ECHOES OF THE WEEK.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 2851, 20 June 1896, Page 1 (Supplement)

ECHOES OF THE WEEK.

Patlro’s »nv wimpon, hut I’m too rtfscroot To run umuok anti tilt at all I incot, I*ol*ls.

The Ward incident has been tho uunsation of tho week, bub 1 shall oechow comment upon ita political aido, which is dealt •with very ably elsewhere. I can, however, assure Mr Ward that ho has tho sympathy of nearly every journalist in the Colony In this tho hour of his troablo. There may be a few exceptions, men whose blind bigotry and pfirverted nature lead a thorn to gloat over the ex-Treasurer's misfortunes, but these exceptions provo tho rulo. It's a long lano that Ims no turning, and before many months are over I trust that Mr Ward, will have pulled through his troubles and inay start ft now and prosperous commercial career. Amidst all tho mud-throwing, tho cowardly kicking at a man when down, do not lot It be forgotten that ho sacrificed his own affairs to tho interests of the country and that ho slaved like si nigger for many months at hia official work whilst his mind must havo been tortured by tho over present thoughts that his own business was drifting into disaster. I say it is a low, a mean, a contemptible thing to gloat, as some men today are gloating, over Mr Ward's misfortunes. That he has tho sincere sympathy of the great mass of tho people with him lU the present time I foci convinced.

lb is curious how tho English Tories are deluding themselves, as did Hon. Sir John Hall and his friends here, that tho enfranchised woman must necessarily bo 41 collared” by the " stick-in-the-mud party.” This is the view taken by Mr fboeky, tho English philosopher and hifftorian (now moraberfor Dublin University), in his recently published book “ botiiocraoy and Liberty,” which i», I may say, the book of the day at Homo, V-econt files of English papers and magazines literally reeking with extracts from it and comments thereon. Mr Lucky looks to the enfranchised women (he is an ardent advocate i>f women’s suffrage for tho aamo reason as was Sip John Hall) to raise ft powerful barrier against the alleged evils of progressive Liberalism. In the English case tho said evils nro crystallised in tho one institution which tho Homo Tories most dread, manhood suffrage. If Mr Lecky has any correspondents in New Zealand they would do him some service by posting him up as to the way in which enfranchised woman voted here at tho last election.

Judging by what I havo read about Mr Looky’a book (by far tho boat resumi, if only it is trustworthy, ia supplied in the Hcvicw of Reviews), the famous historian of tho eighteenth century would scoln to bo a pronounced pessimist as to the effect of democracy. Now Zealand Liberals should note that Mr Locky, who fears that tho Tories ore only in temporarily, and fears the inovitably-triuraphant democracy will "ruin tho country” (good old humbug), recommends the adoption of the Hare System and a system of plural voting. This latter little dodge for " euchring" tho masses is, I hoar on good authority, greatly in. favour with Captain Bussell and the National Ass. loaders. Mr Lecky, I see, has a big “set” on the Irish Catholic priests, and would mote out severe punishment to any priest who introduces politics into his church. But ho must not make fish of one communion and flesh of another. The Irish priest is, I admit, frequently somewhat rash both in speech and action j but, .after all, ho has the excuse of being naturally unable to be unpatriotic. But how about the Anglican " priests ” —as so many of them love to dub themselves in these latter days? In hundreds of bitigliah country parishes they are everlastingly “barracking” for the Tories, both from thoic pulpits and outside. Occasionally, in tho colonies, you may meet a stray Anglican parson who ia a Badical, but at Home ninety-nine out of every hundred Anglican “ priests ” are most bigoted Tories. All the above remarks notwithstanding, Mr Lecty’s work is evidently one which every student of politics, either English or colonial, ought to consider it his bounden duty to read. I hope it will not be missed by tho Wellington Free Library. It ia these expensive high-class works, which are quiteibeyond the reach of the average colonial reader (Mr Ldcky’s two volumes coat 14.':) which our libraries ought first to supply us with, instead of pandering to tho literary dram drinkers whoso mental equipment makes them pronounce anything that is not a novel “ dry."

