SUPPLEMENT TO THE PATEA COUNTY MAIL SELECT POETRY.

Patea Mail, 2 October 1880, Page 1 (Supplement)

SUPPLEMENT TO THE PATEA COUNTY MAIL

SELECT POETRY.

STARLIGHT. The budding roses round her throng As, dreaming in the morning light, She weaves her fancies into song — ‘ D-.*ar heart! If ho should come to night— If he sliould come to-night, and say, ‘ I love to-day as yesterday !

‘ ‘ I love—as in that vernal time, When hedges blushed with fragrant thorn. And under you old garden lime You smote mo with capricious scorn — Unknowing what you did, my sweet, You trod my hopes beneath your feet! ’

‘ D-'ar heart! If lu- should conm to-day (S'il- luy.il as of old, I know) And clasp my tivmoling hand and say The words lu- said one year ago— Dare I to my own soul couf ss These wav v >rd ips would answer ‘ Yes

Ea.ii- as ihe failed Isl- s of Bliss, The radiant stars ->f evening shine ; The brooding roses bend to kiss Tills little wayward love of mine—' ‘My own ! Wert thou but hero to-night, To read my foolish heart aright.’

Siio muses. Then a glorious flush Leaps to her cheek—her startled oar Divines, in tiie impassioned hush. An eager footstep drawing near — ‘ Dear heart ! 1 she whispers. ‘ Not too Into We learned of love to trust and wait.’

XS3S SiHHEEIS.

THE RISE IN THE INCOME-TAX

The Income-tax. to be now raised to Od in the pound, has beau h-.vied at that rate in only throe of all the years since the tax was imposed by Sir R. Peel in 1842. He fixed it at 7d in the pound, and for 12 years that rate remained unchanged. The war with Russia caused this tax to be raised to (for two years) Is 4d in the pound (on incomes of not Jess than L 150), and in the 2(5 years since the change from 7d, the Income-tax has been above (id in nine years, and below Gd in 14 years, 2d being the lowest. It was Gd in the financial years 18G4-G5, 18G8-G9, and 1871-72. It was but 2d in 1874-75 and 1875-70. Home Paper.

PUNISHMENT OF CHILDREN

Whether corporal punishment will ever altogether bo abandoned in schools, and whether parents will ever be persuaded that about the worst way in which they can correct their children is to beat them, lam sure that I don’t know. Ido know that I (with inestimable kind help, many years ago) brought up a little boy from the ago of eighteen months to the age of seventeen years without ever spoiling or ever laying a finger upon him ; but some guardians of youth may not have had such good fortune as I experienced. But I also know that I should be ashamed now, when my grown-up little boy comes to dinner, to sit opposite to him if I bad to remember that, when lie was a weakyoung child and la hale strong man, I had abused my strength by beating him. It is impossible to predict what may bo the eventual solution of a most perplexing social dilemma; the more perplexing when it is remembered that many good and wise people are in favour of the bodily chastisement of children. Yet thus much might be done, perhaps, to simplify the problem. No one, surely, will maintain that it can be justifiable to hit a child on the head—before, perhaps, the very sutures of his skull are completely joined ; and blows on the bead are ono of the commonest forms of school barbarity. I would make such blows an a""ravated assault, and punish it accordingly.— ‘ G. A. 5..,’ in the ‘lllustrated London News.’

A TINY COUPLE. Germany can justifiably boast of having produced the smallest married couple that ever stood before an altar, in the persons of a miniature * Marquis and Marchioness ’ who have for some tune past been exhibited on tho Place du Theatre, at Odessa. The ‘ Marquis,’ a native of Kiel, is thirty years old, and weighs only nineteen pounds, while his fairy-likc consort, a young lady, born in Neumunstor some t,vn-and-twenty years ago, just turns the scale at thirteen pounds. At a first glance this tiny p.vr, it is said, might be taken for a couple of scarcely weaned babies, but, on a closer examination, tho genuineness of their maturity becomes unmistakeably apparent.

A curtain pleasant flavour of romance runs through the story of tun circumstwucca GvoA, VoA to tKoir union. Although they are both German-born wonders, leased by their parents to travelling showmen at an early ago, they never happened to meet at the Fairs and Kermessen of their native land ; but a year ago the ‘ Marquis ’ being on exhibition at Moscow, while Fraulcin Lilli was starring at St. Petersburg, they became aware of one another’s existence through reading the newspaper notices of their respective characteristics, and entered into a correspondence, which soon led to a rendezvous, ;tnd ultimately to the contraction of a matrimonial engagement. Now they take their professional rounds together, and arc saving up their earnings with the object of retiring into private life in the Fatherland. Nuremberg could, doubtless, supply them with the most cuarniing of doll’s houses, eminently suited to their minute domestic requirements.

RELIGION.

