Here and There.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXI, Issue XVII, 24 October 1903, Page 12

Here and There.

A literary event just transpiring will awaken interest, both in Australia and New Zealand. Dr. Fitchett has for 11 years edited the "Review of Reviews for Australasia"; and the magazine has held the first place in current Australian literature. Dr. Fite’aetl. however, and Mr. W. T. Stead, the English editor, differ profoundly from each other in their views on Imperial questions, and Mr. Stead’s pro-Boer and anti-Chamberlain utterances grow steadily more intense. There is no breach of friendship betwixt the two editors, but it eould hardly l?e expected that the author of "Deeds That Won the Empire” and "How England Saved Europe" could run permanently in literary harness with a writer of Mr. Stead’s extreme views. Matters have at last reached a climax: the Australian shareholders in ihe "Review of Reviews for Australasia” have sold out their interests to Mr. Stead; who. after the end of the present year, will run ids own English edition in Australia: while, in January, the first number of aa entirely new sixpenny magazine, under the title of “The Busy Man,” and edited by Dr. W. H. Fitchett, will be issued from the present office, by the present staff of the "Review t of Reviews for Australasia.” under the management of Mr. T. Shaw Fitchett. Mr. Stead will thus be able to ventilate his own opinions about the British Empire; while the new magazine will pursue an absolutely independent course, and will reflect the life and thought of the world without any extreme political bias. Says Jones. “What is this I hear. Smith, about your not believing in free trade?” Smith retorts, "It’s a wicked lie. 1 never said I did not believe in it. I do believe in it. I would lay down my life for st. What I did say was that I do not know what it means.” *\ Mr Buchanan last week initiated the Bakers’ Conference, sitting in Auckland, into an effective method of keeping the customers’ accounts short. He explained that he charged his customers a half-pennv per loaf more than the rulingprice, but’gave a rebate of this half-penny if the accounts were paid within four weeks. He found it an admirable system, and he believed there were less long accounts on his books than on those of any other baker doing one quarter of the trade. He advised other bakers to give the plan a trial. There is no dock in the French courts as in our criminal courts. The prisoners sit on a bench, which is like any other of the benches in the court, except that it occupies a front- place. It is right opposite the benches on which sit the jury. The arrangement is a convenient one: the prisoners are immediately under the eye of the Bench and of the jurors. Except that there are soldiers behind and about them, there is nothing to indicate the position of the prisoners. You might, if you did not know what was going on, take them for some of the many people who have been attracted to the court by an interesting ease.

Vital statistics for September show that there were 113 births in Auckland city last month, and 44 deaths. The death-rate was 1.19, and the same rate occurred at Thames. With the exception of Parnell, these were the highest in the colony. In Parnell there were 10 births and 8 deaths —a death-rate of 1.65. In the other suburbs the birth and death-rates respectively were as follows: Birkenhead. 2,1; Devonport. 9. 3; Newmarket. 3. 2: Grey Lynn. 12. 2; Parnell, 10, 3. The totals for Auckland and suburbs were 149, 60. with a deathrate of 1.10. In the other three large centres, with suburbs, the death-rates were as follows: Wellington, 1.08; Christchurch. 1.11; Dunedin, 1.06. The total births in the four large centres were 524 during the month, and the deaths 230. Under both heads there was an increase of 42 over the August figures. Forty of the deaths were of babies, and 67 ovex 65 years.

