EUROPEAN ITEMS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 43, 18 January 1884, Page 3

EUROPEAN ITEMS.

Captain Main Beid, the well-known novelist, died on Oct. 22, at Maida-vale, aged sixty-five. The deceased was a native of the north of Ireland, and was educated with a view of following the clerical profession. He had, however, at an early age imbibed a taste for adventure, and in 1838 he started for Mexico. On arriving at New Orleans he set out upon two excursions up the Red River, and subsequently up the Missouri, trading and hunting for about five years. Later on he travelled through almost every State in the Union, where he gleaned much of that information as to character and incident which he afterwards displayed in his writings. On the declaration of war between the United States and Mexico in 1845 Mr. Mayne Reid, who had up to this time devoted himself to literature, obtained a commission in the United States army. He took part in the siege and capture of Vera Cruz, and led the last charge of infantry at Cherabusco. At the close of the war, he resigned his commission, and in 1849 be organised a body of men in New York to proceed to Hungary to assist in the struggle of that country for independence. The fame of his pen sureives him, for he was a prolific writer on American subjects and prairie life. Do joed Perseverance.—•“ A Geneva correspondent says a man who, by dint of sheer courage and energy, overcame almost insuperable difficulties, and showed that life, even when it seems almost a curse, may be well worth living, died last week at Arare, in the canton of Geneva. Jean T.ottet, the man

in question, was born in 1881 without han is and without feet. His short arms were pointed, and his legs, snch as they were, nor. being available for progression, ne was able co move only by twisting his body from side to side. His case greatly interested the surgeons of tiie neighborhood, and local Barnums made the pared b, well-to-do peasants, many erupting offers to turn thair child’s m.sforune to account b/ exhibiting him about the countiy. Bit these off its wore invariably declined, and when Jea-t uas old enough he was sent to school. In writing he held his pea at the bend of the elbow, and as he grew older he took great interest in husbandry, became an active haymaker, used the reins with dexterity, and was so good a shot that he often carried off the first prize at the village fair.” A Witty Aotob.—“Mr. Toole has been taking the quiet people of Edinburgh by storm. They could not help laughing heartily at his Paul Pry. But they would not be satisfied without a speech. With ready wit he told them the following anecdote: ‘ I met ,’ ae said,' an old friend in Princes Street this morning, who remarked : ‘ Way, I vow you look as young as ever. What an immense business you are doing. I hope you are careful. Are you careful ?’ I replied, I was the moat careful man in Edinburgh or elsewhere.

Thirty years ago, when I first played the Artful Dodger, I had a pair of trousers given me by my friend Wyndham. Those same trousers 1 wear to-morrow night in the Artful Dodger. Can any one be more careful than keeping a pair of trousers for thirty years ?’ It is prophesied that these trousers will make Toole more popular in Scotland than even Irving was.” Splendid Effect I—” Copying the example set at the Savoy Theatre, Miss Farren in Ariel wears a small tiara, formed by the electric light; and in the second act she appears with wings that are lined with a series of incandescent lamps, which have a very splendid effect. This novel stage device created great applause, and a call for the author—also a call for Miss Farren, who eventually appeared before the curtin. but minus her illuminated wings.” It is stated that the Duke of Connaught will not serve the usual five years in India, but that, after two years, he will return home to succeed the Duke of Cambridge in the Horse Guards.

It is a common practice to use for foreign despatches envelopes strengthened with a linen lining. A notice has been issued stating that at present such covers subject the letters to quarantine detention in Italian ports. Fresh excavations were made at Pompeii a few days ago, on the occasion of a visit from the members of the Geodetic Congress. They resulted in the discovery of many interesting objects in terra-cotta, glass, and bronze. Lord Charles Beresford, addressing a large meeting of Conservatives at Tenby, recently, said one man had objected to him as a candidate because he had a head like a “ boiled bulldog.” That might be true, but it would not prevent him saying what he thought. The Marquis of Lome was reported as say, ing, in reply to the address of the Mayor, Corporation, and citizens of Liverpool on his landing there, that the number of letters directed from England to the north-west oi Canada alone had increased during the last two years from 3,000 fo 12,000 in number. Dramatic appears to be a fairly lucrative profession. It is stated that Mr. W. S. Gilbert has an income of about £B,OOO a-year from work which he has already done, and, in adilition to this, he lias the profits of *• lolan he” and present uadertaKings. Another instance is that of Mr. W, G. Willis, who is the joint au’hor of a drama now in rehearsal at the Pi inccss’s. For this play, which has not yet appeared, and of which Mr. Willis is but a joint author, he has already received nearly a thousand pounds. The public wiil read with interest the propo al made by Mr. B itten, of the United Telephone Company, to open one hundred telephone offices in diff Tent parts of London I to the general public, at a cos; of one penny

per message, if the Government duty is taken off. Jt is to be feared there is little probability of the Government remitting its claim upon the telephone companies ; but why should the suggestion not be carried out in a slightly modified form—that is to say, why cannot the United Telephone Company open its offices and charge the public, say, three-half-pence ? The extra charge would surely be sufficient to recoup the Government duty. Baroness Burdett-Coutts is pushing her cheap fish scheme determinately forward. She is going the right way about an undertaking in which she has some rivals and plenty of sympathisers. She is attacking the difficulty at both ends. The middle-man is thus cut off from all possibility of flourishing to the general detriment, The Baroness, not content with her cheap market, where the fish is distributed, has gone in for cheap production as wed. She has added recently to the fleet of uaiiing smacks, which she purchased on the East Coast this season, and thus will be üb.e to sell fish ai first cost. The merit of sucn u scheme does not end where it begins.

