LONDON GOSSIP.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 10273, 15 February 1894, Page 2

LONDON GOSSIP.

(FROM OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT.) INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S UNION.

In a spirit of natural jubilation Mra Warner Snoad (what’s in a name?), the President of the International Women’s Union, dilates on tho achievements of her sex in the yen’ 1893. After enumerating the chief successes in tho United Kingdom aud in Europe, Mrs Snoad continues:— “ But the chief pearls in our women’s crown came from afar’’—namely, tho extension of the franchise in New Zealand and Colorado. Finally, “ like a brilliant diamond setting to this year’s events, come the reports of the Women’s Congresses at Chicago,” Pearls and diamonds Mrs Saoad mentions oft, but, strange to cay, no mention is made of rubies, in spite of the association of that precious stone with woman’s worth. OBITUARY. Poor “Charlie Ross,” the very clever young dancer who accompanied I think it was the first Gaiety Company to Australia, died of decline at Cardiff on Christmas Day. Ho began life as an infant phenomenon at the London music halls, and scored success ere ho was ten. For many years ho and his sister, under the title of “ Maude and Charlie Ross,” were a favourite “ turn” at the firot-olasa balls iq town, the hoy’s step-dancing being exceedingly clever. Mr George Edwardes eventually persuaded Charley Ross to join the Gaiety Company as male dancer, and during several seasons he filled the place subsequently taken by Fred Storey. Young Ross, whose real name was Gant, had countless friends, and was altogether, to uas bis pal’s phrase, “a capital chap.” Ho had just turned twonty-four ye ira of age. Miss Maria Jones, who was with Lonnon’d company in Australia, also diaji on Boxing Day. You may remember her as Don a a Inez ia Don. Juan, Martha in Faust Up to Date, and similar comic old women parts, I can remember Miss Jones in tho sixties at tho old Strand Theatre. She belonged to tho class of Ectmnes designated “ useful,” and fitted in odd corners admirably. In private life she was everything that waa estimable, and very popular. The complaint which carried Miss Jones off was one from which she suffered occasionally, aud was not considered dangerous. The news of her death caused great surprise and concern at the Lyric and Gaiety Theatres. The death of Sir George Eilioit, who began life as a “ pit laddie,” and worked bia way up to be a coal-owner, a member of Parliament, a baronet, and the president of the Institute of Mining Engineers, deprives the world of the typical self-made man of the century. For. years Sir George has been held up to the youth of. Lancashire and Yorkshire as an example to he copied. He has also been exhibited to us in the pages of Punch as " Sir Georgius Midas.” In business it ia a fact that “ Old King Coal” (as he waa irreverently nicknamed) was sharp as a razor and hard as nails. He knew how to judge men, and few capitalists have bean better or more economically served. Having risen from the tanks himself, Sir George naturally posed as a Tory and pooh-poohed tho masses. In society he unconsciously lived up to his prototype ia Punch. An enemy once condoled with, the baronet on “those disgraceful caricatures,”but bia poisoned dart glanced harmlessly off Sir George’s colossal conceit. “No one but a fool like you, air, would suspect my Liend Du Murrier of makin’ pictures out of me,” ho replied wrathfully. Politically Sir George waa certainly a curio, for he voted consistently egainet all measures for the amelioration of the condition of the masses. IMPERIAL INSTITUTE, At the annual genera), meeting of the Imperial Institute, the Executive reported on the show generally, and paid the various colonial commissioners lavish compliments on their courts. In the case of Sir Walter Buller, who has two “ pars ” to himself, tho praise is thoroughly well deserved. It was, indeed, entirely owing to his “ indefatigable exertions ” that New Zealand made tho creditable display she did at the opening ceremony. Commencing work weeks later than the Australian commissioners, ha yet, managed to out-distance them all; The Prince of Wales came up to town for the meeting, and expressed his entire confidence in the growing utility of the institute. Lord Herscheli followed with figures, surprising us with the announcement, that financially the Imperial Institute has more than paid its way. In 1893 the institute’s income from all sources was £35,636, and the expenditure £31,330, leaving a surplus of £4303 for the first year of its existence. No doubt a moat creditable fact. Where, however, would have been the £35,636 income but for the exhibition of the York wedding presents ? It was that show, and that show alone, which converted a hoavy deficit into a satisfactory surplus, and the said exhibition had no more connection with the causes for which the Imperial Institute was started than the equally irrelevant smoking concert?. No discussion was invited ou the report. THE ALDI3 CASE, Those who supposed that with the issue of his pamphlet Dr Abbott had fired off his last gun on behalf of Professor Aldio little know that doughty controversialist. Finding that this shot had •miscarried he promptly planned another, and addressed a latter to The Times. In this the main facts of the dispute from Dr Abbott’s point of view are recapitulated, and the new professors for Auckland University are advised to provide themselves with cheap return tickets. Not content with this. Dr Abbott further enlisted the powerful aid of Misi Shaw (colonial editor of The Times'), and ou Boxing Day the following exceedingly damaging article appeared in the leading journal:—“Many a young university man in search of academical employment has before now been tempted by the apparent attractions of a professorship at the antipodes. The emolument attached to such a post is not vary brilliant aa a rule, for the colonial estimate of high academical distinction Is apt to be somewhat niggardly, but the work seems congenial and not excessive in amount, the position is dignified and apparently secure, and tho function of holding on high the lamp of learning in a vigorous but not too cultivated young community, is one which appeals alike to the generosity aud the ambition of the scholar. This is the ideal view of the matter. The sober, prosaic reality ia often a very different thing, so different, indeed, that English scholars who respect themsolves must needs be exceedingly cautious in becoming candidates . for a colonial professorship, or in ntertaining any proposals of the kind that may be made to them. This is the only conclusion we can draw from the case of Professor W; S. Alois, who, having been for some tea years a professor in the Auckland University College, New Zealand, wan suddenly ejected from his chair last May by the council of that institution.. No reason was officially given at tho time for this arbitrary proceeding, and tho first intimation of it reached the professor through the columns of a local newspaper. Dr Edwin A. Abbott, formerly head-master of tho City of Loudon School, called attention to the case in our columns last week. Dr Abbott has also issued and circulated a detailed statement, ia which ho gives the facta ia full, and then asks tho very pertinent question, * If nay university man of high character uud eminent position bo invited by the Agent-General of New Zealand to take part in electing professors for tho Council of Auckland College, would he be justified ia doing this until some explanation of their treatment of Professor Aldis had been published ?’ To this question, as is soemo to us, only one answer is possible, if tho Council of the Auckland College want professors they must henceforth find them where they can. No man of judgment and position in this country would recommend an educated Englishman to intrust himself to the tender mercies cfcuch a body. * * * Until

