CURRENT TOPICS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VIII, Issue 490, 19 July 1890, Page 5

CURRENT TOPICS.

BY ZAMIEL. ome startling truths were told by Mr David Goldie the other night in the course of the Financial debate, and it is to be hoped that they will not be lost to the country in view of the approaching elections.; We have been so accustomed to hear the Stout Vogel Government denounced as an ex* ample of administrative extravaganco, and the Atkinson policy hold up as the beau ideal of economy, that anything to the contrary at once arrests our attention. Mr Goldie boldly compares the retrenchment of the Stout-Vogel party with that of Atkinson, and the comparison is very much to the disadvantage of the latter. And Mr Goldie goes further. He declares that Stout and Vogel did retrench in the Civil Service, and Atkinson did not. He also asserts that the policy of Sir Harry Atkinson has ever been to protect the Civil Service from retrenchment of any kind, and blames him for tho compensation far the ten per ceut, reductions.- Nor is Mr Goldie far wrong. So great is tho power of the Civil Service that any administration antagonistic to its interests is as certain of defeat as if the doom of the electors had already been pronounced. At this ond of the colony, people cannot realise the strength of tho great army of Government officials, but it is a great power, and used with remarkable force at election times. Sir Harry kno*s this ; he protects the salaries of the Civil Servants, and in turn the Civil Servants have kept him in power for the best pait of his life-time.

I believe the members of the Calodonian Society went out to the Avondale Asylum Jaat Thursday evening to give the inmates A musical treat. The intention was charitable and good, but none can toll what may be the results of th#s concert. Among the items there would, no doubt, be items of bagpipe masic, and who can toll what effect the wild, weird strains from that Scotch instrument of torture may not have had on the poor patients whose minds are already weak? I have seen many a strong, healthy man" become strange and uncanny in his actions under the horrid ■ spell of the bagpipes ; then how awful must be that spell when thrown over lunatics. My stern Caledonian friends, beware how you rashly hurl vour national music at the weakling or the imbecile. I have not heard that t!io asylum Walls were pulled down by raging maniacs, and thrown in bits at tho musicians, but l can only congratulate the latter on their escape. I should not advise them to repeat the experiment. They might tax the clemency of the patients too far.

At the Opera House one evening lately I heard a man say: “ You see that person over there with two ladies, in tho dross-circle ? Well, he’s a discharged bankrupt, who paid a fraction of a shilling in the pound ; and yet he can still Hash about with the best of us. He took care to make a good settlement on his wife.” Though the remark was not intended for me, ilieard it, And it set tne thinking, lb certainlv does not seem right that a man who has failed to pay his lawful debts should bo able to live on the fat of the land. Justice, one might say, demands that he should liv6 on hard faro and in coarse clothes till the money is paid off. But then there js another side tQ tho question. Wo all knew that in all business there is a very large element of risk and uncertainty. Business is, in fact, only gambling under a respectable form.

The man who shakes the dice is called a reprobate ; w hile the man who gambles in land occupies the pew of honour in our cathedrals. In these colonies this gambling element is very marked and is vo y clearly recognised by business men. Are they not justified then in saying, “Hereare ray wife and children depending on mo, I am liablo at any moment to lose my possessions through the risks of trades. Are theso innocents also to bp made victims? No; I am perfectly solvent at present, in fact well off. I Will sottle on them a portion of my superfluous wealth, so that if ever misfortune comes, as it may come to the best of us, they at uny rate shall bo safe.” Tho man sebblos money on his wife and children. Now, if his creditors know all this, and he still continues his business speculations, or gambling with their full assent, can they grumble if, when he goes to the wall, he refuses to let them have any of the money he has given to the wife and children ? Of course the case is far different if he has concealed his true position from tho other gamblers. Bub where everything is done honestly and openly is there nothing to be said for the bankrupt? Is it not, in fact, the duty of evory prudent man to make provision for his family when he is in a position to do so legitimately ?

The name of Mr John Abbott will ever bo remembered in connection with the foundation of the Jubilee Institute for the Blind in New Zealand. It was bub natural that an Abbott should be acquainted with the Scriptures, and consequently no doubt little surprise was felt by the audience the other evening when he announced that he had read a certain portion of the Scriptures as often as four times per day. lam told thatwhenthe Abbottaddressed the meeting, quotations from Holy Writ flowed rapidly from his eloquent lips.

