REFLECTIONS.

Waikato Times, 14 January 1873, Page 2

REFLECTIONS.

Those persons who are afflicted with the need of attracting attention are sure to get it, by fair means or foul ; doing or saying sou.ething which rtartles the surrounding world m eager observation, and so bringing themselves gallantly to the front, under th© artillery of as many eyes as there ar# to open Gro on them. When they cannot attract attention by supremacy of grace, in beauty, in wit, they manage to do it by exaggeration ; by strangeness or perhaps outrageousness in dress, by audacity of speech, by insolence, or eccen- t tncity of bearing ; they neither 1 >ok nor act like other people ; but they aro satislied if their bizarrerie attains its end^ and attracts ; and they are not over-critical as to the qmUtf^. of the attention it brings them. Dress has a moral eifect upon mankind. Let a gentleman fin 1 himself wit'i dirty boots, old surtout, soiled neckcloth, v\ I i general ne^lg'iijeof dress, anl ho will, in all proImb lit v find -i orres -oniling disposition by negligence of a 1 ln i! s. It m 'io\ as i» often -iin-wpd, that wisenvn select women > w v , i nd thp .Tf-ini ai d gli'ter of tMe gaj saloon, or the ct" bit i >i' \i >- -j a-> w.s-«t»e bnoitic W.iel' ci* tie 'n .- h ox women are eg nl to t'me of >»pn has era otui di^JA'd , iiOire f:orn g-illanti v, i\d J eit t'nt . t,,--v are, \ V ot iurj no les loyil, a'v oi an ojpj-. Ie opinion Mentally as well as bodily there are oiganic duf.,v«cvs I What is needed is not masculine women, not effeminate men— girls p:epa-inis themselves to bo legislators, nor b™ J pro.irm^ to be milunf 1 !- — but a pncLcal recognition of tli» distinctive traits of each sex and their respective »pheres of action. Men are like bugles — tho more brass they contain, the more noise they make, and the farther you can hear them. Those persons who cannot find pleasure in trifles are generally wfae m their own opinion and fools in the opinion of the wise. They neglected the opportunity of amusement, without which the ringed road of life would bo msupportably tedious I think the French are tho best philosophers, who make the most they can of the pleasures, and tho leoit they can of the pains, of life, and ever strewing flower* / among the thorns all mortals are obliged to walk through ; whereas by much reflection the English contrive to feel and see the thorns double, and never see tho flowers at all, but to despise them, expecting their happiness from things more solid and durable, as they imagine ; but how seldom do they find them. The imitation of the demi-monde in dress leads to something in manner anl feeling, not quite so pronounced, perhaps but far too like to be honourable to herself or sat^ fi'to-v to her frienls. It leads to slang, boll talk, a^ ' fwt»i"« ; to the lore of '>lea*ure anl in li fenuice to duty; to tio desire of mmcv before either lova or happiness; to uVe^ness at heno, dwatisfa'tion with the injn>tony ■if irdmarv life, anl ho'ror to all meful w>rk ; m a worl, to f-'in worst form of Inx-iry nni selfis'inass, to tio most fatal oTects aris.ii' from want of Ing i principle anJ absence often Icr feelingA hab.t is more powerful than an act; and preriomly ■ndiilgL 1 ! tenner, during the ivy, will iut, it is tj bj f^ircl, be fully counteracted by the exercise of a few ui.nutoa devotion at ni?h f . In our transition from the poetic age *o the ,/rosent p'-acti-cal one, our modern civilizitisn has engendered in us, in 1^» 1. i life to>> uri'a'c anl literal; an>l it njods an i.ifnsnn of ( he tiopric to pjiuiLL'ri3t t'i<s teni^ji o the wo-'dlv. tntte-i i', md poicurean spirit of our owi9 All men whoso opinion is unrt'i hivin,' o-ef^r t i.i 31 nplo v\ 1 .T-Miixiii'" i.'l ot tie past, with her tender little wais aul bwhf'il -nolesties, to this loul anl ran pan fc modern-sation, with her false hair anl mm, talking ilang as glibly a* a man, and by preference leading tho conversation to doubtful subircts. Many persons love to attract attention by exaggeration of their opinions Wherever they go they sot themselres at eros 3 purposes with tho cttrrent of opinion prevailing, and are in their glory when the public rerdict stamps the.n with opprobrium. He that calls a man ungrateful, mms up all the evil that a man can be guilty of. Men who praise you to your face are ever to be suspected. Tio Italians have a very espressive proverb on this sife j eC f, . — " H e w lio caresses you more than he was wonP^J do has either deceived you, or is about to do it." We have neve known the sentiment in this proverb to fail. The harsh world neither sees nor tries to see men's hearts; but wherever there is tho opportunity of evil, supposes that evil exists The cv >s of the world will continue until philo3op'iflri become k'ngs, anl kings become philosophers. T'te mm I has more in it than most people think, if you would but furnish the apartments. To know one's self is most difficult ; to be ruled by another, j nIO ,t our; to follow ono's own mind, mist sweet I The vapour of discontent ii always most dangerous when I it is confined. M Observe honesty in thy conrersation more strictly thaoß any oath. ■ What thou seest wrong in thy neighbour, avoid thyself.* It cannot be too deeply imore«ed on the mm I that applif*-] tion is the price to be paid for mental acquisitions, and that I it is as absurd to expect them without it as to hope for a I harvest where we have not io*n the seed. > I

