Ways of Living.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 406, 18 February 1904, Page 7

Ways of Living.

SOCIAL PBIVILEGEB. ' IN this age of specialism, when we become dizzy from the rapid multiplication of specialties, it iB reZresh--1 uigtobaveat least oae'of the hew ones denned with some clearness. There has long been: much haiinesa about that reoent forni thalprofessibna] I chaperons, j Her dutiesl have been only I tentatively described. Now we find her, in her most highly?eyelved stage, coming forth in the shape of a certain Mrs Clifford, a presumably accomplished Englishwoman.' who has opened up a sort Of brokerage offlje in New York, wherein she pursuea her avocation of effecting, for varying considerations, the entree into European society of suoh American applicants as pass muster in regard to money and manners. An introduction to royalty is quoted at £IOOO. Dukes of lesß than royal degree command from Tho scale descends thereafter, Italian counts footing the list, probably owing to 4 the faot that they increase In geometric progression, every son of a count being likewise a count. Hence their multitude. It is reported that Mrs Clifford has already done such a thriving business that she contemplates moving from two rooms in the Waldorf-Astoria to a sumptuous suite farther up town.

BOILED MUTTON, Boiled mutton, although an innocent dish in itself, has on more thin one occasion caused disputes and difficulties which might have ended in bloodshed. Mr Kianear, in his 'Across Many Seas,' tells of a serious affair which arose out of boiled mutton when he was crossing the Atlantic oh board the Great Eastern. The ship used to roll considerably, and one day, he says, 'there came an incident that went very near to a rupture between Great Britain and Spain. The Great Eastern had a curious habit of beginning to swing at meal-times, and, true to her discommodating habit, she set herself going on this particular day as the Baloon sat down to dinner. The afternoon had been bo placid, and the run of the ship so eaßy, that the stewards set the tables without placing 'fiddles' or guards upon them. Nor for the same reasons were the chairs ' locked.'

No Wondbb Hb was Anhoted /Carving was done at the tables ia tboße days, instead of a la Russe, and the joints on this occasion included a large leg of mutton, complete with trimmings and caper sauce. This lay opposite to a Spanish admiral,beautiful in blue fragged surtout and white waistcoat..£ Suddenly a big roll to starboard set both- chairs and tables at an angle of 45deg. Back went the Spanish admiral, and down upon his martial breast gently slid the leg of mutton, with its accompaniments of carrots and caper sauce; Of course, the stewards ran up with profuse apologies, but if ever a man looked and glared and hissed murder, it was that admiral. He raved as the stewards tried to relieve his uniform of the sticky mess j the capers bad to be literally picked out of his black beard. He vowed vengeance against the ship in Spanish, for h9 was too indignant to kill in English. He challenged the captain, sitting near, to a duel, and then threw in pantomime a cartel 1 upon the deck, demanding a million dollars as compensation for wounds to the dignity of an admiral of the Crown of Spain.' THE BARBEL ORGAN. A passer by who gives a copper to an organ grinder may be patronising a gentleman unawares. The case has come to light of an ex-lieutenant of the Middlesex Regiment who at one period of his career commanded an expedition which resulted in the capture of a notable Ashanti chief, and who is now engaged in playing an organ in the streets of Chelsea.

Inquiry among the firms in Saffron Hill who make a business of letting out piano organs on hire discloses two instances of peregrinating musicians who have fallen from even higher estate. One is the younger son of a viscount; the other the third son of an earl. The latter after performing before a house requests to see the mistress, to whom he hands a collecting' book bearing a coronet. Therein, if she chooses, she enters her name and the amount of her donation. Each of the aristocratic organ-grinders pay 1/8 per day for the hire of the machine, and makes a profit of 25/ to 28/ a week.

Several composers are at present trundling handle organs through the streets. One is a song writer who paid 10a to have his latest composition included in the repository of the machine. A placard at the front of the organ announces that he is the author of the song, and underneath' is a rack containing copies of it. After singing the song he Bells the copieß to the assembled listeners —'words and music complete, one penny.' Foranother penny he will scribble his autograph on the title page. - Not long ago some stir was created in Saffron Hill by the appearance in a shabby street of a smart bougham, from which there descended at the door of a piano organ establishment four ladies, masked and wearing fancy Co3tume. They hired an organ for the day, and played and sang in the streets of the West End. In this way they obtained a substantia] Bum of money for a charity in which they were interested. The leader of the quartette is a well known actress, who is now taking a prominent part in a musical comedy.