Plain Speaking.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVI, Issue XIX, 9 May 1896, Page 530

Plain Speaking.

THE St. John Ambulance Association, which has branches all over New Zealand, is deserving of far greater help and attention than is bestowed upon it. Last week the Couutess of Glasgow kindly bestowed the certificates and medallions gained by pupils who had attended classes for instruction in first aid of nursing during the year. A large number of invitations were issued by the secretary (about 750 circulars emanating from his office) informing those particularly concerned, and such of the general public as might be supposed likely to be interested, of the meeting, and also telling them that subscriptions to the Funds were badly needed. The attendance was poor—meagre, in fact, and it is generally supposed that a wholesome, or I should like to say, unwholesome fear of a collection plate kept the larger number of those invited away. Some of them will, of course, testify that this was not the fact by sending at once a donation. Anything from five shillings to a gift like that generously promised at the presentation by His Excellency, the Governor, viz., /5, the Society would I am sure be most grateful for. Five such contributions as his Excellency’s would enable this branch of the Society to pay for the appliances for rendering immediate aid in case of accident, which have been received from England. The ambulance bags, I am told, are splendid affairs, replete with every thing necessary—lint, bandages, bottles containing oil for burns, ether, etc., knife, scissors, etc.

Talking of collections just now reminds me of a good story I heard some little time ago. I think it comes from Dean Holl.. The occurrence is described as taking place on a Sunday when the congregation happened to be unexpectedly large. The rector, seeing that there was only one alms dish, beckoned to a rustic, and bade him go through the garden into the rectory dining room and bring a dish from the table. ‘ Take it down one side of the north aisle and up the other,’ he said, ‘ and then bring it to me.’ The rustic disappeared, came back with the dish, took it as he was ordered and presentedit to the people on either side of the aisle, and then, approaching the rector, whispered in his ear: , I've done as yer told me, sir. I’ve taken it down yon side the aisle and up t’other—they’ll none on ’em 'ave any.’ No order had been given to empty the dish, and it was full of bis cuits ! Now at the Auckland Government House last week those present were treated to plates of cake and cups of tea instead of a collection. This made some of the stay-at-homes wish they had gone.

I hear that in several parts of the colony the recent school committee elections have resulted in a decided victory for the party which upholds religious education in schools. This announcement does not surprise me, nor do I, like some of my friends, regret the evidence of a growing desire in the colony for some degree of direct religious training in our system of education. lam as opposed as anyone could be to anything savouring of sectarianism, but I am quite convinced that a certain measure of Christian ethical instruction could be imparted to our young people without in any way giving rise to ill-feeling between those who subscribe to different forms of the one great creed. The day, of course, will certainly come when those differences which at present weaken Christianity’ will have been forgotten, and men will be united on one broad and universal basis. But are we, because that day seems so far off, to dispense with the general inculcation of those religious truths and sentiments, the presentation of those high examples and ideals which may help to hasten it ? There is certainly some ground for the argument that religious teaching in the hands of some men will rather tend to accentuate those differences, and thus defer the time of that blessed union. But even if it is not easy to get the right kind of teachers—by our present methods we cannot hope to get them—it is certainly possible, I think, to devise a scheme of religious instruction which, except in the case of very bigoted instructors, could not be misused so as to offend the established convictions of anyone. That our young people would be benefited by some such training is to me perfectly clear. Not only are great numbers of them growing up ignorant of some of the grandest examples of heroism, devotion, and righteousness which exalteth a nation—ignorant, too, of some of the finest poetry and the most sublime teachings the world has ever heard, but they are growing up without the reverence for what is best and highest which a contemplation of those examples and a knowledge of that literature is calculated to inspire. ‘One thing there is,’ says Goethe, which no child brings into the world with him ; and yet it is on this one thing that all depends for making man in every point a man—and that is reverence.’