Sir George Grey was once, we nil know, or ought to know. Governor of the Capa Colony from 185-1 to 1801. This being the case X am somewhat surprised that ho was not interviewed as to his opinions on and experience of the Boers by a representative of soma more influential publication than the Humanitarian, a magazine edited by Lady Cook, a prominent Anglo-American member of the "shrieking sisterhood.” However, better late—and in the Humanitarian—than never. Sir George’s opinions are, I find, a most unqualified eulogy of the Boers. I condense a few of his dicta on the subject of “Oom Paul’s” people. He says it is quite natural that he should sympathise with the Boers because ho claims Huguenot descent on his mother’s side. Sir George refuses to credit the rumours of cruelty on the part of the Boers, describing them as a “ very humane and merciful race.” Ho admits, however, that in the early days of slavery wrong things wore done, but the religion of the Boers kept them from any great cruelty. This by no means tallies with what later authorities than Sir George (he left Africa in 1861) have told ns, for these latter would certainly not agree with Sir George when ho says—"X believe there is no people among whom actual, practical religion abounds more than the Boers. It is not only on their lips but in their lives!” Also, from what X have heard from men recently from the Capo, men who have lived amongst the Boers —the Boers of to-day—-and also in light of substantiated cable nows, I am somewhat inclined to no small spirit of scepticism when I read that Sir George adds " Neither are they aggressive.” Sir George, however, is easier to agree with when ho points out that “ Boer unity is founded on love of one’s family. They are one great family,” he says, and pregnant with warning for the future, especially for Mr Chamberlain and more especially for the British Jingo element ” are his words: “Any difficulty or danger attaching to any part of this great human machine throb? through the whole mass. There is intense sympathy among the Boers all over South Africa, whether they bo the Boers of tho Transvaal, the Orange Free State or tho Queen’s colonies, makes no difference at all. This feeling of blood and race is very strong; nothing the world has ever seen has been precisely like it." Sir George ends his remarks with a panegyric which will certainly not bo bo well received by tho Uitlanders : “ X (have lived among many nations and in many countries and I may with all truth say this: I know no people richer in public and in private virtues than the Boers.” But do not let us forget that Sir Georgo left South Africa in 1861!

My congratulations to tho up-to -date progressive Feilding people, who have just decided to establish electric lighting in there pretty prosperous town. Personally, I have always preferred FeUding to Palmerston. There is loss “ blow ” about the elder, though smaller place, than there is in tho "Chicago of the North,” and now that the Palmerstonian “ boom ” is over, I have a shrewd suspicion that Feilding is the sounder town of the two. But one thing I would certainly advise the Feilding people against doing, and that is against copying the Wellington style of streps lighting. Fewer and bigger lights are far better than a multitude of small lamps, the illuminating power of which is at times not much stronger than that of the proverbial farthing dip.

“Tara o’ Clutha,” Mr Thomas McKonsio, M.1f.1i., to wit, is, X notice, to bo the London representative of the Now Zealand Farmers’ Association and some kindred societies affiliated therewith. Xn tho House Mr McKenzie lias hardly been a brilliant success either as a debater or in any other capacity. Few of hia follow members take him seriously, and it is a sign of the poverty of the humorous sense possessed by honourable mem burs that such a pitifully poor jester an *’ Clutha ” should have ever gained oven a parliamentary reputation as a “funnyman.” In business and private life, however, Mr Mackenzie is one of the most estimable of men, and hi£ ttcota shrewdness and long experience of tho colonial produce trade, at this end, should bo of no small value to his employers when once he is at work solving that moat difficult of problems—how bust to circumvent tho Hmithfield and Tooluy street middlemen. and to gob a fair price for a good | article.

I am not an official “barracker” for tho Wellington Exhibition, but in all fairness to tho members of tho committee such paragraphs as tho following, from tho i'cildin'j Star, deserve to bo mot with a contradiction :

It is considered that tho Exhibition to bo held at Wellington shortly will be merely a local affair. No special inducement will bo hold out to visitors from

tho country districts. My worthy friend tho editor of tho Star is considerably at nea in the above paragraph. As ft matter of fact no stone will bo left Unturned to secure tho attendance of country visitors. Exhibits are sj’ecially invited from country residents’; a largo portion of the machinery will bo of a description peculiarly interesting to those 'engaged in agriculture and dairying, and in every department of exhibits the fact is being kept steadily in view that tho success of tho exhibition must largely depend upon tho patronage of tho country settlors. Special excursion trains at reduced faros are to bo arranged for, and special musical and other entertainments provided upon such Occasions as an influx of country patrons may reasonably be expected.

