INTERESTING ITEMS FROM THE WORLD'S PRESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12271, 15 May 1903, Page 3

INTERESTING ITEMS FROM THE WORLD'S PRESS.

IRISH LAND BILL. The Irish Land Purchase Bill is the most important measure that ha» been brought before a. deliberate body in a quarter of a century or. more, and the debate or the same on its progress through the British Parliament will command the attention, of the whole world.—Record, Philadelphia. BYE-ELECTIONS AND BEER. The publicans' cry for compensation for licenses that are taken away from those who have committed no offence is being listened to with much more attention than was the case only a little while ago. It i» not complimentary to members of the* House of Commons to say it, but it is none the less true that one reason for that is the recent bye-election results. —Licensed Victuallers' Referee. BLEMISHES OF ROMANCES. Young people should not read novels. Instead of infusing into their minds sensible ideas about the stern realities of life, they portray disinterestedness that is overdone, beauty that is rarely seen outside the museums, devotion that has been very uncommon since the days of the Crusaders, love that has been unheard of since the death of Orpheus and Eurydiee, pluck that died' with Bayard and Bertram! da Guesclin; and I am not sure that, loathsome as they are to me, I would not recommend the novels of the realistic school rather than those of the romantic school to young people of both sexes.Max O'Rell, in The American, New York. POTENT INFLUENCES. Public opinion and the press, both in favour of peace, have become such potent influences with Governments that before declaring war a statesman will deem it his duty to consult them, and he will fear to act contrary to them. During the Venezuelan affair we saw how they operated in England upon Mr. Balfour's; policy, leading him to break with Germany's bellicose ideas.—Revue Bleue, Paris. LIFE AND LOOKS. If it is true that blondes are superior to their darker sisters, both in morality and intellect, it is unfortunate that the blonde type iv England is rapidly becoming extinct. All the fair-haired children fieem to become dark as they grow up, for it is but rarely one sees a grown person with truly light hair and light eyes. Perhaps a life of excitement is not conducive to the preservation of fair locks and fair skin.The Lady. THE KAISER'S POLITICAL METHODS. We all know the schoolboy who will gladly take things which he does not want, or cannot manage to keep, because, as he says, "they will do for swaps." The Kaiser has acted, unless we entirely misread his character, in much the same way as regards Asia Minor and the Bagdad railway. He knows that he cannot have them for himself, and has frankly admitted so to Russia, but he still is active in the matter because he holds that any interests which he may acquire in these parts will be good foi " swaps."—Spectator. EPIDEMIC OF IDLENESS. An epidemic of idleness prevails in this country. The politician, the Government official, the officer, the tradesman, and the labourer, all alike do their work indolently and reluctantly. If you wish to see the modern Englishman work watch him as he plays; he will follow the football until he drops; he will row until he sinks exhausted beside his oar; he will play cricket, golf, tennis, or almost any othei game, as if his life depended upon the result. But work he will not.—Truth.

ARRIVAL OF THE BONNET. There is no doubt whatever that the bonnet is already upon us. You have only to step into the region of hat shops—a region bounded on the north by Hanover Square, on the east by Regent-street, on the west by Grosvenor Square, and on the south by Piccadilly—to see that the large granny bonnet, with voluminous, gauze strings, is being prepared by the hundred foi the young and flighty. We may be quite, sure that only the young and flighty will venture to wear them, for nothing will induce an elderly woman nowadays to put anything on her head but a flower-bedecked hat. -.-Ladies' Field.