the Auckland Council explain themselves to the satisfaction of men of sense and education, it is quite impossible for any mao of character in this country to help them in the choice of a new professor, or for any man< who respects himself to appear as a candidate for their patronage* That, indeed, concerns the Auckland College alone. Bab there are broader issues at stake-nothing less than the welfare and repute of higher education throughout the Australasian colonies. Sound learning and high scholarship are commodities which those colonies can obtain from fchs Mother Country much more readily than for a long time to come they can. hope to produce them at’ the Antipodes, Is it worth their while to cut oH the supply by treating the professors they obtain in the narrowest parochial spirit and with no justice at all ?” PERSONAL, , The marriage <?f Miss Gertrude Gisborne, elder daughter of Mr William Gisborne, erstwhile of your colony, and- now of Allestreo Hall, Derbyshire, and of Mr Edward Rosebery Anson, of the Civil Service, British Guiana, son of Mr Edward Hamilton Anson, of her Majesty’s Household, and late of the Bengal Civil Service, was duly solemnised at Allesfcree church on Tuesday week in the presence of a largo and distinguished company. The celebrants were the Rev Anchitel Anson, rector of Longford and uncle of the bridegroom, and the Rev Austin West, vicar of Allestreo, and the service was fully chorsl.

Mr P. G. Whetham, erstwhile of Dunedin, tells me ho spent a pleasant summer and autumn travelling around with the Australian cricketers, and chronicling their doings for Reuter and the Argus. Ho Ima moved from Millman Street to G 7, Rosebery Square, Rosebery Avenue. The real name of “ Goo. Egerton,” whose extraordinary book, "Keynotes,” I have mentioned once or twice of late, is Mrs Clairmoat, and she has visited your colony, and knows a good many people there. Lord Onslow started to join the Countess and her children at Villa Mou Repss, St Raphael, four days before Christmas; but owing to the eaieo in the Channel, and the heavy traffic from Paris to the south of Franco, was delayed, and did not arrive till Boxing Day. Hia lordship spent Christmas Day in the Mediterranean express. , I hear at the Agent-Genoral’a Office this morning that Sir W. Buller sails by the Doric for the colony. In letters received from him on Dec. 23 he said nothing on the subject, so the resolve must, if true, be recent.