HOME AND FOREIGN.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1617, 25 February 1903, Page 16

HOME AND FOREIGN.

RUDYARD KIPLING BANISHED. BERLIN, January 2. Several Berlin newspapers publish this morning a poem addressed “To Rudyard Kipling” by Ernst von Wildenbruch, one of the most popular cf Germany's living poets and dramatists. Word passed from one to another, says Wildenbruch, that over in England a poet had again let loose a thunderbolt aga,i|nst Gerjmlany. “So we read what he had to say against us, laid it aside with a shake of the head, read it a second and a third time. What did you say—a poet has arraigned us ? Is that what Britons to-day call a poet? “Tho poet’s word comes out of a world beyond tho reacli of the cx*y of fury of tho masses. He is the mouthpiece of mankind and their judge. Call him what you like who himself runs in tho street, who coins words of abuse and piles of invective, but don’t call him ‘poet.’ “No. We don’t accept you as a witness ; we tako no lessons from a slanderer. You. a son of the Germanic blood, slander your blood relations as a brood and defame the German honour. You, who aro not full of sacred anger, but spluttering poisonous rancour, you daro to call us shameless Huns! “Open the great book of history, and your words will burn into your soul iiko a curse. ... Did you never see tho graceful figure cf fable wandering through a German wood ? __Have you never heard German, music ? Have Goethe’s and Schiller’s world-songs and the rushing sound of German poetry never reached your ears ? “Go. Wo separate you for ever from the land which gave birth to Shakespeare. Remain outside our gates. Every other word of yours with which wo wero so delighted you have nullified with one word. Some day, when England and the German land recognise what they have long failed to do, the community of souls in the sons of God, all shall he welcome except one. Your name alone shall never again resound in Germany.” THE STEEL TRUST. NEW YORK, January 2. Genuine amazement greets the anjjcuuccinerit that the Steel Trust will ■Share its profits with employees, sell them stock on the instalment plan, insure their lives, and become their hankers, and that a sum of £400,000 has been set aside for this purpose. Tho “Journal” says this is an amazing stride towards Socialism. The “Sun” thinks that the effects will be revolutionary, and w ill be felt in all tho great industries throughout the earth. Tho “World,” however, notes that Wall Street men doubt if tins is pliilanthropy, .or merely a scheme to work off tho enormous surplus of steel stocks at. which tho public has shied. Mr Pierpont Morgan yesterday spent £120,000 giving his 140 employees a double year’s ' salary. Mr Morgan’s banking - house made £2,400,000 during tho year, and Mr Morgan's personal profits aro estimated at £t>,000,000. OCCULTIST’S SUICIDE. PARIS, December 2. Albert G-uelle, a well-educated youth, was so captivated by the occult sciences that he* gave up liis situation and abandoned his homo to give himself entirely to their study. He was so convinced cf the double character of self that ho tried to make his body die for ten days in-order to give his soul freedom for that period. To do this ho invented a head-gear containing a reservoir of chloroform and water, which was to fall drop by drop on his lips to ensure continuous sleep. In order to prevent decomposition he rubbed ins body with: da antiseptic, and before giving liis soul its ten days’ _ vacation ho wrote to a doctor friend informing him of tho experiment. Tho latter rushed to Gnelle’s address at Mention, hut was too late. The occult scientist was already dead, leaving a scientific testament giving the world tho benefit of his studies, and his mother some consolation in the event of his experiments ending disastrously. JEWISH SOLDIERS. A largo and more fashionable congregation than usual assembled at the Central Synagogue, Great Portland Street, London, on Sunday, December 28, for the annual Chanukah service to tho Jewish members of the Forces. Lord Roberts attended, walking round from liis residence in Portland Place accompanied by Lady Aileen, and tho Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress drove in state from the Mansion House with tho Sheriffs. There wero between 500 and 600 Jewish military in the Synagogue, including members representing every branch of the service. Side by side with a sprightly Scots Guardsman sat a Royal Engineer, and on each side were riflemen from many battalions. A coupio of brawny members of Kitcheners Corps, in khaki, contrasted strango-

