TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Evening Star, Issue 12874, 25 July 1906, Page 8

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

[Fboh Our Special Correspondent, j LONDON, June 15. A. FINE OLD ENGLISH GENTLEMAN. Sir Charles Tennant, ■ who died this week at the age of eighty-three, was one of the most notable of nineteenth century Scots. Born with an ardent and impulsive temperament and an inexhaustible physical and mental energy, his life was one long record of success. At twentyfour he was in business on his own account, and'before he was thirty he had already made a fortune. An intimate friend gives us an interesting picture of his remarkable and many-sided character : —“ He created in turn a fortune, a family, a country home (each unique in its own way), and collections of books, prints, china, and pictures which it would be difficult to rival. He was a great reader, with a sound taste for what was best and most enduring in literature. He loved the open air, and his fine eye, firm and dexterous hand, and lithe, athletic figure made him an accomplished performer in the games and pastimes in which Englishmen delight to excel. He was a good r a good shot, a good billiard player, a good golfer. Golf, indeed, was up to the end his favorite relaxation; it might almost he called the main occupation of the hours which he could spare from serious affairs —from the ‘ fumum et opes strepitumque Homae. ’ He lived to be nearly eighty-throe, but up to the end he was young, fresh, unspoiled, untempted by the sordid ambitions which lie in wait for riches and success; unspotted by the world, in whose rivalries and struggles he had played so great a part; and, when the hour came for him to lay down the burden of life, he fell asleep with the .quiet and untroubled conscience of a tired child.” MUCH TOO PREMATURE.

The Rev. S. Baring-Gould has had an experience such as falls to few men—he has been able to read “obituary” notices of himself. Tuesday morning’s papers contained the statement that ho died on board the liner Norman at Port Elizabeth on Saturday, and gave full and appreciative notices of his life and work. But Mr Baring-Gould, it transpires, is still with us, enjoying the best of health, down in his beloved Devonshire. He tele-, graphed on Wednesday from his home at Lew Down ; “Tho news of my death is false. I have not been in Africa.” It turned out to be a cousin, Mr Edward S. Baring-Gould, who had died at Port Elizabeth. Nearly all the morning papers gave long biographies of the novelist, and though he told a reporter that he had “not troubled to read” his obituary notices, his curiosity may not be staved off indefinitely. On the whole, they are eulogistic obituaries. They praise the novelist’s versatility and productiveness. One pays tribute to his “lively imagination and humor,” adding that “ these characteristics sometimes ran away with him ” ; another, giving a list of his numerous works, is of opinion that he will probably be known to posterity ns the author of ‘ Onward, Christian Soldiers ’; a remarks that “ he became rather a shadow to the present generation.” “If he never at any f point touched, or even attempted, high literary distinction he I'l’ings, another journal admifcs, with brilliance and success.” A provincial paper said : “ There can hardly have been a moment of Baring-Gould’s life which was not in one way or another turning itself into ‘ copy ’ of some kind and occasionally into copy that is destined to a long popularity.” Regret is expressed by several newspapers that he did not restrict himself to one subject or one branch of literature. Had he done so, it is thought ho might have left an enduring name.

