ECHOES OF THE WEEK

New Zealand Times, Volume LVIX, Issue 3007, 19 December 1896, Page 1 (Supplement)

ECHOES OF THE WEEK

Satire’s my weapon, bat Vm too discreet To ran Amuck aud tilt at all I meet. Pop*,

An Auckland magistrate has hold that bookmakers’ advertisements are illegal, on the ground that " the advertisements were for no other purpose than to induce people to do business ” with them, the bookmakers, that is to say, of course, to hot with them. The magistrate had no doubt to administer the law ns he found it, but surely it is preposterously unfair, and the height of hypocrisy, to declare a bookmaker’s advertisement an illegal thing, when in every paper in the colony when big race mootings aro hold there appear advertisements to the effect that the totalise tor clerks will receive money for “investment,” that is, will make bets for those at a distance. There can be no moral difference between betting with a bookmaker and betting by means of the " machine,” and if the Law makes this difference, then the said Law is more than over to be considered “ a Hass." I hold no brief for the bookmakers, I never bet on horse races, but I cannot help expressing the opinion that so long as the State allows, and indeed patronises, the totalisator, it should logically go the whole hog. and not only cease from badgering and. baiting the bookmakers, but allow swoops such as are carried on in other colonies.

It’s very immoral to gamble, say tho churches —or some of them, at least—gambling saps tho moral sense of the community, gambling ja almost, as bad an evil as tho abuse of strong drink, gambling is this, that and tho otharr-eay those worthy, but I am afraid wilfully blind, clerics, but at the same time they pid and abet the gambling spirit themselves by their “ruffles” and their "art unions.” What is sauce for the goose should be sauce for the gander. If the churches are allowed to raise money by means of “ art unions,” then why in the name of common sense should not sweeps be allowed on horse races ? Here wo have the Anglicans of Johnsonville advertising nn "art union” as a means of raising money for a new church. I don't blame them a bit—far from that being tho case—X hope the sale of tickets will ho very successful, but when next tho .Synod moots X hope wo shall bear nothing of any resolutions against the vice of gambling on horse races. Tho churches must he consistent, and the State must be consistent. Every one of these so-called art unions, whether " run ” in connection with a poultry show, a cycling meeting, a sports gathering, or a church bazaar, just as clearly involves the encouragement of and an incitement to gambling as doo® the announcement of the bookmakers that they will “quote the odds ” in a certain race, and so long as the " tote” and tho " art unions " flourish, any such prosecutions as that recorded' from Auckland are just so much cant and humbug.

If recent; cables arc to bo believed, Butler, tbo alleged author of the now notorious " Glonbrook murders,' ’’ must bo as good a spocimon of tho human idiot as tho annals of crirno can fiu-uish us with. is a peculiar but well-known fact that men who commit a series of crimes, who become stooped in human blood, are given to making boasts of their bullish work—a vainglorious pride which frequently loads to their detection and pun'mhhient. But it seems almost inconceivable that Butler should havo been such a blatant imbecile as to give his shipmate on thy Olivobranch particulars of bis infamous career, and these further revelations now being made public by the shipmate in question as to ButtaFs “ popping off " of ships captains when he was at Itio, smack strongly, to my mind, at least, of being a trifle exaggerated. “Appetite corner in eating," says tho old French proverb, and I should not bo surprised were the anxiety of tho Sydney newspaper reporters to get hold of sensational “ copy ’’ about Butler the governing cause of liis OHvubranch “shipmate" ?icrv coming forward to tell of Butlclr's Lrazilian crimes. At tho «*o,a\6 time we must all hope that tho &wauhilda may reach San Francisco safely and that Butler lias not thought fit to go ashore on some of tho islands cn route. A goatloman who hue .apparently “ popped off " or “ pinked " out of existence some half-dozen poor devils for tho sake of a feW miserable pollute is a monster around whoso n’oek tho rope ought to bo twisted very lightly and with tho least possible delay. He runs Deeming very hard for tho honour ! of being tho champion criminal of tho decade.

Our erstwhile visitor, Mrs Besant, has boon paying a visit to India, and has naturally enough been made much of by tho Theosophists, At Bombay, no I learn from a copy of tho Calcutta Eaijlishm&n (for which I am indebted to a Napier correspondent), Mrs Besant was begarlandocl with flowers by the members of the local lodge of Thcosophists, and delivered a long oration, whether dictated • to her by one of her dear Mahatmas or not, I cannot of course say. Theosophy, Mrs Besant told her Bombay admirers, was making great strides all over tho world, but there “ was great clangor of tho Cause suffering in public esteem through tbo false prophets who had sprung up in America and elsewhere." The old, old story this—never was there a Cause without its false prophets—but I noto how femininity governs |)oor Mrs Besant’s jealousies of tho rival preachers of her weirdly vague faith ; An American lady, has been claiming to bo tho reincarnation of Madame UlaVatsky. I remind you of What Madaino Blavatsky tplil Us herself before sho died. She told.us that Her Master was preparing for btir a body Unit would bo neither that of a woman nor of ono of Western race, but that she would inhabit that of an Indian youth. Many of as who have a Personal knowledge of her know this statement of hors to bo true. Tho adopt can take tbo soul of his chela and put it into a new body, but nothing can bo more absurd than to imagine that ho would chooso tho worn-out body of a middle-aged woman fur Carrying on the'work.

I’oor Mrs Tingley, " tho worn-i ut body of n middle-aged woman !” How these The* osophists love oho another, and how little has true Christianity to fear from tho Stupid delusions which from tho basis of their “ faith.”