Seeing that we are now only in tho month of Juno and that tho Exhibition does not open its doors until November, it is hardly to be expected that the full scope and extent of tho coming show can be made public, but I can assure my country readers, from what I know of the arrangements now in train, that the Exhibition will bo well worth visiting, that all country people will be specially welcome, and further, that several special attractions and arrangements will be offered and made for their amusement and convenience.

The Star is just a little "previous ” with its "it ia considered that tho Exhibition will be merely a local affair.” In duo course greater publicity will be given to the general programme of tho Exhibition and no doubt tho same will be duly advertised in tho country papers, including that usually excellent, but in this particular instance, somewhat hypercritical, journal tho Star. But don’t bo in too great a hurry:

In his always amusing “ Without Prejudice,” in tho Fall Mall Magazine, Mr Zangwill has made an alleged “ discovery ’’ namely that the names of English authors generally contain the letter “r.” He instances Hardy, Blaokmoro, Meredith, Moore, Crawford, &o. Mr Zangwill also points out that musicians possess names full of “u’s" and “in's," and guoa on to instance other similar coincidences. Laying back in my easy chair the other night—alas 1 'tis seldom I have time to occupy its comfortable shelter—l fell to thinking of tho number of journalists and newspaper men generally in the Colony whose names contain an “n" or “ in.” Here are a few, jotted down at random: — Saunders (Lyttelton Times), Gillon (the late) (Post), Lukin (Post), Diuwiddio (U.BHerald), Duigan (Wanganui Herald), Carson ( Wanganui Ohnnicle), Cohen (Dunedin Star), Fenwick (Otago Daily Times), Anderson, the late “Jock ” ( Wellington Chronicle) Loughpan (N.Z. Times), Jones (Oamarn Mail), Bannehr (Nelson Colonist), Connell (Nelson Star) Blundell (Post and Nelson , Mail) Eons Marten (formerly of Post and Times, now London correspondent), Piraui (Manawatu Standard), Smith (Manawatu Times), Kirton (Feilding Star), Haggen ( The People), Payton (Wairarapa Daily), Hornsby (Napier NcwsJ, McDougall (Napier Telegraph), Muir (Poverty Bay Herald), Jones (Gisborne Telephone), Morrison (Hawke's Bay Herald special), Burton (New Zealand Herald special), Hobon (now in Sydney. Doubtless there are many other journalists equally notable, but at this stage my memory gave out, and I stopped. Then I read the end of Mr Zangwill’s article, in which he admits that “1” and “m,” “n” and "r” are the leading letters in all name-making, which, to use a vulgar expression, somewhat “ knocks the stuffing ” out of his discoveries. But ■nevertheless I will lotthelistahovostandas a curiosity of some interest, at any rate to my brother journalists.

Prom a collection of " Omens up to Date,” furnished to a London society paper by a jocular correspondent I came across the following serious slur upon Now Zealand meat—as it is supplied to the British customer: —“ It is lucky to have a stray dog follow you—especially if you are carrying a bargain in New Zealand lamb; it is a hundred to one it is over-ripe. Avoid risks and reward tho stray dog with it." There is a good deal of mystery attached to the extremely low price which is brought by some of our meat on tho Homo market. I wonder whether there is any such general tendency to over-ripe ” ness, the existence of . which is hinted at above. If so, tho low prices are easily explained.

Eanjitsinghi, the Parses cricketer who has scored so well against the Australians is, I hear from an English correspondent who is an enthusiastic cricketer, rarely missing a match at the Oval, a most modest young fellow, who is immensely popular with the crowd. The English professionals, who as a rule have frequently a " set ” on tho amateurs, simply worship " Ginger,” as they call him. The Prince— Eanjitsinghi is a “ Prince in his own country ” —has also been christened “ tho Black Prince,” and to many also he is known as " Eungid-chutnee.” Next to the much-testimonialized “W.G.” tho Prince is tho most popular cricketer in England.