Other people of note who had the privilege of reading their own obituary notices have included Dr Kennion. the Bishop of Bath and Wells, Sir George Berkeley Miss Lottie Collins, Mr Stephen Crane! Or Morrison, Father Ignatius, and Mr G E Burgm The last-named could not resist the temptation to follow Mark tw" a 3 " 10 " 5 example by telegraphing d ™ ih is NEW ZEALAND FRUIT IN TAINT) ON. No fewer than t-en colonies are renrem the colonial fruit show, on Wednesday at the Royal Horticultural Society s hall m Westminster, lids ; s the first, time that New Zealand has exhibited at these shows, and eho makes up for past neglect by a grand display of New Zeala nd - grown apples. Some of the Australian States (Victoria, West and South Australia. rasmaim, and New South Wales) ire also exhibiting on a much larger scale thau before, and the other colonies represented are British West Indies. Transvaal Natal, and Cape Colony. The whole dis- ?? ves . intending emigrant a fine object-lesson in the horticultural possibilities of Greater Britain, and brings home to the consumer m London the wide range of colomrd fruit products at his disposal The New Zealand Government exhibit '7 as awarded a eilver-gilt Knightian medal for its admirable display of apples. Being limited to one kind of fruit, it could not be awarded a gold medal, but so far ns apples were concerned the New Zealand exhibit certainly made the finest show Gobi medals were awarded to the Victorian Government for a collection of fruit and vegetables, to the South Australian for a fine display of assorted fruits, both fresh and dned, and to the New South Wales Government for a similar collection. Jhe West Australian Government secured a silver Banksian medal for apples, while silver Knightian medals were awarded to (amongst others) the Frimley Fruit Canning Company. Hastings (New Zealand) for pre-erved fruits, and to Messrs S Kirkpatrick and Co . Nelson (New Zealand), for preserved fruits.

_The New Zealand exhibit included over eighty varieties of apples, the quality of ■which was a fine advertisement for' the xrmdness of tho climate which procliTcod them. Frnit-growimr on commercial lines is, of course, as yet in its infancy in New Zealand, but the eneruetie and systematic "wort of the Department of Agriculture appears to be already hearing fruit, in the dual sense of the expression. Although during the past few years several trial shipments of apples have been successfully made to London from New Zealand, these have not been followed tip by regular consignments, owing to the requirements of the local markets in the colony being e to absorb the whole production. With the large developments now going on, however, in fruit-growing, there should be a considerable and regular surplus available for export, and the award made on Wednesday is a- good proof of quality. A considerable trade in tbe pulp of New Zealand rasp berries and currants has lioen done with the British markets for some years past. The fruit-canning industry in New Zealand is represented at the Westminster show by ■the Frimley Company, tbe Teviot Company. .and Messrs S. Kirkpatrick and Go. For the first time, seedless oranges from (he Transvaal, hitherto only grown in California, were exhibited, together with a dessert fruit new to England, termed the tree tomato, from Natal. Another interesting feature was an exhibit of Jcmaman tobacco, called Junta vana, with which British bluejackets are now supplied. THE UNSEEN KING. Londoners were a good deal disa.npolntcd at the fact that when the King drove to St. Paul’s Inst Tuesday to be present at the dedication of the new chapel of the Order of St. Michael and St. George he did so in a closed s*n.te carriage. Those who witnessed the King’s; passing from the /pavements could manage to catch a glimpse : 'of the King os his gilded vehicle swept by at a brisk trot, escorted by a squadron of Horse Guards Blue, gorgeous in gl-aming cuirasses and plumed helmets, hut those who had deemed themselves fortunate in securing window seats to witness th n Royal progress found that they had to be content with a sight of the lower portion of the blue ! mantle which concealed ice Fieldmarshal’s uniform worn by the King. ■His Majesty’s reception throughout the hue of route was extremely cordial, but for some reason dr other the Prince of Wales, who preceded the King by some minutes, .'•naked, but faint in*ucataon& ot omanlac