The Cobden Club is frequently mentioned in the cable news nowadays, in connection with Mr Chamberlain’s proposals tor preferential trade. Of course, the CobJeu Club combats the new proposals with tooth and nail. The English newspaper the “People." which has paid some attention to the composition of the Cobden Club, states that out of a total membership of 475, no fewer than 242. or more than half, are foreigners. "One ean readily imagine,” savs the “People,” “that these gentlemen would have the interests of the British working man thoroughly at heart." A few of ibe names may be quoted as samples: Chevalier Scherzer, A. de Beaulieu Le Hardy. Eugene D'Eight lial, Senor Eehegaray. A. de Foutpertuis, A. J. de Johannis, Pescheki Keedta Gaetano Taceoni. The imitative faculty is the most valuable mental gift which a civil servant can possess, as his success largely depends upon his ability to repeat official formula and to write documents In the style of his superior, who ■will sign them. Negroes are admirable imitators. and they make excellent civil servants. Here is a letter from a Gold Coast postman to his postmaster: "Dear Master, —I have the pleasure to regret to inform you that when I gc- bath this morning a billow he remove my trouser. Dear master, how can I go on duty with only one trouser. If he get less where am 1? Kind write. Accra that they send me one more trouser, and so I eatch him and go duty. Good-Jay. sir. My God. how are you?—Your loving corporal. J.A.” Tl.e fortune of Miss Mary Wilson Godet te. who recently engaged herself to the Duke of Roxburgh, is reported to be £5.000,000. The Duke of Roxburgh was with the Duke and Duchess of York during their tour of New ZealandThere is a romance connected with the family history of both. Miss Goelette’s American ancestor was Jean Goelette. who fled from France before the Edict of Nantes and built up a name and fortune in ths New World. On the Duke’s side there is the well known dispute over the peerage, the tangled skein of which led to the most famous law suit of the last century. The present holaer of the title is described as a young man who will make a name for himself, being anything but “an ordinary duke." There is a world of romance in the news that the colossal pedestal of the statue which Dcmitian had built for himself has been found in the Roman Forum. Only ihe great hoofs of a horse remain upon it to testify to the vanity of the man who proclaimed himself a god in his own lifetime, and had a sort of idol made to commemorate his forgotten exploits. The statue itself is gone. The meaningless slab, that- measures its 40 feet by 20, clone remains to testify to the sterile megalomania of a tyrant whom only his vices have rescued from oblivion. The block ct stone remains. There is no •ward inscribed upon it. For that it had to wait some centuries. And then the little scholar who weighed the Roman world from his obscure judgment seat by the Lake of Geneva carved with his contemptuous pen the indelible epitaph—- " The timid and inhuman Domitian.”

~ The “Wide World Magazine” contains a spirited account of “Calamity Jane,” the original of one of Bret Harte’s characters in “The Luck of Roaring Camp,” whose death was lately announced by cable. Mr W. G. Patterson, wljo contributes the narrative, says:—•"'Left an orphan at eight years of age, 'Calamity Jane.' then plain Jane, became the mascot or ’daughter of the regiment’ of a devil-may-care squadron of soldiers in a frontier barracks. Between then and now Jane has been, successively, an army messenger, a frontier guide, an Indian scout, a mali carrier through a hostile country, an artiste in a mining camp variety theatre, a soldier and Indian fighter in male attire, and a typical, though feminine, frontier town bad man, riding her horse into saloons, shooting the lights out, and performing other orthodox feats in the most approved fashion.”

There is nothing which grows quite ao weary as the trite phrases which the novelists of to-day use in describing characters and scenes. "Cherry lips,” 'Taven hair,” “golden tresses.” are examples of phrases which are still In frequent use. “She drew herself to her full height,” she eyed him askance,” are other examples of the same sort. A certain novelist makes use of the following expressions in regard to his h<to:— His countenance fell, his voice broke, his heart sank, his hair rose, his eyes blazed, bis words burned, his blood froze. It appears, however, that he was able to pull himself together and marry the girl in the last chapter. ■ ■ s I have it on excellent private authority that Joe Darling is at present disinclined to resume cricket. There will be strong pressure at work later ou. however, to induce Joe to leave his Tasmanian station to measure blades with Warner and Co. Another retirement much regretted is that of Hugh Trumble, who is now manager of a suburban branch of the National Bank in Melbourne. We cannot fill Hughie's place.—" Spectator” in “Adelaide Critic.” English photographers are complaining of bad times since the advent of the picture qxjstcard. Not many years ago the photographer did a roaring trade in the "professional beauty;” but that has dropped, since the picture postcard will supply for a penny or two what the photographer will only sell for a shilling, and most of the popular actresses, with those who are almost unknown, are flying in counterfeit presentment through the post. Photographs of scenery have long been at a discount, for here the postcard reproductions are at their best, and already they are raised to the notice of the collector.

An anonymous gift to the Melbourne Hospital was accompanied by the following letter: —“To the secretary, Melbourne Hospital.—Dear Sir.—Enclosed please find my cheque for the sum of £ 1000 towards the endowment fund of your institution. Tais donation is in place of a like amount set out in my will some time ago. This is a small thanksoffering for all the blessings granted to me and mine for the last 40 years in this country. I do not wish any publie notice taken of this transaction, as I have nothing to advertise. With my, best wishes for your valuable and bighearted institution.”