All good cricketers, at this end of the world at least, must have been sorry to hear of George Gilfeu’s attack of sciatica. To good cricketers, at this end, I repeat, more especially, " anything up ” with Giffen is of much consequence than a revolution in any great empire. But one man, an Englishman, has perhaps owed that same sciatica in a different light. This is the gentleman, who is alluded to in the following brief paragraph which I read in a London weekly. “At tho Australians’ practice at Mitcham, yesterday, Giffen placed a ball neatly in tho ribs of one of on© of the spectators.” A spectator who has had a smart smack in tho ribs from a cricket ball, is apt to take a somewhat unkind joy in hearing of the striker himself coming to grief.

In thsir love of tawdry titles, in spito of their avowedly strong Republican principles, “ Oom Paul ” and his principal officers are on a par with a certain New Zealand politician whose name I need not mention, so well is it known just now. President Kruger himself is a much beribboned and be-starred individual when ho “ has got them all on,” for X read that he holds tbs Grand Cross of tho Portuguese Order of tho Immaculate Conception. He is alsoa Knight Grand Cross of tho Netherlands Lion, Knight Grand Cross in the Leopold Order of Belgium, Knight of the First Class of tho Red Eagle of Russia, and Commander of the Legion of Honour. Not a bad list of tawdry gewgaws for a presumably sternly simple Republican like " Oom Paul.” Sir Robert the Recreant’s jnoutJi must water when he reads this.

How the Irish fMßjnna do love each other. Is it any that tho Home Rule catifto is in water just now, when we can read in-an Irish paper that at a recent .Belfast meeting ono Mr O'Shea declared that “wo Dublin riioH refuse to accept Mi* iMllon *»s uUr Wc consider him unfit for the chair, and will iicver ally ourselves with such a mannikin Cieaar” ? Poor Erin !

As a quaint example of “ English as she is written” in tho Argentine Republic, tho following circular, recently received by a Melbourne business man from "a solicitor and defendant of rights ” in Buenos Ayres, is worth quoting : —“ I bog rny correspondents to bo on their guard against several improvised and without any financial surface native agents in Buenos Ayres who entitle themselves patent agents, invoking long professional services and performing THE HUMBUG by means of pompous circulars or panegyrical publications with remarkable tranquility of mind and talent.” Commenting upon this wonderful production, “Woornera” in tho Australasian, sarcastically remarks t —“ I fear they will find no opening for "performing tho humbug” in Melbourne—the art being overdone locally.”

Tho Marquis of Bath, whoso death occurred shortly before tho last mail left tho Old Country, was, so I read in a Homo paper, tho original of the foppish, brainless and exasperating jy conceited Lord Farintosh in “The Newcombs,” In my humble opiniofi. tho most delightful of Thackeray’s novels Lord Farintosh, you will remember, was to marry the adorable Ethel Newcomo, but didn't. In tho novel ho is a most contemptible character. Thackeray, it appears, whilst walking with a friend ono day not long after “ Tho Nowcomes” had been, published, met Lord Bath and said “That’s Farintosh.” Tho nobleman got to know of this and never again spoke to the author, who up to then had boon ono of his warmest friends. Thackeray, as of course you know, had a knack of putting hia friends and acquaintances into his novels. Dickons did tho same thing, but not quite to the same extent. His caricatures of Leigh Hunt and Landor (in "Bleak House,” was it not ?) caused great indignation, so I havo read, amongst tho friends of tho two authors.