Iy with a diminutive band boy in the dark uniform cf the City Volunteers. Lord Roberts, in undress uniform, sat in tho Warden Is box, just in front of the Reading Desk, facing tho Ark. Beside him were Sir Marcus Samuel, Alderman Sir G. W. Truscott, and Sir T. H. Brooke-Hitching, the ladies, according to the customary synagogul arrangement, sitting in the galleries overhead. WOMAN’S PITIFUL TALE. A neatly dressed young woman, apparently in great distress, sought the South-Western Magistrate’s advice on December 29th under somewhat painful circumstances. While in South Africa recently, she said, she made the acquaintance of a private in the King’s Own Scottish Borderers. Ho offered her marriage* and represented that if by any chance he could return to England ho would be in a position to make her his wife. Believing his promise, she purchased his discharge from the army and paid his passage home. She travelled by the same boaff She advanced him nearly £2OO. and at tho last moment, when everything was approaching completion, he disappeared from his temporary home in .Harrogate, Yorkshire, and had not since been hoard of. She had been without friends and with little money., Mr Garrett sympathised with her in her dilemma, but as no legal offence had been committed, the Court, lie explained, could not interfere. Applicant: But, sir, he took my money. _ Mr Garrett: Yes, you advanced it to him. Applicant: Under the representations that ho would make me his wife. Mr Garrett : That is no false pretence in law. Applicant: Can I bring an action for breach of promise of marriage? Yes; but that is a matter for the civil court. As the young woman added that the man stele seine valuable deeds boiongto her,, she was referred to one of the detective officers in attendance. A GIRL STABBED. On Sunday morning, December 23th, soon after midnight, Wilmost street, Bethnal Green, London was aroused by cries of “Murder.” Later a young woman named Mary Ann Rowe was discovered lying on the pavement bleeding from several stabs. On her way to the hospital she made a statement to> a constable ; and accordingly the police searched for a young man with whom she had been “keeping company.” In St. George’s square, Hoxton. he was found in bed. The police say that patches of blood were found upon liis clothing; and he admitted having been with the girl. When shown a knife that- had been picked up near the scene of the stabbing, he would bay nothing definite about it. Giving his name as George Plant, and liis age as 27 years, he was brought up et Worship street Police Court next day. charged with wounding with intent. It appeared that the girl had given him hack tho rings that he gave her, and that these were found in his coat pocket. Tiie police constable who. with the father of the girl, assisted to convey her to the hospital, was put forward to give evidence of a statement she was said to have made- to him on the way there, but as it was made in tho absence of the accused, it was not admitted aj evidence. It was said that the gild, who was not in attendance, had seven wounds on her face and neck, as if an attempt had been made to cut her throat, but there was no medical evidence as yet. Inspector Collins, of the J D’vis:on. asked for a remand, which was granted, the prisoner being removed in custody. ITALY AND AUSTRIA. ROME, December 23. An official Note to-night announces that Baron Pasetti, tho Ambassador of Austria-Hungary, by the insttraction of his Government, has denounced the commercial and navigation treaty rf December 6th. 1901, between Austria-Hun-gary and Italy, and the treaty will consequently expire on the day after tomorrow. The denunciation is actuated by the impossibility which the Austro Hungarian Government declares it finds in maintaining the clause relative vo the importation of Italian wines into AustriaHungary, and the expiration of this part of the treaty has caused some alarm among the Italian wine-growers of the South. Speaking generally, however, the denunciation. is received very calmly. Signor Prinetti the Minister for Foreign Affairs, when interpellated in the Chamber a fortnight ago, replied virtually that Austria-Hungary had at least as much to lose by the denunciation as Italy. And to this the “Tribuna” adds tonight: “The denunciation finds our Government perfectly prepared. We only, therefore, have to wait developments