It is only men of inherently vulgar tendency who regard religion as simply a moans of ‘ making the best of both worlds. ’ The highest class of religious teachers have always taught, and never with more earnestness than they do now, that conduct cannot bo deemed worthy unless it springs from a generous motive. They would heartily agree with Mr. Herbert Spencer that the ideal condition of men is that in which they act well almost without reflection, and because of an overmastering impulse. Natures of rough fibre, like a large proportion of those which came under the away of Whitcfield, may be induced to take the first step toward this ideal condition by the excitement of coarse fears and almost equally coarse hopes ; but even the least reasonable forms of religion work mainly by bringing the mind into contact with a set of highly refined infinances. And it is unjust not to admit that while they dw this, they provide mankind with the only real effectual sources of consolation amidst the ills of human life. It is vain for the Positives to point to the joys of an immortality which consists of nothing better than the enduring influence of praiseworthy deeds. It is almost equally vain to recall the lofty contempt with which the Stoics sought to confront inevitable evil. The mass of men need firmer and more accessible means of support, and it is easy to conceive circumstances in which the most rigorous-Stoic and the most robust Positivist would not in this respect be very different from their neighbours. —‘ St. James’s Gazette.’

FRANCE AND THE JESUITS

The French Jesuits having appealed to the Courts for redress, the question of the right of the Government to expel them will b ■ finally settled in a few days, so far as any decision of a legal tribunal can settle it. The closing of their establishments having already being accomplished, it remains now to be seen in what manner the French Government will enforce the law against the other unauthorised religious communities. It is said in some quarters that they will not go so far with these as with the Jesuits, because tbe sympathy excited on behalf of the victims of religious persecution, as it is termed, would ~ otherwise assume proportions dangerous to order and stability of the present reg'.rae. In such predictions, however, the wish is father to the thought. It does not appear that the sympathy expressed even in the case of the Jesuits is so widely felt as might appear from the accounts. The picturesque narratives describing the forcible expulsion of the members of the Order from their headquarters in the Rue de Sevres are not conclusive on this point. It would be a strange thing if the Jesuits had not any friends to bewail the hard treatment meted out to them. It would say very little for the success of their operations in the past. Even in their educational work alone they have had ample opportunities, Jind none know better how to use them, for gaining the confidence and attachment of many adherents. Among the upper classes especially they had gained a strong hold, and wherever they were trusted, before, their present misfostunes are sure to increase the respect felt for them. Nor is there any reason to doubt that the actual enforcement of the law—a law in existence long before M. de Freycinet and his colleagues were in the nursery, not to say in office —must have made many persons dubious as to its propriety who have no regard, even it may be a hearty dislike, for the Jesuits. That would be the case here in similar circumstances. Nothing has taken place which was not to be expected when the Government announced their decision three months ago. People do not comprehend all that such a decision means until they see it being carried into effect. On this side of the Channel opinion is opposed to such modes of repressing obnoxious teachers, and the actual expulsion of the Jesuits will increase the tendency to regard this part of the Republican policy with disfavour. The arguments against it have been sufficiently discussed. What is of more interest to consider is the persistence of the Government in its policy towards the other religious bodies. There are reckoned to be 120,000 monks, nuns, and other ‘religious’ persons in France, exclusive of the parish priests, who are on quite a different footing. Only 14,000 of these belonged to unauthorised communities, and of these again 1800 are Jesuits. Now all but the Jesuits have had three month’s leave given to them to submit themselves to the Government for authorisation, and not one of t'lem has taken advantage of the invitation. As the Jesuits have appealed to the law against their expulsion from their establishments, the legality of the enforcement of the decrees will have to be decided by the Council of State. But there can be little room for doubt that in the eye of the law the existence of the Jesuits in France has been all along an offence. That is a state •■f affairs to which the Society is quite accustomed, just as it is to being ordered out of a country when for any reason it has been deemed -advisable to revive the law. Strange that the most devoted of religious orders should have been so treated in Roman Catholic States, but there is not one of these in which it lias not been so treated. Strange also that it should find greatest liberty and least risk of disturbance in a country so Protestant as our own. It is not generally remembered, perhaps, that by the Catholic Relief Act in 1829 the Jesuits were ordered to be expelled from Great Britain—a decree which, so far as we know, has never been repealed. The claim to subordinate civil government to spiritual power is never given up by the Church of Rome, though it may be kept in abeyance so long as and just in proportion as circumstances are adverse to it. Hence the activity of an Order which is pre-eminently devoted to the work of making this claim a reality excites little apprehension where Protestantism is in full strength. But it is very different in Roman Catholic countries as history has shown in the past, and as French politicians have, thought it necessary to show once more.

