Minor Matters.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXV, Issue VI, 11 August 1900, Page 245

Minor Matters.

Expensive Cigars.

“Speaking of expensive cigars," said a gentleman who lately returned from a visit to Cuba, "I was shown part of a boxful in Havana that were made for General Grant, but belonged to a consignment that was stopped by wire directly after the old soldier lost his fortune through the failure of Grant & Ward. The cigars were manufactured at the Alveraz factory, and cost GO cents apiece in quantities of 500. It seems that when the general visited Havana after his second term he sampled this special brand, and liked it so well that he left a standing order, upon which shipments were made at intervals until the Wall-street smash. ’Che cigars that were shown me in Havana were very dark anil rather roughly finished, but they were made from the finest tobacco obtainable, and each one was carefully wrapped in silver foil. I also saw a box of much more costly weeds, which are put up regularly for the Czar of Russia, or rather for the Russian Court, circle, for the Czar himself smokes nothing but cigarettes. They were lighter than the Grant cigar—l would call them about Colorado mad uro—and were considerably larger. They are shipped in lots of 1000, and for each consignment the makers receive a draft on the Barings for 1250 dollars in gold. The agent who exhibited these treasures told me that the Russian Royal household has been getting- that special make of cigar for the last forty years. The Spanish-Ameri-can war, which brought the manufacture of all commercial brands to a standstill, did not affect this luxurious output, for the reason that several years’ supply of the extra fine leaf is always kept in storage to provide against possible crop failure. Nearly all the royal families of Europe have standing orders in Havana for special cigars, but very few of them go over 50 cents a-pieee. ■b ♦ ♦

A Bicycler’s Escape.

Mr. A. B. Lloyd, an English explorer and missionary in Africa, is an ardent bieyelist. On one of his rides in that country he met a lion, and it was his “scorching” that saved him. • One fine morning Mr. Lloyd started on his wheel for a village a few miles from the mission station. He took the main road to Uganda, which was a good thoroughfare about five feet wide. After climbing’ a long hill he came to the descent on the other side, a long, gentle slope, where he knew the road was smooth. Up went his feet to the coasters, and away he flew down the hill, going faster every minute. Near the bottom of the hill was a turn. On approaching thiS he again put his feet to the pedals. As he rounded the curve a terrible sight burst upon him. In the middle of the narrow path lay a full-grown lion, its head down upon its paws, lacing up the hill. Mr. Lloyd could not stop, or, if he did stop, it would be in the very jawss of the king of the forest. To the left was a wall of rock twenty feet high, and to the right a steep embankment, with the river a hundred feet below. Escape seemed impossible. Suddenly he remembered that the wild men he had met were always afraid of his bicycle. Perhaps a wild beast might be affected in the same way. Therefore he did the only thing he could do. Beleasing his check on the wheel, ringing his bell, and shouting with all the power of his lungs, he forced the bicycle at its best speed directly towards the eouchant lion. The beast raised its head. Then, seeing this unearthly creature, with so strange a voice, rushing- fearlessly upon it. if gave a blood-curdling- yelp, and sprang to one side just as the rider flew past. ♦ ♦ ♦

Servants’ Characters in Germany.

Germany has a good many customs ♦ hat are "all its own. Among other things it has solved for itself a question that is sometimes a vexed one between servants and mistresses —the giving or refusing of a “character.” -Mrs Alec Tweedie, describing in the “Queen” the system in vogue in Germany, shows how completely it answers its purpose. Every man or woman seeking to enter the service of another, whether as

artisan, clerk, or domestic servant, is uniter obligation to procure a service txiok, which after purchase must be officially stamped by the poHee authorities. The police authorities enter in the book a description of the holder, having reference to age, personal appearance and religion. When a situation is applied for the prospective employer can see at a glance whether the applicant has been in service before, and if so what kind of work has been done. If the applicant secures the situation the employer writes in the book, "Entered the service of so-and-so, of such a street and town," adding the date, a description of the work required and the wages given. Tile employer keeps the book as long as the engagement lasts, and on handing it back makes another entry, “Left my service on such a date,” with a few lines as to character and the servant's reasons for leaving. Thus the character book goes round, and the servant has never the uncomfortable necessity of asking her mistress for a recommendation. Forged characters are practically impossible, because the whole system is under police supervision. Destitution in old age among domestic servants and the lower class of artisans has become an impossibility in Germany, for within the last eightyears it has been made compulsory for all who earn less than live hundred dollars a year to insure themselves against want in old age. Although the law had been in force for so short a time four hundred thousand persons received pensions in 1897. amounting to nearly fourteen million dollars, five millions of which were paid by the State.

