MEN AND WOMEN, AND MATTERS ALL AROUND.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1266, 4 June 1896, Page 31

MEN AND WOMEN, AND MATTERS ALL AROUND.

I have to regret that my space is too limited to do justice to all the subjects brought to my attention by my friendly and encouraging readers. 1 can only do tho best I can. This explanation is for those -who may consider themselves overlooked,

A correspondent, "Helper," sends me a large leaf of a pawnbroker's ledger, containing tho names and addresses of persons unfortunate enough to have been forced to pledge their goods for a small loan. The leaf was wrapped around some poods bought in a Cuba street grocery, the grocer no doubt having purchased the pawnbroker's old books for waste paper.

My correspondent very properly asks if pawnbrokers should, for the sake of a few pennies, sell the names of his customers to public exposure. I have myself read on this leaf tho names of persons whom I know, and it was a revelation to mo to find their names in such a place. And I know how keenly they would "feel if they thought I or any other acquaintance knew they had been in the distress which forced them to the pawn shop.

There are names of persons residing in Inyestro street, Tarannki street, Cuba street, Barker street, Willis street, Dixon street, Lome street, Hopper street, Webb street, Abel Smith street, Martin street, Tory street, Broadway terrace, Grainger street, Bull street, Austin street, Courtenay place, Newtown, Tasman street, and a number of other streets. Ido not know if it is much use to appeal to the sense of humanity of tho pawnbrokers; but Eurcly they must have somo heart. However, to make sure, I would recommend the passage of a law or ordinance, requiring pawnbrokers to destroy—cremate—their books when they aro through with them.

Very often people go to pawn shops to raise a little money when they would not allow their nearest friends to know their necessitous condition. Is it fair that tho pawnbroker should expose those names to the public? Let this bo attended to at once.

It is strange, but true, that "nice" peoplo are generally ignorant people. There aro " nico " peoplo who find fault with my namo. Now, did they know anything about English literature they would bo thoroughly familiar with the fact that tho ancient and honourable titlo of " The Fat Contributor" was mado classic by tho immortal Thackeray.

A resident of Thorndon who is fond of pedestrian exerciso, and is a lover of scenory, writes to mo that go where you like around Wellington for a walk you aro sure to find every delightful spot infested with objectionable characters. Ho gives an instance of which occurred last Sunday at Shelly Bay.

On arriving there ho sat down on tho rocks for a rest, as well to enjoy tho sunshine. Ho had no sooner dono so than " a herd of larrikins mado their appearance on tho small wharf there. Tiny were accompanied by a few girls, and the language indulged in was scandalous. Some of tho males prepared to bathe, but, having stripped nudo, only sat on tho small trolly on tho pier while the girls gave them a ride thereon.

" Thoro is a great deal of talk now," comments my correspondent, "about Godless schools, &c., but 1 think if the birch or rope's end was administered a little oi'tonor it would bo a blessing to society." Cortainly it is sad to see the amount of larrikinism thoro is about Wellington.

And I was well pleased to notice that tho Kov lathe- in his sermon on Sunday week, tool: up this subject. And 1 do wish all the other clergymen of our city would follow his good example, Parents have a great deal to answer tor because of tho way they are allowing their children to grow up—young savages with neither decency nor religion in their hearts.

[t is not error which opposes tin'progress of truth; it is iudolence, obstinacy, the spirit of routine —everything that favours inaction. This thought often conies to mo when I think of how wed we aio to what has been and how much opposed to progress and eliinge. I; it in reality obstinacy and indolence, and not prudence, that rule u.i?

Although late in the season, we were discussing Leap Year last week at tho dinner table. One lady -and not an old maid either—mado one quite original and forcible remark. "My dear sir," she. said sweetly, inclining her head and shoulder towards me, "worn in has always considered that she h;ul as much right as a man to propose. It is only a quest ion of having the courage of her convictions.'' I felt it was dangerous to puisne the subject with so frank and fascinating a young thing.

