TRIFLES.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3101, 25 January 1879, Page 2

TRIFLES.

A visit from a Minister of the Crown without deputations would be something so rare as to attract attention from the outside world of a kind much to be desired. It would augur a contented community with every want supplied, every necessity provided for. Mr Sheehan was not let alone on his recent visits ; indeed he was considerably badgered between public bodies and private individuals. He held court on the occasion of his first visit for a time exceeding the ordinary limit of official hours at the Government buildings, in an upper room, accessible by a flight of stairs. On those stairs many people did congregate. Some of them might have been seen going up with furtive, tiptoe steps, as if half afraid; and a certain Government officer was absolutely cruel enough on seeing some of these timid ones ascending to call out in a tone of authority, " Don't make so much noise, please;" which had the effect nearly of deterring some from their intended inter* views, and " such a getting up stairs."

Mr Sheet an was banquetted. All the world and his wife were there to do him honor, and there were some visitors to whom the accustomed hospitality was extended. Some of these visitors must have been rather astonished at the free and easy style of the waiters at. that feed. No doubt many men who consent to throw off their coats at-a dinner and !" help " the guests consider that " Jack's as good as his master," if not better. When, however, the waiters are the first to pull out and light up very strong pipes without permission from the chairman, and before the guests have been served with the accustomed cigars, the principle of equality is too obtrusively asserted.It is not proper either for a speaker to be | slapped on the back (by a waiter) when he is. in the midst of a speech, with a •Good for you, old fellow," or to have ; the applause on making some point anticipated with a loud "Well done, Brown; ;go it." These little ebullitions of feeling, however genuine, are trying to one's nerves, and if I had been interrupted as | some were by vocal and physical manifestations at that banquet, I think I should have made the atmosphere of the room decidedly too warm for somebody. Banquets would not be much patroniped if wine were excluded, perhaps; and the ; speeches would be somewhat flat, which as a rule was hot the. case at Mr Sheehan's banquet; but an element of Good Templarism amongst waiters will be pre-eminently desirable if they cannot restrain the exuberance of their stimulated verbosity. ; ..,-:

It may be considered rather late in the day to write so much of the Hon. Mr Sheehan's visit and concomitant details, especially to recur to the deputation phase. This was the feature of the visit, however, and on the night of his departure he was. kept busy until a late hour—till such an hour, in faot, that a gentleman last on.the list of interviewers had required to refresh himself so often at Host Curtis' bar that when his turn came he was fast asleep, and Mr, Sheehan was spared an infliction.

Servant-galism is still existent, and occasionally queer stories are told of female helps. Some of these were related the other day by a sufferer. A lady who had accepted the services of a help found her sweeping the best room and raising no end of a dust by a rigorous but not very capable exercise of a broom. The lady suggested a sprinkling of tea leaves, and left the room for a few seconds, only to find on her return the domestic emptying the caddy of the remains of half a pound of tea whioh had not gone through the pot. That " help " left soon after, and another one was engaged, who kindly put in an appearance at half-past ten o'clock at night,, armed with a big bundle. The master was kippered, and the household were going to bed. A difficulty arose. The young lady, explained to the mistress that she thought she wouldn't like the place, but she would stay till morning. She was shown to her room, the mistress thinking the girl might change her mind before morning, and remain. Besides, it was too late to send her home again. The surprise of both master and mistress may be imagined when it is stated that oh getting up in the morning they found the new maid had made an early flitting, doing nothing for her night's lodging, and not even waiting for her wages. Facts.

On dit that the able articles on volunteering and military service generally which have appeared in the leading columns of the Thames Advertiser during the past few months are about to be published in a collected form, with a preface by " W.J.8.," for the use of the volunteers.

An American writer says Adam in the Garden of Eden screened himself behind a woman's petticoats. Ins't this heterodox? There are bibles,extant in which it is stated that our first parents sewed fig leares together, and made themselves breaches, but whoever heard of petticoats in thoie primitire times P „;•;;:;■••;>' ... ' ■ ' <, Fulnbto.