INTERESTING ITEMS FROM THE WORLD'S PRESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12071, 15 September 1902, Page 3

INTERESTING ITEMS FROM THE WORLD'S PRESS.

SOLDIERS WITH INITIATIVE. The spirit of initiative in the American private soldier which impels him to think for himself, to act for himself, and at the same time to obey intelligently, promptly, and implirity the commands of his officers, is what makes the United States army so effective an organisation.— Pittsburg Gazette. ADVANTAGEOUS TIPPING. No person is bound to tip. Thousands of people never do, and get along fairly well with the untipped standard of service. But I the great majority of travelling people find tipping to be of practical advantage; they do not consider their sixpence or their shilling as a gift; they pay it for extra service and extra attention, and get their money's worth.New York World. IN THE BOND OF EMPIRE. Nowhere in the Empire would a step away from British unity be tolerated. The binding together of the British nation may be siow or it may be rapid; but that it shall be bound together far more firmly and closely, sooner or later, is to-day the settled policy of every free community tinder the Hag. " Little Englandism" is absolutely dead and buried.—Montreal Star. DOWER LESS DAUGHTERS. In no other civilised country are parents of all ranks so careless of providing for the future of their children, as in England. Even well-to-do parents <'ive their daughters— often untrained ancftindomesticatedemptybanded to their suitors. Is it right for '& father, when he has money or a current income sufficiently large to save a little annually, to let daughters go dowerless to their husbands '! —Gossip. RUSSIA'S WAR ON TRUSTS. It may be doubted whether Russia seems justified in declaring war on trusts, as we know that the Government there goes handj in-hand with the trusts, and often actually brings about their formation. Under these circumstances, the impression is forced upon one that Russia's anti-trust action is directed only against foreign trusts, and that if really aims ultimately at the protection of those iu Russia itself.Fremdenhl.it 1, Vienna.

DIVISION OP LABOUR. ft, is curious how the various races of humanity 0:1 the New South Wales opal fields make certain. lines of trade peculiarly 'heir own. The Chinese are weil represented among the storekeepers. The camel drivers are all Afghans, the bullock-drivers are true sons of Britannia's Southern Empire. The saloon owners are generally English or Scotch, the lucky msu is usually an Irishman, and the buyers arc all either Germans or Jews. —Chambers' Journal. NO REASON FOR DESPONDENCY. At heart both British and Dutch have a great mutual respect for each other. Each now knows and appreciates the worth of the other, and mutual respect very soon leads to a much warmer feeling. There is not the slightest need to be despondent as to the future of this country, as many profess to he.—Bloemfontein Post. NOVEL COTILLON FIGURE. The " Dolly Yarden " is one of the newest cotillon figures. It requires a screen placed at one end of the ballroom with an aperture at the base, the ladies mi one side and the gentlemen on the other. The ladies walk in procession holding thvir skirts so that their ankles are seen, and the gentlemen kneeling on the other side choose the particular pair of ankles they wish to dance with, when the screen is removed and dancing becomas general.—Queen. PAIN'S STINGING ARGUMENT. The prevalence of ruilionisin in the London streets is complimentary neither to our modern civilisation nor to our existing legal methods. Magistrates have but little power, and do not always use such power as they have. Preventive measures for the young and budding hooligan should certainly be undertaken," but the full-grown plant must be reasoned with by appealing to his sense of pain, and that in circumstances in which there is no gallery to play to.Lancet. FROGS' LEGS FOR EXPORT. | Are flogs fish or game V This is the question that is perplexing the Canadian authorities at present. They find that the exportation of frogs' legs from Canada to the United States Las developed into a big business, and that if there is not some restriction made, froggy w ill .soon be a. thing of the past in some districts. It- is proposed to institute a close season during the month of May ; but the problem is. who has the power to do so '! If frogs come under the category of game, the close season must be fixed by the Provincial authorities; but, if they arc fish, by the Dominion authorities.—Country Life. CALLING BY POST, j It might have been supposed that the - j climate of India would long)ago have afforded an excellent reason for the relaxation of the rule 01 visits: but the hardy Anglo-Indian, demand for the last jot and tittle of lawful social dues has stepped on magisterially, and no shelter has been taken in the sun. We seem, however, to be nearing a new era. , The ladies of Simla have lifted a standard of revolt, and are ta.kiug steps among them- • selves to introduce the custom of exehangl ing cards by post, not only among previous > acquaintances, but as a general proceeding. ' —Pioneer, Allahabad. i