NEWSY NOTES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 3581, 5 November 1898, Page 1 (Supplement)

NEWSY NOTES.

Piracy in Chinese waters is one of the subjects dealt with in Mr Consul B. Brenau’s report on the trade of Canton for 1397. In contains some remarkable evidence of the prevalence of piracy in Canton waters. Probably, he says, never since Canton was open to foreign trade has piracy been so rife. The boldness of

the pirate is, however, surpassed by the apathy of the provincial government. The usual plan is for a band of a half a dozen men to go on board a passonger launch disguised as honest men. When a spot is reached they throw off all dig guise, overawe the crew- and passengers by flourishing revolvers, and then half the party stand by ready to shoot while the rest proceed to searen the passengers and their luggage, and when they have taken all they want they transfer themselves to another boat or land near a friendly village, where a division of the spoils takes place. They are not devoid of a certain chivalrous feeling. Cases have been known w here after having robbed some rich passengers and made a good haul they have restored to the poorer passengers what had already been

taken from them. On other occasions they have overpowered the master and crow of a launch and “borrowed” the use of the vessel for a few hours, during which they have overhauled a junk known to have valuables on board. Having pillaged the junk they have steamed away to their own village, and before landing they have offered to pay the master for the time his launch has been detained. The owners of passenger boats are now given to engaging some old pirate as detective. He points out suspicious looking characters, whom it is better not to take on board, and keeps a check on any of his friends who may have been premeditating a coup. The boat people never attempt to effect an arrest. There would probably be bloodshed, and they would then be involved in judicial proceedings, almost as unpleasant for themselves as for the pirates. They are thankful enough if they can get rid of the dangerous passengers, and persuada them to get off and try their fortune elsewhere.

Tho most wonderful mid interesting human cariosity now living, says the

“ Birmingham Post," is undoubtedly the remarkable twin formation Rosa Josephs, residing in the village of Skreyohov, Bohemia. Apparently they are two beautiful girls, of fair complexion, standing back to back. Still, so completely do their bodies merge that they practically constitute one individual, thereby making it a matter of no small difficulty whether to refer to them as one or two persons. One alone can eat, and

at the same time afi'oid nourishment to the other. A singular fact in connection with this dual entity is that the two heads never sleep simultaneously. While one sleeps the other remains wide awake, as though keeping watch. After a lapse of two or three hours the watching head drops into a calm repose, and at that very moment

the other awakes in turn to assume its vigil. They are now twenty years of age, and up to the present time have enjoyed robust health. They are highly accomplished, being clever linguists as well as vocalists and musicians, one being a proficient violinist, and the other a skilful performer on the mandoline and guitar. A few months ago th y acted as bridesmaids at the wedding of one of their sisters, hearing themselves with singular grace, forming a very interesting feature in the ceremony. The parents being in a very good position, it is not to be wondered at that RosaJosepha should have plenty of admirers, but up to the present she has been deaf to all offers. In case of her marriage the husband would be in the unique position of having two wives and only one mother-in-law.

A dull in which Prince Bismarck was once engaged had a very amusing origin. It occurred when the young “ blood ” was Chief Secretary of the Prussian Legation at Frankfort. Being very popular he wont much into society, and one Christmas attended a big ball. During the height of the festivities Bismarck’s and, indeed, everybody’s attention was directed to an exceedingly poropus individual, who strutted about the room. This was M. de Clancy, a Frenchman, and a noted duellist. Later on this importont individual took part in a' dance, but having omitted to leave his hat at the proper place, had perforce to hold it out almost at arm’s length while he danced. The spectacle tickled Bismarck immensely, and as the Frenchman came sailing majestically along Bismarck stepped forward and dropped a crn into the hat! Of course, a duel was one of next day’s events. Though it was with pistols, however Bismarck’s lucky star never deserted him; he escaped unhurt, while his adversary was wounded. At Gottingen there was an American called Coffin, with whom Bismarck had differences of opinion. In Bismarck’s presence he spoke of the German <l Michael" with his nightcap over his ears and his dressing gown made up of thirty-six rags (the number of the German States.) Bismarck was mighlity offended, and is reported to have said, “Gird yourself with all the pride of thy land, I despise thee ; 1, a German youth !" It was very melodramatic, and when it still happens to be quoted anywhere always brings down the house. But Coffin and Bismarck applead to the arbitrament of the sword, and Coffin got the worst of it. The fight is often described as the first combat waged by Bismarck on behalf of the honour of Germany. There is another story about Bismarck and Coffin. They quarrelled over the time when Germany would be united. “ You will see her united in twenty years," Bismarck declared.