Serviceable Diet — Thow who h-ive need of all Jfcir physical anl montil oowers, anl exert them to tV highest derive, viouH hive a dot 'n which t-'o-e i< i o»n»i larahle pri^o >n lcra-in" of mh\>"n > m " >n^ihi •n'-a I Ei'vii, at 'evtanm'ri'b'^p -'-p m Msm I' 1 >l b/ i MH^ojnin^.'i > r iu n'f^ ! i I ' i% to) of i i'J 'in f cxtir 1 ■ p -, i . i< m' niWl»'o l ltU ;fi oen.i t'llt.Jiu, 1. no'v ul "'1 pli'Uhh j} it >t3 nor V-s trie t ftf art M.i! fol nu b" re, 'heed hy oilier aiim nimtd-, mi stioucc po'xo-'nl men, Aid heaths lose-c ieeki\l c^}pi^ j i-e-i"il on fooJ which to unOdful eyes might soora P'j£V/ ■* ! 'nmit-iious The Scotchman with his poru I c «.il <i Ik and o n oa-»ional hiw^is, the G-eimia »vilh lus " nn.l " v/wvM ," tlie labourer with his bveai an I I'hce*', or b«iini and even the Bavarian mountimeer with his sum Ju uplintj^, ha»e not only a sufficient supply of nitrogen to re, dace tli^ daily waste, but a considerable quantity over an'l abjro>|| luxui consumption. Of all these the fresh meal diet isW doubtedly the most expensive and wasteful. Whence, then the almost unanimous verdict in favour of this diet »'nong the well-to-do cla3se*, and tho universal preferonce which those less favoured manifest for animal food over their own apparently sufficiently nutritious diet ? The explanation »» to be sought for among tho physiological considerations which wo have indicated. Animal food recommen Is itaelf to most people, and particularly to those whose mode of life and occupation render their appetite none of the keenest, bj its appetising odour, iti racy flavour, its ea«y digestibility, and the comparatively small bulk which, with all as necessary complement of the other constituents in the shape of potatoes and bread, requires to be taken in orJer to satisfy all the wants of the individual. There are many who win digest with ease anl relish thoir dinner of roast beef, w i<J, it they hal to fin 1 it> equivalent in fish, would cmplam that it did not " a^i'oe" ! or if in porridge would become the victims of insuperable heartburn ; to w iom the thought of s\u-,ages would sugTeat dogs and other un )lea-<ant thins;s ; who, ifthoy mina^i'd to cat the rcq-ustto anxnt of beam and bacon, would soon feel their sto'naelis conTerted into drums ; or wiio, after a meal of bread and c'lecse an£uct du-ninin^s, w>uU feel for several hour 3 after >*,ird* as if they had swallowed a caiiiion ball ; and who, if obliged to find an equivalent in ve^ables, woul 1 t'unk themselves onA>wwi to the ted»om labor of -m-\\^\^ f or a haystack Alucli of this, we are convinced, would disappear on a fair, honest, and steady tru»f of inmy of these sub^it.ites hr moit, wiu: l, if they did not replaoo animal food alto^thei 1 , inig it cortamlv with owiwny anl a I vantage duivn's'i its onnption. A great many people in tins coiritrv c-ir fir 'iioro anmul food than is gjjd for them.— Tks British Mddical Journal. fIL/ A Royal Composbk — At th* military concert ii™ne Royal Albert Hall, Lonvlon, a vra tz o .lp^-eJ by the O!i'vo of El.nbur,h, and n,vned " Tiie Q- ilatea," was plave I by fl c tiilitary bands and the orchestra of her M\j 'sty's 0 j* ftj in conjunction. The spirited performance of the hvfllJß dance .ur, which ii preceded by an mfcro luctiJ^, was encore! 1 with so much enthusiasm aa to bring tor yard his Royal I Highness, who bowed from tho front of his box m acknow- 1 ledgement of the general and hearty congratulations. The I little Prince Albert Victor, eldest ion of the Prmoe of Wale«,| was one of the party in the Du'ce'* bjx. _ _-»»j|

