TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11479, 12 January 1903, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

According to the indignant The Czar*s statement of a fellow-doctor. Mysterious the mysterious _L Philippe. Advisers. who was mentioned in t_w> cable messages a few weeks a_*_ aa a aDiritua__t "auack." who had

obtained a remarkable and harmful influence over the Czar, has been greatly maligned. M. Philippe, it was reported, • had subjected his Majesty entirely to his control, and the C_a,rina's continuous malady was attributed to bis evil influence. He was suspected, in fact, of the black art, and the indignation which was raised has since caused him to be expelled from the Russian court. His defender is a certain Dr. Enoausate, who was suspected, however, of being a bird of the samo feother. It appears that M- Philippe was a native of Lyons, where for a long time he enjoyed the reputation of having wonderful, in fact miraculous, healing powers. " All who were suffering came to him, told him their troubles, and, according to report, he sent everyone away restored to health, without e__e__Lsiing any particular kind of treatment, and without even touching them," It was the local doctors who first applied to him the term charlatan, or "quack," which his friend, Dr. Encausse, has recently resented in a letter to the "Matin." M. Philippe's house was besieged eveay day with invalids, and the medical men of Lyons, finding their own clients fast diminishing, commenced an action against their rival on the ground of illegal practising, and so harried him in other ways that at length he was obliged to leave the city. The sable cloud had a brighter lining, however, than even the occultist can be expected to have foreseen. Proceeding to Russia, he quickly won the confidence of the Grand Dukes of the court, and through them obtained the entree to the royal apartments. Patronage like this caused spiritualism to thrive for a time in St. Petersburg to an unprecedented degree, and societies for the. cultivation of the occult sprang up on all sides. In the prosperity which shone upon M. Philippe, Dr. Encausse, who was his fellow-country-man, contrived to share. The latter has stated that his companion practised no magic arte on the Czar, but, on the contrary, merely advised and assisted his Majesty. Probably M. Philippe's methods of treatment would never have beea cavilled at but for the fact that they were not success.ful. The mysterious adviser fell from favour, and his whereabouts at latest were unknown. "The most American thing Peculiarities in America" is an English of writer's recent description Congress, of Congress. The House of Representatives is three times as large as the British House of Commons, and the seats are arranged, not in parallel lines, but in curved concentric rows, facing the Speaker. The Republicans always sit to the left of the Chair, and the Democrats to the right. The millionaire and the vagal>o_d are alike free to saunter in at any time, without passes, questions, or credentials. Each member has a revolving choir, with a large desk before it, on which he transacts his private correspondence whenever the debates lack interest. Congress [is described as emphatically the worst-diessed assembly in the world. "The usual costume is a long* and very loose frock-coat, a low-cut waists coat, a turned-down collar, a white bow, and a Derby or felt hat. No man can look imposing in such a dress; and, indeed, at first glance you might easily take Congress for an asse_-_bly of Diissenting ministers." Memoars lounge in their chairs and chew m-lighted cigars during business, and from the Press gallery the astonished Englishman could catch glimpses of others of their number "under the razor" in the adjoining barber's shop. More startling still, be beheld the barber himself, in -is shirt-sleeves and' apron, joke with Congressmen in the doorway of the House, and listen *-o the speecbesi "But for sheer homeliness the palm must be given to a. phalanx of small boyS, the sqns of Congressmen, who eat or their, father's knees during the debates." A large number of pages are employed in the House, and their antics add to the confused din, which is Always characteristic of Congress. In addition to its Public Nurseries special police courts for and the playgrounds Children. attached to its large shops, New York has introduced on excellent novelty for the benefit of children, in the shape of public day nurseries. There are now a large number of these institutions in existence, ranging in comfort and equipment from the humblest establishments in the very poorest quarters, to the most luxurious end wellappointed. Care is taken in many instances to protect the children from evil companionship, by provisions which prohibit people of disreputable character from making use of the nursery. Frequently; states Jan article on the subject in the "Century Mago-ine," the 00-wtitution of ihe establishment reads: —"For the benefit of working people unable to provide for their children, or of working mothers i preference given to widows, or poor working mothers away from home." Where any doubt exists, careful inquiries are made as to the character of mothers, and cleanliness is an absolute rule. At the Virginia ->ay Nursery, which was the __|t institution of the kind formed', at the nominal charge of 2_d a day, children under seven years of age may be left during: working hours, and receive two meals during that time, a" doctor's supervision, the elements of education, plentiful amusement, and facilities for sleep. "The house has beds and swinging cots for seventy-five children, three bathrooms of the latest pattern, rooms for the matron and attendant.., an isolation room for use in illness, dining-rooms, kitchen, laundry, etc. Mothers' meetings, with instruction on sanitary topics and on cook ing, sewing, and the care of home and children, are part of the present work." In the West Side Day Nursery slightly older children are taught sewing, crocheting, and other work, the proceeds of which assist their parents in some measure to keep them. Almost all the New York nurserias are supported by voluntary contributions, and the reasonableness of their "terms" is such that even where the charge for one child in so low, as 2£d, two will often be taken " at reduced prices," for Id each.