HOME AND FOREIGN

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1717, 25 January 1905, Page 18

HOME AND FOREIGN

FRENCH DIVORCE LAW RULING. PARIS, November 19. The Minister of Justice has issued a circular instructing the judicial authorities to interpret in the most liberal possible sense the laws relating to the remarriage of respondents in divoice suits, which hitherto have always been most rigorously applied. The law forbidding the marriage of a respondent and a co-respondent remains in force, but the instructions are not to refuse permission in case of the first husband being dead. HIT BY BRITISH GUNBOAT’S SHOT. LONDON, November 19. The Oarron Line steamer Grange arrived in the Thames to-day, and reported having had an exciting experience in the North Sea, off Inohhieth, on November 17, the vessel being struck by shots from a British gunboat. The gunboat was practising with her guns in hazy weather, and the shots - fell all around the Grange, which was struck twice, but not seriously injured. The firing ceased only after continous shrieking of the Grange’s siren. GERMANY FOR PEACE. KIEL, November 19. This city was m holiday attire today in honour of Emperor William, who was present at the swearing in of naval recruits and the launching of a battleship, which was named the Deutschland. Chancellor von Bulow in a speech emphasised the fact that the increase in the strength of the German fleet did not mean a challenge to any one. In saying that the ship was to bear the name of the Fatherland, the Chancellor asked: “What does this name tell us? What do we wish the German Empire to be?” He proceeded to answer these ! questions as follows: —“Resting securely in concord, its sovereigns and peoples guaranteeing to small and great the full measure of their rights in accordance with the law and constitution, helping the weak, increasing in prosperity with order at home, giving free course to all honest labour and cordially welcoming evry form of efficiency, we feel that by these means alone can ground be prepared in the empire for all works of peace. To protect these in the competition of nations, we keep our weapons sharp. To this end we build our fleet, hut our naval defence is a challenge to no one. Willingly we stand in line with all the friends of peace, without forgetting that we alone do not determine the course of the world’s destiny. Strong in the peaceful council of nations, we wish, to see our land flourish and prosper. May our youngest ship, which your majesty is about to name, help us to this end.” The Emperor then named the vessel the Deutschland. IRISH NATIONALIST PARTY. LONDON, November 19. The Irish Nationalist party is on the verge of a serious split in its ranks. Unless some amicable arrangement can quickly be reached, 'Messrs Dillon and Sexton, with their personal following, will secede from the leadership of John Redmond. In this event Mr Redmond will have the aggressive support of William O’Brien, over whom a dispute has arisen. In recent speeches in Ireland Mr Redmond is held to have openly sided with Mr O'Drien regarding the differences of opinion which have long existed between Mr and the Dullon-Sexton-Davitt faction. It is said on good authority that Mr Redmond has been told that, unless he withdraws his support from Mr secession will result. No definite decision has been reached, but it is understood that Mr Redmond prefers to throw in his lot with Mr the event of the breach becoming definite, it is thought that the party would at the moment be fairly evenly divided, Mr O’Brien’s tremendous popularity in the south being offset by the influence of Mr Sexton’s powerful organ. “The Freeman’s Journal,” and the more radical following of Messrs Davitt and' Difton. Such a division probably would leave the followers of Mr Healy with what might become the balance of power, and this, according to present indications, would he thrown in favour of Redmond and CFBrien. The present internal crisis is the result of the gradually increasing disagreement over the action instigated by Mr O'Brien and carried out by Mr Redmond in tlieir famous land purchase conference with the Irish landlords. DISEST ABLISHM ENT MOVEMENT. LONDON, N ore > i be r 19. The disestablishment movement in Scotland has received a setback from the decision of the law lords handing over the assets of the United Free Church to a score of Highland pastors too obstinate to accept the will of the majority c-i the independent Preshy-