It was, however, rather amusing to hear an Abbott quqte wrongly. Speaking qf great blind men, he paid a passing tribute to our own John Milton, and then, totally neglegting the Wind bard of Greece, spoke enthusiastically upop the wonderful feats of damson as an example of the doings of anothep great blind man. Be referred to the manner in which the Bebrew warrior rushed forward and slew his thousands with that unique weapon, the jawbone of an ass, how he carried away the gates of Gaza, and rent asunder the young lion, culminating in his most effective act of bringing down the house.

Broad smiles were on the faces of many present, whoso knowledge of the Bible had no doubt reminded them that the powerful Hebrew did most of his astonishing feats of Irengtli before ho had become acquainted with Miss Delila and. been shorn of hia locks wherein lay the secret of his power. In fact, grinding born and pulling down the temple were about all he did when blind, and surely the Abbott does not wish the inmates of the Jubilee Institute to imitate the latter acb, otherwise the lasting memorial he has tried to erect, might some fino day be reduced to ruin by a blind Samson eager to try his strength. No donbt some of those who listened tn the speech the other evening must, have felt that if Samson lived nowadays and wished to start a cru?*lo against an. enemy lie might easily be supplied with his favourite weapon.

The departqre of the Opera Company an "immense crowd to the end of the

wharf on Wednesday. All the local mashers were present, and there was a great waving of handkerchiefs and hats. Impey’s Band was there, and played “ Some Day We’ll Wander Back Again ” in a manner so affectingly that they got quite overcome themselves, and some of the chorus girls wept unrestrainedly. It was quite touching to see the way some ot the “ toys ” showed off. Tiioy were so proud of knowing an actress, and so anxious that everyone should see them talking to one. A gentleman, renowned for tho height of his collars, bowed to everyone, whether ho knew them or not, with an affability that was perfectly charming. Several of the people who “ never would be missed ” seemed loth to tear themselves away. A local vocalist and one or two others very nearly missed getting off in time. The chorus Bang very prettily as tho ship moved off. Altogether the sight was an affecting one.

We do not hear much about la grippe at the present time, but the meaaley old thing still is going around attacking stragglers. One day this week a mpn might have been seer, dragging himself along with a look on his face that made it plain that life had to him no pleasures. Presently there met him an old fiiend who was hard of hearing. He asked, “ Hello, old fellow, what’s the matter ? Got tho jimjams!” “No !” replied hia friend in a dolorous voice, “I think I have got la grippe.” “ What’s it like?” asked the deaf man. “ Aches all over, eyes burning like hades, and my lioad foeling as big as a mountain,” was the concise reply. “ Zamiel ” felt sympathy for that man, and was inclined to tap him on the shoulder in a friendly way and assure him that he had got it, otherwise he could never have diagnosed the symptoms so graphically. * * Hr * * * & * . . * Strikes and labour organisations are the fashion just now, and the nexb few years may be full of grave import, for none can see tho ultimate result. Turning away, howevor, from this grave phase of the question, “Zamiel” would fain pub in a word for the unfortunate reporters. Just fancy what they muse suffer night after night going round from one Trade Union meeting bo another. Think of it, my brethren, and be merciful. Let your meetings be conducted in a business like manner, and waste nob time in idle controversy on frivolous questions that are mere matters of detail for subsequent arrangement. When I see business meetings called for Saturday evenings I shudder to think of the profanity it must cause in the reporters’ room.

♦ -ft -ft * * Men who are eager to obtain the Saturday half-holiday do nob hesitate to call their meetings on Saturday night, and thus the reporter has to work on the one night in the week that he has been wont to look forward to as a peculiarly easy evening. Of course, it is only want of thought on tho part of the conveners, but tho effect is ju9t tho same. Again I notice that my early closing friends occasionally call a meeting for six o'clock in the evening. True, those do not last long, as most of those present have nob had their evening meal ; bub the reporter is again unfortunate. Just as he finishes some afternoon meeting, ho has to post off to tho 6 o’clock one, and when the early closing men havo gono quietly home to their tea, the slave of the pen is getting ready to attend some other dry assemblage that may occupy him until ten o’clock, And yet people envy reporters.