with perfect tranquillity and confidence corresponding to that energy which the Minister for Foreign Affairs promised the Chamber to employ and which Italian commercial interests demand.” ENGLISH DROWNING MYSTERY. Thomas Lewis, the accused man in the Rhondda love tragedy, wa,s brought before the Pontypridd stipendiary on December 29, He is a short, well-built ycung fellow, with red hair, and when his name was called he stepped boldly into the prisoner’s box to answer the charge of wilful murder of liis sweetheart, Ethel Adlanp aged 17, on or about the previous Saturday. Tho proceedings did’ net last many minutes, only sufficient evidence being given to justify a remand for a week. A brother cf deceased informed the Court that he missed her from the house on Saturday night, and went in search of her. Ho found accused underneath a fowl cot at tho back cf his (prisoner’s) house. When questioned as to whero the deceased was, ho said, “Well, if you want to knew, she is in tho river.” On hearing this, witness’s mother fainted. Police-inspector Williams deposed to finding the body in the river close bi 7 deceased’s house. On his arrest prisoner declared that deceased wanted to do' away with herself. She ran to the river ■and fell on her cheek hone. She got up end then fainted away and fell on her face. Ho tried to pull her e.nt and failed, and left her in tho river with her face nn. Tho coroner has ordered a post-mor-tem examination cf tho body to be made. It is stated that early on Saturday deceased gave her lover a silk handkerchief a,s a. Christmas present. Before his arrest Lewis said in the house that be had linen afraid to tell of his sweetheart's fate, and addressing deceased’s n other pathetically, said, “You know that Ethel always loved mo.” Accused was remanded. ELECTRIC TRACTION. COPENHAGEN, December 29. Sweden lias decided to take a serious step in the matter cf electric railway traction. The committee which was nominated on tlic subject some time ago has presented a report declaring that electric traction must be realised as soon as possible on the whole system of the State railways, which compose Sweden’s main lines. Most parts of the country possess waterfalls and torrents where electric, works for the use of the railways could be constructed, and it would he necessary for the plan to be realised that the Government should secure to itself the possession of these waterfalls. South Wevcrn, in Sweden, where where there are no great waterfalls, is rich in turf mosses, which would furnish fuel for the electric works, and these also, it is pointed out, should be acquired.

Tho committee proposes to introduce electric traction at first only on one stretch, and then if this prove successful to let the others follow, a method which seems to present the least difficulty. If a beginning is made in 1903, the committee hopes that all tho Swedish State lines will have electric traction by 1905. HOME ELECTRICITY. ROME, December 29. Telegrams from Naples to the “Secolo,” cf Milan, state that an engineer named Pansa, of Cassino, lias succeeded in producing a machine which converts the light and heat of the sun into an alternating electric current. No details are given, but according to tho “Secolo’s” correspondent, the inventor believes that his machine will revolutionise electric service, and that every family will ere long be able to manufacture its own electricity in its own back yard for heating, lighting and driving small motors for domestic use. FRENCH SENATE IN DANGER, PARIS, December 29. Are the Luxembourg Palace (including the Senate) and gardens about to sink into the catacombs? This is the latest scare. Though not so grave as the question would indicate, the condition of the Luxembourg is serious, and M. Scellier de Gisors, architect of the Senate, has drawn up a report on the subject. Towards the encl of November several large cracks appeared in the Avails of the outbuildings of the Senate, those occupied by the permanent officials and by the architect himself being very badly damaged’. On December loth a party of exploration examined the catacombs, and found that the roof below the spot where the Palace stands has cracked most dangerously. This is especially noticeable beneath the architect’s pavilion, and unless 12,000 f be at once spent in putting in supports, this building will be m the catacombs. The other works are less urgent, but a credit of 36,000 f is required for them*