terians. Now comes a fresh decision disfranchising passive resisters on the ground that the education rate is a part of the poor rate, and that delinquents who refuse to pay it cannot legally vote in Parliamentary elections. The Lord Chief Justice and Justices Kennedy and Ridley decide the matter by a hard, dry construction of statutes from Queen Elizabeth’s time, as though there were nothing like current politics in it, but when they have to file opinions the revising barristers are authorised to strike from the registry the names of thousands of passive resist era, who for conscience’ sake have refused to pay school taxes because they objected to having the catechism taught by a priest or a parson. D'r Clifford, who lias led the Nonconformist revolt against the law, defiantly announces that imprisonment and disfranchisement are alike welcome when his followers are resisting taxation for the propagation of Romanism and' ritualism, but every practical politician knows that the Liberals will lose thousands of votes when the law lords sustain the Lord Chief Justice on appeal, as they are likely to do. The decision that the passive resisters as lawbreakers cannot exercise the rights of citizenship will disarm them and render the revision of the education acts by the Liberal government an inevitable success. HOME POLITICS. LONDON, November 19. Domestic politics remains a game of hide and seek on the government side. George Wyndham, who is a loyal Balfourian, protests against drumming anybody out of the Unionist party, and. Bonar Law, who is a Chamberlain partisan, advocates protection outright. Lord George Hamilton affects to believe that Mr Balfour has repudiated the Chamberlain policy, but fails to account for the presence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Cabinet, and admits that a tariff reform candidate lias been substituted for himself in Ealing. The truth is that more than half the free food trimmers in the House of Commons have already been converted to tariff reform, and those still in revolt are likely to lose the support of local associations. Even so resolute a Tory as Lord Hugh Cecil will be disciplined for remaining a free trader. Lord Rosebery continues the most prominent candidate for Liberal Prime Minister, because he has prestige and charm of personality. The Duke of Devonshire is reported by friends as reluctant to head a coalition Cabinet, even though it is well known that the duchess ardently desires him to do so. Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, as a' canny, pawky Scotsman, remains Lord Rosebery’s main competitor, and is a logical advocate of free trade whenever he speaks. 200 MILES AN HOUR MOTOR. NEW YORK, November 30. Mi- L. A. Laroche, who represents the Darracq automobiles in the United States, told a “World” interviewer this afternoon that permission had been obtained for a speed trial over the Pennsylvania Railroa-1 from New York to Philadelphia, on a 180 horse-power car, geared to do 3800 revolutions a minute. It is believed that it is possible', given favourable conditions of wind and weather, for the car to do 200 miles an hour, and Philadelphia will he reached inside of half an hour. The date of the trial will be kept secret in order to avoid a crowd. MAMMOTH RAILWAY STATION. BERLIN, November 30. A railway station, which will be the largest in the world and will cost £7,500,000, has-been begun in Leipzig. Its length will be nearly 1000 ft, and its thirteen platforms ‘each over 1000 ft long. Seven gigantic steel arches will span the station, each nearly 140 ft wide. The city of Leipzig will contribute £BOO,OOO towards the cost, the State contributing the remainder. WORLD’S SHOW. ST. LOUIS, December 1. The great World’s Fair, which was opened on April 30, closed) to-night with ceremonies similar to those that marked its opening seven months ago. ExGovernor Francis, president of the Exposition, will make a final address, and a picturesque' procession will be formed at midnight to march through the grounds, when the gates will be closed and the fair declared at an end. While the Exposition has been as successful as most affairs got up on so large a scale, it has lost money, and the guarantors have more than once' been called upon to make good deficiencies. No exact statement of the losses has yet been published, but the balancesheets will be issued, it is expected, short ly.

