Notes

New Zealand Tablet, 19 November 1914, Page 35

Notes

Letter From, the Front Irish papers to hand publish an interesting letter from Private E. Harkness, Royal Irish Regiment, written to his mother in Dublin, from which we quote a portion: ‘You couldn’t help laughing, indeed you couldn’t, at some of the tales the German prisoners have about us. When they knew they had been captured by an Irish regiment they wanted to know why it was that we weren’t at home taking part in the civil war that was going on. Says I to one of them that came off with that blarney in his queer English, “This is -the only war we know or want to know about for the time being, and there’s mighty little about that that’s civil, to my thinking, with the way you’re behaving yourselves in it.” I don’t think he liked a plain Irishman’s way of putting- things, for he took out his pipe and began to smoke like the big chimney over Guinness’s brewery. I have a notion that the Germans aren’t in love with this war, anyhow.’ An Indecent Publication The secretary of the Federation informs us that a complaint has been received, through the Wellington Diocesan Council, in regard to the distribution of an extremely objectionable publication entitled The Restorationist. This noxious leaflet was handed to the children coming away from the Catholic school at Petone, and it is understood that copies have been delivered to most of the houses in that suburb. The local Federation committee asked for immediate action to be taken in regard to the circulation of what is alleged to be a very unsavory publication. It is issued under the pretence of being a ‘ Gospel Message, No. 19,’ and deals, in a ‘poem’ of some length, with a most disgusting form of disease, while Biblical quotations and paraphrases are freely set out. * Believing that the matter was one for the police to deal with, and acting under the advice of Mr. Humphrey O’Leary, barrister (whose kind assistance is gratefully acknowledged), Mr. Girling-Butcher waited upon the Inspector of Police, and laid the matter before him. The Inspector (Mr. Hendry) was not surprised to receive the complaint, as he had been spoken to on the matter immediately previously, and had already instituted inquiries with a view to suitable action being taken. Unfortunately, no prosecution under the Indecent Publications Act can be instituted save with the consent of the Attorney-General, but when Mr. Herdman peruses the document in question there is little doubt that he will declare it to be, in the extremest sense, an ‘ indecent publication.’ The illustrations are nauseating, the letterpress evil and suggestive, and the thought that this abominable thing has been freely put into the hands of innocent little children is revolting. Our correspondent supplies the names of the’ editor and publisher, and of the printers of the publication; and these also will doubtless be a matter of practical interest to the police. • American War Quips • Here are some quips about the war from the American press:- ( The Turk wonders who is unspeakable now. — Washington Herald. - In case of invasion, a few long ladders are all Switzerland needs.— Columbia State. Some of these potentates signing ‘ Rex ’ may yet change it to ‘wrecks.’— Washington Post. Most of the leading Christian nations seem to have mislaid the other ‘ cheek.’— Washington Post. From all, appearances Austria-Hungary bitterly repents having thrown that stone.— York World. ' / ; The custom 'of kissing -when they meet has been suspended among most European monarchs.—Washington Star.

Among other people who will be inconvenienced by the war, just .think of the job Baedeker will have getting up to date'again.— New York Evening Sun. ' . , Liege is a fortified position of far greater strength than is generally appreciated— Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th edition. A scoop for the old reliable encyclopaedia.— Springfield Republican. We are inclined to believe that this will be the last great war until the next one. —Boston Transcript. This European war suggests that maybe the white man) burden is the whit© man himself.— Buffalo Courier. The idea is that the Kaiser should have sat down amiably and let the Allies gobble him up. lndianapolis Star. Britain’s list of contraband of war seems to. include almost anything it sees and is likely to want. — Indianapolis Star. , ■