There is another class also that seet.l never to think that reporters want a rest. I moan the religious bodies. Some friend writes to tho effect that he is going tolecfcuve upon an important subject, and he would be glad if a reporter could attend. And so the reporter does, if he cannot get out of it, but it is fair to assume that tho lecture does not benefit him spiritually, seeing that after all it really means working seven nights a week instead of six, Then again, it is a glaring desecration of the Sabbath, because if a man continues at his weekly employment on Sunday, it must necessarily mean that he is nob resting from his labours, as commanded in Holy Writ. Really, my friends, taking all circumstances into consideration, 1 should not be surprised to hoar that the reporters had gone out on strike for a clear Saturday night and no work on Sunday evenings. * * * # -ft *

There are a good few mean, very mean people in this world of ours. This sage observation is promptod by sundry interesting facts which have come to my knowledge regarding tho way in which some of our respected citizens in the clothing, millinery, tailoring, and “rag ” line generally manage to dispose of the “ labour question,” as far as their work-girls are concerned. Cheap prices are hardly so very surprising when one is initiated into the modus operandi of some of our thriving employers of tailorcsses and others. A milliner wishes, say, half-a-dozen girls for her work-room, with a fair knowledge of sewing. She takes them on, on tho understanding that they are to be instructed in the dressmaking art, and are to remain with her for this consideration for a year without any wages. Of course she gets as many as sho wants, for girls are quite willing to learn the art at nothing a year if they are certain of becoming proficient workwomen at the end of their time, and their mothers naturally don’t object.

So they work on until the twelve months are up, and then the “ bo?s,” who has been getting her labour free all this time, having to pay only a forewoman a pittance perhaps, politely informs them that they may have a short holiday, until she is ready tp send for fchena again. The girls go, but their holiday is rather protrapted, for the cute employer very conveniently forgets all about sending for them, and engages a fresh set of girls cn tflie satne liberal terms. So this goes on until portajn employers have become notorious in this re»pect. N° wonder our lady friends are often able to surprise their husbands and fathers vrifeh the surprising cheapness of their millinery bills.

Sometimes we hear of certain employers becoming quite libetal in their scale of pay for their work-girls. For instance, I happen to know of the case of a fairly competent girl who applied to a dressmaker in response to an advertisement for an “ assistant dressmaker,” or something of the sort. She was offered tho magnificent remuneration of three shillings per week, hours only from 8.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. The situation wasn't accepted. Of course, there are many dressmakers, milliners, tailors, and others who pay thoir workpeople a fair wage, but it is to the others that this “ shot ” applies. -

Much of the blame is, however,due to the girls themselves and their silly parents. Nowadays domestic service is too good for a girl, whilo dressmaking or factory work is considered more genteel. Of course, employers take advantage of this pre* vailiug human weakness. They offer a girl a shilling or two per week for her “genteel” labour, while an average domestic servant commands .bight' to ten shillings a week ; and a comfortable home, and a nursegitT six a week and the heme thrown in.

A social revolution is necessary to regulate this evil. Girls should be educated to recognise domestic service as far more befitting a woman and certainly more genteel than either boob or shirt factory work, bettor calculated to improve them morally and physically, and there is no doubt the knowledge they would get would enable them to minimise the number of unhappy homes through incupablo and bhriftleee houiewives. "Sr “A" -Jr Vr -> “ How to Be Beautiful ” is tho name of a tiny volume, daintily bound in delicate sea-green canvas, which “Zamiel ” saw in a bookseller’s one day last week. He had always wanted to know how it was done, so he went in, meaning just to glance over the book and then go away without buying ifc. Ho mirealculntod his strength of mind, however. A nearer glance at the little book revealed tho fact that ib was written by Teresa H. Doan, a lady of considerable personal attractions, _if a finely-etched portrait in the beginning does not flatter her. Long and lovingly did “Zamiel” poraon the counterfeit presentment of self-confessed loveliness, for of course a woman would nob write telling, others how to become beautiful unless she I felt certain she was above criticism herself. The authoress has added tothe title, “ How to be Beautiful,” a sorb of sub-title, “Nature Unmasked," and says that the book is one which no well-regulated woman should bo without. Ladies from the “upper ten” and models from the lower five have, she tells us, each contributed their experienceon the art of making themselves beautiful. But it was the synopsis of contents that clinched the matter. Listen to what Miss Dean can tell us.

How to have a beautiful complexion, how to prevent wrinkles, how to grow thin, how to grow fleshy, how to improve the bust, how to have a fine figure and form, how to have a beautiful foot, how to be sensible, how to be agreeable and fascinating, how to be distingue and self-possesped, how to prepare toilet waters and huir-wash 1 Shade of Cleopatra, who could resist ?

**# * * * -4 # 4 “ Zamiel” might have warded off the temptation to learn how to improve his husband have a beautiful foot, but “How to bo distingue and fascinating !” What human creature would not give way? Then, too, who would not learn how to become sensible and how to wear corsets and why they arc not injurious ? “ Zamiel ” has read the book now, and it is to be hoped his friends have noticed the improvement. He doesn’t intend to give away the eecrots, however. Those who want to know must [ buy the bock.