Tlie management complain that the high prices charged for visitors by the hotels, and the neglect of the newspapers to give adequate notices to the fair have militated against its being a money success. To this might he added

the very liberal use of free tickets, which were given away wholesale during the first few months of the undertaking. CANADA’S MINIMUM. TORONTO 1 , December 1. Mr W. K. George, president of the .Canadian Manufacturers’ Association, in an address before the Empire Club, urged the necessity of greater protection to native industries. Dealing with the preferential trade issue, he said:—“We have been charged with insincerity on the ground that vve say a minimum tariff should protect Canadian industries. We stand on that. Any other basis would be injurious to- Canada and thus detrimental to the Empire l . As we grow in populaion and wealth in Canada we wish to turn our external commerce into British channels. We want it understood, however, that if 'Great Britain does not wish to give us reciprocal preference, we do not tv ant it. It is for Great Britain to say.” TRAGEDIES OF JEALOUSY. BERLIN, November 30. A farmer named Jaskulski, living near Myslowitz, on the Russian frontier, has executed a, diabolical piece of revenge on his unfaithful wife and her lover. He attached a dynamite cartridge to the foot of a sofa in his house, on which hie wife was accustomed to sit with her friend. A long fuse led from the sofa outside the house. Jaskulski waited until he was certain that the pair were on the sofa together, and then exploded the cartridge. Both were instantly killed. In Kattowitz the wife of a labouring man who had quarrelled with, her husband, poured molten lead into his ear and over his face while he lay asleep at night. CANADIAN DEFENCE. Toronto, Dec. 16.—The Toronto “Globe” to-day makes the announcement that the Imperial Government intends to withdraw the garrisons at Halifax and Esqi#malt, and declares that the garrisoning of both places with well-trained Canadian Regulars would be a far more popular method of contributing to Imperial defence than the granting of a million dollars yearly to the War Office. “The British papers,” it says, “are grumbling because the British taxpa5 T er has been paying for part of the land defences of Canada. They do not understand how little the Halifax and Esquimalt garrisons have to do with the defences of the Dominion. The feeling of soreness is there, however, and we believe that the Dominion Government should recognise and at once take measures to remove- it. Canada will be not one whit lotss loay than to-day when the last British soldier leaves the forts of the Atlantic and the Pacific. National self-respect demands that the Canadian people should not he indebted to the Home Government for the maintenance of any soldier on the soil of Canada". Self-government- must be accompanied by self-support. ’ Colonel Denison and other officers strongly endorse the proposal. At present the War Office maintains 1800 men at Halifax and 1200 at- Esquimalt. JUBILEE OF A DOGMA. Ro-me, Dec. 6.—There was an imposing function at St. Peter’s this morning, on the occasion of tlie celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the Papal Definition of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin. Mass was sung by Pius N., around whom were grouped thirty-fo-ur Cardinals and 100 Bishops. The" Papal altar was adorned with golden candlesticks wrought by Benvenuto Cellini. The basilica was ablaze with the lights of no fewer than 3000 electric lamps. Before the Pope- descended the altar steps on the conclusion of Mass, Cardinal Rompolla, in pursuance of ancient custom, approached bis Ho-liness and offered him a white silk purse containing 25 giuli, or ancient coins (equivalent to about 7s altogether), “for having well sung Mass.” His Holiness, who looked pale and ill, sternly reproved outbreaks of applause during the procession to and from tlie- Vatican. RAND SLAVERY. Toronto, Dec. 6- —Professor Goldwin Smith, writing in tli© “Weekly Sun,” says that the repeated defeats of the Conservatives at the by-elections in England are ascribed to the use made by the Liberals of the question of Chinese labour in South Africa. It is, he thinks, a curious illustration of the identity of sentiment which is supposed to pervade- all parts of the Empire, and to fit them for closer political unity, that the question which is turning all elections in Ehgland should havei been scarcely noticed and not have raised a ripple of feeling here. The mine-owners, who with, their hireling Press and their intrigues with the Governor of Cape Colony and the Co-

