General News.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VII, Issue 348, 19 December 1879, Page 16

General News.

The Italian infidel press shows iteelf exceedingly fervent over our late disasters in Afghanistan. The silly Protestantism of England has for years petted and spoiled the Italian scoundrel because the latter displayed such zeal against the Catholic Church and its head the Sovereign Pontiff. Do our easily-gulled countrymen imagine that becanse Italy, "young, united and black-guard," is always ready to despoil the house of God, therefore it is Protestant (we mean Anglican) in its opinions and English in its politics ? John Bull has yet to learn the true character of a thoroughly bad, corrupt Catholic —such a one, from the nature of the case, is much worse and much more Fit for treason, stratagems, and spoils. Let no such man be trusted. — Universe. Several Germans have lately been arrested at Paris for making sketches of the points of the city forts and surrounding country. In each case the Bpy was escorted over the frontier. It is suspected that their business has close reference to the prevailing opinion on the Continent, especially among German military authorities, that Russia is determined to pick a quarrel at her first favourable opportunity with Germany, and that aheady a secret and more serious understanding exists between Russia, Italy, France and Turkey, as opposed to Germany, Austria, and, perhaps, England. It is believed in political circles that a great war is much nearer than is supposed. — London Correspondent. Cardinal Manning's ascetic appearance (says a London correspondent) to a great extent belies his disposition. He is one of the heartiest, merriest persons whom I know. His abstemiousness, in matters of food as well as of drink, is proverbial. His mind is as mercurial as his physical frame is attenuated, and that is saying a good deal, for, as he jocosely observed once, it is scarcely possible for anyone to be living and walking about with much less flesh on his bones. I once saw the Cardinal romping with the children in the wards of an hospital. Yesterday I saw him playing with them at the Crystal Palace, where the Catholic Temperance League held its fete. It is in this veritable crusade against drunkenness that the Cardinal is greatest ; but he is great at fun, too, and that is such an unlikely aspect for him to be regarded under by those who do not know him that I am tempted thus to dwell upon the fact. The estimates for 1880 which stand before the (let us hope} astonished eyes of Signor Cairoli are not cheerful. A falling off of 28,000,000 lire is the first of the items. In the face of all this, immense works, undertaken in desperation to give employment to the starving people, call for fresh sums, which, however, do not appear at the call. The garden ot Europe is reduced to the condition of a wilderness, and the unclean birds of prey that have been allowed to bring about this desolation are " feathering their own nests." and making them quite comfortable, as is their greedy wont. — Umverse. It is strange (says the Pall Mall Gazette) now to compare the language of the ministerial journals with that which they held a few months or weeks ago. Then all was peace and prosperity ; the Berlin Treaty had settled everything — the quiet maintenance of colossal armies, international hatreds, and the Eastern question, as a a matter of course. If the Government had done nothing else they had staved of a great European war. Now, however, there is a different tale to be told. All sorts of intrigues are going on ; all sorts of formidable combinations are being discovered, from the Atlantic ocean to the China Sea ; not a single Power, civilized or barbarous, but is made the element in some calculation of chances as to the political future, The ill-feeling between Russia and Germany, the relations between that Power and France and Austria, as well as the prospect of future misunderstanding between Austria and Italy — all their bopes, fears, and ambitions — are shuffled about with a view to what is felt to be a probable war sooner or later. So at length the truth is confessed ; and we are informed that the Treaty of Berlin has only rendered increased watchfulness and increased preparation necessary on the part of this country. We are glad to be able to say, in further confirmation of what we have already mentioned, that Mr. Edward O'Mahony, a native of this city, has concluded an important engagement with Mr. Carl Rosa for Italian and English opera, oratorios, and conceits. A genuine bass voice is regarded as something extraordinary just now, and as Mr. O'Mahony possesses a fine organ of that class, and is moreover an accomplished and conscientious musician, there is every reason to hope that a successful career lies before him. It is pleasant to know that lie has met with great kindness at the hands of men who stand at the head of their profession. With the generosity of a true artist Mr. Santley has taken a warm interest in Mr. O'Mahony"s progress, and Mr. Arthur Sullivan has likewise expressed most perfect satisfaction with his abilities, and has undertaken to aid his advancement, — Cork Exam iner.