ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8222, 5 April 1890, Page 3 (Supplement)

ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS.

[FROM THE SOCIETY PAPERS.] Lord Russell, whose marriage to Miss Mabel Scott, younger daughter of the late Sir Claude Scott, baronet and banker, took place the other day, i a a young man 0 five-and-twenty, who thus far has only distinguished himself as a steam-yachtsman on the Thames. His mother and father were both rather famous people in their youth. Lord Amberley, after failing ab Leeds, won a seat for Nottingham, but only held it for two years. While in the House, and subsequently, he and his wife, a sister of the present Lord Stanley of Alderley were regarded as persons holding advanced opinions on political, religious, and social questions. Lord Amberley inherited mubb of hi?, father's ability, but after leavin" Parliament he led a retired life on tho Welsh border.

The new passport regulations that came into force in Russia early in the year oblige travellers to carry their photographs an. nexed to their passes. Ladies will therefore have to be careful not to exhibit photographs taken ten years previously, while gentlemen will have to keep their face hair in the status quo during their sojourn in the Czar's dominions. By way of doing a little business in connection with the new order the Finance Minister intends to levy a stamp duty of about 2d on every carle di visile.

With Mr. Balfour's return to London has come a little story from Ireland, which the London correspondent of the Liverpool Daily Post ia told is true. During his stay* in Dublin Mr. Balfour met a Catholic priesti who did nob belong to the Nationalist; party. Taking an opportunity favourable tor obtaining information on an interesting point, he asked the priest if, in his opinion, the Irish people were as bitter against him as they Mere represented to be in the newspapers favourable to Mr. Parnell. " Since you have asked me I will tell you the truth," said the priest. "If our flocks hated sin half as cordially as they hate you, thera would be no use for priests in Ireland."

Apparently the race of sporting parsons has nob quite died out. At the Maimes« bury Petty Sessions four persons wera charged with riotously assembling and disturbing the peace. On December 31, after a pigeon shooting match, two of them, id was alleged, had a regular fight, and the* other two were said to have aided and abetted as seconds. One of the latter was tha Rev. W. P. Cover, Rector of Oaksey, in thtj diocese of Gloucester and Bristol. Three of the defendant,!?, including the rector, were? committed for trial.

A curious baptismal dispute in connection with the " Strict Baptist Church " at Highbury Place, has now been satisfactorily settled. This congregation was accused of admitting into fellowship without the ordeal of immersion a lady who, unfortunately, is afllicted with physical deformity, its excuse being that in her case the ceremony was impossible. "The London Association of Strict Baptist Churches" did not deem this a valid plea, and excluded the place of worship in Highbury. The elders and congregation have now admitted that thei" " mistake was in being too ready to accept the idea of impossibility," The lady in question has been duly immersed, *' seated in her own chair, and wearing a drese specially designed for the occasion," and the church taken back into the association.

The Queen is never loth to set an example of kindly solicitude in the sufferings of others, and her recent action with regard to the Forest Gate fire affords another proof of her thoughtfulness. Her Majesty has instructed Mr. Ritchie to convey through Mr. Hedley, one of the Inspectors of the Local Government Board, her personal sympathy with each mother or nearest living relative of those children who perished in the fire. If a mother can best interpreb the feelings of a mother, a Queen, who has herself been bereaved of her children, has peculiar opportunities of showing how tenderly she can condole with those whom disaster has made childless. In the same spirit, Her Majesty has expressed to the Secretary of the American Navy her sorrow at the awful death of Mrs. and Miss Tracy.

The Duchess d'Uzes, who has been visiting England, was very favourably impressed with the physical strength and development of our countrywomen, and has determined to try whether the daughters of la bella France cannot be persuaded to take mora exercise. She declares that the physical education of Frenchwomen is totally behind that of every other nation. She has founded lawn tennis clubs, supplying tha nets, bats, etc., herself, and paying an English professor to give the necessary instruction ; her daughters take part in tbff exercises. She has also organised horseraces and rowing clubs for her tenants* daughters.

Some officious police officer in Binning-' ham not lons ago arrested a man named Mr. Marcus Poole. The man was six feed high and broad in proportion, sitting on a doorstep, endeavouring to mend his tattered corduroys with a needle and a piece of twine. His head and feet were bare, and the only article of clothing about him,. except his trousers, was a dirty shirt. Ha protested before the magistrate thab he was very comfortable —that he wanted neither work nor clothing. When allusion was made to his scanty stock of clothing, he said, " Upon my word and honour, X couldn't bear another rag upon me. Habit's everything. Look at Adam, and other' 'postles ; "how d'ye s'pose they stood it J The thinner you learn to dress yourself the nigher ye- coma back to a state of in* nocence 1"

General regret and concern have been excited by the recent unfavourable reports regarding the eyesight of the Princess Christian. It is said thab the ocular weakness from which the Princess has for some time suffered has lately increased to ant alarming extent, and apprehensions of total blindness are, it is rumoured, beginning to be entertained by her medical attendants* No rumour, as we know, is without foun* dation, but it is sincerely to be hoped thai this last report has its origin otherwise than based on fact.

The latest story of Mr. Spurgeon. As told in the Memorial Hall, on the authority of a member of the London County Council, ib runs as follows :—A gentleman who had amassed a big fortune in the erection of jerry-built villas and "eligible family residences," on retiring from business built tor himself a splendid mansion in a suburban" district, and, being dubious as to a fitting' name for it, wrote to Mr. Spurgeon for advice. When the answer came it was iter the effect that, after very careful consideration, Mr. Spurgeoi. could- think of no other name than " Dun robin."

The Queen's signature to State documents 13 still a model of firmness and legibdity, no sign of Her Majesty's advanced age being discernible in the boldly written " Victoria R." which she attaches to such papers as have to bear the royal autograph.« There are veteran statesman living who will remember that the signing of State documents by the sovereign became one of considerable importance in the last months of George IV.'s reign During this period Majesty was in such a debilitated state that the writing of numerous autographs was practically impossible for him, and undei these circumstances a short Bill was hurriedly passed through Parliament authorising the King to affix a facsimile of his autograph by means of an inked stamp. It was also provided, however, in the Bill, that George IV. should before stamping each document give his verbal assent to it in a specified form. The Duke of Wellington was in office at the time, and it was his duty to lay certain documents before the King for his approval. One day the "Iron Duke," noticing that His Majesty was stamping the papers before him without repeating the prescribed verbal formularly, ventured to enter a respectful but firm protest. The King, much irritated, exclaimed, " D it, what can it signify ?" " Only this, sir,"replied the Duke, " that the law requires it.."*,. George IV. said no more, but at once began to repeat the requisite formuJarly as he stamped each o£ the remaining documents. . v , v