lonial Office, brought on the war, first tried (says the professor) to. get the Government to- drive the Kaffirs into working at. low wages by increasing their taxes. Failing in this, which the Government no doubt deemed perilous, they have imported Chinese labour. The Chinese are bound to labour at the mines for a term; they are to be imprisoned in compounds, where their life is not likely to be- clean ; if caught outside the compounds they are to be arrested ; and if they fail to work they are to be fined and imprisoned. Their bondage, therefore, though formally terminable, has the main features of slavery;, the reintroduction of which into -the Efnpire that gloried in its extinction, in order to gratify the greed of a set of German Jews, is the net result of a war made for the extension of British liberties in South Africa. STARVING AMID WEALTH. Paris, Dec. G. —For many years an old and miserable man named Eugene Lamideaux, has Lived in a garret in tlie Rue Petit. What his occupation was, no one knew, but he lived in the poorest way, and slept at nights upon a bed of rags. As he had not been seen to come out of his room for some days, the janitor of the building warned the police. The door was forced open, and Lamideaux was found surrounded by his rags, and breathing faintly as if he were on the point of death. He was taken to the hospital in a cab, while the police began making an inventory o-f the tilings in his garret. In turning over the rags, one of them found a hoard of gold, and continuing his search, he discovered a number of bank coupons worth 70,000 francs. Lamideaux was inscribed at the Bureau of Charity, and when he was asked to explain his hidden hoard, he told the police that he did not want to change either the gold or the papers. As he had no so-us he' preferred to- die of bungler rather than break, into- his treasure. For three days the old miser had eaten nothing, and but fo-r. the intervention of the police he would have died a beggarly death in the midst of wealth. TOLSTOY ON THE ZEMSTVOS. PHILADELPHIA, December 5. The “North American” has received the following t-elegram from Count Tolstoy : —“I declare that the one sure result of the Zemstvo agitations will he to delay true social amelioration. This movement, hailed as the dawning of a new era of liberty, is hut a new obstacle in the path, of true progress. A real uplifting, socially and government ally, can he attained only through a religious and moral regeneration of individuals. Constitutional government is no cure for the evils that afflict mankind. For proof of this I point to conditions in France, England, and America.” STARVATION WAGES. Berlin, Dec. B.—Some interesting statistics are published here giving particulars of the weekly wages earned bv female industrial workers in Berlin, which certainly compare unfavourably with the earnings of the same class in England. It is also to be remembered that industrial work is paid in Berlin than in any other city of the Empire;. The average weekly tvage for comparatively skilled women is only 11s 4Jd. The lowest wages are earned by women in chemical factories, namely, < s 2d, and the highest are paid in the cigarette factories, 13s lOitl. The average outlay of these women not living with relatives is 11s lOd per week. This outlay is only for rent and bare necessities of life. Owing to these miserable earnings, many of these women have a constant struggle with starvation. The policy of Protection and liigii tariffs has certainly done nothing lor them. CONVERTED FOOTBALL TEAM. LONDON December 10. The religious revival m Wales is now spreading to England, and several singular incidents are reported. The Central News states that “At Midsomer Norton, Somersetshire an entire football team has been ‘converted,’ proving their sincerity by cancelling their engagements.” The "Welsh revival has appealed to Salvation Army leaders, and Mr Brainwell Booth lias issued a stirring message to British Salvationists to make the most of the op port unity. At Hull on Tuesday 900 men and women were greatly moved by references to tlie revival, many professing conversion. At a single meeting in Nottingham this week thirty men and women are said to have Xiublicly confessed conversion. Following revival services at Gwyddelvvern (Alcvicn-ethshire), Air E. Hannam, a prominent- Methodist- in tlie village, was yesterday removed to a lunatic asylum. "Whilst- demented he excitedly made religions appeals to people in the street, at the post- o-fiice he. smashed windows, and a funeral which he attended had to be delayed twenty minutes owing to his bolsteroas singing.

