THE BYSTANDER.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVX, Issue 3128, 14 May 1897, Page 4

THE BYSTANDER.

In a certain street in Leeds there is a wall given up to the bill-sticking **oor fraternity. While walking dr down this street the other nansex ! day I noticed among other bills one announcing the coming of the Moore and Burgess Minstrels, with a huge grinning “ darkie’s ” head as a centrepiece. Immediately under this was a large, oblong poster, which gave notice of Dr Nansen’s coming lecture. At a distance the nigger’s head and the name “Nansen” were the only portions distinctly seen, and the two bills appeared to be one A rustic who was walking behind me evidently saw what I saw, for, pointing with a stick to the wall, he remarked to his companion : —“ Well, Ah 11 be blowed ? I niver knew afore as that theer Dr Nansen were a black ’un ! Ah alius thowt ’e were a chap frora Norway or Sweden, or aamewheec that way ! ”

In view of the schemes fur importing English labourers into the the cost Transvaal the expenses of a of living Natal-born working man in in the Johannesburg, who could TRANS- probably hva more cheaply vaal. than most emigrants from this country, may be inter* eating. The household consisted of husband, wife, and child. For the last quarter of 189(5 (says the London Daily News) they kept a careful record of -expenditure. Their income for the three months was £7s* Out of that £26, or £2 a week, went in rent, the grocery bill was £ll 8s 6d, meat £4 135., vegetables and fruit £1 10i, milk £4 10s, and butter and eggs £2 10s. The wife baked her own bread and did her own laundry work. There was no servant, but occasional Kaffir labour averaged 03 a week. Other expenses, consistent with extreme economy, brought up the outlay to between £6 and £7 of the income, that being all the margin to meet emergency expenses and to save.

A letter from an Italian officer in Abys- ‘ sinia to an Italian paper the speaks of the impression cycle made by his appearance on is a bicycle among the children DARKEST of nature. He says that Africa, while riding with a white flag attached to the steeringgear towards the line of the Ahyasinians, the outposts and picket-guards were so utterly surprised that they forgot all about asking him what errand he came on. According to the Cycle, he calmly descended when reaching the post, and demanded to be shown to the head-quar ters of Ras Mangaaha. He was shown the direction, and, accompanied by two Abyssinian horsemen, continued on his way. They rode at his side in mute admiration.' When they arrived at the camp of Ras they informed the latter that a messenger of the Italians had come on a horse sent to him hy heaven. The wily chief, not quite so gullible as the rest of his troops, was considerably amused, and requested the Italian officer to give an exhibition of riding on the wheel, which the latter gladly did. After looking at the different evolutions of the wheel for a time, the Ras allowed the messenger to return, but gave him no answer to the message he brought.

Dick Turpin, the highwayman, once laid a wager that ho would rob

tub the then Duke of Portland highway- within his own park of BuiMAN AND strode, in tho county of the Bucks. This daring feat he buke. accomplished with complete success, although the Duke wag at the time attended by several servants on horseback, iho Duke had just driven into his pirk, when Turpin hastily rode up to tho carriage, holding in one hand what appeared to be a roll of paper, with which he waved the attendants aside. They, supposing that he was the bearer of some Royal message, fell back, and allowed the bold robber to approach the carriage. -Putting his band in, he levelled the roll of paper at the Duke, who perceived on the instant tho muzzle of a pistol peeping from the package. “Your watch or your life this very moment 1 ” said Turpin quietly ; and the Duke gave up his watch without a moment s hesitation. Turpin received it with a low bow, as if he were acknowledging the Duke’s answer to some important dispatch. Then wheeling about, he saluted the attendants gravely, and dashing through tho park gates, was well upon tho road before the Duke gave orders to follow him.

It is stated that two actors in a company playing at a Bristol theatre A quarrelled over a lady, and “ THEAI- decided to resort to arms, kical " pistols being the selected duel. weapons. The pistols were loaded with blank cartridges. One of the nrincipals was not let into the secret of the mock character of the duel, and wlien his opponent fell down byspecial agreement, ho, on the advice of his friends, left the field as quickly as he could. It was stated that the parties drove to Brandon Hill on Saturday morning in two cabs, and were accompanied by a master of ceremonies and a sham doctor. The principals were instructed by their seconds, and they were then requested to choose their weapons, a couple of six chambered revolvers being proffered Having proceeded thus far, tho master of the ceremonies counted one, two, and with the “ three came two loud reports. One of the principals staggered, an i fell face downwards. His second and a sham doctor immediately proceeded to his assistance, and after a pretended examination announced that he had been shot through the lung. The other actor, who, it is alleged, treated the matter seriously, was advised to leave the hill as quickly as possible, and this he did. As soon, however, as his back was turned his fallen opponent rose to his feet, and with his friends drove away in big cab.