MAX O'RELL ON JOHN BULL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8354, 6 September 1890, Page 2 (Supplement)

MAX O'RELL ON JOHN BULL.

The well-known author of " John Bull and his Island" writes The coolness of John Bull—or his cheek, to pub it properly —is never shown to bettor advantage than in tho letter which he writes to people who in one way or another have attracted a little public attention. He takes such individuals for inquiry offices, and Natural and Providential Banks instituted by Providence for his convenience. To use the contents of my little box as an illustration : I am asked by parents to recommend them to a good French school for their children ; by others to recommend them comfortable lodgings in France at moderate charges. Sometimes lam asked to translate a difficult passage of Alphonse Daudet's last novel, or to explain the latest Parisian slang phrase. Clergymen occasionally write to inform mo that there is a little debt upon their church still remaining unpaid, or that an organ has been bought and not paid for. Now, I cannot help thinking that such gentlemen set a bad example of improvidence to their congregations by indulging in luxuries that they have not the means to pay for. When I want something for my modest home I have to take care that I possess tho means to pay for it. And there is another reason why I object to contribute to the organ fund ; instead of the contributors being thanked, an announcement is made from the pulpit to the effect that the Lord has been asked to provide an organ, and He has done so, as they knew Ho would.

A very favourite way of raising funds for paying off church debts is to hold a bazaar ; but I do not think much of this maans either. I have lately been to a bazaar held in London, and seen there sights the reverse of pretty ; in fact, the role, played at these sales by young girls struck me as quite demoralising. The object of one and all is, naturally, to make as much money as they can, and especially to make more than their neighbours. To accomplish this end they learn to smile stagey smiles, and some of thorn attain to a degree of facility in the art that would shame any old leathery society stager. At this bazaar a number of the young girls, acting as aids to the stallkeepers, were attired in mythological raiment that " more expressed than hid" them. Two or three of them had dishevelled hair hanging about their bare necks and arms, and were looking as I should think no father would care to see his daughter look, One lias heard a great deal first and last about the freedom of tho American girl ; but my observation has ah/ays convinced mo that there is a type of English girl who, when she is given her head, entirely loses it, and goes to lengths of liberty which her American cousin, no matter how emancipated, never, never aspires to attain. At times she seems to cast modesty aside altogether. It was to me a sad sight to see young girls of from seventeen to twenty making use of all the artillery of the famine, yalaiitc 11. the service of the Church ; button-holing men, and, with smiles and wiles unmaidenly, trying to make them buy. Involuntarily I pictured to myself a French girl in one of those clinging robes—how sho would have managed to look modest in it, and how mamma would havo taken care to put touches to it that should prevent her girl from having the appearance of a Venus straight from the bath.