News, Views and Opinions.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XL, Issue 11, 14 March 1908, Page 55

News, Views and Opinions.

The British Foreign Office has despatched Dr. W. J. Simpson, of King’s College, to the West Coast of Africa to deal with the outbreak of plague there. Dr. Simpson left London recently for Liverpool and sailed thence in the Elder Dempster ship Mendi for Accra. Before leaving for Accra, Dr. Simpson stated to a Press representative that he had no reason to believe that the outbreak of plague on the West Coast was of unusual dimensions, or war. extremely serious. Still, it was an outbreak in a fresh place, and was correspondingly serious on that account; and it was, of course, desirable that it should be dealt with at once. If taken at once it might be stamped out. In a similar instance, when plague broke out some time ago in South Africa Dr. Simpson had then been similarly sent out, and by taking prompt measures the outbreak had been completely checked. Dr. Simpson is taking out with him a considerable quantity of Haffkine’s plague serum, which is the acknowledged prophylactic, which has been used with great success, both in India and at the Cape. ... * An official of the Hessian Ministry for irrigation and Waterways, Herr Schmick of Darmstadt, has been deputed by Herr Dernburg, the Colonial Minister to travel in certain parts of the German African Colonies with a view to the development of the irrigation system. Herr Schmick, who left on January 20, went first to Luderitz Bay, whence he will proceed into the interior. There is, says a Reuter telegram from Berlin, a project for erecting a great dam in the southern part of the colony, about forty miles southwest of Keetmanskoop, in front’ of the Karas Mountains. The course of the Lion River (Leowenfluss) is here. This river runs into the Great Fish River, the waters of which unite with the Orange River. On the Lion River is a rocky ravine,'and here it is proposed to con- • struct a dam to hold up 2,000,000 cubic, metres of water, if the plan be found feasible. The water thus collected is to be itsed for the’irrigation'’of the neighbouring lowlands. This district would, properly watered, be-' divided” nip into small farms and leased by the Government. A small commission of technical experts is already on the Lion River making a preliminary inspection of the conditions. Herr Schmick will subsequently travel through the Cape Colony to German East Africa, where he will also inspect the rivers of the colony. A peculiar interest attaches to an announcement that the committee of the University College are about to make grants from the Peel Memorial Fund towards public libraries, and particularly tlios« maintained by the working classes. The fund was raised by the penny subscriptions of over 400,000 working men in 1846, as a record of their gratitude to Sir Robert Peel for his successful legislation in abolishing the tax on bread. The money will be spent in providing books, maps, and other “aids to knowledge.” * * * * Fraulein Bertha Seligman, a lady of great wealth, living with her mother on a large estate near Budapest, has mystified her friends by suddenly disappearing on her wedding morning. Although only eighteen years of age, she had already broken off six engagements, having on each occasion sent to the discomfited lover a cheque for £IOO as compensation. Two months ago she met a young doctor who was fascinated by her beauty and wit. In due time he proposed, was accepted, and the wedding ceremony was fixed. But she could not be found on the morning she should have been married. In her room she left a letter to her fiance imploring his forgiveness, and saying that she had really intended to marry him, but at the last moment she could not make up her mind to sacrifice her liberty. It is believed that she took the train for Paris. » • • • The fashion of wearing paper waistcoats in winter for protection against cold has been set by Mr. John D. Rocke-

feller. For many years Mr. Rockefeller has been wearing a paper waistcoat under his other waistcoat, but only recently did his friends become aware of it. Some enterprising merchant heard of it also, and the result is that the market is now flooded with neat paper waistcoats made of yellow tissue paper, to be worn over the stomach and chest in cold weather. They are very inexpensive affairs. To many it does not seem reasonable that paper could be any protection against cold, but no doubt some will remember the experiment made in school of taking a piece of paper in both hands, holding it taut, and trying to tear it. In many instances children have not strength enough to do it. This shows how closely knit paper is. Its particles are so adhesive that no air can pass through, and this in a measure explaints its use in cold weather. Wu Ting Fang’s return to Washington as Chinese Minister is beginning to produce a new crop of stories illustrating his readiness of retort. The other day the lady who sat next him at dinner asked him why the Chinese attached so much importance to the dragon. “You know there is no such creature, don’t you?” she asked; “you have never seen one, have you?” “My dear madam,” replied the Oriental diplomatist, “whydo you attach so much importance to the Goddess of Liberty on your coins? You know there is no such lady, don’t you? You have never seen her, have you?” • * * * There is no disgrace attached to divorce in Egypt. If mutual admiration wanes with the honeymoon, there is nothing more natural to the Egyptian mind than that the dissatisfied party take steps towards another trial. Marriage is universal in Egypt. There are no old maids; widows remain widows' but a short time, and, as a rule, no young man is considered fitted for business or entitled to the confidence of the community until he is married. It is worry that prevents us from reaching a green old age. So says a centenarian. “I have never worried in my life,” says he. “and to that I attribute in great measure my long life and excellent health.” Throughout his life he lias indulged himself with tobacco, alcoholic drinks, and coffee. He says, however. that he is as temperate in their use as his system demands. Now three years past the century mark, he smokes several pipes and many black cigars every day, and often rises at midnight to soothe himself with a smoke. In former years he smoked cigarettes, but he has given those up because they do rot satisfy him now. When people move in Canada, they take the entire house, and do not trouble even to move the furniture. Tha houses, being chiefly of the frame variety, are easily lifted with jacks an I placed upon rollers. Then, with a team of horses or a traction engine in front, they are hauled for miles to the new location. Often two houses are moved in one block, the furniture being left in place in the rooms. As may be imagined, a moving house with its attendant engine is not a very pleasant obstacle to meet in a dark lane at night with a restive horse.One of the medical papers has been discussing that mysterious quality, the bedside manner of the successful doctor. Probably he needs 50 manners for as many patients. One man. who could be the soul of kindness to a sufferer, saw (says Mr. E. A. Bryant in "The Sketch") a great political lady fast fading away from life. It was a case for desperate remedies. lie mentioned the name of Gladstone. “Wretch!” she exclaimed, sat up. and straightway recovered. The same instinct once made Bismarck a life-saver. The friend with whom he was out on a shooting trip slipped into a bog, anil sank rapidly up to the waist. “Help me, help, or 1 must die!”