THE NEW TAY-BRIDGE

The North British Railway Company have duly lodged the plans for the rebuilding of the Tay- bridge, as required under the Parliamentary notices. The whole bridge, from shore to shore, has been reduced in height, so that over the middle of the fairway, where the high girders fell, the height of the girders above high-water mark, ordinary spring tides, will be reduced from - 88ft. to 57ft. The spans in the southmost portions of of the bridge still remaining are not to be altered in width, but the 13 wide spans of 245 ft., which were in the centre of the bridge before it fell, are to be narrowed to about one-half the width by the introduction of additional piers. It is not proposed to make a double-line bridge, but the new piers to be erected in the middle of the river will be of such a width as will be sufficient to carry a double line of rails should that be deemed necessary. The plans are subject to any improvements or suggestions which may be considered expedient by the Board of Trade. A.s the result of the recent inquiry into the causes of the fall of the bridge, power will be asked to enable the company to stop the traffic from crossing the bridge when the weather may bo so severe as to cause reasonable apprehension of danger.

LAND BII'.DS AT SEA. During a recent passage of the White Star steamer Germanic from Liverpool to New York, and when about one thousand miles from Queenstown, a strange bird was discovered in the rigging. The sailors and passengers endeavored to catch it, hut- without success, until Dr. C. W. Goff, of New York, one of the passengers, came on deck, when the bird at once How into his hands. The doctor cared for it, and upo.n the arrival of the steamer presented the bird to the collection at the Central Park. The bird is known as the wliimhrcl—a peculiar land bird resembling the curlew in habits and about the size of a prairie lien, black and gray plumage, wings like a bat, with a long whalebono-like bill in shape similar to that of a woodcock. Great interest was attached to the bird by the officers of the ship from the fact of its being a land bird found so far at sea, with wings but poorly calculated to sustain it for any length of time.

The owl ‘Kate Field,’ captured under similar circumstances fa mid-ocean last autumn by one of the crew on the White Star steamer Celtic, is still at the Central Park, thriving, contented, and doing honor by the wisdom of her countenance to the name she bears.

A CURE FOR SLEEPING BEAUTIES

Apropos of the ‘ sleeping girl ’ at Turville, about whom so mush has been said by the medical profession and in the press, Dr. Gray relates, in the ‘Lancet,’ some experiences at the Royal Free Hospital, which tend to show that the complaint, if it is one, from which the sleeper suffers is at any rate far from being incurable. The story recalls forcibly to mind that very strange incident inserted by Shakespeare in the second part of Henry VI., where a supposed lame man is made to leap over a chair by the application of tho beadle’s whip. In the case of the sleeping beauty —for this was tho popular title of the maiden upon whom Dr. Gray tried his skill—no such violent measures as those were taken ; but a proceeding was devised which still more effectually put an end to the so-called malady. The girl having assumed her passive position, corresponding pretty exactly with the attitude taken by the Turville patient, a grain of tartar emetic was placed on the back of her tongue, upon which she very soon began.to show signs of awakening, and, sitting up, endeavoured to ‘ assuage her trouble by draughts of luke-warm water, and later to solace them with a little brandy as well.’ When the effects of the first dose had subsided, she relapsed into her state of torpor, but in another twenty-four hours the same dose was repeated with exactly similar effects. ‘ She was much disgusted with the process, but after another period of wakefulness she once more relapsed. A third dose was ordered, in hor hearing, when she roused herself, and once for all refused to submit.’ The victory was now won ; for rather than subject herself to a continuance of the unwelcome cure, the girl got up and walked about the ward, and,’in fine, ‘ with the terrors of the third dose before her mind, made such recovery that in the course of a very few days she packed up her boxes, and started home.’ Nor were tho effects of this treatment only temporary, for a visit to the gild’s home afterwards convinced the learned doctor that his patient had been transformed, as if by magic, into a ‘robust, intelligent young woman,’useful to herself and those around her, The episode seems to show, in the first place, that ‘ sleeping gilds ’ are not altogether unheard of phenomena, and, that though they may be hona Jide sulierers from a sort of languor and torpor, yet by strong remedies judiciously and firmly applied they may be brought back to _the ordinary condition of less mysterious beings.

A JOURNALISTIC MEDLEY.

