South Canterbury Times, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 1882.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2740, 4 January 1882, Page 2

South Canterbury Times, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 1882.

The project of the tunnel under the English Channel, which is designed to connect England and Prance, has always been viewed with diametrically opposite feelings in England. In Prance, we do not hear that there is any particular, interest taken in the enterprise. The formation of the tunnel connecting the “ tight little island ” with the Continent, however, while it marks an era in human progress gives rise, to a prodigious fear in some British bosoms that it will be the signal for the destruction of England’s island supremacy. Sir Carnet Wolseley is the most eminent representative of the stationary party, and fully expresses the sentiments of the Conservative section who hang by their traditions. Of the ultimate completion and success of the enterprise we/have not the least doubt. No party of : obstructionists, however dogged their resistance, can long impede ..the progress of a great work Which is born of a popular need and :sanctioned by popular approval. There really seems no reason, save a sentimental one, while England should cling to her insularity, and it remains to be proved whether or not she would suffer injury by being joined to the European Continent. There is nothing to. show that she has so suffered from the increased social and commercial intercourse which has marked the last half century ; although, as will be remembered by some of our readers, the most lamentable results were by many expected to follow the entente cprdiale between England and France, for which both nations owe an everlasting debt of gratitude to the Third Empire. “ Fear God, and hate the ’French,” was the first and great commandment of the military and naval catechism of England, and intercourse with the frivolous volatile Gauls it was' confidently asserted, was quite out of the question, for it would bring about a corruption of British morality, would in fact, be the , dry-rod to consume the solidity of Britirh oak. None of the melancholy forebodings have as yet been realised, however. English morality is as pure as ever,

perhaps a trifle purer! and the solidity of the English character seems to have suffered no injury, while the British people of the present generation ' have discarded d good many of theridjclousu and disgraceful prejudices that characterised their forefathers, and have acquired liberal and forbearing views in regard to their neighbors. They have come to see that “ frog-eathing”. is not the only occupation of a Frenchman; smoking his pipe the only puisuit of a German; or brigandage the only means an Italian can find of getting a living,—that, in fact, other people possess virtues and talents besides the inhabitants of Great Britain. This has led to a commercial and social reciprocity, which has produced splendid and most cheering results already. If the opening of the submarine tunnel , should add another means whereby this intercourse can be promoted, it will do great and godd service. The danger or probability of war between England and her continental neighbors, will diminish as intercourse increases. A haughty insularity is now impossible for Great Britain, and this the Mother Country should now gracefully accept. We are not among those who fear that the sceptre, of dominion is passing away from Britain.; In the arena of nations she need not fear to contend in friendly rivalry, and 1 the more her intercourse with her! neighbors is now promoted, the more surely will she fulfill her high destiny as the law-giver and the language-giver of the world.

; In a late number of the Sydney “.Tele-, ; graph” is the first of a series of papers under the heading “ Scientific,”. I on the anatomy of the, ear, by Dr: i Stanich, an “aurist” who has travelled ; through this colony once or twice, ' Tbe paper is an extraordinary one in I' some respects. We are not qualified; j to criticise the “ Doctor’s ” , statements regarding the anatomy of the [[ ear, but some of them seem peculiar, , and if his knowledge of the human 1 auditory organ is no better than his knowledge of English, as manifested : in his paper, he is scarcely a trustworthy “ medical adviser,” Speaking of a work of an author of the seven- . teenth century, he says his work 1 “ contains anatomical indications so . precise that it would not be difficult to compare them to the anatomy of the present day,” What are “anatomical ' indications?” And what is the “ anatomy of the present' day ?” , Speaking of a certain membrane, he says: “The form and size of the membrane . are naturally limited according to the tympanic ring, which presents 1 the same variations that are met with in ' the auditory passage,. which contributes to form oval, according to some; elittic, or cordifrome, accords ing to others.” This is as clear as mud. The latter half of the sentence is a marvel of explicitness. Had Dr Stanich been born a poet he would , have surpassed Swinburne in writing what no one, not even himself, could understand. “Contributes to form oval!” or “elittic,” or “ cordifrome I.*’ ' according to “some,” and “otheiri.” There is so much wisdom in this that I Dr Stanich thinks it unnecessary to ■ give an opinion himself. “ Tbe tym- ■ panic ring possesses a fold, inside of which is enclosed the membrane, on ; behalf of its annul cavernous sinus; on the upper part, however, there is no 1 corresponding squamose portion as ‘above mentioned, and there does riot exist any stretched trace.” “On behalf of ” is good, And so is “ annul cavernous, sinus”—a mixture of Double-? Dutch, English, and Latin and “ stretched trace ” has a crisp, scientific sound, but of its meaning we have no idea, not even a “ stretched trace ” of an idea. , Our reason for taking notice of ’ this paper is that a copy of the journal , containing it has been sent directly to us by post, we suppose by Dr Stanich himself, as the article was marked. We presume that Dr Stanich wished notice to be taken of his paper, as a , cheap advertisement, possibly having' thought of revisiting New Zealand, '■ arid it was only ordinary kindness to » oblige him.