NEWS BY THE MAIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 351, 31 March 1910, Page 7

NEWS BY THE MAIL.

HOLY WATER RIOT. PILGRIMS STOP A TRAIN BY LYING ON THE RAILS. St, Petersburg, January 31. An extraordinary scene was wunesaea at Feoaosia (Crimea) on the return m a party of Mahommedan pilgrims from Mecca. The railway, authorities insisted that the large boxes containing flasks of holy water which the pilgrims brought back with them should be placed in the luggage van of the train. The .pilgrims thereupon made a great outcry, and about a hundred of them lay down on the rails in front of the train and declared that they would rather die than be separated from the boxes.

In view of their frantic state, the railway authorities eventually allowed them to take the boxes into the passenger carriages.

BALLROOM IN FLAMES. FLIGHT OF PANIC-STRICKEN DANCERS. Lisbon, February 2. The newspapers report that the magnificent residence of the Marquis del Ribas at Vu'ldepenas was destroyed by fire last night under extremely sensational circumstances. While a great ball was -in progress, attended by the aristocracy from the entire province, an electric light wire fused, and the guests were startled to see flames bursting from the woodwork in ene corner of the ballroom.

' Before any measures could be taken to check the outbreak, one wing of the mansion was ablaze. The guests fled panic-stricken in all directions!,- , and many of the ladies fainted.

When the local fire brigade arrived they were aided by the Marquis del Ribas and his friends, among whom were some of the best, known members of the Portuguese aristocracy. Four ladies who sought refuge in one of the upper rooms of the mansion were rescued after great difficulty, and all of them were slightly injured. Seven male guests were also injured, the majority of them by falling timbers.

The mansion was entirely destroyed, as were many valuable anoient paintings, statues, tapestries and other works of art.

THE KAISER AS A PHILOSOPHER. MOTTOES ALWAYS OVER lUb MAJESTY DESK. ' 2s ew lork, January 24. The Outlook publisues the ioaowing translations from a German paper ox •ententes . that hang in the -workroom of the Kaiser, so that his Majesty has them always before him when sitting at I , his desk:— j "Be strong in pain." "To wish for anything that is unj attainable is worthless." | "Be content with the day as it is; I look for the good in everything." I "Rejoice in nature ana people, and J take them as they are." ! "For a thousand bitter hours console I yourself- with one that is beautiful." I "Give from your heart and mind al- ! ways the best, even if you do not receive ! thanks. He who can learn and practice ; this is indeed a happy, free and iproud man; his life will always be beautiful. 1 He who is mistrusting wrongs others i and harms himself."

"It is our duty to believe every one to be good as long "as we have not the proof to the contrary." ''The world is so large and we ourselves so small that everything cannot ravolve around us."

"If something damages us, hurts us, who can tell if that is not necessary to the welfare of creation?"

"In everything of this world, whether dead or alive, lives the mighty, wise will of the Almighty and all-knowing Creator; we little people onlylack the reason to comprehend it." "As everything is, so it has to be in this world, and however 4 it may be, should always seem good to the mind of the creature."

THE CHAMPION BEGGAR. ADVERTISING THE KEYNOTE OF SUCCESS. London, February 3. The Sphinx Club dinner at the Hotel Cecil last night was remarkable for a brilliantly humorous speech by Mr. Sydney Holland, chairman of the London Hospital, on "Advertising for charity." Mr. R. Balch, 'who presided, introduced Mr. Holland as "the best beggar in London." Mr. Holland's speech sparkled with epigrams and amusing stories, of which the folowing are a selection:—

"It's always better in these hard times to get a dinner for nothing than nothing for dinner." "I always add to hospital advertisements the word? 'Never in debt.' Lots of people have written to say that they will willingly help the hospital 1n its success. English lieople always worship

nuceess." "If you want an advertisement to lie of any use it must bn original" "It* takes fifty miles of writing to raise £IOO for the London Hospital." "Once I met two Americans on an emnibus. "'Where are you going?' I asked them. "'To see the Tower,' they replied. "'But have you never seen Porilnr Hospital?" I asked them with an air of astonishment. "'No!' they replied in equal wonderment. '"Then come with me,' And after T had shown them over all the wards T led them to. a collecting-box. They each put in a sovereign. "'Sir,' said one. as he left, 'you have all t'he instincts of a swindl"* ' " 'You'd cet on verv well out West.' remarked the other, adding as a nartinsr shot, "if you didn't get shot in the first week!'"