News, Views and Opinions.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XL, Issue 18, 29 April 1908, Page 42

News, Views and Opinions.

When Dinizulu was allowed to return to his home on the Black Umvolosi River he built himself a house and a lean-to building, the latter for the accommodation of any passing white men, and got a trader, who was going on a trip to the old country, to find out what was most up-to-date in the way of furnishings, etc., and on his return ordered these goods to be sent up to the Umvolosi. According to a writer in “Ice and Gold Storage,” among the articles sent up was a large ice chest. Dinizulu enquired the use of many of the goods which were supplied him, and the chest or rather its use, coming in for question; he received the explanation in good part; as long as white people found use for the different articles, many of which he had never seen before, that was sufficient. The ice chest was never placed to its proper use, but the chief used it as a receptacle for the flasks of gin which he constantly receives as presents from traders and others who wish to stand cn good terms with him. It has been stated that Dinizulu is fond cf gin. On one never-to-be-forgotten occasion a gin famine occurred, and as all the rivers were ‘ up” at the time, no imme lilts supply - was obtainable. In order to prevent .such a contretemps happening again., the chief got a large supply of bottles of his nectar and poured the contents into the ice ehest. Then lie made it secure ami placed his seal on it. The chest was still securely fastened and the seal was still intact up to a few months ago. for there has not yet been any necessity to fall back on it, but should this necessity arise, and the ordinary supply fall short, Dinizulu will be able to make an inroad on his store. Mr. Dash was a grocer with lofty social aspirations, and he decided it would be beneficial to his status to join the local golf club. In due course he presented himself on the jinks, faultlessly dressed, and secured the services of a hardened caddie. The youth appeared dubious from the outset, but when at the first vigorous onslaught a peppering of Mother Earth was sent into his eyes and gaping mouth, he beeamo positively disgusted. "You’re makin’ a mistake, mister," he said ! pointedly. “It’s not usual to put the tee in the caddy at golf.” On one of the Southern lines there is a station building that is uncommonly small. It is of this station that the story is told that an old farmer was expecting a hen-house to arrive there, and he sent one of his hands, a newcomer. to fetch it. Arriving there, the man saw the house, loaded it on his waggon, and started for home. On the way he was overtaken by a man in uniform, with the word “Stationmaster” on his cap. “Say, hold on. What have you got on that waggon?” he asked. “A henhouse, of course,” was the reply. “Henhouse, be jiggered!” exploded the official. “That’s the station!” The earliest legislative movement against juvenile smoking was made in France in 1880, when a law was pronounced prohibiting the sale of tobacco to children under 16. The measure did not become law, and in practice the way was led by the New World. In the public schools of Canada boy smokers are suspended from attendance and tobacconists are fined for selling to children. In Australia the penalty rises as high as £lOO for such sales. A similar litw exists in three-fourths of the States of the American Union, and Norwegian tobacconists are also prohibited from selling to any child under 16 without a signed order from an adult relative or employer. A Californian judge has decided that a foot passenger is not legally required to get out of the way of a motor-car. It is nice to know this; but it isn’t much use, after all. If you happen to be in the middle of the roadway when one of these auto-know-better juggernauts come tearing along straight at you on his top gear it would be pedantic to insist too much on your rights. Much better it would be to im*.vo swiftly to the safety of the sidewalk, or to leap high into the air postponing your descent until the “pout-pouf” has passed

beneath you. No matter what all th® judges who ever shed the light of their; legal learning on the murky ignorance of the common herd may say to the contrary, there is only one rule of the road where the motorist is concerned. That rule is “Skedaddle!” The famous ball, costing £20,000, given in honour of the debut of Miss Paul, on December 27, has been eclipsed by the one which took place at Philadelphia in celebration of Qie entry into society of Miss Dorothy Randolph, daughter of the owner of most of the Narragansett Pier and Lakewood. At the Paul functions thousands of butterflies flew about the rooms, but at the more recent one, which cost £30,000, the hall was transformed into a woodland scene, with rustic bridges over real pools of water, in which gold fish swam. Some imitation pools were made by the aid of mirrors, which were surrounded by flowering plants. Several fountains were in full play, and hundreds of canaries and other song birds were flying at will amongst the foliage. The guests numbered 1200, and included the Goulds, the Drexels, the Dahlgrens, and other, leaders of American society. The guests diverted themselves by catching the birds and hooking the fish. The former were carefully handled, and all the fish caught were thrown into the water again. “Italy’s devotion to the Queen Consort is extraordinary,” says a writer in “The Penny Magazine”; “it is the same devotion as that of the British people to Queen Alexandra. Queen Helena is of a nervous disposition, but possesses a heart of gold. Here is a story of her. kindness to her poorer subjects. Quite recently she noticed in a suburb of Rome a peasant girl knitting, and the. Queen asked her if she could knit stockings, and received an answer in the affirmative. ‘Do you know who I am?’ asked the Queen. ‘Yes, signora: you are the Queen.’ ‘Well, then, make a pair of stockings and send them to the palace.’ Some" time after this the stockings duly arrived, and in return the Queen sent, a rose-coloured pair, one of which was filled with sweets and the other with’ money. This was not to be the end of the matter, however. Within a week the Queen received the following epistle:’ ‘Signora, your gift has caused me many tears. My father stole the money, my, elder brother took the sweets, and as for the stockings, my mother put them on herself!’” Chung Ling Sod, a Chinese entertainer, well-known in England, since his last London visit, has had an exciting adventure, and he in r eality "thanks his lucky stars” that he is alive to tell the tale. It is well-known that he was a favourite of the terrible Dowager Empress of China, who made him a one-button mandarin, but Chung Ling Soo was only allowed out of China to amuse foreigners on the condition that he should report himself at Court at Pekin every year. In accordance with this edict, some five months ago, Chung Ling Soo journeyed to Pekin. It so happened on his arrival that the Dowager Empress was indisposed, and gave orders that she would see Chung in a few days. To pass tii’e time Chung went on a visit to some old friends who lived a few’ miles north of tire city. On the second day, while rambling in the fields, he came upon a. horrible sight. Five robbers, who had been caught red-handed, were buried up to their necks in the sandy soil, while millions of ants swarmed over their, heads, on which some rancid fat had been rubbed. In a very little time these unfortunate men would have had the flesh eaten off their heads and died in agony. This was too much for the enlightened Chung Ling Soo. Obtaining assistance, he dug the robbers out and rendered every aid. The Dowager Empress was informed. At once she sent an escort to arrest Chung. Knowing his head was in jeopardy, Chung made a hasty flight, ami by adopting various disguises lie reached Tientsin, and travelling by night, ho arrived at Taku. From Takii he made for Shanghai, and crossing to San Francisco he ohce more landed in England via America. He cannot now return to China. They are a pleasing people, these Chinese.