New Zealand railway returns for the month ended September 12th give the revenue and expenditure on the various sections of the colony. The totals for the North Island being:—Revenue, £55,683: expenditure, £43,668. South Island, revenue, £BB.592: expenditure, £69,737. Totals for the colony: Revenue. £144.275; expenditure. £113,402; percentage of expenditure to revenue, 69-97- The Auckland line shows: Revenue, £lB-645; expenditure. £12,440. Kawakawa: Revenue. £139; expenditure, £122. Whangarei: Revenue, £1787; expenditure. £729. Wellington-Napier-New Plymouth: Revenue, £34.231; expend! 'ire, £29,814. Hurunui-Bluff: Receipts totalled £74-551 and expenditure £60,769.

One of the most noteworthy article* in the September "Century” deals with the results of the last American census, and is written by Mr W. R. Merriam, who was the director of the census. The total population, excluding the most recent additions stieh as the Philippine Islands, was 76,303,397. The only countries suipassing the United States in number of inhabitants are the Chinese Empire, the British Empire, the Russian Empire, and probably France, with the inclusion of its African possessions. Dividing the mainland of the United States into two equal parts, east and west, it is found that over 99 per eent. of the total population is located in the eastern half. In 1900 the population of the United States comprised 56.740.739. white persons of native birth. 10,250,049 whites of foreign birth, and 9,312,599 coloured persons, mostly negroes. The natural increase in ’lie native white population is considerably lower than the rate of increase in the negro population. The development of manufacturing industries has reached • point where the products of the factory and the shop exceed in value those of the farm.

A new weapon for fighting mobs is being installed in the county gaol at Lafa'ette, Indiana, which State has been the scene of several disgraceful lynching affairs. A large water standpipe is being erected between, the front and rear entrances to the gaol. It is the idea of Superintendent Harrison that water is the best persuader ever used upon a mob. He does not believe in shooting into a crowd, but the force of the stream from this standpipe will easily knock people down, and, played upon an entrance, will keep out any number of men.

Tiie Admiralty House question is not settled yet. When the Auckland Harbour Board decided with much reluctance to let the palatial building for a boarding - house, members thought it was a settled conclusion. But the Governor, to whom the matter was referred for consent, handed it over to the Premier- The Premier sent it ou to the Publie Works Department, and the authorities of that mysterious body moved itself to say that “Ministers could not see their way to advise His Excellency to agree to the request.” When the Board heard the letter read last week members really stared blankly. There was no reason vouchsafed for the refusal, and several speakers wanted to know why. Some believed there was mot e behind it than met the eye. Mr Walker said it was a most extraordinary thing indeed. TYie Board afterwards in committee decided to further consider the matter at a special meeting this week.

"It does look like rain.” “I beg your pardon.” "1 say it looks like rain.” "What does?” "The weather.” "The weather, my dear sir, is a condition. Kain is water in the act of falling from the douus. It is impossible that they should look alike.” "What I meant was that the sky looked like rain.” “Equally impossible. The sky is the blue vault above us—the seeming arelt or dome that we mistakenly call the heavens. It does not resemble falling wafer in the least.” "Well, then, if you are so particular, it looks as if it would rain.” "As if what would rain?” “The weather, of course." “The weather, as before stated, being a condition, cannot rain.” "The clouds then, eon ” But just then down the rain came, and they parted in a hurry. A youam American once found himself in an EugH~h country house. He was not a bau young fellow, but he carried the habit;of self-glorification beyond the !•—ible point, so that he got himself disliked, and’ ordinary men said that he was a romancer. A son of the house took him aside and spoke to hint delicately upon the subject. "Wai.’’ the American said, "it would hurt me io offend any <‘f your iiumlar prejudices: but the fact is that when I commence to bluff my tongue sorter runs away with me. I’d take it kindly if you’d give me a nudge, or a kick, or something when you think 1 m spreading it too thick.” The s® of the -house said he would. That night the -American took an English heiress in to dinner, and she happened to refer to conservatories. It started the America, “I had a cousin in Virginia who built himself a greenhouse that was fought remarkable. It was 413 feet long. 90 feet high, and ” Here his shin was barked under the table, and. the sun of the house eaught his eye. He rubbed -the dent, and added, with a sigh?—“And about an inch wide.”

