THIS WEEK’S ANNIVERSARIES

Evening Star, Issue 20020, 10 November 1928, Page 15

THIS WEEK’S ANNIVERSARIES

NOVEMBER 4 Finland was granted a Constitution on November 4, 1005. Wo do not hear much about this independent State and its population of 0,500,000. Nurmi, the great runner, who is a Finn, has given it some prominence, and Helsingfors, tho capital, is a useful clearing house for information about conditions in Russia. Otherwise it is seldom mentioned. It is a quiet country, with comparatively little crime. Though a poor State, chiefly because of its geographical position, its paupers number only 0.5 per cent, of the population. There are three universities, one at Helsingfors, founded in 1640, with 3,000 students, and two at Abo, Tho country lias produced few men who are widely known outside its borders. Some have done good work in Arctic exploration, notably A. E. Nordenskjold, and many Finnish plays and novels have been written, but their grim realism, depicting tho hardships of the peasant’s life, have so fur made little impression outside Finland, Nearly all tho inhabitants are of one religion (Lutheran), which may in some measure account for the absence of internal friction. Tho Finns are of Asiatic origin. They reached Finland in the seventh and eighth centuries In the twelfth century Sweden established Christianity there, and in tho sixteenth century Finland was part of the Scandinavian kingdom. During Whe eighteenth century Russia cast covetous eyes on tho country, and in 1806, after years of fighting, chased Sweden »»ut, Russia behaved to Finland with unusual moderation, and gave tho country a constitution, hut when a national party arose the Constitution was withdrawn, and the heavy hand of Russia was felt. After fifty years of oppression Finland got the Constitution back. Further coercive measures were employed to check tho Nationalist spirit, but the Great War changed tho aspect of affairs. Naturallly enough for a time the Finns sided with Germany against Russia. Out of gratitude the Germans tried to foist one of their own Princes on the country. Tills was resisted, and the end of the war in IQIB frustrated this benevolent plan. Now the Finns control their own destinies. They have one important asset in their immense forests. These provide thorn with a considerable income. NOVEMBER 5 On November 5, 1800, it was settled by the Privy Council that in consequence of tho Irish Union the royal style ond title should be changed on January 1 following—namely, from “George HI., by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith,” to “ Gcorgo 111., by the Grace of God, of tho United Kingdom of Great Britain ami Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith.” Thus the title of King of France, which had been borne by the English monarchs for 432 years—since the davs of tho Third Edward—was abandoned. It was the Salic law which excluded Edward from the inheritance of France, hut Queen Elizabeth claimed the title, nevertheless, asserting that if she could not be Queen she would b'o King of France. One etfost of tho the title of “King of France” was that tho foreign official correspondence was carried on in tho English language instead of French, as previously. And thereby hangs a talc. During tho war between England and Spain, in Queen Elizabeth’s day, commissioners were appointed on both sides to arrange a peace treaty. Tho Spanish Commissioners proposed that the negotiations should bo carried on in French, observing, sarcastically, that “ tho gentlemen of England could not be ignorant of tho language of their fellow subjects, their Queen being Queen of Franco as well as of England.” To this Dr Dale, one of tho English Commissioners, replied i “ Nay, in faith, gentlemen, the French is too vulgar for a business of this importance. Wo will therefore, if you please, rather treat in Hebrew, tho language of Jerusalem, of which your master calls himself King, and in which you must, of course, ho as well skilled as wo are in French.” NOVEMBER 6 Colley Cibber was born on November G, 1761. There havo been many small fry among tho Roots Laureate. Colley Cibbor was one of them. He obtained the appointment rot ou_ his merits as a poet, but because King George I. was pleased with an anti-Jacobito play that he wrote entitled ‘ Tho NonJuror.’ Dr Johnson and Feilding spoke of him wdth contempt, and Pope made him tho occupant of the throne of Dullness in ‘The Dunciad.’ Ho had good friends, however, in Swift and Steele. It is conceded thav ho was a poor poet, and in his capacity as laureate ho wrote odes which were subjected to universal ridicule.

Colley Cibber’s lifeivork was in omtieclion with tho stage. At tho Theatre Royal, in Drury lane, on the fortunes of which ho exercised so important an influence, ho remained, with one or two short intervals, during the whole of his theatrical career of forty-three years. Ho made slow progress in his profession till his first comedy, ‘ Love’s Last Shift,’ was prdouced, tho author playing Sir Novelty Fashion. By this production his fame bc«' as dramatist and actor became cccurciy fixed, and increased with the passing of the years. Cibber and those associated with him wrought a vast improvement in tho condition of the stage. Plays became more decent, the dissipated loungers who wore accustomed to haunt tho side scenes were denied admittance —a lino of action that met with much opposition and resentment—tho pecuniary