Thu Yarmuuui lagans have a good fame as it xs amongst Eng.isd lishmg-vessels. Th'iy nave it, and uicy deserve it, but Lady Coutta’ a.quißilioub may improve liie type. The time has now come for the Cabinet to take ire decision as to New Guinea. Lard Derby’s proposition la to occupy certain commanding points on the Torres Straits, to mare it known that England will suffer no otuer power in that neignborhood, and to impose upon the Australian Colonies not omy the cost of the ne»v stations, but conditions preventing them from interference with native rights. Tuis is as far as he is prepared to go at present. Wneu contact with cue New Guinea negro, with his peculiar form of civilisation, has taught us a little more about him, something further may be done. The Duke of Westminster lias decided to maae a great experiment on hia London property. He has determined not to allow any new public-houses to be established on his town estate, and as the leases of existing houses fall in he will not permit them to continue as iicßiised houses* £h° duke is, in fact, going to made in the metropolis an experiment Which has been made by several land* owners in ruial districts, tie is the owner of the most extensive range of house property in Loudon In the hands of a single person, ami it is, therefore, possible to carry out his piaii ©ver a large district, How far the inuabitante will fensh tlua kind of local compulsion is another question. It will increase me quiet, order, and respectability of the streets, and probably it will add bo much to the value of the property that the duae will not be a loser by the abolition of public-houaes. For warned of the approach of a particularly severe winter, the British householder is appalled by the rumors of aa impending gtriae of coal-miners. An organisation, comprising all the great coai-tields of the northwest of England, has demanded an advance of wages, and the colliery owners have, with a couple of exceptions, refused it. If the conflict proceeds to extremes, of which there seems every probability, the result must be

misery to the men themselves, and serious discomfort to a large class of people to whom coal will become an unattainable luxury during the lock-out. To say the least, the men do hot appear to be overpaid. Their average weekly earnings do not exceed twenty-four shillings, and the increase they claim would be equivalent to an increase of half-a-crown. Considering the tremendous risks they incur, and the nature of the labor in which they are engaged, twenty-seven shillings a week would not be an extravagant income. But the colliery proprietors are determined not to bear the loss, and they are doubtless afraid that the consumption of coal would seriously diminish if they put it on to their customers. If the men can hold out long enough, the victory will inevitably be theirs, as combinations of coal-masters have never been successful. No matter what way the matter ends, the consumer will have to pay the penalty. In these days of long life it would not be surprising were the Emperor William to survive the Iron Chancellor, as he has survived bo many of hia old servants and friends. Prince Bismarck’s catarrh becomes increasingly troublesome, and he has had to give up his cigar and his glass of wine. The Emperor, it is said, was never belter, and stul enjoys his wine and tobacco. On Nov, 2, the Emperor returned to Berlin from his two days’ shooaug on Count Stoiberg’s estates, where seventy-eight hares, twenty-one wild boars, and live deer fell to his gun. The faibiiiuabion of wine is carried on to a considerable extent in France, and the largest portion of tue wine mus iaisiired is sent to me United btates and England. r>io better argument can be furiii-nreu of tne existence ot tins practice man uxe ea-ttOußumeut by uie Frencu Guverauwai, m tue aKerest of p ib.id iiAk.il, of au Wda-orgA4iddd ludorubOiies for me a>.aiyais of w-aes ana otiier aquids, which are uiStr-ibured tiiiougnout tne principal towns of a'l’d-ice. iu-s otep was aot taa.cn witaonu due co-.sideraiaou. it was 4iio wn and aumittea mat tiiese iaioiiicatioas were inoieabing to such aa ex-e.xt *.na« somctamg nud to Uj uone io protect tue peopie, towards wnom tne Fieacn Government sdiuum ceases to exercise a parental xelauon. Many of me mixtures xeie*rea to were m* onensxve, but some were xioi, aautixia jusdixea tone action uf me xii tne uetermxnatxoH to protect its citizens. Who, it is as-red, is tne must distinguished Engiisnman living ? biutesmen are out of tne ruuiirng, for lias not Mr. GxUUßtone declared that tneir fame is only iiae suumung oiass or a tmniuig cjinuai, and mat your Foet Laureate is a greater man man jour Prune Mmis-er ? luura coienuga hub suiven me dmicuity, and is said to nave tom me Union League Club, at New ifonc, Uxat “ dis- , unctiy tne most distinguished Engusmnan living” is the acconiputmeu man of leUeig who has just set foot i.. America. “Ab poe«, writer, iiiinae*, ue lias scarcely any equal, , and taaen altogether he has (m Lord Coleridge's judgment) no equal.” For very modesty's saa.e Lord Coleriuge’s ” truest and ’ dearest friend ” must really be agreeing that “it is high time the .Lord Gmef Justice should tune lug passage and get mm gone.” ne has aireauy med a parting shaft of praise > at Mr. Biignt, woo is saxd to bd contemplating j a visit to tne States, and whe will snow the t Americans “ what a great, high-minded, straightforward, noble Englishman is.” What , would Lord Coleridge do for the next distin- » guished English visitor ? To praise the j cnird he would have to join the other two,

but the result would really be a being far too great and good even for the appreciation of the American public. Robust and blooming health in Hop Bitters, and no family can afford to be without them. Bead.