Only to think, while France is renew* ing tho Senate, tho Palace where i& holds its councils is tottering on Lrimk of tho catacombs. ICELANDERS FOR CANADA. COPENHAGEN, December 29. The emigration from Iceland to Canada, at one time very considerable, has in recent years somewhat diminished. 1" our Canadian agents have in consequence arrived in Iceland, and one result has been that a considerable interest has developed on the subject; it is asserted that several secret agents are also actively working in the some field. For tho purpose of preserving the ohl Icelandic langua.go among tho immigrants, the Manitoba University has recently instituted a chair cf the Icelandic language. REACTIONARY POLITICAL METHODS. Mr Frederic Harrison on January Ist delivered his New Year address to the members of tho London Positivist Society, at Clifford’s Inn Hall. The paramount feature cf the past year, said he, had been the profound sense of relief with which we found our country freed from the disastrous war that ha; 1 lasted nearly three years. Mr Harris'?!, in this connection, paid a high tribute to tho decision of Mr Chamberlain to inquire into the recent problems m the country where they have arisen. He criticised the conduct uf the Government in reference to the Somali and the Venezuelan affairs; and he spoke of the Monroe doctrine—which. perhaps, in its final form, may apparent’y nm into the simple formula: “No European monarchy shad 'hold land on the transAt lan tic continent.” “The astute politicians,” he remarked, “who obtained temporary power by arousing a. delirium of war’ilce enthusiasm. perceived that not an hour should be, lost in securing their interests at Home while they still retained the control.

“Tho Conservative reaction which defeated Mr Gladstone has for many years nursed more or less latent desires to restore tho monopoly of the Established Church, to get control of the primary instruction of the people, to nibble at the fermdatiens of free trade, to introduce forced military service, to restrict the action of labour asso cat ions, and handicap the popular development cf local government. “Alt of these objects have Ken proved on under the impulse afforded by a great khaki majority. “A generation or two ago the ideals and aspirations of Englishmen were for things less sanguinary, less arrogant-, less arbitrary than they aro to-day. keynote cf it all is the substitution of pride in Imperial aggrandisement for zeal in the development of our historic institutions and the welfare cf our people as a whole. “The old barriers have been swept away which guarded the constitution against the introduction of martial law on English soil ; taxation cf the people's food has been introduced, by which the fabric of free trade was tmclermined; coercion has been revived in Ireland, wild horses have been driven _ through the system of finance established by Peel and Gladstone.” A MACEDONIAN REVENGE. VIENNA, December 23. The terrible Macedonian insurgent leader Konstantin Pop off was taken prisoner by Forli Bov, thrown into gaol at Florinja, and subjected to Jiornble torturo because he refused to betray his companions. Nadezda Garewa, his betrothed, swore to avenge him. She .stole by night past tlio sentries into tho bcorcom, stabbed him to the heart, and fled. She had not gone far, however, before the bullets of the Turkish Zaptiehs overtook her and she fell a corpse. MOROCCO REVOLT. BRUSSELS, December 28. . Tho correspondent of the “IndepondaacG Belgo” at Tangier reports from an official source that the regular army of Morocco was completely beaten by tho Pretender near Teza, and that a mad panic has resulted at Fez. Tho gates of the city have heen closed, and the Sultan’s forces are flying in disorder. Tho French mission which is at present at Tangier, has put off its departure for Fez.

A COSTLY FOWL. A law suit which had passed already through two Courts has just been settled in the Supreme Court of Law *afc Vienna, It was a civil action to recover damages for the injuries caused to a little girl by' a fowl which flew at her, destroyed an eye, and othenvi.se hurt her, and the owner of the bird lias been ordered to pay a yearly sum until the girl reaches 10 years of age, costs of the doctor and the suit, besides a lump sum down,, amounting to about £2OO in all*

