THE WEEK.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIIL, Issue 301, 28 December 1878, Page 2

THE WEEK.

" The weather is intensely cold with heavy falls of snow." Amid these surroundings, as we arc informed by cable, the people of Englandsre spending their Christmas. Those of us who have not lost all recollection of the country we still delight to call "home " will understand what this means among the English working classes. "Intense cold" indicates intense misery; heavy snowstorms point to a scarcity of work, and its concomitants penury and semi-starvation. How different to the state of things that prevails here even in the winter season, when the man who is able and willing to woik need never be in dread of a visit from that dreaded wolf, hunger, wnicb so frequently stauds at the door of those who in the mother country occupy a position Bimilar to his own in this more favored land. Sometimes when I look at the Christmas decorations of our churches and compare them with those I was once accustomed to see in England, I fancy that the contrast is to a certain extent typical of the difference between the condition of those who earn their bread by the sweat of their brow here, and their fellow workmen there. However skillfully they may be arranged, the ornamentations, consisting, as they must do m the winter, chiefly of evergeeens, are in the old country necessarily dark, sombre, and almostgloomy. Here they are bright with flowers, and suggestive of all that is pleasing and cheerful. I don't assert that there are 110 drawbacks to entire enjoyment, that there is nothing left to desire, but I do say that every man in this colony who is in possession of gool health, must, as on Christmas Day he sees his wife and smiling children sitting round him at his well supplied table, admit that veriiy his lines have fallen in pleasant places. I am not desirous of introJucing political matter of any description into this little Christmas paragraph, but I cannot refrain from asking —Is this the land that we would like to see given up to a swarm of Chinamen? When Plevna fell after the brave Osman Pasha had so nobly defended it for many months against an overpowering foe, it was iudeed a sad day for the beaten Turks, but a glorious one for the victorious Russians. When Ali Musjid in the Klyber Pass was a few weeks ago successfully stormed by our gallant Indian forces it was welcome news to England and Englishmen everywhere, but an exceedingly disagreeable surprise to that stupid old donkey Shere Ali, who was silly enough to think that his puny power could possibly have a single chance against England's giant strength. And so I might go on adducing any number of modern instances to show that what one nation, party, or individual considers a great triumph or success must of necessity be regarded by others who look upon it from an entirely different point of view as a lameutable misfortune. And, vice versa, the same rule applies. But I will content myself with quoting just one more instance, and that of so recent a date that it must he perfectly fresh in my readers' minds. When Mary, and Eliza, and Jane returned on Thursday from that pleasant little drive into the country to which they had been treated by their brother and perhaps one or two of his male friends, did not you Paterfamilias, look with grief and consternation at their drooping feathers and washed out muslins, and begin to make a mental calculation as to the power of your purse to repair damages? Did you not in fact regard that Boxixg Day downpour as a great misfortune, quite independently of the fact that it had marred your daughters' day's pleasure? Now take up with me another standpoint from whence to look upon the dripping finery? Don't you think that ail the drapers and milliners in the place contemplated on Thursday night with intense satisfaction the frequent visits to their establishments during the next few days that will be the inevitable result of that unexpected shower, for don't they know full well that the said Mary, Eliza, and Jane will not leave a single wile untried to coax " Papa " into rigging them out anew, so that they may appear on the Sports ground on New Year's Day as daintily, as prettily, and as freshly dressed as though the sun had shone brilliantly all through that disastrous Thursday afternoon? Thu3 again do we see how one man's misfortune is another man's gain. I was a little bit amused jthe other day on reading iv a Wellington paper a letter from a resident in that city on the management of the local College, an institution which has recently been.andstill ia in, some trouble. The writer appears to be desirous oi showing why it is that the College is not a popular educational establishment, and this is the line of reasoning he adopts:-—" To what," he asks, " are we to attribute the non success of the College? In a great measure perhaps to the high moral standard taken by the head-master, who not only inculcates gentlemanly conduct on the part of his pupils by his precept, but shows them a practical example, in that, having done what he considers right, he does not amuse his onlookers with excuses and explanations, but leaves his conduct to prove its correctness by the ultimate result." The only logical conclusion to be arrived at from a perusal of the above is that in the opinion of "X.Y.Z ," for thus does the correspondent sign himself, the only way to make the Wellington College a success is to lower the moral standard and to lay it down as a rule that the masters shall not " inculcate gentlemanly conduct on the part of their pupils." As a Mew Zealand colonist of some years standing I confess that I am anxious to see a high tone maintained and gentlemanly principles inculcated in all our Colleges, no matter where they may be situated, and if their nuccess, financially or

otherwise, is only to be achieved by lowering that tone, as Mr « X.Y.Z.," erroneously, I hope, seems lo think, by all means, say I, let them prove failures. I hope, nay, I believe, that the reasons given by " X.Y.Z." for the non-success of the institution in which he appears to take an interest ate a gross libel on the people of Wellington. To me the most surprising feature in the affair is that his assertions or suppositions have been suffered to pass unchallenged. A good story reaches me of an adventure recently met with by the Native Minister when on his way from Wellington to Nelson last week. To none who know Mr Sheehan would it ever occur that such a mistake might be made by anyone as to suppose that he was in holy orders, yet this did actually hnppen on the day in question. He was standing on the poop when there came to him a solemn visaged man who with a low obeisance said!—" Sir, is it true, as lam told, that you are a Minister." Mr Sheehan re plied in the affirmative. What were his precise words I know not, but possibly, as he is a New Zealander bred and born, they were » I am so."—" And Sir/ 5 proceeded to ask his questioner, " may I ask whether you have found that a blessing has attended your work in Wellington?" A low, long, and most unclerical whistle proceeded from the lips of the Native Minister who now began to detect the error into which his inquisitive friend had fallen. But hastily resuming his gravity he replied, " Well on the whole I think I have reason to be grateful for the results that have attended my humble efforts." — " Ah," said the other, " I percieve, Sir, that you are one of those who delight in doing good for the good's sake, and do not care to vaunt yourself upon the results of your ministratioca. You appear, Sir, to be one after my o,vn heart, and I would fain ask a favor of you." Unable to trust himself to speak, the clergyman in-spite-of -himself bowed his assent with as much solemnity as he could assume. Encouraged by this the gentJeman resumed: -" We shall be at New Plymouth on the Sabbath, will you do us the favor of preaching to us there? I will undertake to assemble a congregation at an hour or two's notice for the purj >se of listening to the woids of one who, lam convinced, Sir, from your appearance and manner, must be so good a man." Our Minister began to think that matters were looking rather serious, but the joke was too good a one to be suffered to drop yet, so he answered, " 1 shall have no objection whatever, but I must warn you that my sermons are invariably very long. How will that suit your friends at New Plymouth V"—" It matters not one whit," was the reply, " so that your expoundings are faithful "and bold I thank you, Sir, very much for your kindness." Aud once more raising his hat he withdrew, leaving the Native Minister to meditate upon the engagement he had entered into. Whether the sermon was delivered or not last Sunday at New Plymouth I have not heard, but 1 scarcely think it could have been, or the Pres3 Agency would have telegraphed so unusual an occurrence as Mr Sheehan addresing a congregation from a pulpit. r.