cried the prisoner. “I am afraid I cannot, unless 1 also die. and that would be no advantage to either of us.” said Bismarck. "Rather than see you suffer a lingering death 1 will shoot you through the head. Now. keep still, for the love of Heaven, or I may miss you!” So saying, lie clapped his gun to his shoulder and took careful aim. The wretched man in the morass was so horrified at the cold-blooded preparation that he made a terriffic effort, and ’leaped clear of his prison. "There you are, my boy,” said Bismarck, “you see you could get out alone. To have attempted your rescue would have meant my committing suicide.” And the freed man thanked and blessed him as his saviour. Sir Henry Fowler, M.P., addressing his constituents of East Wolverhampton, said that sometime proposals must be made to ameliorate the conditions of workers who were prevented by age or infir.-nitv or by bad trade from obtaining work. Some people called this social reform, others called it Socialism. Socialism had been defined as nationalisation of the means of production, sale, and exchange. He would have nothing to do with any such scheme. He would oppose it to the utmost. Nothing could be more unwise. (A voice, “Unwise according to the present Administration.”) Sir Henry: I will oppose it in the interests of commerce and industry, and in the interests of the people themselves. Who would be master and who would be seivant in such an undertaking? The thing is impracticable, almost unthinkable. Let me remind you of what I once heard the late Mr. Gladstone say. There was a conversation, not on Socialism as a whole, but on the nationalisation of the land. The old gentleman in his quiet and stern way for a long time, then he broke out suddenly with these words, “Do you mean to pay for it, or do you not? If you mean to pay for it, it is filly. If you don’t mean to pay fey it, it’s robbery.” In promising £160,000 towards the endowment of a University for Bristol, Mr. 11. O. Wills is following' the excellent example of many another wealthy philanthropist. Six years or more ago, it i?iay be remembered, Airs. Leland Stanford made the magnificent contribution of £6,060,000 to the endowment of the University named ip honour of her beloved son. Mr. J. D. Rockefeller’s gifts to the University of’Chicago alone now far exceea £4,000,000; while to other American Universities and colleges his

Denefactiuns arc said to reach the enormous sum of £10,000,030. Mr. Catnegie gave £2,000,000 for the establishment of a University in Chicago, and an equal Bum for Scottish University students; for educational purposes Mr. Cecil Rhodes provided £2,000,000; and Lord Strathcona’s educational gifts include 1 £70,000 to the McGill University of Montreal, and £200,000 for an institute fur women*in Canada. The progress made in naval shipbuilding and armament was the subject of a recent address by Sir Andrew Noble, who said that a “first rate" of Nelson's days—he would take the Victory as a type —was a three decker, 186 ft in length, 52 in breadth, with a displacement of 3500 tons. She carried an armament of 102 guns, consisting of 42-pounders, 82-pounders, and 24-pounders; 40 12pounders, and two 68-pounder carronades. The heaviest of her guns were the ‘42-pounders, and when they compared this armament with the wonderful mechanism connected with the fighting ships of to-day, it was difficult to conceive how such great feats were accomplished with such rude weapons. With the exception of a few brass guns, the guns were more blocks of cast iron, the sole machining to which they were subjected consisting in the formation of the bore and the drilling of the vent. The mechanical appliances on board these famed war vessels of the past were of the simplest possible form, and such as admitted of rapid renewal or repair. There was no source of power except manual labour; but when handled with the unrivalled skill of British seamen, the handiness of these vessels, and the precision with which they were manoeuvred, were the source of unending admiration. There were two advantages possessed by this old type of warship, namely, their comparatively small cost, and the length of time the vessels remained fit for service. When the Victory fought the battle of Trafalgar she had been afloat 40 years, and her total cost, complete with her armament and all her stores, was probably considerably under £ 100,000. The cost of a “firstrate” of the present, similarly complete, Would be nearly twenty times as great. There is a good story told of W. S. Gilbert, who was always very particular cibout the way his* chorus was dressed, and never would allow them to wear any costume not falling as low as the ankle. One day at a rehearsal of “The Sorcerer” one of the chorus girls approached him and asked timidly whether she could play the part of Hercules. Hercules was a boy in buttons, who came in with his face smeared with jam, and said a few words. The part was always played by the call boy. Gilbert looked at her for a moment, and then in his sarcastic way replied: — “My dear, you arc here to sing, not to show your legs.” That settled the chorus girl. According to the “Journal des Debats,’* IMdlle. Fclicite de Carafla has made a very striking defence before the Court of Assizes at Bastia. She was defending mi old man of sixty-six accused of murder, and obtained his acquittal. The moving peroration of her speech, in which she implored the pity of the jury, was greeted with thunders of applause.