The Star. SATURDAY, MAT 1, 1897. NOTES AND NOTIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5861, 1 May 1897, Page 4

The Star. SATURDAY, MAT 1, 1897. NOTES AND NOTIONS.

Among the events of this week the Amberley tragedy seems to have eclipsed all else. Well it might. A yousg girl was done to death in so terribly brutal a manner as to create a universal feeling of horror ; for fortunately it is rare in this country that a crime of such a nature has to be placed on record. Still, in connection with this dreadful occurrence there is cause for — that arrest was so speedily made, and that the man Fraser, or Sheehan, promptly made full confession of guilt. The' full credit for the arrest bolongs to Constable Eoche, who, whether or not his special service in this regard is in some manner recognised by the authorities, must experience a keen sense of satisfaction. For the relatives of the murdered girl there will bo profound sympathy. Sheehan will be hung, of course ; but in such a case as this, does the penalty fit the crime ? We think not. He will die an easy death, and very likely he will welcome it as a relief from the horror of remorse. We believe that it would be a thousandfold greater punishment to such a man to let him live, keepinghim a life-long prisoner, under the most stringent conditions. We know that, as yet, large numbers of people will demand " a life for a life," pointing to the teaching of the old Mosaic law, which, by the way, they would never dream of applying in detail. Still, public opinion is changing with regard to capital punishment, and we make no doubt that ere many years the death penalty will be abolished in this country as it has been in others. What do we mean, asks a London contemporary, by the "Great Powers?" Do we mean the English, French, German, Italian, Russian and Austrian people? And the writer proceeds to answer his question in this way :— Certainly not. We can't mean them, or there would be no danger of either war 'or disagreement. No, these people are merely the tools the Great Powers use— the more bricks and mortar of which "the Powers "construct i&eir " greatness." If you come to inquire minutely, you will find that the " Great Powers " are the European financiers^ and ifris i&ej^&P S»U ijae stings. ©£ % 59

emperors who fancy they move the world. Disceimxnation is not distinctively a mental characteristic of -the parish poet. Calamities which spread a hush over whole communities are usually taken by him as excuses for tweaking his twanging lyre into some impertinent exhibition of his incurable inanity. It is not his business to give sympathetic expression to the overflowing fullness of the general heart, but to his own abounding emptiness. For example, the Hawke's Bay Flood has inspired one rustic bard to express himseli- in characteristic rhyme, whereof W the reader here taste by means of thes</three verses : — On through Napier'i streets careering Men beheld the liquid war 1 Dashing, smashing, roaring, sneering ; Dancing wh.ere ifc most could mar: Higher still, and further stretching Over meadow, lane and field, With them all their riot fetching, "While obstructing forces yield. Bain-clouds pdnr in volumes endless, • Rivers seething currents roll. Winds drive fiercely on the friendless, Nature flings off all control.''Liquid war/' "sneering" a3 ifc went through the .streets of a town, would assuredly be a sight to see. Perhaps, however, as " Nature had flung off all control," the poet thought he might safely follow her example, and pour himself out in a turbid torrent of desolating nonsense. Mr Hoolet, a London journal remarks, has recently told us " How to become millionaires." It is simply by acting on the old maxim, "Early to bed and early to rise." "Go to bed at ten o'clock," says he ; " then be up early and get a little bit in front of everybody else." How easy it seems. Our friend — the Clarion, versifies the subject as follows :— v How to become a millionaire! Which everybody wants to know. Says good Mr Hooley " It's simple," and truly It seems that it must be so. You begin by going to bed at ten, Then get up again betimes. (The hour is not given At six, say— or seven, Which isn't the best of rhymes.) And then, of course, you manage to get A little in front— with care— Of everyone, And the thing is done, And so you're a millionaire ! It's all very well in theory, There isn't a shade of doubt • But somehow— in practice, The curious fact isj The bally thing won't work out ! There's thousands who go to bed at ten, And ri6e ere the break of day ; And toil all their lives, Like bees in their hives ; But somehow it don't seem to pay. The trouble I rather think.is this, Supposing we all do our bestIt won't wash, you see, \ For the reason that we ! Can't all get the start of the rest ! To-night, Felix Tanner, " the fasting inan^'is to begin a fast of thirty days and , nights, in the Criterion Theatre at Welling- ; o'on. He has been phrenologically examined by a Madnme Boyd, and those who take an interest irf such matters may like to know what the lady had to say. The examination took place in the presence of forty students connected with the Melbourne University and Hospital. As the result of the examination, Madame Boyd stated that "Tanner's chief characteristics lie in combativeness, firmness and continuity. In all of these he is specially favoured by nature, and it is from activity of these particular faculties that he obtainsthe will-power which I is really the secret of his physical endurance | and success as a food abstainer ; and he is J very hopeful and will only see the bright side of things, but having excellent judg- [ ment and perception he will rarely fail in I his calculations. I was pleased to find him large in conscientiousness, which shows that he would never lend himself to anything in the way of trickery or deception, and stamps him at once as being strictly honest and honourable in all his undertakings." It sounds rather like a " made to order " pronouncement.