favor. The route taken by the King from 1 Buckingham Palace to St. Paul’s was by way of Pall Mall, the Strand, and Fleet street, the return journey being made by way of the Embankment and Whitehall. Save at Ludgatc Circus and on the Hill, where horse and foot soldiers assisted the civil powers to keep the crowd in check, only police were used to guard the line of route. Even at Ludgate Circus, where the streams of traffic from north to south and from west to east meet, and the unruly elements usually congregate in force, the presence of soldiery was not at all necessary, as it happened. But in view of the Unforgettable things that happened at this spot on tbo occasion of the C.LV.s return from South Africa the authorities were not justified, in taking any risks, At Temple Bar His Majesty was met by the Lord Mayor and the sheriffs in their full civic regalia, and tbo usual formalities observed on the entrance of the King into the City of London took place. The 3 Layer presented the King with the Sword of State and the keys, which His Majesty returned after repeating the traditional formula.. Then the Lord Mayor re-entered his gaudy, cumbrous coach, and preceded the King to St. Paul’s, where the beautiful and stately ceremony of dedication was carried out with all the pageantry and grandeur which could be brought to distinguish the occasion. ' A COLONIAL CHAPEL. Bishop Montgomery, the prelate of the Order, declares that there is no precedent for the notable event, and that no record can bo found of any similar dedication service, even in connection with the more ancient Orders of the Garter and the Bath. Tlie occasion, therefore, was one of unusual interest. The Order of St. Michael and St. George was founded in 1818, was enlarged in 1868, and is specially associated with the colonial Empire. Some years ago it occurred to the Archdeacon of London that tho Order had no chapel or habitation. The matter was mentioned to Sir R. Herbert, who was then Chancellor of tho Order; the late Queen took a deep interest in the scheme, and the only difficulty was that of finding a suitable place. Finally the Wellington Chapel, on the south-west side of the nave of St. Paul’s, was fixed upon, and though the completion of the project was delayed for some years by the South African War, it was never lost sight of. The chapel is very sumptuously decorated, tho original carving of the coiling has been lavishly gikled, and several coats of arms, including those of the King and tho Prince of Wales (the Sovereign and the Grand Master of the Order), have been placed in panels. Stalls of teak trom Burmall have been erected for the Knights Grand Cross, the resplendent banners of these knights hanging from the walls above each stall. The Sovereign's stall is in the centre at the west end. and on its right is that of the Prince of Wales. The marble steps leading to the altar wore given by Sir Donald Currie, Lord Strathcona has given the reredos, Sir John Forrest the cross, Lady Loch the altar cloth, and Mrs Campbell the communion plate. The spectacle within the cathedral was impressively beautiful. Through the window streamed the sunlight, irradiating the hundreds of gay uniforms and dainty gowns. The red coats and bearskins of the Grenadiers who lined the nave wore in sharp contrast with the khaki uniforms of the King's Colonials, who were assembled at the western end, but the slouch hats and feathers of these troops had also a touch of smartness. By-and-byc the Yeomen of tho Guard marched in, bearing their halberds with medieval dignity, and moved slowly and gravely up the aisle to take their places under the dome. In the waiting throng many members of the Order wore conspicuous because of their gorgeous mantles of Saxon-bluo satin, lined with flaming scarlet silk. Here and there was one in robes of scarlet, and it had to be explained to the unenlightened that some of the officers of the Order wear the mantle reversed. This was the very triumph of chivalry, with the flashing of gold and jewels, and the shimmer of silk, the clanking of swords, and the rustle of bright