OUR MAIL BAG.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 1138, 20 January 1903, Page 4

OUR MAIL BAG.

NBWS FROM EVERYWHERE. KLXCTIOHKBKINO WITH A CmOVS THT. The State of Ohio has been witnessing a Silitioal fight oonduoted on a novel plan, r Johnson, a candidate for Congress, has been touring the State in a big red motor-ear. Behind it oome ten large wagons carrying a huge oireus tent to accommodate 6000 people, and behind the waggons is a brake, in which sits a brass band. The oost of this novel electioneering campaign is said to be £SOO a day j but as Mr Johnson is a millionaire, he does not worry about the expense. HAD OASHIKB'B OKNKBOSITY. A lady, on walking up to the cashier's desk in one of the big drapery establishments in Paris the other day to pay for her purchases, was astounded to hear that the proprietor of the establishment had decided to make her a present of everything she had bought, and also a bundle of bank notes. The manager hurriedly intervened, whereupon the cashier began to smash everything within his reach. It was found that he had ouddenly become insane. A BANQUET OF POISONS. Professor H. W. Wiley, Chemist-in-Ohief of the United States Department of Agrioulture, will entertain his scientific friends at a banquet where the food will be scientifically poisoned. The poisons commonly used in oummeroe to preserve or improve the appearance of food will be added by Professor Wiley to the pure articles before cooking. His guests will partake of them, and he will study the effect of the poisons upon them. The banquets will be repeated at frequent periods, the dose of poisons being increased each time until Professor Wiley is able to decide exactly what quantity is dangerous to health. THE FBKNCn HABBIAQE MABKKT. Every profession has its fixed value in the Fiench marriage market. A lieutenant in the Army commands a good dowry, for may not his wife become Madame la Qenerale ? Until a few months ago no officer was allowed to marry a lady whose dowry did not amount to 1000 francs (£4B) a year. This minimum has now been abolished, but the officer has still to seek permission to marry, and Btate what benefit his bride would bring him. Without a dowry no girl, however beautiful and accomplished, can marry in her own rank of life. She is pitied, and regarded as outside the pale of matrimony. She may marry beneath her, but most ÜBUally she becomes a nun, a teacher, a clerk in the post office, or a salewoman.

A QBDEBOMK EXPEDIENT. Three atowawaya on a Danish ateamer bound for New York were discovered, and ordered to work in the stokehold. One ol them, named Johnson, fearing the penalty on arrival in America, took the body of a passenger from the coffin, and hid it under some matting, himself getting into the dead man's vacant tenement. There he lay while the ship was searched high and low. At length the rinding of the corpse gave a clue to his hiding place, and he was brought forth, almost dead from starvation and fear. Good food soon restored him, and when the ship reached the wharf at New York he bolted off and got clear away.

THE OZAB AND THE BFIBIT MEDIUM. For some time past continual reports concerning extraordinary proceedings at the Russian Court have appeared in the Polish and Servian Press, including statements about the illness of the Czarina and the strange role played by a spiritualist named Philippe in the Czar's entourage. The ' Keue Freie Presse' published various details which it describes as from trustworthy quarters. It says that Philippe made his first appearance at the Russian Court in the spring of this year, and has now acquired a very influential position there. Nobody knows anything of his origin. Some think him a Frenchman, others a Montenegrin or a Czech, but he is certainly not a Bussian. The Czar made his acquaintance at the house of the Grand Duke Nikolas Nikolavitoh. Philippe professes to be an ooculist, a spiritualist, an bypnotiser, and assumes a special professional position at the Court. Nothing is decided without his counsel, and he gives advice on all subjects, even matters connected with Imperial family life. His peculiar psychical methods are said to have worked unfavorably in various ways upon the Czarina, and hence the inexplicable influence of M. Philippe has caused much perplexity in Court circles. The Czar, nevertheless is still enthusiastic and delighted with Philippe's marvellous powers. The correspondent of another paper, who was staying recently at Livadia, relates that the Czar is much occupied in the study of spiritualistic works, and arranges seances, at which he is generally alone, although sometimes the Czarina and Baron Fredericks are invited. Philippe is said to have conjured up the spirits of the Czars Alexander 11. and 111., and also that of the unfortunate Czar Peter 11. Spiritualism has many adherents in Russian society. THE ABMY CANTEEN.

Mr Hamilton M. Higday, Librarian, United States Civil Service, writes to ' Harper's Weekly' condemning in very strong terms the abolition of the canteen in the United States Army. He admits that the situation was a choice between two evils, bat evidently believes that the authorities have chosen the greater. He avers that " under present regime contiguous districts outside military reservations become infested with every type of parasite dens, truly ' vile places, run by scoundrels, where soldiers are debauched and fleeced.' A most cursory inspection of the vicinity of Forts Leavenworth and Biley, in the prohibition State of Kansas—the two largest army garrisons in the United States—would afford jpponents of beer in the canteen additional :ood for thought." The soldiers," he adds 'indulge in 'rotgut' whisky, and scatter heir money in gambling hells and cesspool if vice. . . . I am no'believer in beer

out when the absolute result of the abolition of the oanteen is the flagrant violation of the law, both State and military, it would oertainly seem that the installation of a single garrison beer-bar, under judicious supervision and control, were a plan eminently superior to the toleration of conditions that now obtain."

ANGLO-RUSSIAN FAB EASTZBN POLICY. The leading newspaper of St. Petersburg, 'Novoe Vremya,' publishes an interesting article on the whole question of Russian policy, but particularly in regard to the Far East. Aooording to the writer of the article, the Russian Government have abused their ehances, whioh may never occur again. While Germany made a definite bargain for the prioe of her neutrality during the South African war, gaining Samoa and the Bagdad railway concession, Russia, who was in a position to do infinitely greater harm to Great Britain, had befriended her in the most quixotic way, only to have her kindness repaid by open and rank hostility. Great stress is laid in the article on the Persian question, it being an axiom that Russia must get down to the Persian Gulf or the Indian Ocean, and every move on our part whioh seems to interfere with this aim is regarded as an act of deliberate hostility. The Russian Government have already gained complete control over the finances of Persia by their original loan, and consequently (according to the St. Petersburg correspondent of the ' Morning Post,')if a fresh loan of £2,000,000 is conceded Persia will probably have to secure to Russia the entire rights of railway construction in Persia.