LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 19, 20 May 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Norwoods, after passing us twice, have decided to give their performance to Stratford audiences, and have pencilled the Town Hall for May 30 and 31, and for June Ist. Tiie Newbury-Spada Concert Company has also thought better of giving us the "go by," and will appear I"' 1 ' 1 ' the night after the Scottish Society's big social, which is due for the 2-1 th of this mouth. The Marlow Dramatic Company, and the English Pierrots may be looked for in the earlier days of 'July.

Amongst dogs, as amongst humans, it is to the ill-luck of a criminal if he have many .distinguishing marks (Kays the "Evening News"). Then his career as a desperado is likely to l>e a short one. Such a case cropped up in connection with some alleged sheep worrying threshed out in the Christcluireh Magistrate's Court last week. The canine culnrit was identified in the case because his coat was of an unusual shade of greyish yellow, he had a hoh-tail, and though a collie had the hark of a terrier. Counsel alleged gravely that he was a mongrel, bat the beast found many champions, and it was declared jjiat it was well hnxl. Its voice, tail, and colour were its misfurt line, and nothing more.

Professor Rivetta, of the "Orient Institution" jit Naples, has compiled a Chinese alphabet, which, it is hoped, the Republic will sanction. Hitherto 80,000 signs served to form the 80,000 words ot the language, and it is not astonishing that the number of literates in the Celestial kingdom were few. In order to reproduce all the

sounds of the ( hincse tongue, Professor Rivetta had recourse to every

alphabet now existing. He has made one which comprises 12 letters, of which '2'\ are vowels and 1:1 consonants. Among the vowels I are taken from the Creek. I from the Russian, ■"> from the Latin, 1 alone from the Chinese, '2 are lengthened vowels, and 7 are reversed letters. Of the consonants, 1 I are Lai in. '.] Russian, and 2 an Creek. The new alphabet enables every word.of the universally currcnl Chinese language to be oorrooth written. It has already been adopted in Southern China.

After some fourteen years of service. Mr .1. ii. Thompson lias severed nis connection with the Wesley choir. il ; s services as organist and conductor will be greatly missed. 'J'he hue -Mrs. A. Klee, whose death was recorded in cur columns on Saturday, was only twenty-two years of age, a,.lf was the'daughter of Mr. and Mrs W. Mantle, well-known and highly respect,ed Tahora settlers, and also well known in Stratfoyrd. Mr. A. Klee i:. die esteemed postmaster at Whangamomona, and much sympathy for id in in Ids bereavement s expressed. The following changes in the current list of subscribers to the Stratford Telephone Exchange are announced riz.:—-Connection given up, No, 98, Broft-n, Mrs H.; No. 25, Malone, W.G. (second telephone); No. ldo, Masters, W. H. ; and No. 113, Robinson, \V. H. New connections, No. 98, i-iiison T . Llanaway House, itegan Street; No. 113, taranaki Daily News Branch Office, Broadway North; No. 130, McCluggage and Co., Land ind Estate Agents, Broadway; No. 181 Grcdig, H., Hiring motorist, Juliet Street South; No. 25, McAllister, J.. Photographer, Broadway; No. 182, Eearon, 8., Insurance and Commission Agent. Broadway; No. 183, Wilkie F H., Private res.donee, Ariel Street,' and No. 184, Fussell, F. N., private residence., Orlando Street. Mr E C Robinson's connection (No. Lib) has been shifted from Bridge Buildinrrs to the subscriber's private residence, Juliet Street, ' These changes are included in a revised list now in the hands of the Government Printer, which should be ready for distribution to subscribers at an early date. Germany is bracing herself for afight with Great Britain, in the opinion of Professor Osborne, who has just returned to Melbourne after-a years tour through Europe. "There has been an immense industrial expansion in Germany in the last fourteen years" he said. "Large manufacturing towns have been built on places formerly covered by pine forests. In every walk of life there is abounding prosperity. In her universities Germany is'still first in her methods of research but the English teaching is

still better than that of foreign countries One thing 1 was amused to observe was that while the students at Oxford were wearing soft collars and loosely-fitting sac suits, the German students have adopted the silk hat and the frock coat, On all hands I noticed a distinct lessening of the old cordiality towards British people. bast time I was in Germany the people, as a whole, were antagonistic to Britishers, but welcomed individuals. Tho-T antagonism at that time was such as might be called childish. It was of a petulant nature, and had no threat or menace behind it. 10-day oven the individual is not made as welcome as he used to be. and the attitude of all classes is ominous. Tliev are watching the British nation, and studying its strength consciously. 1 Innare measuring themselves against us. Their dislike for the British to-day is a matured and reasoned feeling, which, to my mind, means that ber,many is only \vaiting for the right moment, to strike."