Bathers should take warning from the *xpertenee of a young lady at DevonF°rt. Auckland, daughter of Mr Buchanan. of Takapuna. Thia young lady was ou the Devcnport beaeh catching shrimps a few days ago, on a portion of the beaclj between Clifton and Orakei Boa ds. and while paddling about in the water she was startled by receiving a sharp smack on the leg. Catching a glimpse of the Ugly creature'from which the blow emanated she wisely got away from it as quickly as sife. could, and told other persons of her experience. Some friends examined the spot, and hiding beneath * large rock'they discovered a huge octopu». a bill hook was obtained, and

the creature was pierced with this and dragged out of rhe water. He was there measured, and found to be Gift across from tip to tip of hi* tentacles. It was evident that if this octopus had succeeded in getting a good grip of the girl she would have-been quite at'bis mercy. Tire water was teas than a foot deep at the place where the incident occurred. Several small oetopi have been noticed in the harbour lately as far up as. Northcote, and the circumstance is one which demands ’.he serious consideration Of bathers.

There is nothing novel in rhe meal of snake sandwiches enjoyed by Dr. Lyman Clark and his biological students

in America the other day. excepting that it is not often white men indulge in food of the kind (says the Melbourne “Leader”). In Australia. Fiji and other countries, where snakes abound, the natives eat them with great relish, and an old Fiji resident informs us that he often had a few snakes caught and served up for guests who cared to try them. The Fiji reptile makes a very tasty dish, and as he is nonpoisonous- it matters not whether he has bitten himself or not while he was being killed. The Australian black will not eat a snake he has not killed himself, for fear of this biting- which the reptile invariably does —not suicidally, as some suppose—but because he lunges about wildly, and in trying to bite the enemy’s stick or leg, strikes himself in his efforts.

One of -the* services recently prohibited at St. Michael’s Anglican Church, Shoreditch, London, was the office of "the Rosary.” In a booklet compiled for children by an Anglican cleric • entitled Little Treasury for Little Catholics”) we find the following instructions about “the Rosary of the Blessed Virgin”:—“The Rosary is a method of orderly meditation on thirteen events recorded in the Holy Gospels and the Acts, and two -traditional events in the life of the Holy Virgin. It is convenient to get the set of beads called the Rosary and use it thus: Kiss the crucifix or rneda. and while you hold it say the Apostles’ Creed, then say the ’Our Father’ on the first bend, one ’Mail Mary' on each of the next three beads, and one ‘Glory be’ on the chain before the second large bead, etc.” The “mysteries" to be -thought over while thus counting the beads finish up with "the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven,” and her ‘’Coronation iu Heaven.” Apparently it has struck the compilers of such manuals fqr the little ones that, in these enlightened days, even children may find something in the Bible to stagger their faith in such teachings: and accordingly the "Treasury” informs them that "the Bible belongs to the Church.” which alone can explain it. Another booklet is still more explicit. It says: "If ever it should happen, when you are reading the Bible, that a thought comes into your mind which seems to go against the Catholic Faith, put that thought away at once. Don’t stop to argue about it. Don’t say. T-t is in the Bible.’ The Bible is the. book of the Church. . . . they never contradicted each other. If they seem to anyone to do so it is because he does not understand."

A rather peculiar question was raised at the meeting of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society last week. The ranger claimed a reward of £ 3 for each conviction in a case where a man was fined £5 and costs on two separate charges. The secretary pointed out that the two charges really arose o’ut of the one ease, but Mr. Walker argued that as the society got £lO iu fines it was only fair that the ranger sliould receive the specified reward for each case. This was supported by Mr. Whitney. Mr. Gillies said as a matter of fact the ranger stated in Court he did not intend to proceed in the second charge, when the clerk.read a letter from the defendant, pleading guilty to both charges. After some discussion it was decided to only pay the one reward. Another reward vva-s ordered to be paid to the constable at Rotorua for securing a conviction against a Maori who had seven native pigeons iu his possession during the close season. The meet ing expressed the opinion that tile Government should give police assistance in these matters the uf»fj reward*, y

In a Home paper a very able plea, signed, “One of Twelve,” in favour of the large family, represents the happy state of the household of a poor clergyman where the children numbered twelve, and had to do without many thing-, and were very jolly all the same —mother, father, and kiddie*. It hasbeen answered by various peop’e. who pointed out that they have not had or were not going to have large families, because they would not be happy under such circumstances. Alter all. does not the whole question hinge ou Nature’s unerring plans for the evolution <>f a higher type? The people who rejoice in large families—that is, those who are most self-denying and philoprogenitive, and sturdy, and sociable —have them, and the people who are rather more selfish. or luxurious, and less inclined to sacrifice any of their ease for posterity—they do not have them. Thus the better type are perpetuated, and the less desirable types incline to dwindle.