IMPUDENT JEWED ROBBERY. PARIS, December 10. Yesterday an official looking gentleman presented himself to the concierge of a building in the R.ue do Flandres bearing the mournful news that MineBertin, who lived on the third floor, had been arrested, and that he was ordered to take an inventory of the flat. He gave the consierge his card, and she, innocently, handed him the keys. An hour later the inspector came downstairs, and, bowing a polite * ■'goodday’’ to the concierge, went away. In the evening Mm©. Bertin returned, to find that all her jewels had disappeared. She rushed down to the concierge, who was stupefied at seeing her. “Have they released you so soon ?” she asked. Light was thrown on the situation when the concierge explained the events of the day to Mine Bertin, who had really been away on a visit. The “inspector” is now being searched for, but. little hope is entertained of finding either him or the jewels. STY RIAN LOVE TRAGEDY. Vienna, Dec. 7.—lt is reported from Graz, in Styria, that at a promenade concert to-night in the Industry Hall an officer najjied Kitsch©! 1 suddenly fired a revolver at Frau loin Leon tine Tranmwieser, a renowned beauty, who immediately fell dead. Amid wiici excitement the mother of the young lady threw herself on the assassin, but fell fainting to the ground. Ivuschell w s arrested. He is believed to have committed the crime out of jealousy, and because his love- had been refused by the lady. POPE’S PRAISE OF ENGLAND. ROME, December 7. Prince Arthur of Connaught left the the Quirinal this morning, and proceeded to the British Embassy. His Royal ■Highness subsequently drove to the Vatican, and was received in audience by the Pope. On arrival at the Vatican his Royal Highness was received by Prince Ruspoli, who opened the door of his carriage. At the audience, which lasted ten minutes, the Pops spoke in Italian, his words being translated by Mgr Stonor. His Holiness warmly thanked the Prince for his visit, saying that lie was very pleaded to see him, and only regretted that he did not make a longer stay in Rome. The Pope added that he felt great esteem and veneration for King Edward, who was King not onlv of England but cf the whole world, as the sun never set on his dominions. Continuing, his Holiness remarked that he knew that England enjoyed true liberty. All missionaries coining to Rome from all parts of the British Empire spoke of the great liberty enjoyed in the Colonies. On being informed that Lord Grenfell. who was in attendance on Prince Arthur, had been Governor of Malta and know Italian, the Pope tinned to his lordship and addressed him in very cordial terms. Prinoe Arthur left Rome at t-wentv minutes to two this afternoon. He will proceed direct to England, possibly stopping one night at Paris. PREFERENCE THAT PAYS. OTTA WA, December (5. The Hon Clifford Sift.on, Minister of the Interior, who has hitherto been the chief spokesman in the Dominion Cabinet on the question of reciprocity with the United States, has come out with the declaration that Canada does not want reciprocity except for a long and stated term of years. He asserts that the fanners of the West no longer want Free Trade with the United States, and prefer to have their wheat milled in their own country. “We are not likely to stop the British Preference,” says Air Sifton. “It pays us well. Our interest is to favour the country that is naturally and politically inclined to promote our interests, send us immigrants, lend us money on easy terms, and watch our successes with rejoicing. The best friend to a child is its mother, but' I will not say that it would suit Canada to enter into any rigid trade arrangement with Great Britain. If she chooses to give us preference, well and good; if not, all right.” The trade returns of Canada for four months show a decrease of 7,611,930 dollars m exports, and of 2,508,301 dollar's in imports. The Toronto “Globe” makes the failing off in exports the ground of an appeal to Great Britain to repeal the embargo on Canadian cattle. HOW THE KAISER HOPES TO IMPRESS MENELIK. BERLIN, December 6. The 'Berliner Tagoblatt” states that in the middle of December a German expedition will start for Addis Abeba, the capital of Abyssinia, with the object of negotiating commercial treaties with tho Negus and presenting to this potentate gifts from the Kaiser. A t the Load o-f the Embassy will be an officer of high rank from the Kadeer’e

