CURRENT TOPICS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12425, 14 February 1901, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

“Temple Bar,” as its conthb needs tribution) to early, twentieth: OF tee century literature, has been centery. compiling an authology of the obiter dicta of prominent personages upon the new century’s needs. The result is a peculiar symposium of wit and wickedness,, priggishness and pretentiousness, egotism and sanity. Mr Max Pemberton attacks the problem with a workmanlike directness. He considers that the greatest need of the new century, is: —“ For the NationI—Sobriety 1 —Sobriety and a due sense of .proportion. For the Politician—New voices but old truth®. For the Worker—A wider vision looking across the Channel to ask where the worker stands.” This he elaborates by declaring that since the nation’s stability is a matter of intellect and application, she must think more and work harder. Mr F. C. Burnand, who edits “Punch,” is emphatically of opinion that the answer to the query is “money.” Failing that; h 6 suggests “ miracles.” Dean Farrar properly preaches that the sought-for requirement is “the righteousness that exalteth a nation.” Mr Richard Whifceing, of “No. 5, John Street,”- fame, is suggestively cynical in his contribution: “Timely warning- against the foolishness of trying to find new aims.” The Rev Silas Hooking prescribes “A genuine ethical revival, the creation of a finer moral sense of a purer moral atmosphere.” The Dean of Greenwich is characteristically diaconal. -“A sense of duty,”, he suggests; “instead of a love of pleasure.” The Rev Alfred Howland and Canon Hay Aitken are equally orthodox in their respective suggestions of “strenuous effort,” and “the suppression of Indifferentism.” The Rev H. R. Haweis is epigrammatic, -and asks for “more prophets, fewer parrots; more thought, loss talk; more fact, less fancy;', more faith, less form.” Mr George Mannville Fenn, the novelist, is more daring. He would give the magistracy the power to hand oyer to the naval and military auth cities every able-bodied man or youth fit. to serve, who could not prove that he is getting an honest living. This, he contends, would give the State a standing supply of excellent soldiers and sailors. ‘ “ We enforce education with the child and boy. Why not continue it with the growing ruffian?”

Max O’RelL has 'been disdomestic seriating up on '“Domestic ethics. Ethics.” “ Let your wife show and prove she loves yon, but never let her tell it you. On the contrary, tell her all day long if you choose.” This is the epigrammatic text upon which his sermon is based. “If your wife loses her temper,” he advises, “keep cool as a cucumber and enjoy the scene. If you are' jealous do not let her see it, for a it will make her .proud. If she- is late don’t scold. Tell her it is much better to have her late than not at all. Next time go without'her. The cure is infallible.” On the virtue of 'industry M. Blouet, is equally, emphatice. His advice practically is to assume this virtue if ydft have it not. “If you have nothing to do,” he writes, “tell her you have tO- be very - busy all the,';,, morning and ‘will she'be kind enough to see you are not disturbed?’ Then lock the door, light a cigar and take a paper or a. book and be fearfully busy all the time.” Next in this : charming code of ethics comes the advice to never remind your wife of a favour done, for gratitude like love is not to be had for the asking. “Never,” continues the writer, “ ask your wife for the return of a loan. She would think it shabby of you. If she should return itfthere are some extraordinary women), give it backto her in the shape of a jewel. This will cost you nothing, as you had made np your mind to the loss of that loan.” A hint to notice a woman’s new clothes, and to treat her with- the same respect and politeness everywhere as accorded to any other lady; acquaintance, is followed by a few emphatic remarks on the "ethics of deshabille.”' “ Shame her by the irreproachableness of your own appearance” is the .prescription for dealing with the woman who appears in curlers. “If she is intelligent she will take . the hint at once. Let your neglige at home be as carefully put on as your best dress coat. Love feeds on even such trifles' as these in the case, of people of a refined’ and artistic temperament.” Finally, the; much-travelled cosmopolitan counsels the husband “ Never to interfere with the liberty, and independence of his wife, and never to allow her to interfere with his. “ Let her correspondence 'be sacred to you,” he says, “as yours to her.” Mutual confidence aryl “ Liberty Hall according to this authority, should be the niotto of matrimony.

When it was announced ja ten - hi el’s .short time back, that Sir successor. John Tenniel had decided to retire from “ Punch,” after a, lengthy service of half-a century, as cartoonist to that, popular periodical, a good deal was said in regard to his past services.* That the veteran artist fully deserves the reputation he has gained by his admirable work* nobody can deny, and had he Hid aMde his pencil twenty years ago, it would have been difficult to name a successor worthy of filling his' place. It cannot be truly said, however, that the- Same difficulty exists at tho present day, arid there can be little doubt that Tenniel's retirement will enhance, rather than dirriinish, the popularity 6f “ Punch.” Only a cursory glance at the recent cartoons is necessary to show that-in-creasing age had begun,to tell its inevitable tale. The line which, had formerly! Men *d firm, vigor-oils.■ and incisive; bad become feeble, and much of the old artistic power, which everybody has admired for so many years, was altogether lacking. With the advent of Linley Sam bourne, as the draughts-* man of wliat is technically known-as. the “ big cut,” it may safely be anticipated that “ Punch ” will recover some of the ground it has lost during.-recent, years. Without-de-rogating from the Wonderful talehtdf , Tenniel, as shown in a- vast number of cartoons* there can be no question that Sambourne has a-keener, livelier, and, on the whole, a more humorous fancy, while he possesses an ability for caricature which war-wholly wanting in his predecessor. Indeed,: fet a considerable period, the minor cartoon,; for which Sambourne was reponsible, has been far superior-to that of Tenniel. Ilrs doubtful if “ Punch ” will ever reach the high standard of its earlier days, when Thackeray, Douglas Jerrold and Shirley Brooks were on tile at .if!, but- the influence'of the periodical in Great Britain is, still great, and as that irjliunce h-w, taken altogether, been 6! • a healthy nature, anything that will strengths _en,>kis worths' of welcozm*.