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Evening Star, Issue 3133, 5 March 1873, Page 2

The performance at Chiarini’s Circus this afternoon was well patronised, and all present, particularly the more youthful section, seemed thoroughly to enjoy the entertainment. Several now feats were introduced, and executed with, the characteristic ability of the performers. There will be a new programme for this evening’s performance. By the Glencoe, which arrived to day, Mr William Sly, a passenger, brought with him some first-rate peas of fowls, duck-wing game, buff cochins, and game bantams, also several varieties of excellent pigeons, carriers, jacobins, Ac., from Mr A. L. Fisher’s stock, which secured so many prizes at the last Hobart Town show, and three or four pairs of fine lop-'ared rabbits. Those (remarks the Examiner) should prove a good addition to the “fancy” in Dunedin, At the Mayor's Court, this morning, John Henderson, charged with being drunk, was fined ss, with the alternative of twenty-four hours’ imprisonm nt ; and Mary Fender, alias Janet M'riwen, an old offender, 40s, or fourteen days’ imprisonment.—John Gibb, a youth, was charged with having committed a criminal assault upon Jessie Hay, a girl of tender years, at Woodhmgh Valley, near the Water of .Leith, on the «Jrd instant. As the police were not prepared to g' into the case, and as several witnesses who lived a considerable distance out of town hul to be subpoenaed, accused was remanded till Friday iv’xt. His Worship the Mayor was the presiding justice. T e Attorney-General, in addressing recently a meeting at Liverpool, made a few remarks which are worth treasuring by young men “ One word to those of the audience who were still young, and who had still their life before them. Though he had not lived to consider himself quite an ohl man, he had lived long enough to know the immeasurable value of those years of youth which so many wasted. They brought with them, no doubt, often delightful memories. Defeats had then no bitterness, and there was no sadness in success, but they brought with them too often, ami to too many of us, the saddest of all memories—the memory of opportunities neglected and of wasted time. He knew well that very few men were ever made wise by the experience of others, but if he could impress upon one single young man how bitterly, how very bitterly he would regret, whenhe cametobe fifty years of age, the hours he had wasted at school, and if, making him feel that, he (the Attorney-General) could lead him practically to act upon the feeling, he should not have come to Liverpool in vain.”

It is doubtful, says the Pall Mall Gazette, whether any of our schools or universities offer greater advantages to the student than those now afforded by a well-regulated convict prison. The following extract from the report of the chaplain of Portsmouth prison, which appears in the appendix to the report of the direct <rs of convict prisons, lately issued, gives a delightful account of prison studies. “Our schoolmaster,” says the chaplain, “ visits the cells, ward after ward, in the absence of the prisoners, {studies are encouraged ; the work shown on the slates is examined, and applications for books of instruction arc recorded. One convict writing home stated the progress he was making in music, singing, and mathematics. ‘1 manage,’he writes, ‘to get four or five hours a day for study. You may inquire how is this managed ? I get some time in the morning, a little at noon, and more at night; after supper I read until bed-time ; I retire to bed to work my problems mentally. I think over what part of my books will explain the difficulties which present themselves ; I rise at four, and even earlier, and go straight to them for the solution. “Others,” adds the chaplain, “are equally devoted to languages. Onr who has a Virgil said to me lately, grasping the book, ‘ 1 am master of every word in it; I know it all by heart, 5 ” cost or care, the chaplain thinks, which can be expended is extravagance with such men as these ; and theie arc people, keen on the subject of education, who would infinitely prefer being throttled and kicked by a classical or mathematical garottcr, tobeing brutally robbed by a ruffian without attainments. An apt quotation from Virgil or Horace would go far to lessen the sting of a blow with a life-preserver on the head, or a kick in the ribs from hobnailed boots.

The meeting of the Maternal Association will be held in Forth street to-morrow (Thursday) afternoon, at three o’clock. We have received from Mr \Y. bookseller, Princes street, “ Nelson sbehoo Series of Progressive Heading Books, wmeo

we shall take occasion to review at greater length, a* soon as time has enabled us to examine their contents. “The object aimed at,” savs the compiler, “is to provide a set ol books adapted to all classes of schools, and (itted to teach not only the art of reading, but to train the pupil to the love oi reading.” We shall examine the works with interest because of the desirability of adopting in our schools the best works, free, if possible, from all sectarian bias.