GENEEAL SEWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11923, 22 December 1900, Page 3

GENEEAL SEWS.

The American fashion of going about hatless out of doors (which is one of the latest, freaks of Transatlantic mode) hap " caught on " to some extent in Ireland already, declares the ever-veracious Freeman1? Journal. About. Portsalon and Portruah golf links, not only men, but ladies, have been scon making the round of the links with uncovered heads: while in the neighbourhood of Rostrcvor and Warren point, t-ho lately-started fresh-air consumptive colony has made the sight of hat-lew.? ladies and gentlemen, promenading the mountain roads and heather slopes, so common as to excite, no remark. Even the storm and wet. of October has no effect on these scientific enthusiasts.

Lord Charles Beresford has an article in tho "Strand" for October setting forth the attractions that exist for boys in the rank and filo of the British Navy. At the end of his article Lord Charles says: —"After over 40 years' service in the British Navy, and au intimate asquaintance with its little disadvantages, I can still find in it so many good points that they quite outweigh the drawbacks, and every year the navy is being improved and made- more attractive. In the new patriotic spirit of militarism which the nation is exhibiting it is to be- hoped that tho Senior Service will not be forgotten, and that tho lads of the British Empire will bo as ready in the future as in the past to pail under the il'ug which floated over Drake and Nelson." He hopes that what he has written will " appeal to the mothers of the Empire who hesitate to trust their sons to the fancied jierils of a sea career."

" M.A.P." rays:—"A good story of the Duke of York is told by Captain Worcester, one. of the most popuHr captains in the P. and O. fleot. Some years ago his ship was lying in Malta Harbour waiting for tho Duke of York—then Prince George—to come on board. Captain >\ orccstor said to his young chief officer: ' As soon as you sec the Prince coming off, man the yards at once, and send for mo to my cabin.' A few minutes afterwards the captain heard a boat alongside, and immediately after the ynuug oflicer saying in a- querulous, high-pitched tone to the passenger who was stepping on board1; ' I say, when's tlint Prince coming? I wish he'd look sharp; I'm tired of waiting.' 'Awfully sorrj',' said a jolly voice, ' but I came oft' purposely as quietly as I could, as I thought you'd want to man the yards or something of that sort. As lam a sailor myself I know what a bore that is when you arc busy coaling.' It was the Duke of York."