suite. From the regiment of the Garde du Corps three sergeants and nine men have been chosen remarkable for their stature and powers of endurance in a tropical country. Preference has been given to those men who can practice some trade, such as baker, joiner, smith., or mechanic. These twelve men wall act- as guard, and will also be used on ceremonial occasions at Monelik’s Court. They will take all their military accoutrements, including their polished steel cuirasses, lances, helmets, and also those dazzling uniforms which are used only on great occasions .at the Berlin and Potsdam Court functions. Their service uniforms will be the same as those used by the German gendarmes who accompanied the Kaiser to Jerusalem some years ago. This remarkable step is taken doubtless with the full connivance of the Government, and in accordance with the vigorous policy now being earned on in V libelmstrasse. German trade in Central. and North-Eastern Africa has not been flourishing lately, and this is a striking effort to revive it. A MODERN JOAN OF ARC. PARIS December 0. An extraordinary outcome of the Joan of Arc demonstration occurred last night, when a. young girl named Elisa Poirret went mad in a frenzy of patriotism. Cries of fire were heard cn tho Rue Lafayette, and clouds cf smoke were seen issuing from one of the windows of a large budding. Firemen and police arrived on the scene, and went upstairs and forced open the door of the flat from which the smoko came. A terrible sight met their gaze. Elisa Poirret was standing on her bed, which was soaked with petroleum, and clad only in a light night garment. Willi her arms outstretched to heaven she was crying out hysterically, regardless of the flames dancing around her, ‘T am Joan of Arc in her funeral pyre. I . have vanquished the ‘Englishmen, my mission is ended, and I must die.” The policemen dragged the curtains from the windows, and threw them round her, stifling the flames. She was taken to the hospital, where she lies in a critical condition. EMIGRANTS FOR AMERICA. HAMBURG, December 6. The emigration returns for the eleven months ended December 1, show that 45,000 fewer emigrants left this port for the United States during the period named than in the corresponding period last year. Up to the present 1 OS,OOO emigrants have left Bremen, which shows an increase over 1903 of 8,000. The number of Russian emigrants since the war began has largely increased. During the past fortnight the North German Lloyd Company, in addition to the ordinary liners, f"; dispatched to New York the steamer Darmstadt, with 3200 Russians, and the Weimar, with. 2000 Russians. These Russian emigrants have been for the most part working men of the class liable to military service. “KING LEAR” IN FRENCH. PARIS, December C. An interesting experiment was tried this evening, when a new translation of “King Lear,” by MM. Pierre Loti and Emile Vedel was produced at- the Theatre Antoine. The play was well mounted, despite the smallness of the stage, and the costumes were admirable. M. Antoine, as King Lear, however, was not happy, and he compares unfavourably with some of our English actors who have played the part. His performance was unequal, and, in some of the great scenes, he fell short of the demands of the character, and laughter was heard in the house. The most impressive scene was when Cornwall and Regan put out Gloucester’s eyes, and too great praise cannot be given to Mile. Lucille Rrillo, who gave a fine performance of Regan, full of fine and passion. Some liberties were taken with the text, and most of the twenty-seven tioenes were simply played in front of a curtain. CONVENTION RATIFIED. PARIS, December 8. M. Deloasse spoke in the Senate this afternoon in reply to the criticisms directed against the Anglo-French Convention. He said that the adversaries of the arrangement had merely expressed the views of their constituents that their interests would be affected, hut this was only one side of the question, and the Senate ought to deal with the matter from the broad point of view of the results obtained by the Government’s policy of a good understanding with England. He {jointed out that this policy tended to the safety of the French possessions in Indo-Ohina, and it opened up Morocco to France’s regenerating activity. Spain realised that she had nothing to gain by the failure of , France’s African policy, and Italy knew