EIGHTY LIVES LOST. ST. PETERSBURG, December 27. According to a despatch from Bachmnt, in the government of Kkaterinoslav, a fire broke out in tho Anna shaft of the Uspensk coal mine, in which a hundred men were at work. Twenty were saved. There was little hope for the others. WOLVES IN CANADA. MONTREAL, December 29. T lie severe weather around Quebec and Levis has driven packs of hungry wolves to the outskirts of those cities. They are devouring sheep and goats, paid even trying to carry off children. Battues are being organised on a large scale. NIG ER,IA N EXPEDITIO N. Telegraphic advices have been received announcing tho death in. October last of the Emir of Sokoto, the great religious centre of Hausaland. The now Emir is said to bo better disposed towards the British than his predecessor. The attitude of tho Emir Kano has lately become so- increasingly hostile that; " immediate operations against him have been decided upon by Sir Frederick Lugard. Almost every week tho Emir- has been sending menacing letters to Captain Abadie, the British Resident at Zrria—the nearest British garrison to Kano —and has placed a price upon his liead._ Intelligence from Northern Nigeria shows that operations will be of a larger and more important character than any previous undertaking of the kind in Northern Nigeria. The Emir is said to have between 4000 mounted troops, and the city or Kano itself is strongly defended. It is estimated that about 1200 British troops—of the West African Frontier Force—under tho command of Co. M or laud, will be employed. PARIS HOTEL SUICIDE. PARIS. December 31. The mother and sister of. Gilbert V. Craig who attempted suicide at the Hotel Continental on Monday, and who was removed to the Hospital do la Charite, wliero he died, arrived at the hotel to-night from Londonderry, where Craig practised rts a solicitor. Ho had been to the South of France for tho benefit of bis health, and was depressed. Grief for the loss of his wife, who died in Londonderry on 24. th November, was tho cause of the unhappy resolve to take his life. It was due to the British Embassy, out of consideration for the family’s fee!:|ng|s, that little was said of the affair until the relatives from Londonderry could arrive. The body remained for two and a half days in the hospital without a word cf inquiry being made. The hotel authorities knew nothing of the deceased, save that he signed himself Gilbert V. Craig with an Irish address. They could do nothing but wire to Londonderry saying that he was seriously ill, and a Mrs CTaig replied. He was only 32. A MARRIAGE THAT DIDN’T COME OFF. Tho rising village of Dalmuir, Scotland, is shaking its sides with laughter just now over a moving marriage tale. A couple belonging to the labouring class, with their friends and the minister, gathered in the house there for Ilia purpose of being joined in the holy bonds of wedlock. But, alas! the prospective husband had been fortifying himself too much during the day for the coming ceremony—at least in the eyes of the bride —and to the surprise of everybody, including tho minister, who said such a state of things at a wedding in Dalmuir was far from being unknown to him, she refused to accept the man, and declared the marriago “off.” Nothing that the angry and disappointed guests, or anybody else, could say would alter lier determinaiton, and as tho minister prepared to depart he quietly remarked, “If you make up your mind again I shall be pleased to carry out my part.” Then the storm burst. The intending Benedict, who denied that there was anything the matter with him, shouted out, “Wul-1 ye? Well, it’ll no he tae this chap onyweyand with a fine dramatic gesture he caught hold of the marriago lines he had been so careful to. bring with him, tore them into a dozen pieces, and threw them into the fire. He then departed to finish his spree with “his pals. FAMINE IN SOUTHERN CHINA. Much' has been written of late regarding the unsatisfactory state of affairs in Southern China, more especially in the provinces cf Kwang-Si and Ivwang-Tung, and a more careful investigation into the question shows that for tho most part the reports are well founded. The rice famine has caused very great discontent among, the people, and tho authorities, recognising the gravity of the situation, have been undertaking relief on a large scale. But the coorer classes are still greatly dis-