■fr 4? An Insurance Agent's Tsy.

’Twas a life insurance canvasser, late captain in the , who spoke, and he said: “I just managed to catch him as he landed back from the races, found out that he wasn’t in any other office, gave him our prospectus, and yet, somehow. I'm not over sanguine.” "Kats' You ilunno how to tackle him for toffee. You should have gone bluff at him and offered to lay him twenty thousand pounds to —to —well, whatever the first year’s premium comes to that he doesn’t live to see next year’s Cup, or Hurdles, or whichever week you catch him.” "(treat Bonarosa, you’ve hit it! Jlavanother ?” •*•■*•*

What the Queen Said to Lord Roberts.

What the Queen said to Lord Roberts, and what Lord Roberts said to his sovereign, before lie left for South Africa has not hitherto be n published. Before Lord Roberts went out to take command of the forces the Queen sent for him to Windsor. In saying "Good-bye,” Her Majesty, the "Gem” says, took hold of Loth Ixird Rcberts' hands, and, with t.a:s in her eyes, said: “God be with you, Lord Roberts, and with all my brave men fighting for me. Please tell all my soldiers how 1 feel their loyalty and love. Duty will be done, I know, by you and all." “Madam,” steadily replied Lord Roberts, “many thousands of soldiers in England, who have perhaps only seen their Queen, would willingly die for her. I have not onlyseen, but know my Quern; how much more, then, would I lay down my life lor one whom to know is to honour and to love?" + ♦ +

Colours the Hen Didn't Like.

The people of Elkhart. Indiana, affirm that whatsoever the defects of hens in general, they have seen one hen which was not colour-blind. She and her brood wen- displayed in a druggist's window, as an advertisement for dyes. The druggist dyed the twe ty chickens, some red, some brown, blue, violet, green and yellow. The hen, a big Plymouth Rock, evinced a remarkably violent dislike for the little fellows who wore the red and brown, and fought them from her with all the vehemence at her command. She regarded the others with varying degrees of favour, ami was particularlyfond of her violet-hued offspring. As night ciune on, and the difference i.t colours became less noticeable, the

hen’s antipathy always lessened, and by the time the electric lights were turned on she would have all the twenty snuggled under her wings. Daylight, however, was sure to bring on a renewal of her tionbtes.

4? 4* 4* He Died Like Abel.

It was only a week si nee he had been elected to membership of the Club; but the hospitality of the members was so full and free that he had not arrived home sober on one solitary night. Awakening on the eighth morn, still full of the tenets of clubdom, but in other respects at about fourpence three-farthings a gross, he observed huskily to tin* partner of his sorrows: “Millie, there is only one epitaph that I desire to have graven on ’’ “Fudge!'' responded Millie, retaliatorly sleepy. “your epitaph is already written; I wrote it last night. In four simple little words —‘He died like Abel.’ ’’ “How's that’?" “Abel was killed by a chib, wasn't he?" No controversy followed. * * *

Conducting: a Presidential Campaign.

