THE WORLD'S NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1645, 11 January 1913, Page 14

THE WORLD'S NEWS.

NOT LITTLE GODS. i MAN AND HIS VIEWPOINT/ London, December 81. "The Times," in a New Year leading article to-day, 6»ys:— "History is made, as it were, before our eyes. The result is. that wo have acquired the spectator's habit of mind and look for the spectator's amusement from the process of contemporary history. The natural result, as the Archbishop of, Canterbury pointed out, is loss intensity of feeling and thereforo less sense cf responsibility. The danger of the modern wealth of news is that it tempts us to wasto our highest faculties and turns us into spectators of great affairs when we should be actors in small ones. So that we think •of ourselves as gods watching the world from a height, when we are really, men, with a little business of our own to perform, on the plain." . • TEADB IN INFANTS. / New York, December 31. Mra. Dora Hemmlin, a German widow, has admitted to the police that sho carTies on a business of supplying babies at from 12s. 6(K to £2 each. The woman's revelations disclose that,there.is a widespread traffic, in babies in tho United States. An investigation has been started by the Health Department. It is said that the main demand for babies'comes from wives who wish to foist infants on unsuspecting husbands. The supply greatly exceeds the demand, owing to the high cost of living. Mrs. Hemmlin says that she sometimes has to fatten up babies before she can sell them,'as they were .terribly emaciated when brought in by their mothers. ■. She insists that her business is within the law, because the money was paid, not for the baby,' but for the trouble in procuring it. EMPIEE MOVEMENTS. \. ' '' London, December 30. "The Times," in a review of the year, says: "The distinctive feature in Imperial politics has been the progress of opinion on the question of, • defence,' which has made giant strides throughout the Empire. Remarkable as has ,bcen the military movement, it is far less striking than the development of. naval .•trcngth. In Australia, a beginning was made with two great undertakings the completion of which will do much practically to unify the Federation. The first and more important of these is the trans-Australian railway; the second is thb building of the Federal 'capital. Two other matters of high importance deserve mention—tho settlement of the Northern Territory and the appointment of tho Inter-State Commission.".

- WALLS OF PARIS; i.■ '• London, January, 2. Five times since the period of the Romans, has the population of Paris outgrown the crity. Now the Bame thing is occurring again, and the people simply overspill the city's famous walls. 'Arrangements are practically. complete to raze'the girdle of. fortifications to the ground, and in tho open spaces that will Be left to construct a magnificent ring of playing fields, gardens, and boulevards. The cost of the project will run, into .£8,000,000} ;■; ■■'■~ ..-■>, ■ [The ramparts of Paris to-day are 22 miles in length, and entirely surround the city. They were commenced in and took' many years to construct. Over most of their lcngth'a fine roadway runs, and tho slopes are beautifully grassed. Many of'the Parisians of tho poorer classes •spend their Sundays .picnicking on'the ramparts."|

HUNGARIAN FRANCHISE. ■ . , ' '.' London, December 81. A Franchiso Bill has been introduced in the Hungarian Parliament, the result of which idll be to iucreaso tho number of electors by 500,000. Tho Bill provides tljat the franchise shall.be granted to men who have obtained secondary school' .certificates on thsir reaching the ago of 21. Men who have not tho certificate'will be given the right to vote at the ago of 80. Workmen in industrial employment ■who apply for the franchise will have to show/that they have, been,in permanent employment for two years, ,wnild agricultural workers will have to show that they have been permanently employed for five years.. Polling will]be by secret ballot in the cities, but public' in the country. •~■ -. ■.'.:.

■ WPMAN'S, HEROIC LIFE.\ London, December 31. A miserable story was told at the Inquest on. a woman to-day. The evidence showed that the woman had practically tilled herself in a Tain ixnd desperate effort to provide for her husband arid family. She. had. four young, children,'' and her. husband was dying- of consumption. She worked all day in a.factory to earn money to keep them all, and she would spend most of the night nursing her husband. The strain.was beyond her power to bear, and one night she dropped dead at the bedside of the dying man. The coroner's verdict was that death was due to overwork.' The jury subscribed enough money amongst themselves to pay the woman's funeral expenses.