“Ireland and Her Story,” by Justin McCarthy. is a book worth reading to t lose interested in affairs of the Green Isle. There is no Irishman alive to-day who is mote respected than -Justin McCarthy, not only for his ability, but for his supreme honesty. Clear in his literary style, and in hi* narration of historical events, be "Is unswayed by race prejudice. Understanding what are the peculiarities of the Celtic race, the finer traits, even appreciating v hat may be their less amiable qualities, in one short volume he gives succinctly the leading events of Ireland from the beginning. With the best of judgment Justin McCarthy endeavours, not to gloss over the miseries of the past, giving causes for them, but at the same time he fries to infuse into Isis work a better spirit. His text seems to be to let wlir-t has gone be forgotten and forgivvn. It is a true, short history, giving the reader all the salient events- and allotting to every one of them its due proportion.

It is questionable whether any poifion of the city or suburbs of Auckland has shown such progress during the last year or two as Custom-street East. As previously mentioned. Messrs L. D. Nathan’s lag warehouse is to have a sixth storey added, and tenders have just been received for a large warehouse for Messrs A. J. Entrican and Co., which is to lie erected on the corner of Custom and Gore streets, as the premises hitherto occupied by the firm have ev identic proved inadequate for their increasing business This firm commenced busittes- in 1 belli their present premises, and. in 1892 it was found necessary to double the accommodation by adding the next door building, which was then vacant, since that time the business has more than quadrupled, and now they find i; absolutely necessary to provide further accommodation. The new building will have a 60ft frontage to Custom-street and 100 ft frontage to Gore-street. It will be five storeys, exclusive of basement. and will be uniform in height with the block just finished for Mr A. H. Nathan, which it adjoins. Messrs. Mitchell and Watts were the architects, and Mr W. G. Hutchison the successful tenderer, and Jie hopes to commence work in a few days.

Chic of the old Governors of the Carolina- was a man who had lived a farmer’s life most of the time until he was elected, and his wife having never seen a steamboat or a railroad, and having no wish to test either one. refused to accompany her husband to the capital. When the Governor reached his destination he found that almost all the other officials were accompanied by their wives, and he sent an imperative mess••ge to bi- brother to “retch Melinda along'. The brother telegraphed:— "She’s afraid even to look al the engine.” The Governor read the message and pondered over it for a few moment-. At the end of that time lie sent off the following command: — “Bi!!, you blindfold Melinda, and hack her on ro the train.” Melinda" arrive.! at the capital with the victorious "Bill” twenty-four hours later. Many ver-iliers have laid Echo uu.ler toutnbntion for such answers as they or their characters may require to confirm a foregone conclusion in their own minds. For instance, when a man stands opposite a cliff where lives a re>:ab'e echo and demands. “Does she love me? No. or yes ‘ The Echo is bound, in common politeness to reply. “Yes- yes - es yes, until it : s out, and the man. if lie be really a poel. goes home refreshed and comforted for the information. The triek, which is too g..od to oe Lis, sight of by modern versifiers. is very old. The Greeks and Romans employed it. and examples may be found in the classics. The sixteenth and seventeenth century poets and wits made clever use of it.’ One example wid suffice lu fore setting down a few impromptu*- -impromptus is a good word, but they take a long time. The example Is from Dean Swift: — What n■ ~t tm.vcs women when wo them a<lur<. .->? Echo: A dress! Suy. whar util keep iv. r true whom I ad<»rv? Echo: A door’ <'»!i, Tvat-h u.-c. Ev-io. how shall 1 come by her? Echo: Buy bvr! The ihincr U .,f diflk-ult. One might g* t a <atisf3«-toFv answer to many a modern question or remark. For instance; Wj»y is tinned salmoo free ficin taint? t Echo: 'Taint! <»r in the case of a bombastic assertion Eaiio can Im* brusque enough: 1 sing try own >engs to the lute or the E< he: Liar! Rut i: is impossible to beat the stock example framed iu the early part of l»u?t century a: the time of the famous Pagauini: What -ho<e who pay three guineas To hvar fi tune of Paganini’s? E«-ho answers: Pack o’ ninnies!