From the day that any party convention nominates a candidate Lor President until the ballots are counted in November the (hairman of that, party’s national committee is an exceedingly busy man. The task of “running 1 ” a presidential campaign lias become very large. The national chairman selected is always a prominent man in the party, and is usually one personally agreeable to the candidate for President. Four years ago Mr Hanna, oi Ohio, managed the Republican, Mr Jones, of Arkansas, the Democratic, ami Mr Butler, of North Carolina, the Populist canvass. Formerly New York City was chosen as the headquarters of political campaigning, but now the custom is to have main headquarters in either New York or Chicago, and a branch headquarters in the oilier. Washington is also a great place for campaign work, particularly in the distribution of documents. The business transacted at a national headquarters is varied and extensive. The raising of the money for the campaign is an important and delicate task. The “literary bureau,” which prepares political matter for the party newspapers, or to be distributed as leaflets, is very busy. Then the bureau of speakers, or “spellbinders,” as they are sometimes jocosely called, requires skilful direction. The different nationalities demand attention, and for those voters who cannot speak English, political arguments in their own language must be prepared ami circulated. There lire, besides, pictures, songs, cartoons, buttons, badges, and numberless devices for winning voters with which the national committee must deal. The election of a President will always bo a serious matter, requiring thoughtfulness, skill and energy of the highest order. Moreover, a sum of money is needed for legitimate expenses of a campaign. This is a necessary evil, for the money must be raised by voluntary contribution; and those who give largely to campaign funds, if they do not look for something* in return, are always suspected of doing* so. 4* 4* 4*

Buying a Fan.

A colonial lady who spent some months in Spain last year, declares that the dark-eyed damsels of the fan and lace mantilla are quite as charming - as tradition has pictured them. Ignorant they commonly are, their education being* of the most meagre. but they are not dull. They are quick-witted, high-spirited and affectionate, and are possessed of a grace of speech and manner which rarely deserts them. Nor do they reserve their pretty ways only for the ballroom or the parlour: even ordinary shopping is lifted into a scene of elegant comedy by the manner in which it is transacted. This is how a Spanish senorita bargains for her fan: There is nothing sordid about it. Iler haggling is a. social condescension that al once puls the black-eyed young salesman at her merry. “But the fan seems to me the least bit dear, senor!*’ He shrugs his shoulders and flings out his arm in protest. “Ah. senorita! You do not see how beautiful the work is. I am giving* it away al six pesetas.’’.y

She lifts her eyebrows half-inrre* dulously. all hewitchingly. “At five (wsetas, senor.” He runs his hand through his black hair in chivalrous distress.

“But the |M‘erless work, senorita! And this other. too. I sacrifice it at four pesetas.” She touches both fans lightly. “You will let us have the two at seven pesetas, senor?” Iler eyes dance over his confusion. He catches the gleam, laughs back, throws up his hands. "ftueuo, senorita! At what von please!” Ami the senorita trips away contented with a sharp bargain. a.Ithough for Spanish gallantry, even when genuine, goes farther on the lips than otherwise—the price was probably not much more remote from what pleased the smooth-tongued clerk than from wlffit she pleased.

-S' 4’ 4* Pensions Saved.

By 1 lie death of the Duke of Wellington the pension list will be eased by .f 4000 a year. That sunt included two separate pensions granted to the iron Duke. The first was in ISIO, apension of £2OOO a year on account of "the brilliant and decisive victory obtained" by hint at Talavera on July 12. ISO 9. and was given “to Lienfemint(ieneral Lord Viscount Wellington ’ by tieorge 111. rt le second pension, of <•‘2000 also, was granted in IS 12 on Viscount Wellington’s advancement io an earldom. It was to be “in addition to the annuity already granted by Parliament, and subject to the sattie Jindtai ions imposed in that, grant. Those limitations were that ii was st grant “to the said Earl Wellington for and during the natural life of the said Earl Wellington, and from and after his decease, unto the two next, succeeding heirs male, of his body on whom his title, etc., should descend. The Duke, who passed away so suddenly was the third, and lienee the two pensions of £4OOO in all cease with his death. + 4> <•

“ Prejudiced."

Not exactly the right word, but a very expressive one, was that used by a dilatory witness, a woman, who was brought before the court the other day for contempt of court. “What reason, madam.'’ said the Magistrate, severely, “have you for not obeying the summons of the court?” “I haint got none. Mr Judge, only we have smallpox down at our house, an' I thought you might be kinder sorter prejudiced agin it." I be judge was “kinder sorter" prejudiced, and the spectators must have been more su. to judge by the quckness with which the court-room was erupt ied.