CLIPPINGS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 231, 4 October 1878, Page 3

CLIPPINGS.

(From the Home News.)

The American papers bring news from Panama to July 16, giving particulars of a shocking affair in a Peruvian town. In the early part of July a dispute arose between the natives of San Pablo and those of San Miguel, on the occasion of the former visiting the latter place. One of the Pablina was killed and others were taken prisoners. On the following day the prisoners were rescued by their fellow-townsmen, who threatened they would have revenge. In the beginning of July twenty-five desperadoes from San Pablo, well armed, entered San Miguel, and proceeded to sack the town, inflicting dreadful brutalities. The alarm was sounded, and the people assembled en masse. A terrible scene of butchery followed. Fifteen of the assailants were killed on the spot, and ten were captured after having received fatal injuries. On the following day these ten died, and the corpses of the twentyfive were strewn about the public square. The affair, it is added, has given rise to a very bad feeling between the two communities, and reprisals are apprehended. At Boulogne the other day a suicide I was committed by a young married lady, who only two years ago was one of the helles of Berlin society. She was the wife of a secretary of the Russian Embassy, a young diplomatist, who seemed to have a brilliant future in prospect. The baron had been engaged to the lady when still a child, and pensionaire of the Sacre" Ceeur in Paris. When she came to Berlin after marriage they launched into the greatest extravagance. They rented a magnificent hotel, furnished it most superbly, held open house, and formed for some time the chief talk of Berlin. The lady, said to be immensely wealthy, appeared at Court in costly toilet, and rivalled majesty itself in brilliancy of display. The young couple, really possessed of a large income, soon' exceeded their means. In order to make up the deficiency, the baron entered into heavy speculations on the Bourse, which

so rapidly increased his liabilities that a catastrophe was inevitable. Notwith standing the efforts made by his relatives, as well as tlie Russian Government, extremely annoyed at the public exposure of a le.'iding member of its Embassy at Berlin, the baron wont through the Court of Bankruptcy. His* wife, regardless of all appearances, did' not hesitate to elope with a scion of a princely house, whose* chief delight seems to consist in causing .notoriety. The prince, whose ideal is * apparently personification of an English jockey, soon abandoned her, and she, void of meaRS, went to Paris, where she gave herself up to the qnestionable dissipation of the modern Babylon. In a moment of remorse at her terrible fate, she sought a premature death by blowing out her brains. Her husband, who joined the Red Cross Society in the last war, had for some time charge of the hospital at Sistova, and is now at Bucharest, engaged in attendance on the sick and wounded. The presentation to the Plenipotentiaries in the Guildhall Library was marred by a very disagreeable occurrence, which was, in fact, the single event in that portion of the celebration. After the Plenipotentiaries had made their bows to the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, a misguided gentleman jumped np, and in a very clear and wholly unexcited voice exclaimed, " Traitors to the Constitution !" It was, of course, a highly improper, scandalous, and generally disgraceful interruption. What followed was a characteristic commentary on the chivalry of Jingoism. The infatuated denouncer of Ministers was in a twinkling torn from his seat, and hurled upon the floor. It is only safe to kick and hit a man when he is down ; and about a dozen gentlemen heroically seized the opportunity of pummelling, with their fists, sticks, and boots, the body of the prostrate mis- i creant, who, it is safe to say, would have escaped with impunity had he been in a position to challenge his assailants successively to single combat. But at last' even the honour of Jingoism was satisfied. Cries of " Shame ." and « Fair play 1" were raised, and the opinion seemed to be gaining ground that the luckless man had had enough. But there were others who thought differently, and something very like a free fight round, and for, his body began. While the uproar was at its unseemly height the Plenipotentiaries left the library for the Guildhall, there to receive the freedom of the City. It was not an auspicious prelude.— Alias.