The Hastings Standard Published Every Evening. WEDNESDAY, JAN. 16, 1901. THE GOSSIP'S DIARY.

Hastings Standard, Volume V, Issue 1425, 16 January 1901, Page 2

The Hastings Standard Published Every Evening. WEDNESDAY, JAN. 16, 1901. THE GOSSIP'S DIARY.

A cable to-day notifies that the Kaiser has placed certain military lines at the disposal of a company experimenting with electric trains, it is hoped that a speed of 125 to 160 miles per hour will be accomplished by the new service, annihilating time and space in the phrase's most literal sense. We live in an age af miracles, and the conception of startling innovations has long since ceased to amaze us. The world is prepared to accept sweeping changes without exhibiting the slighest surprise, and while we desire the quickest possible means of transit, as time in this material world means money, we shall welcome the advent of those inventions which clip large slices off past records and make a railway journey a mere arrow's flight. Each successive page in life's volume is written more quickly, and the surface of the globe is no longer a series of isolated points separated by the bogie of distance, but a plane whose antipodes are measured by a flash on the railway and a few moments' space on shipboard.

We do not expect any pleasant sensations from travelling at the rate of nearly three miles per minute, though the ride may be intensely exhilarating. The idea must always insinuate itself that the possibilities of misadventure are all too great, and that in the event of an accident there is but little chance 1 of escaping the general dissolution. We who travel on railroads that scarcely generate enough friction to keep the flaDges of the wheels warm can scarcely conceive what it would be to cut through the air with lightning speed, but the American who has done his nearly eighty miles within the hour will scarcely view with equanimity the prospect of doubHiinj the speed, susceptible as he is to nil ideas of modern invention. It has been said that everything is within the bounds of possibility, 2nd we of this age are brought to appreciate this as no mere extravagant far-on >le park)'. The century just closed has demonstrated that the resources of science are unbounded, and that we have now entered will probably convince the coming generations that the secret of life is not altogether a secret, but something clearly within the limits of scientific research. The sage of medheval times sought the philosopher's stone, and sought it vainly, but it is clearly wichin our reach though it is not the same article that our forefathers imagined. Gradually the conviction is being brought heme to us that there is nothing supernatural on the face of the earth, that there is a tangible reason for everything, and that the origin will be traced in the gradual course of enlightenment. The Committee in whose hands has been placed the task of giving an appropriate send-off to the Auckland section of the Sixth Contingent is somewhat exercised |

in its mind as to whether or not, in deference to Lord Eoberts' request, the valedictory spread shall be minus alcoholic liquors. Should those present at the banquet exercise that faculty of discrimination with which nature has endowed them it matters little whether liquors are supplied or not. Lord Roberts did not express his desire for the purpose of having it deferred to, but in order that there should be no disgraceful exhibitions by his brave men as a result of overindulgence. He did not doubt the probity of the troopers, but he doubted their strength of will to resist temptation in the enthusiasm of tne moment. The Commander - in - Chief obviously had no wish to rob a poor man of his beer, but was apprehensive that the beer should rob the man of his respectability. He was perfectly correct in his conviction, for indiscriminate rejoicing banishes all thought of discretion. We do not believe that the success of the function would be endangered were spirituous liquors dispensed with altogether, but if there be any virtue in such beyerages we would rather see it brought out by studied moderation than have prudence resulUnt on a lack of temptation. The question might easily be solved in a satisfactory manner by having just sufficient of the debated commodity to b6 wholesome, not enough to swim in, as is more often than not the case at such gatherings.