that her prosperity was nowhere more sincerely desired than in France. England looked upon France as a worker whom it would be difficult to replace in the cause of peace. Tire alliance with Russia was closer than ever, and the credit of France had been raised in public opinion all over the world. At the same time, it must not be supposed that France could do without a reliable army and a powerful fleet. (Loud cheers.) The Senate finally adopted tho AngloFrench Convention by 2J.5 votes to 37. The Franco-Si a mese was adopted without a division. THE PROFITS OF WAR. BERLIN, December 10. The first balance-sheet of the firm of Friedrich. Krupp, Limited, was issued to-day. It -shows a gross profit on the year’s working of just a million pounds sterling. Rather mere than half this sum gees to depreciation account, workmen’s pension and other funds, and the reserve fund, leaving £-180,000 to pay a dividend of six per cent, on the capital. The capital amounts to £3,000,000 in 100,000 shares, 150,996 of which belong to Frau loin Berth,a Krupp and four to as many high officials in tho company. Private telegrams from Essen state that the section for the manufacture of naval material is working at high pressure, large orders having been received oy Krupp.-; both from Russia and Japan for armour plates and gun barrels. LORD MILNER’S SUCCESSOR. MONTREAL. December 7. It is rumoured here that Lord Minto will, early in the New Year, bo appointed to succeed Lord Milner as High Commissioner in South Africa. This greatly gratifies Canadians, who have kindly remembrancer of the late Viceroy. “La Press©’’ declares that the wisdom which marked Lord Minto’s administration of Canadian affairs is a guarantee that ho is capable of completing in South Africa the pacification required after tho war. HOW THE POOR LIVE. BERLIN, December 10. A sad picture - of how the poor are compelled to live in Berlin slums is given in this morning’s papers. In a dwelling consisting of two tiny rooms and a kitchen in the oellar of a house in the poor part of the city there lives a shoemaker, who, incapacitated through chronic illness, is dependent on charity. With him lived his 80 year-old mother, who is also in receipt of alms ; his wife, who earns a pittance by sorting rags; and two men ledgers. The shoemaker’s son was released from his distressful surroundings a few weeks ago by dying during a fib of coughing. Last Saturday night one of the lodgers who was consumptive died, and was found in a sitting posture on the sofa next morning by the other inmates. Owing to the danger of infection a doctor ordered tho immediate removal of the body. As, however, deceased was not in possession o-f papers indisputably proving his identity, the poor-law authorities refused to underbake his burial, and the police declined to interfere because the matter was in the hands of the said municipal authorities. For four days the body remained sitting on the sofa of the living room, apparently unheeded by the other inmates, until the smell proceeding from it rendered the opening of a window a necessity. As the window was on the level with the pavement, passens-by stopped to gaze at the ghastly scene, lighted by a common petroleum lamp, and it was only when crowds interfered with the traffic that some official gave orders to have the corpse put in a coffin. Even then some time elapsed before the authorities removed the body. HONOURED IN ICES. The menu-cards at the New York Lotus Club’s farewell dinner to Mr John Morle.y were large crimson portfolios bearing the British arms in gilt. They were decorated with proof etchings on Japanese paper of Mr Morley surrounded by the subjects of his books. The ices were in tdie form of miniature books, showing the title-page of one or other of the guest’s works WHERE THE RUSSIAN NAVY WAS BORN. When you look at Amsterdam and Antwerp to-day, mighty hives of industry and homes, the one of half a million people, the other of a population little smaller, it is hard to realise, how history has galloped with them during the last century. Who thinks of the capital of Holland as having been in the nineteenth century the third city in France? Who thinks Antwerp as owing ninth of its present form and position to IN: a polecat, who had it planned at a time when its population had sunk to forty tliou-.s ■ souls. But there are linger posts to history. Within a few minutes’ journey U steamer of Amsterdam is a little uiuce