From time to time I am beset with applications from subscribers to the Mail for some authoritative and reliable information concerning tho "Western Australian goldfields. Tho applications are not so numerous as they used to be, for the very good reason that New Zealanders are beginning to realise the fact that this is a very good country to stick to, and that disappointments come more frequently to tho Goolgardie goldseekers than success. At the same time, should there still be any of my readers who hanker after information as to Goolgardie, Kalgootlie and other centres on tho goldfields of tho “Land of Sin, Sweat and Sorrow,” I most Warmly commend to their attention the issue (for May 31st) of tho Melbourne Leader, which contains an illustrated supplement solely devoted to a description of Western Australia. I cheerfully give this admirable production a freo advertisement, holding it, as I do, to bo tho best bit of combined journalistic and artistic work over turned out in the colonies. Tho letterpress is from tho pen of that still lively writer, shrewd observer and entertaining desoribor of men and manners, tho Veteran Julian Thomas, better known. “Tho Vagabond ”; the illustrations, nearly three hundred in number, by E. T Luke, tho Leader’s special attist, who, it will be remembered, “ did ” New Zealand for that fine work Fiordland, published in the same journal. I have filed my copy of the Leader's supplement on Western Australia for future reference, and I recommend it most warmly as a positive enoylopiedic guide to tho alleged “New El Dorado” for all such as are hungering for information thereon.

I know a good many ladies are included amongst the readers of Echoes. I have just been perusing a rather “warm” remonstrance from one of them, a strong Conservative, upon what she is pleased to call tho “ nasty spirit ” of some political references in last week’s budget. My correspondent advises mo to leave politics severely alone, and write to instruct and to amuse. Also, in a postscript—as usual with a lady’s letter tho pith lies in the P.S. —she asks me to give an occasional echo to woman’s topics.

Very well, here is a subject, and an important one nowadays—What is the best cycling dress for women ? I do not pretend to be an authority on such a knotty point, but I turn to an article on the above subject in tho May number of that very readable magazine, tho Woman at Home. Here 1 find a species of symposium on lady cyclists’ attire. Lady Jeune, the wife of the famous English divorce judge, and who is well-known by her articles on English society, votes for the ordinary skirt and jacket and strongly urges that the clothing of the body should be all loose—and chiefly flannel. This appears to be sensible advice, and I commend the counsel ■as to “ looseness ’’ to mors than one young lady who rides a bike in Wellington, and who is foolish enough to go in tor palpable tight lacing, an injurious thing, so say the doctors, at any time, but especially senseless when the wearer takes such exercise as that involved in cycling. Lady Jeune evidently doesn’t believe in “ tailor-made ” garments, for, as she wisely says, “Nature intended that women’s figures should be draped, and the hard lines of men’s clothing do not become them.” Next we have the dicta of Viscountess Harberton, whose name I fancy I can remember as that of an advocate of the socalled “Rational Dress,” that the really perfect dross for cycling is the “French knickerbockor or Syrian skirt,” two garments with which my lady readers are no doubt acquainted, but with which I am not.

A third lady, Mrs Norman, who before her marriage was Miss Mona Muriel Dowie and wrote that very lively book, “ A Girl in tho Carpathians,” is dead against the skirt, declaring that it is only foolish custom which stands in the way of the kniokerbooker, and that once it, the knioker, " is generally adopted for cycling it would bo accepted for cabs and shopping " —an optimistic view, I fear, and hope, on Mrs Norman’s part as far as New Zealand is concerned. For upper wear Mrs Norman recommends a “ loose shirt very well made and a suidc leather belt, never less than twenty-five inches. Personally I may say that “ Scrutator ” loveth not tho knioker, and prefers to Jseo the local lady wheelist in blouse, skirt and sailor hat, with the less accompanying “ fallals ” the better. Bat then “Scrutator” is a bit of an old fogey and is prejudiced on the subjeet of the “New Woman,” and her alleged “ rationale.” —“ Scrutator” in the N.Z. Mail.

It is not generally known that if the substance of the common potato be treated with certain acids it becomes almost as bard as stone, and can be used for many purposes for which horn, ivory and bone are employed. This quality of the potato adapts it to button-making, and a very good grade of button is now made from the well-known tuber. In Gothic sculpture and tracery angels are sometimes portrayed practising on the bagpipe. It was occasionally used in churches befoie the introduction of the organ, which occurred early in the fifteenth century. Earthworms which exist in many parts of the world are giants of their kind. An example of one of these was once received at th© Zoological Gardens from the Cape of Good Hope. It measured between four and five feet in length, and about halt an inch across the body, and it ims been stated that this particular species sometimes attains to a length of six feet. Five members, including Mr Chamberlain, of the House of Commons, have been married three times.