PEPPER AND SALT.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2128, 17 January 1880, Page 2

PEPPER AND SALT.

TOWN EDITION.

The solid meat of our daily concerns wants occasional seasoning. The most wholesome seasoning consists of pepper and salt,and with the pepper and salt, of cheerful reflection, I purpose besprinkling the Saturday evening feast of the readers of this journal. A recent Court case at Christchurch, let in some light upon the “dark places” of our social system. Mrs A. lost certain monies while Mrs B. was pacing her a visit, in the course of which she (Mrs A), had to speed a parting guest, one Mrs C. at the gate. It is supposed that while Mrs A. and Mrs C. were embracing, Mrs B. peeped into Mrs A’s. bedroom, and concluded to take care of some loose change she spied there. In the course of fa Magistcrialenquiry, arising outof the case “one witness said there was half a gallon of beer sent for before the other two women left, and the four of them drank it, the quart which had been referred to, was got afterwards, witness sending her little girl for it.” “ Train up a child in the way she should go,” pertinently interjected His Worship We need hardly wonder that so many of our youngsters go wrong when their first home-duty is to fetch beer, —their daily walk, to the public-house. The ,law cannot be too strict in the matter of serving young people with intoxicating liquor. For Heaven’s sake don’t let us have the little ones forced into participation in the questionable diversions of their seniors.

A .young girl in Ashburton recently laid an information against a “ playful cuss” who had ventured to kiss her without first asking her leave- Ho had, it appeared, wanted to kiss her about three weeks before ; but, with sagacious forbearance, sbc “did not” she said, “ tell anything about it, because she wanted to see if lie would do it any more.” Moral, beware of the second kiss all ye who are prone to break forth into promiscuous osculation !

One item of European news takes ns a little behind the scenes of Russian Government. “ The Russian commander of a fortress in -which a number of Nihilist prisoners-were confined has committed suicide, after only a fortnight’s service, from sympathy with the sufferings of the prisoners, which he was powerless to relieve.” A more terrible spectacle than that now presented by the empire of the Tsar can scarcely be imagined. The Russian people, hitherto downtrodden, steeped in ignorance, intellectually dull, but emotionally fervid, become dangerous when the first draught of liberty begins to quicken the pulse and stir the blood. There are fearful experiences in store for Muscovy, and only through great tribulation will she emerge into the light of social order.

If the present Government exhibit no sagacity in the management of native affairs, they have this important qualification for office—they can keep their own counsel, and so strengthen their position in the eyes of our dusky friends. It was Sir George’s fashion to blare out all about his intended movements, but his successors evidently sets some value on discreet silence. I expect every day to hear suddenly of the surveyors and the greater portion of the gallant A.C. turning up in the middle of the King country. There may be chattering in the lobbies, but there is no idle gossip in the Halls.

The Mayoral chair in Dunedin will not prove quite so soft a seat as that of our worthy civic governor. As for ability, I don’t think there’s much to

choose between the painter and the publican ; but if you talk of “ manner ” —and that’s no inconsiderable qualification in a Mayor—l think one must concede the palm to Walter. Probably the vocation of.-a. city landlord in ‘itself involves a polish not to be derived from paint and putty, J

One js always sorry to see the weak points in a good man’s armour exposed by himself. lam a constant admirer of Mr Robert Stout; his forensic titlehtl™'" stainless character, liberal opinions, industry, and courage must always •command respect, and I am therefore the more grieved that so 'excellS^jl’'^nan’“ , * should act dog-ih-the-mahger with his worrying letters. Why the deuce, Robert, tot qui faime , didn’t you stick to politics instead of retreating into the shelter of your privacy and then koepih'* | your eye always at a loop-hole ready for a sly shot at those’ who are bearing the . burden and heat of the day ? ,

There is a touch of grirnness about the Presbyterian Synod of Otago—the.,. Moderators’ addresses are always more ! in the Jeremiah key than-'similar discourses in other provinces. The address of Mr Watt, though obviously the outcome of a scholarly and reflective mind, seems to me to dwell too much oh the supposed antagonism of science and religion. The outside world,' aye even 11 the chnrch itself, is aweary of this ever-1 lasting, doleful plaint. To the religion . of dogma and all the fabrics feared thereon, science must ever be diametfically opposed; but she is a cordial' fellow-labourer with the religion of good ; n deeds, of pure consistent life, of true charity, and are not these the great re-’.' generators of the world to which we. 1 must look to raise humanity nearer to the Divine? : • Dominies beware ! There is commotion in the camp of the tyrants, for lo! the election of the School Committees is nigh. Accept a warning in-theweniir- * oular: —Mind your: p's, and q's. No power did you say ? Pray don’t run away with any such notion. They are your actual masters, and the, masters of your official masters. JOHN QUILL.