinction in the German army. He had been chief of the staff to a cavalry division during the Franco-German war, and towards the latter part of it commanded one of the regiments. General von der Goltz Pasha is likely to obtain the position held by the late General Koehler, as | head of the German Military Mission. He was anxious to return to Germany, where a brilliant career awaits him as one of the ablest tacticians and strategists of the German staff. The Sultan, however, would not hear of it, and, learning by accident that his family were about to leave, His Majesty induced Madame Von der Goltz to change her intention by the present of house rent and other pleasant considerations. Mrs Coruwallis West, the well-known beauty, did a great deal by her ready wit and winning smile to secure her husband's election as a member for Wales. At one of his election meetings he, in the course of his speech, denounced "Mr Parnell. "It is not true," a Llanrwst man called out from the audience. "lam an Irishman, and I object." " Audi am an Irishwoman too," replied the mistress of Ruthin Castle from the platform with a quickness and spirit that evoked the wildest euthnsiasm. The meeting was often interrupted by a boisterous Conservative publican, who was patiently endured for a longer time than was desirable. Mrs West suddenly rose to leave the platform, and people naturally thought she was about to leave the meeting, and cheered her lustily as she went. Such was her intention, but it had a special object. The enthusiasm grew to white heat when the Llanrwst people saw their beautiful visitor deliberately walk up to the noisy publican, and, linking her arm in his, lead him out of the building by the force of • a charm which even he found utterly beyond his resistance. There has been a suicide in a village near Manehester which seems to fulfil all the conditions of melodrama. It seems almost to have been borrowed from the brain of him who described Reuben Haredale's murder in "Baroaby Rudge." lhe church hell was to toll three times in the early morning, and on the sexton's wife going to ascer tain its cause she found her husband hanging from the bell rope—dead. He had tolled his own knell.