Now that the ladies with their national councils, their conferences, and their leagues are becoming such a power in the land it is to be hoped that they will con-

cern themselves with such eminently practical questions as the servant girl difficulty. Of course they will look at it from the servants’ as well as from the mistresses’ point of view. I often think it requires more looking at from the former than from the other, and most people will think the same if the majority of mistresses are like the two mentioned in the following letter, which appeared the other day in London Truth. I quote it in full for it is characteristic: — ’ Dear Truth.—Seeing your reference to servants this week, I would ask you to put in a plea for the slavey. I have two ladies to wait upon in a small flat—not much, perhaps you will say ; and I believe my mistresses think that lam leading quite an idle life. Yet. look at my ordinary day’s work. I have to be up in time to bring tea at 7.30 a.m. for the two ladies in their bedrooms ; four grates to do, porridge to make for two dogs, breakfast to cook for the ladies, two hot baths to be ready for them at 8.30. Next, boots to clean (sometimes they will use two or three pairs of boots each during the day), rooms to clean and tidy, bicycles to clean, and ail this to be done in time to cook and serve up luncheon. Luncheon has to be cleared away and myself cleaned up and dressed ready for callers and afternoon tea. All day long bells are ringing and small things are wanted, such as hot water in bedrooms, perhaps five of six times ; by 7.30 I have to have dinner ready—three courses, if they are alone ; four, five, or six, if there is company ; think only of the plates to be washed up afterwards. If lam lucky I get to bed a little after eleven, in time for about seven hours’ sleep, on a hard mattress which makes my bones ache, before beginning again. I never have a minute to myself, and I seldom sit down for a meal, but have to take my food standing, or while walking about and doing other work. Yet all day long it is, ‘ Why haven't you finished ?’ or ‘ What have you been doing ?' never a word of thanks, or a recognition that I am doing my utmost. ‘ You do not think that servants can be made to do anything that they are not disposed to do. Howam Ito refuse anything asked of me ? I can only leave my place, and if I leave, my mistress can give me a character such as will make it impossible for me to get another, and I shall have to starve, or go to some place so bad that they are ready to take anybody, character or no character. ’ A visitor writes : ‘ I was one of those who accepted the open invitation to Government House, Auckland, on the occasion of the distribution of medals, etc., to ambulance students, and took advantage of the opportunity afforded by the Countess’s hospitality, in the shape ot afternoon tea, to have a look at the interior of the residence of our Queen’s Representative. We were only allowed in the dining-room, it is true, but if that be a sample of the other rooms, I must beg to heartily congratulate Lord and Lady Glasgow on the very handsome suite of apartments placed at their disposal by a liberal Government ! Why, when first they came to take possession of their fair northern home they must have wondered if they had not come by mistake into an ancient country inn, where bare accommodation for man and beast was to be procured. 1 did not go to the stables, and therefore cannot say how the domestic animals fare, but I dtd see the sumptuously furnished dining-room, and looked in at the windows of the equally magnificent drawing-room. The curtains in the first-named apartment are of some aged and muchfaded reddish material, such as was probably thought very fashionable in the early days of Sir George Grey ! The carpet is worn threadbare in many places, and is, I should say, of the same date as the curtains. As for the furniture ! —well, luckily there is not much of it. I onlynoticed a venerable side board, which is not at all antique, by the bye, and is, of course, wholly commonplace and inexpensive. I venture to say there is not one of the members of the Upper or Lower House whose wife would permit such a disgracefully shabby room to disfigure her house. I am told by an Auckland lady that the upstair rooms are not quite so bad, though cheaplv and poorly furnished. The taste of the wives of the present and recent Governors renders the drawing-room more oresentable by the addition of covers for cushions, dainty hangings, plants,etc..which somewhat conceal the unpresentable upholstery of the one and only salon. There is no snug little morning-room or cheerful library, or attractive smoking snuggery. There are two big rooms for receptions, and that is all besides the staff offices and the Governor’s private room. I do not suggest luxury for Her Majesty’s New Zealand representative, but I would mildly propose some new curtains and a respectable carpet for the dining-room of Government House, Auckland.