dresses, and over all floated the music of the Scots Guards’ Band. At last the clergy, arrayed in their most gorgeous vestments, moved down to the western entrance to await the arrival of the King. The bells pealed out joyfully, the noise ol the cheering without was heard, and then’ the trumpeters crashed forth their salutation, and every eye was turned to the great door as the King entered. The Prince of Wales preceded His Majesty, the train of whose blue mantle, which he wore over his Field-marshal’s uniform, was borne by two young pages with scarlet doublets and white satin breeches and hose. The Knights Grand Cross followed. These included the Earl of Ranfnrly, Sir T. Fowell Buxton, Sir D. Currie, the Earl of Kintore, the Earl of Aberdeen, Viscount Knutsford, the Marquess of Lansdowne, Field-marshal Sir E. Wood, Sir G. White, Sir T. Sutherland, Lord Strathcona, the Earl of Jersey, the Earl of Onslow, Earl Carrington, and Fieldmarshal Viscount Wolseley. The Sovereign, the Grand Master,' Knights, and Companions having assembled in the chapel, the Bishop of London offered the special prayer dedicating the chapel to the use of the Order, and blessing the gifts presented by the members of the Order and others for the use of the chapel. Following the brief dedication ceremony the full choir of the Cathedral filed into the nave. The clergv came immediately behind them, the Knights Grand Cross took up their allotted positions in the order of - precedence, and the Prince of Wales and the King, with the Lord Mayor, brought up the rear of the procession. Marshalled in thid order, the procession slowly moved forward to the choir, the hymn ‘ For all the saints ’ being sung meanwhile. The organ was accorm panied by the band of the Scots Guards, and the stirring tune rang out with fine effect. The procession having reached tho chancel, and all being seated, the Walms ‘ Oh. how amiable are Thy dwellings ’ and ‘ I was glad when they said unto me ’ were chanted, and then the Bishop of Stepney read the Lesson. ‘Fight the good fight ’ was the next hymn, and it was followed by a brief sermon by the Prelate of the Order, delivered from the steps of the altar. Pravers and collects followed, succeeded by the hvmn ‘Now thank we all our God,’ and as His Majesty left the Cathedral the National Anthem was sung. STAGE-STRUCK SIMPLETONS. Whatever the popularity of the actress and tlie attractiveness of the programme vas it worth while waiting outside Drury Lane Theatre all day and all night in order to attend the Ellen Terry benefit on the following afternoon? It seems incredible that so many people should think no cliscomiort and waste of time too great for the occasion. Yet this is what happened The performance began at (u- i on , Wednesday afternoon, and thirty and a-half hours before that time m other words, at six o’clock on Tnesday mormng—a middle-aged ladv arrived at the amphitheatre door with' a camp stool and sat down to wait. Between J and 10 , a.m. on Tuesdav more people arrived, and from that time onwards the crowd continued to increase as the lollowing diary of a reporter shows ' 10.30 a.m.—A score of waiters, mostly ladies, eating things from bags, sitting on camp stools, outside the three entrances. 12.30 p.m.—Numbers increased hy twenty, including men without provisions or seats. . P-T 1 - —Crowds of curious onlookers increasing in greater ratio than the tncatre-goers. , 2 P- m -—Sodden increase of police on duty round Drury Lane, keeping the crowd circulating. .First-nighters, about empty in number, still entering, the ladies complacent and the men standing, looking tired. 3 P-T?-— Brisk traffic in refreshments from- neighboring coffee-houses; men playing cards: women chatting in> groups on their camp stools: police and attendants wearing a bored look. 4.15 p.m.—District messenger boys and commissionaires appear to take up stands for leisurely first-nighters. 4.30 p.m.—First Covent Garden loafer offers his services at “a bob an hour, gnv’nor.” Offer accepted, and followed by many others. Covent Garden porter* headering, orange boxes for seats