; . GOVERNMENT OP. THIBET. London, December 31; A Thibetan envoy has arrived at Urga, Mongolia. He states that he" is authorised to conclude an agreement with the Republican Government whereby Thibet will be placed under the protection of Great Britain and Russia^'The-, envoy' also states that the Dalai lama would ing-.to grant the protective Powers exemption from ;■ duties, the right to exploit the natural riches of -the country, and to construct railways,' telegraphs; and telephones. ,' ! 'DRAMATIC SUICIDE; ' ', . London,.December 81. Three', young men entered a cafe in Vienna last night laughing happily; they were carried out dead. The•..tragedy'., is inexplicable. When' they went into the caie thoy ordered a sumptuous . supper, and ate it.at their leisure; The cafe was filled with their mirth. Suddenly all three dropped forward on the table; dead. It (wa9 found that .they had poisoned themselvos with prussic acid. Their motive is' unknown.! ■':.■■

. FASHIONABLE FREAK. ' ; \ London,.January 2. The residents at a smart hotel at Matlook, the fashionable water-cure resort near Dorby, indulged • themselves ' in a novel New. Year's freak Inst night. Men and women changed places with -'the hotel staff. They waited at table for the visitors wta came later,: and. also served supper at a great ball which was held to celebrate the New Year. Those who, were not in: the joke were astonished at the aristooratio bearing of the young">ladies thorn their food, and'at the suavity' of-the hall-porters who helped them with their cloaks. "THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS/' London, January 2. • The Bishop of Carlisle (Dr. Diggle), in a pastoral letter to.the clergy of the diocese, refers to the good'work which was dono last year, but adds: "There are exceptions. Two or three clergymen are approaching tho brink of exposure on account of tnoir habits; some are afflicted with incurable indolence, while others are dull and listless. Their ministry is only a matter of mechanism and their churches are shut from Sunday to Sunday,. while on Sunday they are empty." ■ '■ •■ WOMEN AS AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS. "/ London, December 30. A Return has been prcpnred by tho Minister for Labour in' franco showing that \i,QWfiOf) women earn their own living in "that country, 919,000 being engaged in tho fields at n wago of 2s. 6d. a day. In the rural districts of Franco women are in constant demand as agricultural labourers. The sight of dozens of wonion bending their backs to the task of weeding or planting or digging is a common one, anil adds a certain picturesqueness to country scenes. Dressed in'blue-stuff gowns, with clogs on their feet and big sun-bonnets on their heads, they lend charm to the picturo, and in Millet's famous painting, "The Angelus," the typical French peasant woman is shown at the conclusion of her day's'labour.' Tho women even guide the ploughs* SMUGGLERS OF-ARMS. London, December 30. Several companies of the Spanish Civil Guard ore on duty, on' the frontier, and

are maintaining a close surveillance over travellers entering: the country. There is a suspicion that a large convoy of arms and ammunition! is being, smuggled in for delivery to revolutionaries, who have plotted a rebellion. An activo search is being conducted to discover the whereabouts of tho secret arsenal. FRENCH NAVAL PROGRESS. • London, December 31. The Paris press regards, tho progress in tho navy as the -greatest feature of last year. The "Matin" says that battleships aggregating 120,000 tons havo been launched or laid down, a new type of gun has been adopted, squadrons have been concentrated into one fleet, and flotillas of submarines, capable of deep-water fighting, established. SHANGHAI UNIONISM. London, January-3. Tho goldsmiths of Shanghai, numbering 3000, went on strike this week. They demanded'an eloven-hour day, two hours off for meals, and a 40 per cent, rise in wages. The employers yielded to the demands, but the strikers then insisted that only unionists should be employed. The oreation • of organisations in other trades is contemplated." . ' UNIQUE TELEGRAPHIC MACHINE. London, January 2. Senor Balsera, a Spanish telegraph operator, has perfected a machine which is capable of sending and receiving 1820 words a minute. A series- of practical trials has been entirely successful. ■ fThe fastest instrument up to the present for telegraphic purposes is the Wheatstone, and at tho Sydney General Post Office a speed of 240 words a minute has been reached with one of this type/] • HONEYMOON TRAGEDY. London, January 3. A newsboy to-day opened the door of a railway carriage at Darlington, in Durham, and discovered a man and a woman dead on tho floor with their throats cut. It was ascertained that tho couple wore married on Christmas Eve, and were returning from their honeymoon. CANADA'S NEW RAILWAY. ' London, January 2. On Wednesday (January 1) tie first train on the new transcontinental railway in Canada arrived at Toronto. There were 20 trucks attached, carrying a consignment of Saskatchewan wheat. On arrival this was immediately ground into flour, and it will be shipped to-day to Africa.