affairs of tho theatre were managed with regularity, and the whole atmosphere of tho theatre gained in respectability. , NOVEMBER 7 Two shipwrecks are recorded in the issue of tho ‘ Evening Star ’ of November 9, 1881. The first was that of the barque England’s Glory, which, after a protracted voyage from London, wont ashore at tho Bluff (Look-out Point) on November, 7. “ Lying as she is,” said the account of the mishap, “ not 20ft from cliffs covered with evergreens, she presents a most picturesque though melancholy .appearance. Her foresail, fore-topsail, and upper foretopsail are still set, and her mainsail, top-gallant, and royal are just clewed up; and with the Union Jack at the fore she looks as though she were still battling for existence, although it is certain that she will never float again.” Long overdue, the barque sheltered for a week at Stewart Island. Then she was signalled approaching from tho westward, and a pilot went on hoard. Tho next thing the Bluff people noticed was that five boats were pulling up the harbour, fully manned. The surmise that the ship had gone ashore proved correct. It was stated that after tho pilot boarded her “ tho helm was at once put hard over and tho foresails trimmed to pay her off. «he gradually forged ahead and did not appear to pay off at all, although there was a good commanding breeze. . , . She struck forward.” That was the end of the England’s Glory. No lives were lost. The other wreck was that of the ship Oraba. In the brief chronicle of tho time it was reported that the bead) near Newcastle (N.S.W.) was found strewn with wreckage. It appeared that the Omba, of 836 tons register, hound from Batavia to Melbourne, foundered close to the shore in a gale. All on board were drowned.

NOVEMBER 8 One of the loveliest of English princesses set the ancient city of Prague on fire with enthusiasm on November 8, 1619, when she was crowned Queen of Bohemia. This was Elizabeth, daughter of James I. She forms the connecting link between tho ancient royal families of England and Scotland and the present dynasty. In 1613 she chose as husband Frederick V., Elector Palatine, who in 1619 was selected to fill the throne of Bohemia. She had numerous suitors, some in exalted places, but she preferred Prince Frederick, a boy of her own ago. She might havo done better from the worldly point of view, for misfortune followed the young couple. In the year following the coronation tho army of the “ Winter King ” was routed by the forces of the Catholic League, and the royal family took refuge in Holland, where they had to endure sore poverty. Elizabeth bore thirteen children. Among them were Charles Louis, who was restored to tho hereditary electorate at the close of the Thirty Years War in 1648; the dashing cavalier Prince Rupert; Maurice, who also fought in England during the _ Civil War: and Sophia, who was married to Ernest Augustus, of the House of Brunswick, afterward Elector of Hanover. On the death of Queen Anno Sophia would have ascended the British throne, but she predeceased the Queen by three months, so her sou, and a. great-grandson of James 1., became King as George I. Elizabeth, it is said, was a fine character. In prosperity she was fond of luxury and magnificence; in poverty she was a devoted wife and mother. Her vivacity in ali circumstances exercised a singular charm over her contemporaries. NOVEMBER 9 This is the anniversary of tho wreck of the Huddart, Parker Company’s well-known steamer Elingainitc. As in the ease of tho Wairarapa, she was bound from Sydney to Auckland, and, also like that ill-fated steamer, she ran on to tho Three Kings. Tho disaster to tho Elingamito occurred on the morning of Sunday, November 9, 1902. She was steaming slowly in a dense tog, when sho went ashore. \\ ithout confusion tho boats were got out promptly, and six, with two rafts, left tho ship, lb was quickly reported that a number of passengers and members of the crew had landed at Hohoura, but that anxiety was felt for the other boats and the rafts. Tho Premier (Mr Seddon) acted promptly, and arranged for tho immediate despatch of relief steamers. Most of tho boats were picked up or reached laud in safety, and the disaster proved less terrible in its toll of life than the first reports suggested. About fifty lives were lost. Much privation and suffering were endured, but the most harrowing experience was that of fifteen men and ono woman (a stewardess) who were on a raft. Without food and water they endured unspeakable horrors. Ono by one they died till only eight were left. Tho stewardess, who showed great fortitude, died at the end of tho fourth day. H.M.S. Penguin, which was one of the ships engaged in the search, picked up the raft and brought the eight survivors to Auckland. Tho raft as only 12ft long and 7ft wide, and was much overcrowded. Every wave washed over tho little band, and at times they were completely buried by seas. There was no rest night or day. It was on tho Thursday afternoon that tho Penguin sighted tho raft, so that for nearly five days, reclining on a more framework of boards, tho survivors had endured a most terrible ordeal, in which tho agonies of thirst predominated.

NOVEMBER 10 “Dr Livingstone, I believe.” The long-lost missionary-explorer was found in soro straits by Henry Morton Stanley at Ujiji on November 10, 1871. The unconquerable Livingstone, it will bo remembered, declined to return; but Stanley stayed with him for some months, and from his plentiful supplies was able to relieve Livingstone's necessities. Stanley’s life is a great romance. Born in Wales, his earliest days wore passed in extreme poverty. The love of adventure stirred him to embark as a cabin boy on a ship bound to America. At New Orleans ho was adopted by a cotton broker named Stanley, and John Rowlands became Henry Morton Stanley. Ho fought on the Confederate side in the Civil War, and was taken prisoner. Then ho entered tho ranks of the jftumalists and accompanied Napier’s expedition to S'"" lala as representative of tho New ‘Herald.’ A year later, its proprietor summoned him to Paris. “Find Livingstone,” he said. He did. Stanley undertook a lecturing tour in Australia and New Zealand when his exploring days were over ; He thrilled many people who heard him in the Garrison Hall in Dunedin, not by reason of his eloquence, but because of his achievements and the dangers he had passed. Particularly will bo remembered the description of his second great journey in Africa. He crossed the continent from east to west. It took him three years. All his white companions and most of his 350 native followers fell by the wayside. Of massive build, with a deeply-tanned face crowned with thick white hair, he looked what he was—a man who pushed his way to his goal with a relentless determination in the face of the innumerable difficulties and dangers that beset him.