LITERARY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1875, 28 October 1887, Page 34

LITERARY NOTES.

It will be startling to most people to learn that Japan possesses 2000 newspapers — half as many as Great Britain and Ireland.

Lady Macgregor is gathering together for early publication facts concerning the life, military and political services, travel and adventure of Sir C. M. Macgregor, the late Quartermaster-general in India. The volume promises to prove a valuable record of daring adventure and brilliant achievement.

Our great public schools have from time to time made serious efforts to teach French well ; but the number of lads they turn out who really know Fvench is, by their own confession, exceedingly small. Our middleclass schools teach both French and German ; but the lad who comes away from them is usually profoundly ignorant of both tongues, and probably proud of his ignorance besides. There are hundreds of "classes" in the great cities, sometimes numerously attended by young men who find French, or German, or Spanish, essential to their careers; but the number with whom "the Professor " is contented is ridiculously small, and ho will usually tell an inquirer who investigates that he cannot induce the English lad to put his heart into tho study. One or two will do it, but the great majority will not, betraying a sort of stubborn reluctance such as can only spring from inner dislike.— Spectator.

The question, Does music pay ? is being discussed in an English contemporary. One writer says : — Music does pay — its publisher, bufc not its composer, except very rarely. That Sir A. Sullivan gains largely and deservedly is true ; but £30,000 per annum is a myth, even if he is co-partnor with Messrs Gilbert and DOyle Carte, for their theatre cannot hold more than £1500 per week — if it holds as much — to divide between three. Sir A. Sullivan .stands or. a peculiar platform, for the first time in the history of music. Balfe, a still greater musician, died worth £8000 only. Bishop died almost a pauper, and no other English musician has- ever left a moneyed recorc. The double writing of an opera (librettist and composer) never yet did pay, even when its expense was less than now, for all Balfe gained by " The Bohemian Girl" fell short of £1500, although one ballad, " Marble halls,"' alone turned in £3000— to its publisher. Mr Baun doubtless gained somewhat, but, after a successful career at Drury Lane, became bankrupt. Ballad and waltz music pays best, but only through enormous expense in advertising, which system will make any rubbish pay, whilst merit alone will not. The reverened author of " She wore a wreath of roses" sold his copyright for £2 10s, to be repurchased by Mr Williams for £500. George Barker received only 40s for " The white squall," by which Messrs Cramer realised thousands, and generously gave, afterwards, a cheque for £100.

The Happiness of Millions.— On what does the happiness of populations or individuate depend ? On that inestimable bussing- health. Ought it not then, to be the study of every Colonist to ascertain for himself the best means by which this nricelfss boon, once attained, can be for ever preserved ? The answer must be in the affirmative. A Jarge number of Colonists in New ftpa,hnd are aware that th-re is a medicine which npfc only wards off disease, but rapidly cureo a," maladies that occur there, and actually prolongs life." This invaluable medicine is Freojnins Original and Genuine Chlorodyne, which cures ajid arrests, in their, very easly stages, all the diseases noticeable in New Zealand. Insist upon having "Freeman's" only. Trade mark, an Elephant. — Sold everywhere Obtainable from all chemists and storekeepers*