Here and There.

Northland Age, 21 November 1905, Page 3

Here and There.

The latest novelties in the medicinal world are “ bottled blushes.” The substance used is amyl nitrite, a powerful heat stimulant. It is in a tiny glass bottle, wrapped in cotton-wool with a mien covering, and when a person snapi the glass with the fingers in close proximity to the face, it has the effect of causing a vivid blush to mantle the cheeks of the operator. Very handy for the fair sex. Out of 128,638 emigrants from the United Kingdom last year 66,790 went to the United States, and 51,284 to Canada. Mr. Preston, the Commissioner for Canadian Emigration, says that only the best are selected, the deficient in body or mind being left in England. MRS. O’GRUNDY AT HOME. Cork, (Bays an exchange) possesses — in its Council, at any rate —virtues other than patriotism. It is—if you will pardon the colloquialism—“a whale on modesty.” At a meeting of its P.H.C., held a few days ago, the chairman fulminated at length on the shocking depravity of some people in the city as disclosed by the programme of a swim

ming gala about to be held in the municipal baths* A clergyman had, he said, drawn his attention from the altar (pitlpit?) to the. fact that the twd se&es would be ito the baths dt the same tithe!” A violent shudder ran round tlfa committee at. this hideous disclosure. The “executive sanitary officer” (Mr. O’Keefe), whose particular care apparently is “ morals ” and “ brains,” said the chief objection to the gala was the announcement that all ladies competing would receive a prize, as it “ held out an inducement to females to enter the tank.” (You will note that the gala promoters appeal to “ladies,” whilst Mr. O’Keefe refers to “ females ”). Ensued this dialogue:

The Chairman: “Communicate with the constabulary, Mr. O’Keefe, and under no §et of circumstances allow men and women in the same bath,” The sanitary officer: “If you authorise me to do so I will communicate with the secretary and tell him to cancel the race entirely.” The chairman : “ We don’t care whether they do or not; but under no circumstances should women enter the bath in the presence of the men.” Councillor Lynch : “I was at the last swimming gala, and there were more females than males there.” The chairman: “ That is more scandalous still. Men and women will not be allowed into the bath together. If they are lost to all sense of decency we are not. Let the women race in one hath and the men in another.” Councillor O’Keefe: “ The sooner it is put a stop to the better.” The sanitary officer was then directed “ to take steps to ensure that men and women be not permitted in the bath at the same time, and also to see that the ladies’ race was cancelled.” One is irresistibly tempted to parody Lord John Russell’s famous outburst thus: Let all men know this—e’en the art of swimming die Cork shall preserve her virgin modesty. By order of the Public Health Committee. The above example of false modesty might be paralleled in many places in New Zealand. THE BLIGHT OF PARTY. In the national efficiency of Japan Lord Rosebery finds an object-lesson for Great Britain, but apparently he is not over-sanguine that it will be learned. To Mr. Alfred Stead’s new book, “Great Japan: A Study of Natural Efficiency ” (published by John Lane), he has written a preface in which he says “ that not a hundred books or a thousand prefaces will bring this lesson home to our own nation. We have been so successful in the world without efficiency, that in the ordinary course of events we shall be one of the last to strive for it without some external pressure. We won our Empire and our liberties by genius and daring in an inefficient world. Now that one or more nations are keehly striving after efficiency, it will not be easy to maintain our heritage ; for the inefficient nation must sooner or lator go to the wall.” Throe things may help us out of the rut, however. These are: obvious decline, sudden catastrophe, or some stimulating example. “This last at least is furnished by Japan ’’; but there patriotism is developed into a religion. With us, politically speaking, says Lord Rosebery, “we begin and end with party. “ It is the curse of our country that so many, especially in high places, should worship it (party) as a god. It has become so mnch a part of our lives that even those who think ill of it think it as inevitable as the fog; so inevitable that it is of no use thinking what we should do without it. And yet its operatien blights efficiency.” In Japan, however, party has not spelt inefficiency; it tends, perhaps, in the other direction. Japanese parties apparently represent a nation determined on efficiency.—London “Daily Mail.”