do a brisk trade until rudely evicted by police. 6 p.m.—Several hundred waiting, some still without seats. Crowd much changed in character, owing to substitutes relieving original first-nighters. Door of principal entrance to pit opened for night’s permanent shelter. Men playing cards. 8 p.m. - Lady drives up in brougham with two district messenger boys; places them in position in pit entrance, and drives off to dine comfortably. 8 ; 15 guv’nor, I’ll do it for 9d an hour.” Defections from the ranks of the men who have been waiting without seats; trade in camp stools at 5s each; ladies go out to supper by arrangement with each other that stools are inviolate.

all-night sitting” some forty or titty district messenger boys, commissionaires, and odd-job men were employed as deputies, but the rest; of the crowd saw it through without assistance. The women took short snatches of sleep, t;ukecl, devoured sandwiches and pastry, and drank hot coffee. The men plaved cards, talked, or sulked—mostly sulked • regretting, maybe, their foolish resolve to sit out all night. The doors of the theatre opened at 10.30 next morning (Wednesday), and the tired, pallid, dishevelled crowd tumbled into the pit and s.ept until at 11.30 the orchestra struck 19 Cnll . v - en the Proceedings.” At 12.30 the matinee started It was a very good matinee, but-oh, these firstmfdnp« ‘ f a“ rdy , [ his is midsummer madness of the maddest kind. POPLAR’S PAMPERED; PAUPERS. More “light reading” for ratepayers is furnished in this week’s evidence at the inquiry which the Local Government-. Board Inspector is bolding at the Poplar WorkHouse. borne astonishing statements were made regarding the conduct of the master ot the workhouse and the Board of Guardnuis, a reading member of which is Mr Will Crooks, M.p A jobmaster named Alfred -Jacobs, who had the contract for supply,,,.conveyances to the Poplar Workhouse.' deposed that the master wanted open pair•horsod landaus for journeys into the conntrv and had a brougham occasionally in ccmsideration for getting witness a' share of the business of supplying conveyances. The iiuLSitii’ had had as juujiv a.s throe conveyances in one evening. At the master’s suggestion the contract prices were raised, the master saying; “I have gob the guardians an ngtu ; you are sure tp get it.” When driving out the master would insist on rubber tyres and a man in liven.*. The witness said he had driven parries of the guardians about, the master usually paying for refreshments for the party. Occasionally the witness paid. Mr Crooks; And the guardians paid sometimes?

Witness: Yes; but I never- had a drink with you.—(Laughter.) Mr Crooks j Thank you for that. Witness : You are no better than the rest, Mr Crooks. 3on cannot, frighten me. Mr Clooks: You will admit-that vou have not treated me?

Witness: There was not much to he *ot out of you.—(Laughter.) ° 111© cost of conveyances for ihe veax at 1 oplar W orkhonse, according to the jobmaster, row from £5Ol in 1901 to £1,545 in 1905. Witness stated that there was not a guardian in any of the other unions he served who had had a free ride in liis broughams. Asked the name of the guardlaa who had liad free rides in his brouteams, witness stated that the guardians were all angels. His son once drove a brougham with the master (Mr Modelev) and Mrs Madeley to Cannon street. Mr Madeley left the brougham there, and Mr M'Carthy, a guardian, got inside and asked witness’s son if he could not drive home bv way of the Embankment.

Mr M’C'arlhy : What do yon suggest? Witness: That you had a ride for nothing. 3Lr M’Carthy; I do not remember the incident.

Witness; Perhaps it occurred so often.— (Laughter).

Ine master in his evidence denied having received bribes from Jacobs, the jobmaster, and said that when he had broughams for his private use he paid for them. He also denied that the guardians had bad free rides. Remarkable evidence was furnished by the workhouse medical officer, Dr John Lamond. He complained that his suggestions were frequently over-ruled, and that his reports were LI it »a 1 When he tried to “knock off the beer in everyday use in the workhouse there was great friction. Last year the consumption of beer had been 118 pints a day. Witness suggested that a share of tbo beer was drunk by tbo guardians. In the week ended March 19, 679 pinte altogether were consumed. Pressure had been put on by the master to increase tho supply of brandy because Mrs , a lady guardian, liked a little drop of brandy in her milk.” Ho bad been coerced by the master and guardians into doing things against bis better judgment, and into committing breaches of the regulations. He had been forced to prc.:cribe beer for able-bodied paupers, whereas it should only be prescribed for medical purposes. The guardians made his life miserable by “ nagging ” at him. Seventy or eighty pints of beer per week were written off as waste, and be was satisfied the guardians had some of it. What was the beer cellar called—“ The Madeley Arms”?—l have heard the inmates call it the Hall of Plenty.”—(Laughter.) Have you seen guardians drinking there? —3 es; Mr M'Carthy was one. Any ladies?—l believe the ladies have it privately.—(Loud laughter.) Is it true that they were drinking from Madeley’s private cask?—l do not "know. There was a counter with glasses in the beer cellar. Siphons of soda were on the shelf. The Visiting Committee of the guardians visited the cellar every Tuesday. I dp not think tho discipline has been good during the last five years. They work when they like, and they use bad language—often to me. I complained to the master, but nothing was done. The inquiry is still proceeding. A NEW “MELANESIAN MISSION.”