that takes you back with a bound to il: - past. It is old Rur.'ia in new Holland - - not diplomatic, ambassadorial Russia, but the Russia of sentiment. At Zaandam stands a tiny hut inclosed in a building of brick. In that hut the navy of Russia had its birth. There it was that Peter the Great lived, disguised as an ordinary workman, while he studied the ways of those who built the ships for Holland. WHEN NEW YORK WAS SOLD FOR A £5 NOTE. New York is, counting heads and purses, one of the wealthiest cities in the world to-da3 r ; yet it was once in the market for a £5 note. Two hundred and fifty years ago Manhattan Island, on which New York now stands, was sold for £5 to an Indian chief. It was about the same time that a farm on the island was granted by Royal charter for the support of the church, and to-day the “farm” brings in a revenue of £2,000,000 sterling a year, making Trinity Church. Broadway, the richest church in the world. The lonely “farm” has become the centre of one of the busiest spots in New York, and Trinity Church must have a warm corner in its affections for the memory of the King who gave it a fortune he did not dream of. New York, indeed, owes another little debt to a British King, for it was a British King who, fifty years after the island had been sold for £5, gave it for nothing to his brother, the Duke of York, and named the place Now York. COSTLY PRIVILEGES. It is one thing for subjects of the Emperor of Russia to demand a Constitution; it is a wholly different thing to get it. While it is universally admitted that such an event must some day coma to pass, it is a moot point whether thasa who ai'e most anxious for the reform count the cost. A general election in Britain costs a million sterling; a fact which must ever weigh against the proposal for triennial parliaments. Every seat in Parliament after a general appeal to the electorate represents a private outlay of £ISOO, of which sum the winning candidate has paid at least £7OO, And then his outlay is only beginning. The member is the fairy godfather of the place for which lie sits, and whether it be mittens for old maids or new goal posts for the latest football club, it is to him that they turn for funds. Five hundred pounds is the sum which the bulk of members of Parliament have yearly to disburse under present-day conditions, which we boast admit neither of bribery nor blackmail. OUR HEALTHY NAVY. According to the annual report just issued. the Navy is in as good physical health as fighting trim. The death rate last year was only 4.19 per thousand," a decrease of 7.73. and the lowest -record since 1858. The number of cases of disease and injury amounted to 831 per thousand, a decrease of 29 compared with the previous year. Only two wounds in action are recorded, with one which occurred when the Mohawk a force to punish the chief of the vii7ag© at Durbo, Italian Somaliland. The total force serving afloat last year was 103,100. The total number of men sick daily waa 3633, and the total day’s sickness on board ship and in hospital was 1,326,244, representing an average loss of service of twelve days for each person. 'WHY SO MUCH GAS IS USED. It is a curious fact that the introduction and development of electric lighting, instead of injuring gas, has had th« effect of giving at a new lease of life. There is at the present day three time* the amount of gas consumed that there was when electricity was first introduced, and twelve times the number of consumers. This remarkable result is due to two or three causes. No doubt tho installation has been greatly extended among the very poor, who were formerly dependent on either candles or oil lamps; and the almost universality of the gas stove has done a good deal. But what was really and truly its salvation was the timely invention of the incandescent burner, which has absolutely revolutionised gas lighting. THE RUSSIAN JEHU. Russian cabmen, or droschki-driveng, are very like their London prototypes in their humours. A once popular journalist, now dead, used to relate an amusing personal experience in this dii'ection. He had been driven out for some sight-see-ing in ot.' Petersburg, and a Russian friend of his had told him what was the correct amount for him to tender to the driver as his fare. When he reached his journey’s end and handed the man h% money, to his astonishment the Jehu, who wore a loaig beard aud a proportionately long caftan, immediately fell on his knees in the droschki, and, holding up his hands to Heaven, gave vent to a series of pious ejaculations. “What on earth is the fellow up to?” ne asked of a bystander. ‘Tie is praying,” answered the person to whom the question was addressed, “that Heaven will he merciful to one whose meanness only permits him to offer to so hardworking and deserving a servant of God so miserable a reward!"