TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11494, 29 January 1903, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

The Melbourne "Argus ,, "Cheer, Boys, in a recent issue reprinted (Jheer." some extract* from, a book on Victoria in 1853 and 1858, by one William Kelly, who left California before fche goLd rush fihere had died away to try his fortune on the then new goldfiekLs of Baflarat" and Bendigo. Hβ .travelled by way of England, which he left in 1852, by a sailing ship, one of the six saloon passengers which she carried. For five days the vessel, with a Jarge number of other emigrant ships, was anchored in Margate Roads, the wind being unfavourable. At dawn o,n the sixth day it shifted, and then ensued a remarkable scene. "It was an eager strife between the crews ©f 200 vessels to see which could be got raider weigh first, and I believe if the successful captain was to receive a prize of £1000, a-nd his officers and crew a shower of Victoria Crosses, it could not have ibeen more keenly contested, nor the spirit and skuTof the- British tar more excitingly demonstrated." Mr Kelly's chip was a fast sailer, and gradually crept through .the fleet of vessels which were bustling down tihe Channel, all bound for •tie new El Dorado. It was a curious experience, and in no respect more ko than in the monotony of the greetings which those on the faster ship received from the crowded decks of the vesseto they passed. "Australy for ever," was the opening salute, "invariably followed by a monster concert, ■having for its staple Henry Russell's great Don sequituir song, 'comimencdng, 'Oheers, boys, cheer, for home and mother country.,' and concluding with an overtopping encomium on 'The anew and happy land.'" Thie famous song, then at the zenith of its popularity, followed Mr Kelly round the world. Becalmed while crossing uae lime, he and his fellow-passengers pulled off in a boat to visit a vessel lying near in a simflax condition. As soon as they gofc within hailin-g distance, "as if Huliah was in the maiintoip with his baton, five hundred and sixty-seven voices burst forth with the precision of a bomb, bellowing forth—what do you suppose;—why, none other than the celebrated 'Cheers, boys, cheer, for home and mother country,' on which they were so complacently turning their backs of their own free will and accord." After a passage oj four months aod a i-alf, Mr Kelly's vessel arrived off Port Phillip Heads, to find fifteen ships tacking to and fro waiting for a pilot. He appeared at last, and, taking charge of toe nearest, shin signaiita to the others to follow to course. Gradually they fell into lire of single column in hij wake, and as one or one, passing up the harbour, they shot past the lighthouse and dropped anchor in the pool in front of the pilot station, their swarming emigran+e eadutod the goal of tfeeir desires with "the ever-ringing, never-aying ditly, wiueh appears destined, l;ke the sun, never to set or cease on or in <tfce iJritish dominions—the everlasting 'Cheer, boys, cheer, for the new and happy land,' issuing from Uve thousand frantic vocalists, as if they were bellowing for a, prize." Heary Russell outlived his popularity and fame, but no song written ever had a greater vogue than his had in those, stirring days of the early fifties, when England was pouring her tens of thousands into tie new lands.of the South. ,

Some speculation has A Title for already been indulged Mr Chamberlain, in a* to the method in wiich the King wi'.l honour Mr Cha.mbwla.in for hii» admirable „ work in Strufch •Africa. Nothing less than a peerage, it m tthought in some quarters, will meet the merits of the case, but agairai. the probability of the Colonial Secretary nceapting it is nrg«d t-he undoubted* fact that he could haw been a peer long ago had he chosen. It is just possible, however, that in view of his recent acceptance of a distinguished order hLs objections to a scat in the Hou?e> of Lords may be overcome. For Mr Chaniberiain is no longer en untitledi commoner. Xo less poient a monarch than King Neptune lately conferred upon him the "Mo.«t Noble. Order of the feardbe," Mrs Chamberlain receiving from the royal hands at the same time fhe "First Class* of the Ancient Order of the Bloater." If it is urged that no mention is made of ordeis of nobility in "Debrett" or "Whitaker,' , it simply proves that the editors of thof-e invaluable works are but mortal, and therefore liable to err. The ceremony of investiture took place, on the deck of H.M.S. Good Hope during t'ho voyage from Suez to Momnasa, in the presence of Mrs Neptune and the baby, and the various officials of Neptune's court. The exchange of co;np]:nier.ts between his Majesty and Mr Chamberlain was marked by great eloquence, and after Mrs Neptune had presented Mrs >.camber]nin with a bouquet i-f coral, Neptune handed to the Colonial Secretary an address, and conferred upon him the -freedom of the sea,. The two recipient,* of Neptune's honour were made free <>f the sea by being sprinkled with reawa.U?r, but »~r Chamberlain's secretaries and the. young officers of the ship received the usual attentions bestowed on those who fer the first time "cross the line.' . At a concert in the evening the captain aslrcd Mr Chajnherlain to accept, a casket made by srais of - t ..-e ship's company to contain the vellum cert-iricate of his freedom, ai;d a silken Union Jack made by the Fignalmen. Mr Chnxnbexin'in soems, indeed, to have been thoroughly popular on board. He was an admirablft sailor, fhough the Good Hope met some bad weather, and proved a "wet ship." The crew displayed the greatest interest in him, and apparently felt that tfiey shared in the importance of the mission. "Many aa-gunients aie fro be beard,"' writes a correspondent, "a» to the manner in which he ■wii-l 'fix 'em' when he gets down south. At times portrors of the deck resemble an animated debating society, and the different partisans express their opinions in language wliiioh sometimes becomes lurid.' . Jack's admiration of the distinguished passenger took an imitative form, and it is said to have been quite .-. common sight at night to see "half a dozen ■t«.rs parading fclw deck wearing tin monoolee, and with paper 'orchids' in, their jumpers."

In i* description of A Modem the mansion which Aladdin's Palaw. Mr Charles M. Schwab, " the steel fcinjr." is building for himself in New York, may be read the romance of an extraordinary career. Thirty years ago Mr Schwab was a grocer's boy, earning ten shillings a week. Five years ago he became president of the Carnegie Steel Company, with an interest in the business, and a salary of £10,000 a year, equal to that of the President of the United States. To-day he draws a salary of £200,000 a year—the largest salary paid to any man in the world—as president of the United States Steel Corporation. Hβ haa control of 45,000 jntn, and his interest in the great steel trust amounts to some £5,600,000. The erstwhile gjrocer'e boy is now building what promises to be the most gorgeous dwelling in the world. The block of ground alone cost him £173,000, and millions of dollars will have been spent by the time his mansion is completed. The ablest architect whoee cervices could be obtained has designed the plans. It will be an enormous mansion, imposing in exterior, magnificent in ite display of wealth and luxury within. The great staircase, which is two and a half etoreys in height, is described as impressively grand, and the halle,. jalleries and colonades are all in keeping with the palatial character of the building. There is an art gallery in one wing, and a ohapel and music room in the main building, surmounted by a belfrey and chimes. There is a well-equipped gymnasium and also a, Turkish foath system. The mansion overlooks a, splendid stretch of country on the banks of the Hudson, and expert gardeners from abroad will be employed to produce elaborate landscape effects. It will be, in short, a modern Aladdin's palace, typical in its magnificence of the rewards which the genius of American industrybestows upon the men whose might of brain and energy brings them to the front.