tressed, and unless very energetic measures aro taken to assist them the consequences must bo serious. From a usually most reliable source, wo learn that a revolutionary movement on a large scale has recently been discovered in Canton, and its origin is ascribed to Sun Yat Sen’s Reform party. Native officials found certain documents in a liou.se on the opposite side cf Canton River, giving details regarding tho movement, while in another quarter a largo number of black flagt bearing the Chinese character for “Jvang” was found, and it is inferred from this that Kang Yu Wei’s surname was used for the purpose of bringing tho reformer’s name prominently before the imperial Chinese Government. Meanwhile the affairs in the country districts are growing Averse and worse, and in many instances parents are scllino- their children at prices ranging from 10 dollars to 40 dollars in order to buy food. The rebellion in KwangSi still continues, and owing to the sudden rise in the price cf rice the rebels, who are now assembling in greater numbers. have become mere violent. In addition to these matters there is the question of piracy on the Canton, Pearl, and. West Rivers, which calls for sovora measures. A BOLD SICILIAN BRIGAND. While- the Italian police were searching everywhere for tiie notorious Sicilian brigand Yansalona. the . brigand himself, on Christinas Eve, paid a visit to Villa Abate to make a number cf purchases for Christmas. He was recognised by everybody, but neno ventured to denounce him to the police. A few Avceks ago the same brigand visited a house belonging to one of the aristocratic families near "V ika Abate, when a ball Avas being given. Vasaloua danced with several of the young ladies, who desired to have tho honour. ‘•'SACKS OF GOLD” STOLEN.

A theft ox bullion amounting to over £4OOO was committed some days ago at the Gare d’Austerlitz in Paris. Seven sacks of gold coin were, it seems, despatched from the Tarbcs branch of the Bank of France to the Paris lieadauarters, tied and sealed, and placed in two baskets. When the bank employees had taken the baskets from the train they deposited them on the platform against the wall, and, incredible as it may appear, paid no further attention to them and their precious contents till about seven o’clock at night, when, they decided to remove them to the bank. But on examining the basket they found that instead of seven sacks •of .gold there were only four. A SERVANT GIRL’S REVENGE. A cruel - and wicked vengeance was taken the other evening upon a helpless baby six weeks old by a servant girl named Marie Coudere. She was employed as nursemaid by M. and Mine. Rieard in the Ruo do Mercier, Paris, but as she proved unsuitable was told she would be discharged at the end cf the month. The girl said nothing, but on Monday, when she was left alone ■with the infant, she took a bottle of tincture of iodine and poured a quantity down the child’s throat. The little sufferer’3 agonising screams brought tho neighbours to the rescue, and in the confusion the nursemaid took to flight. She was afterwards found at her parents’ home in the Batignolles quarter, and confessed her heartless crime. .Site was arrested, and is now in the prison cf St. Lazaine. The condition of the baby is very serious, but it is hoped that her life may be saved. ANOTHER JEWEL ROBBERY. George Junker, a cook, hailing from New Orleans, was remanded at Marlborough Street Police Court, London, recently, charged with stealing jewels worth £2OO, the property cf Miss Ethel Morris, from Hagen’s Hotel, Grosvenor Street, on December 19th. Florence Baker, lady’s maid to Lady Darcy Osborne,’ and Miss ■ Morris, deposed to seeing the property, which consisted of three gold bangles, a gold watch, two scarf pins, two neck chains, four gold bracelets, etc., safe at the hotel cm tire date mentioned, while two hours later it was missing. She had since seen £3O worth of the missing jewellery, in the hands of the police, who found it at the prisoner’s lodgings. A SUICIDE’S FUNERAL. William Harris, late of the South Wales Borderers, who committed suicide at St. Briavel’s Forest of Dean, after shooting a young woman named Cox, was buried late at night in St. Briavel’s Churchyard, where the Rev. J. C. May, the vicar, attended in evening dress and offered an extempore prayer. Two male members of the .deceased’s family witnessed the interment, but owing to the privacy observed less than 20 persons altogether were present to see the sad spectacle. The grave was in a remote corner of the churchyard near the boundary. Tire injured girl is reported to be recovering.