A SCHOOL OP INGEATITUDE, London, December 30. M. Fallieres, the French President, speaks of the Elysee, the residence of the Presidents, as a school of ingratitude. He has detected a remarkable dwindling in his visiting list as he comes to tie end of his term of office, and since thero are no more favours to confer. He says: "I am a setting sun. I belong to the past already."

CHINESE STAMPS. .' London, December 81. China has issued two complete.series of postage stamps with bi-lingual inscriptions. The values range from one cent, to fiVe dollars. One series commemorate the revolution and the other the establishment of the Republic. \ /PRANCE AND PANAMa! London, December 81. A Prench committee has been appointed to .consider tho aspect of-the Panama Canal, and particularly the possibility of playing the part of innkeeper in the .Pacific,. where Papeete can bo ' mado a pleasant port of call in the long run to Australia. MOSLEMS OP INDIA. London, January 1. Tho council of the Moslem League of Lucknow has drawn up a draft constitution, the objects of which are to promote loyalty toi the .British Crowri, promote national unity by fostering a publio spirit amongst Indians, and to obtain a system of self-government suitable to India.

FRIGHTENED THE EMPRESS. "" , ■,■■■ London, January 1. 1 >An airman flow over the Imperial palace at Berlin recently,, and dropped a laurel wreath as a compliment to the Empress on her birthday. The Empress was so frightened that such attentions have ,bcen interdicted.

,-•.' SEVEN MURDERED FOR 410. London, December 30. Robbers broke into a farmhouse at Tomsk, Siberia, last night, and murdered a family of seven persons. Their object was to get .£lO. ',

■ ; . ■ JOHN BROWN'S BROTHER. - London, December. SO. Archibald Brown, a brother of the late John Brown, who<.was Queen Victoria's favourite giliie and her constant attendant, died to-day at Windsor. Archibald was also in the service of the late Queen. ;.:'', SENTRY'S MISTAKE. ■~ . London, December 80. Surgeon-Major Beutot, of the Prench colonial armv, was returning to camp at Tangier,.and did not hear the challenge of a Senegalese sentry. The soldier, mistaking his officer for a marauding tribesman, bayoneted and killed Beutot. MILLIONAIRE'S STRANGE WISH. ' London, December 30. ' A millionaire landowner named Dearden, who lived at Rochdale, Lancashire, left a wjll directing that his remains should be cremated and the ashes interred in tho same grave as that in which his dog Pompey was buried. KING'S BIBLE-READING HABIT. ' London, January 2. King George has received a large number of letters from men in all stations.in life, thanking him for his confession re-, garding his habit of Bible reading. ~! [Lord Knollys, the 1 King's private secretary, recently informed a correspondent that King George made a habit of reading the Bible every morning.] AUSTRIAN EMPEROR'S London, January 2.' Tho Papal Nuncio at Vienna has reported at Rome that the health of the Emperor of Austria is causing his advisers considerable anxiety., The Emperor Francis Joseph is 83 years old. PROFESSIONAL MENDICANTS. December 81. It is estimated that there are 3000 professional mendicants in-London who are earning from ss. to 10s. a day. <They find it more remunerative than work. .'. NAVAL AVIATION. ; , London, December 81. ■ The first naval air station has been established on the Isle of Grain; in the Medway. '.'... [The above items are taken from the Sydney "Sun's" special cable service.]