MAIL NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 350, 26 February 1902, Page 4

MAIL NEWS.

LONDON, .Jan. 10. The “ diabolical atrocities ’’ on girls and women icharged against the British Army in South Africa, which Lord Roberts has warmly repudiated, were invented, not in Germany, the Daily Chronicle avers, as Englishmen imagine, but in America. The leaflets were first printed, the Chronicle says, in May, 1001, by Charles I). Pierce, of Jackson, Miss . who is called Con-sul-General of the Orange Free State. The first publication took place, says the same authoiity, in the Jackson Clarion and Ledger of May 11, but iliis is not accurate, as charges of that kind were made against the Scottish regiments in tiie earliest stage of the war.

I)r. Conan Doyle’s pamphlet on the subject of the South African charges wili shortly be published. It deals with every specific charge he has been able to investigate, and it will be sold without profit, both here and in the live European countries for which it has been translated. A New York firm lias beer, given the American rights on condition that it sends free a copy to every United States Senator, Congressman, and Government official.

The War Office is considering the advisability of supplying false teeth to the forces. Sixty per cent of the applicants for enlistment in General Hadcn-Powell’s police have been rejected on the ground of bad teeth. Hundreds of applicants for service with the Yeomanry were disqualified for the same cause. The Dental Hospitals of London have notified Die War Office that they are prepared to make good the deficiencies or entirely equip applicants who are otherwise eligible at £1 a head. NICE' (France), Jan. 4. There has been a great exchange of courtesies and official visits between the three American warships anchored off Ville Franche and the Russian cruiser Peresviet, which brought here ll.c Grand Duke Cyrille. Launches carrying officers gave quite a busy appearance to the vast blue cliff-surroun-ded bay. In the absence of Admiral Cromwell, Captain Craig, of the cruiser Albany, the senior officer, did the honors. The Russian band played American airs all day (Dec. 31) and New Year’s Day. The American officers and sailors say they never had so pleasant a stay before in a foreign port. The whole Rcviera is deluging the officers willi invitations. Every second day the ships go out twenty miles lo: target practice. There are frequent boat races among the crews, the Nashville’s men being invariably victorious. Premier Waldeek Rousseau and Foreign Minister Delcassc are among the recent arrivals. The King of the Belgians has requested permission to take his daughter to visit the American steam yacht Varuima. The owner, Eugene Higgins, sent his sailing master in a boat to extend the freedom of the yacht to the King and tire Princess, only regretting that a previous engagement would prevent his doing the honors himself. The Democratic sovereign, who is accustomed lo universal eagerness to meet him, took this as a fine proof of American independence., Berlin, Jan. 1. In connection with the statue recently dedicated in the Avenue of tho Victory in Berlin, tho Emperor has delivered a discourse, in the course of which he has pronounced the following opinions upon art:—

“Art draws from nature which obeys eternal laws that the Creator has imposed on himself. Tho sight of tho superb classic works teaches tho eternal law. There reigns also in these works a law of beauty, harmony, and aesthetics which manifests itself in so powerful a fashion that when a work is particularly good wo say with pride that it is almost as good as tho classic works.

“ The things that spring from an elevated ideal have become the most durable good of the German nation, whilo other nations have more or less lost them. The German people who bavo been called to tho first rank have now only to preserve, to cultivate, and to continue to enjoy them.

“In order to obtain this result, it is necessary to lift the laboring classes abovo their present level by showing them tho beautiful. When art depicts wretchedness more frightful than it is it commits a crime toward tho German nation. The culture of the ideal is the greatest of civilising works, and if we wish to continue to bo in this respect a model Another people all the nation ought to contribute to it.

“ Art aids in reaching this end by raising tho pcoplo above where they are, instead of lowering thorn into the gutter.” A French journal, in commenting on tho foregoing sentiments, has indulged in the following bit of light irony : “ Tho idealism of William 11. manifests itself, as one sees, as well in art as in literature, and even in politics.” Paris, Doe. 27. A commission of hygione was instituted on March 15 last to study tho causes of consumption in tho French Army, and to discover means of combating the disoase. Among tho features of tho question studied, as per the plan, were those referring to tho date of tho construction of the barracks throughout France, tho amount of air in the room of each, number of soldiers quartered in each, the state of health on an average of each company, each squadron, otc., and the number of cases of consumption in tho army during the years 1898, 1899 and 1900. Tho report resulting from these investigations has just been sent in, and it has been found that the food, the ages of the barracks and the number of soldiers quartered in tho latter are all capital causes of the malady. Where tho barracks liavo been new, and the soldiers stationed in them, comparatively few, tho cases of consumption have been less numerous. The commission recommends to tho Government to be more careful in its examination of the soldiers to be admitted to the barracks, os it is probable that more than one candidate arrives with the germs of the fearful disease in his system.