At a meeting of tbe Research Department of the Royal Geographical Society, held last Friday, Dr A. C. Haddon, university lecturer in ethnology at Cambridge, brought forward a proposal for a highly interesting and important expedition to that section of the Pacific extending from New Guinea to the Fiji Islands, and including New Caledonia and the New Hebrides, which srenerally goes by the name of Melanesia. The object of the expedition, which it b desired should extend over a period of at least five years, is to effect the jysteihacK; scientific exploration of Melanesia in respect of its geography, geology, botany, ■/oology, and anthropology. Dr Haddon pointed out that there arc in particular many ant hropolcg i cal problems which require investigation in the immediate future, since the dying out or modification of the native arts, cratts, customs, and beliefs will soon render the solution of such irroIdruns difficult and even impossible. The expedition, lie urged, should have absolute control of a confortable and steady steamer. The permanent staff on hoard should consist at least of the director, a medical man, a pliotographer. two stenographers, and, if possible, an artist. Accommodation should also be provided for a number of investigators, but these would not necessarily form part of the permanent staff. Equal fa ah (Acs would bo accorded to British and foreign students, and it was a novel feature of the expedition that trained lady investigators would be invited to take part in the work, their sex being an advantage in certain branches of investigation. Such an expedition would be an expensive undertaking, but the results obtained would constitute a mine of information for the present and future generations of mankind, and would amply hvriify the proposed expenditure of time,.labor, and money. Sir Gcorse Goldie, Major Darwin, Commander Wilson Yorker, R.N.R., and other gentlemen expressed warm sympathy with Dr Haddon’s propo al, and spoke as to the value of the results likely to accrue to various departments of science from such an expedition. NEW ZEALAND TINNED PRODUCT,?. The widespreod attention now being given to the question of tinned meat, occasioned by the stout 1 ing disclosures mode of American methods, has prompted the New Zealand High Commissioner to publish, in a letter to ‘ The Times,’ some information on the tinned products exported, from New Zealand*

“ Unfortunately,” says Mr Reeves, “ the public ■ seldom draw distinction between .supplies received from our colonies and from America. A preference has been given to tho Americans, owing to the lesser price at which their goods can .be sold, otherwise all such things have l>cen classed together as “tinned meat.” There is, however, a very great difference between. them. The superiority of Now Zealand tinned meat, not only in, the quality of the moat itself, but ip virtu© of the precautions taken by the Government to protect its reputation, has accounted for the high price asked for it. It has been impossible to compete in price with American, as can be now well understood by all recent readers of the public Press. “The slaughtering and inspection jaws of New Zealand are so strict that it is impossible for animals, should they show the shrillest signs of disease, to be slaughtered for food.; All abattoirs' and export slaughter-houses, at which animals intended for consumption as human, food are killed, are under strict Government supervision. The Government inspectors are fully qualified veterinary surgeons, trained in England, and holding the certificate of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, while their assistants have to pass a, stringent examination and obtain a certificate of competency from the Government Veterinarian before they can be employed. No animal can bo lulled until passed as in perfect health and condition, while after slaughter tlie carcasses arc again inspected and approved. The meat used for tinning purposes in New Zealand is all of the best quality, and tho preparation of it is conducted under the most cleanly conditions. Every tin containing meat must be branded with the following particulars: (1) The words- ‘ New Zealand ’; (2) the name of tlie exporter or owner, and also his registered trade mark; and (5) the true name and description of tho contents. There can be no doubt as to the sound condition of meat exported from New Zealand. The purchaser of New Zealand tinned meat obtains a reliable article, supplied under the Government certificate of quality. Consequently no one need hesitate to use it.”