Tho Eilgllsli papers to hand by tho last mail are full of stories, good, bad and indifferent, about tho new Primato, Dr Temple. One yarn recounts how, when Dr Benson’s successor-, then tiishop of Exeter, had golio to soldo country town in Devonshire to spoak at an agricultural gathering. "While enjoying his well-ehrncd rest on his return, tho bishop was roused by beating a Outside tho palnco shouting, " Itemarkable statoraont by tho Bishop of Exeter !” His lordship sent out and purchased a copy of the news sheet which contained his address given earlier in tho day. On looking through this Dr Temple wan certainly surprised, and admittedly amused, to find that over his remark, jocosely made of course, that • “he had never been drunk in bis life,” the evening journal “sub” had put a heading to that effect! In America the ” DCflre head lino ” is taken unite fts a matter of course, but iu sober-sided English .journalism, “ Never drunk in his life,” whott applied to so “ potent, gmvij rvild reverend seignior ” as a teal llVa bishop, Was a somewhat daring joke, especially some years ago, when tho “ new journalism ” had not begun to copy transatlantic precedents.

A favourite story of " globe trotters ” who cross the States ia that of tho Chicago railway porter who cries out " Cheo-curger, Cheo-carger, stop hero ten minutes for a divorce.” A jocular allusion of course to tho facilities given by the State of Illinois for tho severance of matrimonial bonds. There is more justification fill' the story, however, than many of us may have imagined, if we may judge by the “ divorce record” which* accordingtotheAmericanpapocß, was "put up” at Chicago on tho 12th October last. Aa an example of “quick’s tho word and sharp’s the action,” the divorce of “John B. Ketoham, a wealthy and well-known club man,” must certainly bo held to beat the record, so far as the divorce law is concerned. Here is what I might call tho

“time table" of the Ketoham divorce case-. 2.10 p.ra.,biil for divorce filed; 3.10 p.m. case called for hearing; 3.-15 p.ra., decree granted; 3.47, decree filed ; -1.13, alimony of 150,000 dollars (roughly, about X 30.000) paid over to tho divorced woman.” “ A wealthy club man”—’" alimony of *£30,000 to tho divorced woman.” This explains the speedy termination of the Ketoham matrimonial tie, but I wonder what tho court fees wore, aud, also, I wonder whether the Americans have any functionary with similar duties to those of the "Queen’s Proctor" in England, and whether " collusion ” is mentioned jin tho American divorce laws. Oh it’s a great country, is America —for tho rich man. "Divorce “While You Wait” ought to bo posted up on tho Chicago railway platform, but following this ought to bo the additional device—“ For Those Who Have tho Dollars.”. Good old Almighty Dollar; how powerful it is iu the land of Cousin Jonathan.

In an advertisement dealing with tho forthcoming sale of certain woll-known sections of land fronting Clyde Quay, I notice the following;—The steep cliff at tho back of lots 2 and 3, is extremely suitable for advertising purposes.” Tho sections were tho property of tho late Mr James Edward. Fitzgerald, and I foci sure that gentleman, wore he now alive, would never have sanctioned such an announcement as this—a direct invitation to the most objectionable form of modern Vandalism. Ido not know whether it is within tho power of the City Council to prevent tho boplastering of permanent landmarks in and about the city with huge staring advertisements of certain more or less famous brands of soap, tea, or patent medicines, hut if tho City Council does not already possess such power it is high time that a new by-law wore passed.' If there be one thing more than another which is needed in Wellington, it is the prevention of this advertising nuisance, Surely the hare walls and hoardings offer enough scope to advertisers without tho natural beauties of tho city being defaced and ruined by staring, glaring advertisements being stuck up all over the place. X commend tho subject to (he attention of tho Mayor.

According to that voracious organ, the prohibitionist, Mr Duthio and Mr Monteath threw over poor Mr Atkinson, whereas Mr Dutbie accuses the Prohibitionists of having ruined Mr Menteath’s chances. “We are a happy family, we are, we are, we are

The modest little function at which Mr Andrew Collins was tho central figure the other night, was, I hear, a great success. Mr Collins has worked very hard to make the Eight Hours Demonstrations successful, and in many other directions has earned the goodwill and esteem of his follow-workers in tho city. I wish him

many years of health and prosperity during which td Wear the present ho received tho other evening. Apropos to the Fight Hours question tho Premier talked very straight arid very sensibly, and I feel very confident ho will “havo it out" with the obstructive Council and that in a v ei*y practical way, should iho “Lords" still purpidtln blocking tho measure. I often hear people say that “everybody admits and recognises tho Eight Hours system { why bother about legislation ?” but that ia not the right way to look at the question. At present there is, lb is true, a tacit acknowledgment and recognition of the Eight Hours system, but this verbal understanding ought to give place to a written, stamped contract—a contract rttemped by the Legislature- “ Let Us have it in writing,*’ a* the saying goes. If the principle is so Universally admitted, as BOmC peoplo say it is, then why the objection to have it formally recognised by law ?

The effect of having had to address a long sbrk’fl Cf ttVoutioa meetings was noticeable at tho last meeting of the Yorkshire Society, when the vice-president kept on, time after time, amidst groat laughter, addressing his audience as “ ladies and gentlemen." I am glad to hear that this society hag had a most successful first year, that the membership is increasing, and that the dhhUal dinner is duly booked to come off on tho 113th of next month. Last year’s “ Yorkshire poodia* " was, I believe, hardly satisfactory, bub a proposal that tho subcommittee should this time personally superintend tho preparation of tho country delicacy was scouted as impracticable 5 a fear being expressed by one member that “t’ Committeemen might Goat it all oop thersolrca and leave noun fur t’ dinner !" Even Yorkshiremon don’t trust each other when “t’ poodin*" is ponoerned. —“ Scrutator" in the NY/. MAifc;