Under the above heading a contemporary gives a clever sketch—which may serve as a memorke fechulca of the principal London journals -.—ln the early part of this the ‘ Nineteenth Century’ of tho ‘ Christian Era’ a citizen of the ‘World’ strolled at night along ‘Pall Mall’ on his way from ‘Belgravia’ to to ‘ Whitehall,’ accompanied only by the ‘ Echo’ of his footsteps. An old ‘En gineer and soldier of the ‘ Queen,’ ho had traversed by ‘ Land and Water’ the greater part of tho ‘ Globe,’ and had, since bis ‘Broad Arrow’ days, fought under more than one ‘Standard.’ Taking out his ‘ Tablet’ ho stood and wrote as follows ‘ Tho study of ‘Public Opinion’ offers a wide ‘ Field’ for the intelligent ‘ Spectator’ and ‘Examiner’ of tho ‘Times.’ At this moment a ‘ Watchman,’ who had been a close ‘ Observer’ of his movements, approached and said, ‘Come, my noble ‘ Sportsman,’ yon must move on !’ ‘And what if I refused demanded the other, tanding like ‘Rock’ with his back against a ‘ Post,’immovable as ‘ Temple Bar’ ; ‘to be ‘ Brief,’ with you, my friend, I shall in ‘ Truth’ stay here a ‘ Week’ if I think proper.’ ‘ Well,’ rejoined tho ‘ Civilian,’ ‘ I am the appointed ‘ Guardian’ of this thoroughfare 1 All the Year Round,’ and I protest against your making any ‘ Sketch’ or ‘ Record’ here. Are you a ‘Builder?’ Instantly a grasp of ‘lron’ was laid on his arm. ‘Do you wish me to ‘ Punch’ your head V asked tho ‘Traveller.’ ‘o;j, no,’ replied tho other, all of a ‘ Quiver,’ ‘pray don’t I was only in ‘Fan.’

MR. BRIG LIT ON MR. BBADLAUGII

All' Bright detailed the history of the case from the time when .Mr. Bradlaugh appeared at the table down to the presentation of the last report. He laid great stress on the fact that Air. Bradlaugh had never refused to take the oath, that lie had merely expressed a preference for affirming, and that he had always declared the oath to bo binding on his honour and conscience. As to the first report, without desiring to desparago its authority, it loft the matter in great doubt ; and with regard to the second, he thought Mr. Bradlaugh had not been fairly treated in being refused the oath because ho had asked for the affirmation. There was no precedent for this inquisition into a man’s religions views when ho came to the table to be sworn. This interference, he contended, would set up a new test of Theism, and would divide members into two classes. The right hon. gentleman concluded an animated speech as follows : —I know that man}' people have much greater power of belief than others have ; and I am not one of those—having myself passed through many doubts —to condo: e-. without sympathy, at any rate, those who are not able to adopt the views which I myself hold. It is occasions like this that try men and try principles. Do you suppose that in times past the Founder of Christianity has required an oath in this house to defend the religion which Ho founded i Or do you suppose now that the Supremo Ruler of the world can be interested in the fact that one man comes to this table and takes His name—it may bo often in vain and another is perm tied to make an affirmation, reverently and honestly, in which His name is no , included I But one thing is essential for ns, the House of Commons representing the English people, which is to maintain as far as wo can the great principle of freedom—freedom of political action and freedom of conscience. The electors, I know not how many thousands, of the Borough of Norfhampton have returned two members to Parliament. You admit the one and you exclude the other. All the constituencies of the kingdom, yon may rely upon it, will consider this cause is their own. The hon. member for Northampton has told us that among his constituents there are but few who can bo supposed in the least to sympathise with many of the opinions of Mr. Bradlaugh. Well, lion, gentlemen who know nothing about it laugh at that. I think it very possible that, finding that Mr. Bradlaugh, in his political opinions, was in sympathy with them, those electors so little liked the political opinions of hon. gentlemen opposite that they preferred Mr. Bradlaugh, with his political opinions, to some opposing candidates who have represented them, and whoso I’eligions views might have been entirely orthodox, Now, my belief is that throughout the whole of the great boroughs of the kingdom you will find the working classes taking part, not with the House of Commons in excluding Air. Bradlaugh. but with those who wish him to ho permitted to make the affirmation. lam of that opinion myself. To a large extent the working people cf this country do not care any more for the dogmas of Christianity than the upper classes care for the practice of that religion —(cheers and lend cries of ‘Oh ! oh !’ and ‘ Withdraw !’) —I wish from my heart that it were otherwse—(cheers, and renewed cries of ‘Withdraw!’). But of this I am certain, that the course which it is proposed to take in dealing out this rigid measure to a gentleman honestly, openly, fairly, and legally elected by a great constituency will be productive of great evils, may bring this house into continual conflict with at least one constituency, and may bring ns ultimately to the humiliation which the House of Commons underwent in connection with another case some 100 years ago. Hon. members opposite will. I daresay, represent to themselves and to others that the.y are the advocates of religion, of orthodoxy, of decency, and of I know not -what. I am here as the defender of what I believe to be the principles of our Constitution, of the freedom of constituencies to elect, and of the freedom of the elected to sib in Parliament. That freedom winch has been so hardly won I do not believe the House of Commons will endeavour to wrest from our constituencies, knowing by what slow steps we have reached the point we have now attained, and I do not believe that on the recommendation of the hon, member for Portsmouth they will turn back and deny the principles which have been so dear to them.