During the r-oarse of his answer to a question put by Mr Baume in the Bouse of Representatives la>i week based ou a paragraph which app-nred in the ‘’Auckland .Star,” a* io the importation of prison -made boot<, the Minister for Custonis «Hun. C. If. Mills) said that inquiry had het'ii innde in Wellington,

•nd no confirmation could be obtained aa to the alleged large importation* of prison-made boots and shoes from the United States. The evidence was indeed to the contrary. The invoices submitted all over the colony were nearly all those of manufacturers. In one or two cases New York agents forwarded their own invoices to customers in the colony, but it was the intention of the Department to require manufacturers’ invoices to be produced in these cases, as it was only possible for prisonmade goods to come through theso agents. It would thus be seen that, considering the large importation, the proportion, if any, of prison-made goods must be very small indeed. The Department had reliable information that only the heavier class of boots was produced in prison, whereas it was well known that enormous factories produced daily thousands of pairs of boots at such prices as astonish all who saw them. A line of men’s light boots produced in one of these factories was invoiced in America at 3/1 per pair, and retailed in New Zealand at 6/11 per pair. Apart, from the question of prison labour, therefore, there was very serious competition for the New Zealand manufacturers to meet. The value of boots imported we.s steadily increasing. In 1898 the total was £122.371, in 1900 it was £186.088, and in 1902 it was £191,204. America was making rapid strides in the amount of her export to this colony, while Great Britain was going back. In 1898 a total of 58,722 dozen pairs valued at £ 109,495 was Imported from the United Kingdom; from Australia 1838 pairs vaiued at. £4479; from the United States 1568 pairs valued at £6706. In 1900 tue totals were: England. 67,715 pairs, value £125,263; Australia, 5309 pairs, value £13,588: United States. 10.602 pairs, value £42.646. In 1902 the totals were: United Kingdom. 67.436 pairs, value £95,981; Australia, 3043 pairs, value £8681; United States, 22,887 pairs, value £81,097.

“A Burgher Quixote,” a new book by Douglas Blackburn, is an exceedingly clever study of Boer character. Sarel Erasmus, who tells his own story, is quite unconscious that he is depicting himself as a base, unprincipled, and deceitful scoundrel, what the Boers call a “sehelm” (skellum). He is inordinately vain, and thinks himself very “slim,” yet he is continually being overreached by others cleverer than himself. Among these the most notable are an old fellow named Paul du Plooy, who for artfulness and cunning cannot be surpassed; Andries Brink, an Anglo-Boer; •nd his stepdaughter. Charlotte, a handsome girl, who always gets her way bv domineering (she wields the sjambok effectively), wheedling, or downright deceit. Sarel loves Charlotte in his way, but she prefers Captain Watson, an English officer, who is a prisoner at Pretoria, and makes the young Boer help her to enable him to escape. Sarel believes himself to be a very fine fellow, and he relates all his mean acts and petty thefts and swindles with a frank unconsciousness of wrongdoing that recalls Barry Lyndon. With all his scheming, however, he comes to grief, losing the money he has misappropriated, and being in ■the end sentenced by the British to a term of imnrisonmont •s a rebel, besides, by his double dealing, earning the dislike and contempt of his fellow burghers. Apart from Sarel. Mr Blackburn shows the Boers in a very unfavourable light, bringing out in strong relief their avarice, low cunning, cowardice, and aversion to bodily cleanliness. Even the women are not spared. In describing Charlotte, who has been brought up among the “rooineks.” he remarks that, like English girls, she had the habit of washing herself before she was dirty, which to the Boer girls seems the height of absurdity. Perhaps, no bo >k has been written that gives such insight into the innermost recesses of the Boer character as we get from “A Burgher Quixote."

