THE TWO BEST SAINTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4929, 28 August 1890, Page 4

THE TWO BEST SAINTS.

' (Extract from an old soldier's lottor to his comrade.) Dear Harry—" • * * And now as to my health. Well, old fellow, you know that our nights m the trenches during '65 and '66 were not caloulated to lengthen our days, but at that time we did not mind it, as our sole object wbb to oatoh Kereopa, but he bad too many faithful followers. Brave fellows those old Maoris were ! How m our moturer yearß we can admire them ! Lord how I wander ! What I want to Bay is that I have been laid up with a fearful dose of sciatica and lumbago, eight weeks- in bed unable to turn. My poor wife had a time of it. After spending a good round sum m medicines, lotions, and God knows what, we got some St. Jacobs oil. I was always a sooffer at patent medicines, but, by Jove, I shall bo more cautious m future. It was the only thiug that seemed to tackle tho old enemy and clear him oul. I have an occasional reminder, but St. Jacob always comes to my aid. Indeed, next to Bt. Patrick, he is tho beat saint m tho calendar. * • * Toutb, 4c, I"] K. I. ODEA."

Mrs Stanley, or the late Miss Dorothy Tennant, is said to be directly descended from Olivor Cromwell, and from her earliest years -so runs the gossip of the hour — she announced her intention of never marrying any man who had not made a name m the world.

In tho middle of June last, the city of Kharkoff, one of tho most populous and important m Central Russia, had been suffering from ° "■nter famine for eight days. None was ;; Kiiible for baths m the hospital, nor for the extinction of fires, and the precious fluid being sold m the streets by the quart for drinking purposes.

Vessels arrived m Australian ports lately report having experienced unusual hailstorms. The Salamis was pelted with hailßtones as large aa pigeons' eggs, and the Loch Byan waß even worse treated, the stones being of irregular shape and many of them larger than ducks' egge. The crew* had to shelter while the shower lasted, and the noise was like that of machine guns m full play.

Evidence quite as remarkable us any that has yet been forthcoming, was given recently before the Children's Life Insurance Bill Committee by two of Her Majesty's judges. Mr Justice Wills, who said ho spoke not only for himself but for other judges, said that no one who had sat m criminal courts m Lancashire, Yorkshire, Warwickshire, &c , could doubt that there was m the aggregate a considerable and lamentable amount of neglect and cruelty practiced towards children. He had tried very many more cases of this kind into which the element of insurance did not enter than cases into which the element of insurance, did enter. These cases ocourred amongst " the residuum," and there could be bo doubt that a great many of them were duo to downright wanton cruelty. He had no doubt, after making every allowance which justice and charity suggested, that there was a considerable number of children m tbiß country who were starved to death by parents who could prevent it if they choee. The percentage of people to whom his remarks applied might be very small ; but m the aggregate the number was very large. In cross-examination he said it would be affectation to doubt that "' there trissn abundance of parentßin thiß country who would starve their children for a crown piece." Mr Justice Day confirmed tho statements made by Mr Justice Wills.