The presence of a learned Chinaman in New Zealand lecturing on his country brings homo to us the mighty change that has como over China, The drubbing she got from Japan has done her good. The oldexclusivoness has boon broken down, and is replaced by a desiro to mix with the rest of the world. After a sleep of centuries, tho Flowery Kingdom is rubbing her eyes and yawning and stretching herself.

Now civilisation is being literally crammed down her throat, and although she takes to it as illy as a boy takes a dose of senna, sba is taking it all the some.

She has engaged the services of a lot of European military officers, who are trying to bring the army up to some sort of discipline and effectiveness. She is preparing to build roads wide enough for two vehicles to pass each other, and for the first time in her very long history she is beginning to hear the voice of tho teamster on his way to market.

The few railroads now existing in China aro to bo repaired and others are to be built. Telephones and telegraphs aro to spring up, and magical changes aro to take place generally. Poor old China, there is something pathetic in her present efforts to drag herself up to date. It took an awful drubbing to make her see her stupidity and to realise that tho machinery of the fifteenth century will not do against that of the present day. She reminds me of a decayed old bello trying to be a blooming maid again.

There is no question but many of the rising generation are in sore need of having some sound religious and moral principles instilled into them. But if this is not dono in tho home, it will never be done by reading Scripture lessons in a school.

In school, children look on all such reading as work, ami never take kindly to it. Religion and virtue are thoeflloresconco of the heart and soul, and can only bloom under home influences.

I very heartily endorse the remarks of Mr Martin, S.M., that the police for their own sake will make every effort to apprehend the absconding detective, Kirby. Two such escapes, both members of the police force, within 15 months are more' than the police force can atand. It is quite evident, too, that the police force itself is in need of reformation.

When I recently wrote about the police not doing their duty some people thought I was tco severe. But I knew better. This Kirby case has soiled the whole force, and it must rehabilitate itself in tho good opinion of the public.

And was I not correct, too, in my estimate and opinion of the proposed Natives' Association ? One of tho speakers at the meeting on Thursday night said it " was absurd to proceed with the formation of the Society," if no more interest was shown in it. I understand some say it was Sir Robert Stout who killed it, while others say it was " Tho Fat Contributor."

Of course wo all take a look abroad now and again. Our minds need recreation as well as do our bodies, and in our mental tours we naturally take in what is going on. Let us look at Africa for a moment, and we will get a striking idea of the marvellous changes going on in tho world. It is not so long ago that Africa was a vast and hopeless wilderness filled with mosquitoes, malaria and alligators.

Europe was an eel-pot in tho matter of swarming population. An outlet was wanted for tho surplus and turbulent population, and so began tho seizure of small and ragged fringes along the Dark Continent. Nearly all the European nations took part in this little grab game, which they carried oir merrily and with ever-increasing impetuosity, until now the invaders aro in possession of some seven millions of square miles of the country.

Franco alone has two millions, and England as much more. Portugal and Belgium have grabbed thumping big slices, and the natives are on the run to the rear. They have to get out of the way. It will not bo many years before the European markets are flooded with the products of Africa and we will ourselves have a, rival in the English marts. On the all-import-ant points of population, industry, production and trade tho face of the earth is changing rapidly. In 20 years more the Dark Continent will bo a centre of light, but then change, perpetual change, is tho universal law.

The man who pretends to be horrified at little offences is sure to be quite at home in large vices; and the man who would iioj, do a little thing "for all the money on earth" could generally bo bought for ton bob to do almost anything. 1 detest blatant hypocrites and false pretenders. Wo have a few of thorn in Wellington.

I am pleased to find that even hi this mercenary age there is something that money cannot buy, and 1 am all the bettor pleased that woman and literature ligure favourably in tho story. The -dory, which has jiiot come to light, is

That some time .ago a very wealth American, perhaps Aster, called upon Alphonsu Baudot in Paris and oll'ered him JJ.'jU'JO a year to edit an bib rnational review. 31, Laud't found that the offer was mad'', by a man who could afford to indulge in any luxury that, hit his fancy. Mine. Baudot, however, looked with suspicion upon the project and persuaded her gifted husband to reject tho offer. Tho review was not founded.