A plea for a neglected classic is made !■ Temple Bar. There is one old history which deserves to be sent on its way again with a new eoat and a publisher's blessing. It’s title is History of the Military Transactions of the British Nation in Indostan from the year 1745, or more briefly, Orme's History of India. slany of our great novelists have found in Orme the material for romances dealing with the East. Sir WalUr Scott sought from him ths colourfas for his Tnl’ian story, "The Surgeon’*

Daughter.” “I remember,” he says, in the preface, "in the delightful pages of Onme, the interest which mingles in his narratives. Iroiu the very small number of English which are engaged, every officer of a regiment becomes known to you by name—nay, the non-commission-ed officers and privates acquire an individual share of interest. These are distinguished among the natives like the Spaniards among the Mexicans. What do I say? They are like Homer's demigods among the warring vandals. Men like Clive and Calliaud influence great events, like Jove himself. Inferior officers are like Mars and Neptune, and the sergeants might well pass for demigods.” Thackeray also was indebted to Orme, and it will be remembered, that it was the reading of Orme while a boy that decided Colonel Newcome to seek his fortune in the East. Many years later it was in that same Orme that Ethel Newcome found the instructions for the will in which his stepmother intended to do the colonel justice. There Is no doubt that Thackeray made great use of Orme in his inimitable burlesque, “The Tremendous Adventures of Major Gahegan.” Lord Macaulay describes Orme as being "inferior to no English historian in style and power of painting,” and his work as "one of the most authentic and one of the most finely written in our language.” Just now, when fiscal problems are engaging such a large share of the public attention, it is interesting to have some idea of the relative proportion per cent, of persons employed in agriculture, industry, and trade. The following table, taken from the annual “Statistical Register of the German Empire of 1903,’’ affords that information:

From the figures given aliove it is to be noticed that the agricultural population in England and Wales, in Scotland and in Great Britain, is the lowest in Europe. The percentage in Ireland is, of course, high, but the population is small and poor. It is also interesting to note that the proportion of the population of the United States engaged in industrial pursuits is lower than in any other country except Hungary. The figures for trade are everywhere low. Another interesting inquiry is that which refers to female employment. In this respect the United States is lowest with 14.3 per cent.. Holland and Sweden coming next. The percentage for the German Empire is 25, whilst Germany and England stand together with 27 women in every hundred actively engaged in some calling. The economic conditions which obtain in other countries are such that women are compelled to take part in much larger numbers in caring for the maintenance of their families. Thus in Italy 40 per cent., and in Austria 47 per cent, of the entire female population are actively engaged in earning their living-

Among the ships of the British Navy is the Island of Ascension, off the coast of Africa. This sounds like an Irish bull, but it is not. Officially Ascension is a ship of war. The island has a regular crew of sailors and marines, and some Kroomen from Sierra Leone are enlistened as ward-room boys. These, with the necessary officers, comprise all the people on the island, which is governed by a full captain, who maintains regular man-o’-war discipline. Ship nomenclature is kept up, and the captain’s house is his “cabin," the barracks are the “berth-deck,” the detached houses are "long-boats” or pinnaces- Every door !s a “hatchway.” and the windows are “ports” or “deadlights.” The good ship Ascension is remarkably steady in a seaway, and as she has no engines to demand attention, nor yet topsails to reef or furl, the crew devote most of their time to raising vegetables and looking after the herds of donkeys, which run about the “decks.” Vegetables raised on the farms, fish caught in the sea, and meat sent out from England are all served out to the men in regular rations, and even the donkeys are carried on ths

books of the paymaster as “ship’s stores.” Fowls and pigeons are, however, private property, being regarded as “pets” of the sailors. The island is regularly carried on the Admiralty List, and there is a story of it once having been ordered to return to the' Portsmouth Navy Yard “for repairs.” The United States, too, has an island which is officially a ship, though it belongs to the merchant service and not to the navy- This is the Island of Navassa, lying between Hayti and Jamaica. It was occuiped by Americans under the law relating to guano islands and when some workmen there were arrested and brought to Baltimore to be tried for murder the status of the island came up for adjudication. It was decided that, for the purposes of criminal jurisdiction, Navassa was a ship, and that the laws governing the trial of offenees committed on American merchant ships on the High seas were applicable to the island.

Sir Edmund Barton is surprised at the forbearance of the journalists of Melbourne (says the “Leader”). "When I think of the hours and hours I have kept those pressmen waiting, and remember the brusque, impatient way I . have sometimes treated them,” he says, he is overwhelmed when he looks at the handsome parting gifts they have given him. "They’re not parting gifts,” says one of the givers. “We Journalists recollect that Sii' Edmund is going to be a judge, and—well, you never know your luck.” As a rule Sir Edmund’s brusequeness was equalled by the pressmen’s persistency. On one occasion a reporter was after some information, and the Prime Minister was called away just at the point when success seemed about to crown his efforts. He expostulated- “ You will have to wait,” said Sir Edmund shortly. The Prime Minister went away, forgot all about the waiting pressman, took a trip to Sydney, and returned in nine days. The pressman saw him coming, and got in ahead, and the first object the Prime Minister’s eyes encountered on entering the room was the journalist sitting just as he had left him the week before. With recollection came contrition. “Good heavens! I left you waiting, didn’t I?” he said. “You did,” was the reply. The pressman got his information and left. Everything comes to him who waits—even a Prime Minister.

