AT THE CORNER.

Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 5101, 23 May 1885, Page 2

AT THE CORNER.

[by nemo.]

Homo turn, humani nihil a me alienum puto,

A good story bas been told me by a candidate, in a recent election, who did not succeed in heading tbe poll. It was a wily old Scotch minister, vrho, with that dry humor characteristic of his countrymen, pat the case, and made the point. One of his parishioners, in complaining of a man having broken his word with him, said to his spiritual adviser: " Ah! King David said all men were leears, an' I ken he is reported to have said it in haste ; he w&dna hae said it if he thocht a wee bit." The sage parson responded, " David, if the quid King lived in this parish he'd have said it at his leisure."

It is very praiseworthy of those gentlemen who are exerting themselves on be* half of some of the recently bereaved families, but the proper course to follow is to call a public meeting in the Academy, request the, Mayor to preside, and solicit there the assistance of the community to* wards the object in view, when I have no doubt a very satisfactory. result will ensue.

While on the subject of amusements for young men, I would" suggest that something should be done for young women. Surely they are not to be left out in the cold! But- what form should our efforts take in finding suitable entertainment for girls. There is no doubt that a large number of them have much idle time every evening, and it is very desirable that they should be occupied in some profitable manner./ The question arises, how ? Well, we want some largehearted ladies to consider this question, and devise something for their amusement. This is no doubt more difficult than finding amusement for the sterner sex, but it can be done. If women can do nothing else, they might be employed as "Bees," and the vrorkers (of course always for charitable objects) enlivened by music and singing. The Ladies' Benevolent Society might enlarge their operations, and having in view the excellent help to be obtained by "Young Women's Bees," do something in the direction I have named. One thing is certain, there are a number of young ones of both sexes at the Thames who have much, idle time every evening, and it is desirable that this should be occupied in a profitable manner, for it is still true that "Satan finds some mischief still for idle hands to do."

X XX - It is written of a local boniface that he outdid the Salvation Army with noise not many nights ago. These saviours of fallen humanity temporarily struck their camp outside his hotel on the evening in question, and in their usually .discordant manner struck up some of their tunes both vocally and instrumentally, pausing in their musical performances now and again, to ramblingly deliver a few mixed up exhortations to their few followers. Mr Boniface, directly they stopped in front of his house, walked out with his gong and beater, and set up such a din in opposition, that a policeman gently reminded him that he could not maike that noise in the street. Nothing daunted the enterprising victualler went upstairs, held himself out of a window and gave the Army as much gong>music as they cared for—they left.

I am glad to see that something is being done to find amusement for our young men dnring the long winter evenings. I believe hundreds of promising youths are brought to ruin through the fascinating game of billiards. It is to be hoped that among other philanthropic efforts being put forth, the exclusion of boys from billiard saloons will be included.

Our Choral Sbciofy did well on Thursday evening, considering the short time the "'Creation " had been in practice. The Society might be asked to give a concert (secular) in aid of the families so lately bereaved of their breadwinners.

" The Chiel amang them takin' notes " has made matters worse by attempting to justify the insult to the Anglican Church. Nothing i 3 more gros3 or unpardonable than to offer an affront to an invited guest. The Chiel has, like the man who raced a railway engine, kept alongside the line in his explanation, and in future the les3 said about liberality of feeling the better.