Tho French aro a very practical people notwithstanding their gaiofy and seeming frivolity. Finding that the mortality among infants put out last year at the expense of the Government to be nursed rose to tho pitch of 68 per cent,, they have proceeded to find a remedy for this alarming condition of affairs. The remedy is the subvention of poverty-stricken mothers who, however willing they may be, find it impossible to discharge tho obligations of nature towards their offspring.

There are some things in science that I do not approve—for instance, the making of buttons out of potatoes, potatoes aro always good and wholesome and readily digestible and never induce tits of iucligos-

tion that give murderous impulses as most of housewives' pies do.

Did they make buttons out of pies I would hail that invention as the crowning triumph of science. To put pies to that purpose solely would be the greatest benefit ever conferred upon mankind. Will not some philanthropist—somo earnest lover of his race—try it ?

Now that tho ghost has disappeared, Newtown is finding its amusement in another direction. Two rival chemists are making lots of fun for the people out there by their opposition advertising signs. On half of a fence is the following : —" Take "Woods' Great Peppermint Cure for Coughs and Colds, Is (3d to 2s (id." Straight along after this on the other half of the fence is, "Then Cure your Cough with Wilton's Old English Cough Linctus, Is Od."

Now these men are both possessed of a genius for advertising. Standing alone, the signs would attract but little attention, and that be only ephemeral in its impression. United they make people laugh, and when you make a man laugh you have him. Practised old hand that I am, they make even me give them a free advertisement. But laughter is so good for us—body and soul and mind—that I would give an advertisement for a laugh at any time.

Do yon ever look into polif ics ? The combination Tory-National Ass. Party have so many candidates that they are actually heart-broken by the superabundance. Stout thinks ho could save us all in l'ii minutes; Russell is working his last chance with a pressure of a thousand jTOiinds to the square inch ; Newman declares that he has already saved us, and Mr Jo!m Duthie smilingly asserts that he was specially born to preserve New Zealand in political purity and lighteusness. Great heads all!

No, I don't like clubs. When a man seeks his club for amusement or pleasure, you may be sure the romance ha? died out at home—the attraction faded, the sweet shackles of love fallen to dust, the good angel of the domestic hearth vanished. Then comes the time when a man is a gentleman everywhere else than where he ought to 1)0 one, namely, in his own house. There ho is a boar.

I see by the cable reports that the Marquis do Mores, that remarkable Frenchman, has gone to Egypt " to organise the Arab leaders against the British." 1 know tho marquis, and would bo prepared to hear of him engaging in any wild and desperato enterprise. As a ranchman in tho Western States of America ho gained for himself a reputation as "a, regular little devil."

lie was perpetually engaged in warfare with bands of American cowboys, and knew neither fear nor mercy. He shot half a dozen or more of tho cowboys in his various encounters with them, ami was, I believe, indicted several times for murder, but always got off. lie loves a wild life ; and organising tho Arabs is just such a thing as would exactly suit his taste, and Arab warfare would appeal to his temperament. As a duellist in Franco he had the "highest" reputation.

Added to his natural disposition for such an undertaking his Gallic patriotism would bo likely to spur him on, for however diplomacy may smooth things over, the occupation of Egypt by England raises a constant soro with France. France has past connections with Egypt which gives her soint! real claim on that country, and which leads her to claim more. Tho conquest of Napoleon; tho work of Champollion and othor savants; the support given to Mehcmet Ali; French enterprise in Egypt, and the French character given to Cairo under Mohomot Ali and his successors ; tho construction of tho Sue'/, Canal; tho introduction of French jurisprudence—these aro all facts and circumstances that make Frenchmen take a. living interest in Egypt.

These tlungs considered the departure of Do Mores for Egypt has a meaning much more than might ordinarily lie attached to the act of an individual. English occupation is a, wound to French pride; nor is it possible to forget that (his occupation and tho influence England exercises in the

of may at iuiy tinio I'ui'iii l,hu tor aijiiartvl with l'Yaneo, ami i., ill llii.i ;;c;;;;ij a iv.tl danism to VjWj;liiud. Tin: Fat C'<»:,"j , «:;tii:T'">i:.