The following appeared in a recent issue of the Dublin paper “Sport.” It gives an excellent idea of how race meetings were announced and carried out a century ago. The extract, which is a copy of an advertisement of the Athenry races of 1738, which appeared in a paper published on October 3 of that year. It reads as follows:—“On Wednesday, October 11, a piece of plate of £3O value is to be run for on the Course of Athenry, by any Horse, Mare or Gelding, carrying 12 stone at 141 b to the stone, saddle and bridle included. No crossing or jostling, except by the two foremost horses, and that only on the last half mile of each heat. All disputes are to be settled by the majority of the gentlemen of the club then present. Every Horse, Mare or Gelding that runs for the said plate must be entered and shown to John Rhodes,

Innkeeper, of Athenry, six days before the day of running. The winning horse must pay a guinea for scales and straw. Any Hor.se, Mare or Gelding, subject to the above-mentioned articles, may enter at the post for the above plate, paying three guineas to the minister of ’ the Parish of Athenry for the poor of the said parish. Hunting each .'noruing for the diversion of the gentlemen, and balls for the ladies at night.”

Mr A. A. Thompson, the proprietor of •the biggest “tote” in Sydney, viz., “Sterling’s,” stated when giving evidence before the Gambling Commission set up by the New South Wales Government, that his turnover for the eight months of the present year was £ 30,000, £25,000 of the same going through the tote. As he deducted 10 per cent, of the takings on the tote, it could be calculated that from the first of January to the end of August his profit from that source was £ 2500. More remunerative than being a Prime Minister! Under the title “Expected.” Ethel M Kelley writes in the “Centurv Magazine •• for September:— "It may be a girl that’s cornin’, It may be a boy like me; They oughter know, But *t seems as though They can’t tell which 'twill be. S res nl Kh t src > ''vns ready That wouldn't fit the cat; Such teeny clothes— I wouldn’t s’pose ’Twould be as wee as that. they say’t will be a young one, But I guess I’ll wait an’ see; If they dunno yet What kind they’ll get They dunno how’ old 't will be. “Our Farver in heavlm ’ll send It— It seems to be kinder late; Wouldn't I laugh If ’t was six an’ a half. Or maybe goln’ on eight. A Cockney bard thus sings of a contemplated visit to the “Land of the Misty Cloud”:— To bonnie Scotland I'm away a 2 a k° ! and a Scots wha ha’e, And my love she’s o’er the border— Oh Caledonia, stern and wild, That line Belonaa to another Scots child. But it sounded all right, so don’t get riled, Or ye mlcht cause some disorder. Oh, Scots wha ha'e wl’ Wallace bled— It seems a pity that you’re all dead— Sing hey! for the whusky pots man—• For ye mlcht have seen In your land arrive. What ye never did see when you wag alive, And that was a “Flying Scotsman.** Then let the Scots welkin ring. Sing hoch, hech, howe! like ony thing. With a hey and a ho! for the Borer. To Scotia a wandering child comes home (As a matter of fact he is sure to roam Back again e’er a week is over). Oh, wert thou in the cauld blast? I wonder how long this muse will last? "Sing hey! for the bagpipe’s skirling. Oh! Scotland is the land for me In Scotia’s land I’ll wander free, As blythe as ony chiel can be, Frae Bannockburn to Stirling. The Di’el’s awa’ wl’ the Exciseman, An a’s rlcht wi us noo; sae rise man Sing hey! for the malt and the barley.' I’m a temperance man myself. But as a Scots bard I’ll be on the shelf If I dtnna sing o’ whusky, parritch and pelf, Before the grand finale.

Austria Agriculture. . .38 Industry. Trade. 37 11 Hungary . .64 22 6 Italy 28 4 Switzerland . .37 41 11 France . .44 84 9 England and Wales . .10 57 11 Scotland) . .14 58 10 Ireland . .44 31 5 Great Britain . . 15 ' 54 10 United States . .36 24 16