GENERAL NEWS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8807, 8 May 1907, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS.

The commercial travellers of America have organised a penny fund, with the object of buying Mr; Thaw a medal, which, it is intended; shall mark-their appreciation of the heroism she has displayed while testifying in the defence of her husband. Boxes for the collection c.f contributions are to bo placed in every hotel in the United Stales. The extent to which American hosts carry their search for novelty in their entertainments was recently illustrated with much embarrassment to a number of guests at a ball in Philadelphia. During the dance the lights of the room were dimmed, and soon a paper snowstorm was raging. Suddenly the lights were extinguished, and the paper storm resolved itself into a genuine snowfall, icy flakes falling upon the guests. It was discovered afterwards that from 80,000 to 50,000d01. worth of handsome gowns had been ruined,

The death is announced of Mr Archibald Gunter, the well-known author and playwright. His best known books are “Barnes of New York,” and “Potter of Texas.” The interest taken by Americans in the really aboiiginal American people is intensified by the entrance for the first time into the United States Senate of a blood descendant of the race of Forth American Indian?. Senator Curtis, of Kansas, is a member of the Kaw tribe, and in features and complexion shows marked traces of his descent. His -skin is more swarthy than that of a Southern Spaniard, while the g’eam of his eye suggests the Arabian ardor. He is a man of dignified appearance, and is both mentally alert and wide'y read. He served fourteen years in the House of Representatives.

Senator La Follotte, who is one of the most Radical of Republicans, in an address declared that if Mr Bryce, the British Ambassador, who had devoted one chapter of the 4 American Commonwealth ” to the corruption of American politics, were 1 1 revise that work, he would have tigive an entire volumo to the iub-j-;ct. Mr La Folletts said that tbe development of corporations had brought about a situation permitting seventy-six men to control the country’s industiics. They represent 1600 corporations and directorates, ei°ht of which owned or controlled £1,800,000,000 of the £2,600,000,000 invested in railroads. These men, he said, stood together against the country, and surrounded Congress at Washington with mercenary lobbyists.