“ Never," said Coffin. “ I’ll bet you twenty bottles of champagne, that in twenty years there will he a united empire." “Done," said Coffin. (This was in 1833 ) Bismarck, of course, lost, and in 1853 remembered his bet. lie actually made inquiries about Coffin in 1853, intending faithfully to pay up, but hearing of Coffin’s death ho only said, “ How ooald a man with such a name live."

A Scotch minister, the author of “ About Galloway Polk," telle the following story : —Shortly after my ordination,.a farmer returning from market entered the railway compartment where some of our clerical body were already seated. He was introduced to the new member of Presbytery, but said not a word. Arriving at his station, he got out and stood at the door. “ An' ya tell me this is the new minister?" He looked long and sadly at the person referred to. Then with a sigh—“ Weel-a weel," he remarked finally, “ a’m a better judge o’ a fat beast than o’ a meenister 1"

Here is a school boy’s essay on “ A Day in the Country.” It is from Messrs Jarrold and Son's amusing little book, “The Comic Side of School Life." “ A Day in the Country is wot I has to giv. O the country is so niced. Yer woddnt beleeve. x have seed it 5 or G times. It was like a great big green sea. Yer woodnt beleeve. I only see it wunce a yere, when our Supintendunt taka the Sunday School children all for nothin' and givs us a tea an all sorts of niced things. This time it was to Ashsted. We all woked from our Sunday School, which is near the Ellifunt, to Voxhole Station, the Supindendunt runnin up an darn all the time, making us joyn bans. Then we all got up into the train at Voxhole. How niced it is to have yer beds art of the winders and hould yer bandkerohets up, and see the different people hooray to yer from the side of the railway. Yer woodnt beleeve. They think as we can hear them hoorayin, bub we cant, coz of the wheels making such a niced loud noise. When we got past what the Supintendunt telld us was Wirameldun, wichever side yer looked it was all green, an green, an green. It duz mak yer feel hungry, speshully with the wind gettin darn yet throats. Yer woodn't beleeve wot a niced place it wos ; why, I tell yer, its green all rarnd rite to the sky, an foxgluvs, an roses, an bulldayzis all abart. There’s no pleecemen lives there. They havnt found it art. When wee’d had our dinners, the Supintendunt plaid games with the little boys. The Supintendunt is a niced fat man, with white hair, allis a larfin, an a hig chain fti his west* cutt, Wa plaid leap-frogs, au we

jumped over him. Ho has a nice white shirt, just like snow snow as yev seed. One boy as coodn’t jump dropped on the Supintendunt’a nek, and muckied his nice white sleeves with his boots. Then we all had teas fur nothin. I had 5 cups, a lot of bread and butter, 3 slices of plum cake, and 4 kerrin buns. I only seed 7 boys and girls wot got ill. Then the boys and girls had races for nicod prizes, bats, and werk.boxes, and all sorts of things. Then wo all sung a him, standin in a ring on tho hilside, with tho Supintendunt in the middle, and the big red sun neerly touching tho ground. Yer woodnt b-deeve. I wonder wether Heaven’s like that was. The him we sung was : “ 1 Tell mo the old, old story, Of Jesus and His love,’ My teacher, who stood next to me, she started cryin a bit, she did. f seed her. I don’t no where we shall go next yero. This is a Day in the Country, and it was all so niced.”

Maryland has honoured with a statute the author of the “ Star Spangled B runer," which ranks as one of the national anthems of the United States. Francis Scott Key (says the “ Manchester Guardian) was a son of a soldier of the Revolution, and was born in Frederick - town, not far from the spot where is monument now stands. His life has been described as one of idyllic happiness. He was successful in the profession that he had selected, and he had a happy home. The greater part of his life was spent at Washington, and ha died at Baltimore in ]Sf3. This song, full of patriotic fire, was not the work of a soldier, although it was Lorn of battle. During the war with Great Britain in 1814 Key paid a visit under a flag of truce to the British Admiral at the mouth of the Potomac, with the object —in which ha was successful—of securing the release of Dr William Blanes. From the deck of an American boat Key was an eyo witness of the bombardment of Fort M’Ucnry, in the night of Sept. 14, 1814, and as in the morning light ha saw the American flig still flying his lung suspense turned to exultation, and his thought found expression in these now famous verses, which wereinscribed on the back of a letter. “ Star-spingled Banner" was printed next day, and was soon set to music, provoking immense enthusiasm when it was first sung in a Baltimore theatre- It has never lost its hold on the heart of the American people.