Xn t wii tij tj-' '"^ «Ja4iiieod, .ou'fc ye.* - U : per waul to bo a c.c.ii in t o PojL uoruee, do yer ! IW-hor;ice, indeed ! Wny, i*l. y.w'r« tit for is to stani outside with your tongue hout tor people lo wet their stains ugahwt ! " As »n instance of what can be done n fie wny of slwepbrecd.njj and wool-growing undei- lavoumble con l tious, wo commend tne following item communicated to us by a reliable person. On a a null farm at tlio Wuiw^lu tlie increase ha- bsen something like 2JO per cent. Tne sheep are of the 'B>inney Marsu breed, and tneir lieeces last year avjraged fifteen pounds, wmld some of the wethers we.gjed as much M 1001 b§. alter being dressed. This uncommon result u We are told, entirely attributable to the farm being understocked and the sheep thoroughly fed. — Independent. Dr. Marshall Hall givei the following observations on B l ee p : Tuat early rising may be benetiuial, it is necessary that we should retire early, and on lising be properly employed. Every person should be allowed to have his sleep ou t otherwise the duties of the day cannot be properly performed, and will be slighted even by the most conscientious. To children, young persons, students, persons of ■edentary occupations, and invalids, the fullest sleep that the system will take, without artificial means, is the very balm of life. Never wake up c liUlren, or the sick and infirm, of a morning -it is barbarity; let them wake of themselves. Do not hurry up the young and healthy ; and it is not well even for adtu s, if they have passed an unusually fatiguing day, to jump out of bed the momei.t they wake up It is btst to lemain in b^l, without going to sleep ogiin till the sen • of wea.iness gradually passes away. At ten o'clock at ni ,he, when possible, all the jear rouu«, the old, the middle-aged, and the young should be in lied : and then the eatly rising will take care of luelf, with the invaluable accompaniment of a fully rested body and a renovated mind. A tale of incredible horror comes to us from Illinois. It it vrA\ i<>r ihe journalistic mind t.iat it is not jof eu called upon to describe an event of such inky and unmitigated gloom, lue time was August, the skies wore lair, wnen, seated in a railway car, a bright, blooming, bashful, and beautiful young br.dal pair went fortli from Peoi\a on the first stage of a journey which ends, it may be, m the grave, or hap ji 1 Cuica^o. Tne huaoand of an hour was all pride and tenderness ; the bride of bonnet and blushes As the slow tram moved fro n tae station, the tair young being incautiously put tier head out of ihe win io»v, pjrcaaiice to scent the morn.ng breeze, Ike Uaulet's ia h.-r'a ghost, perchance to ware a last tarewcll to tne weeding friends of her girlhood Too, too fatal nument! A telegraph pole did not decapitate her ;—no, ah no! That were joy com pared to — Hastily bringing her head within tne <a , she bur el an agonised face m her hands. The terrified bridegroom is said to hare .nstantly expressed htm-elf, with great presence of mind, nt us touch n' anl mem irablc language : '; What was it darling ? Wha frignteneJ it, dear ? Tell its own hubby ! What makes it cry ?" WJiat, mJced Oh, vicious Fate ! She had drop) cI a lovely and expend c set of teetti out of the window Sue never smiled again — until she had seen a dentist. At a political meeting the speaker and audience were much disturbed by a man who constantly called out lor Mr Henry. Whenever a new speaker came on, this man bawled out : "Mr Henry ! Henry! Henry! I call for Mr Henry!" After several interruptions of this kind at each speech, a young man ascended the platform, and was soon airing his eloquence in magniloquent it y!e, striking out powerfully in his gestures, when the old cry was heard for Mr Henry. Putting his hand to his mouth like a speaking-trumpet, this man was bawling out at the top of his voice : "Mr Henry ! Henry ! Henry ! I call for Mr Henry ! " The chairman now rose and remarked that it would oblige the audience if the gentleman would retrain from any lurther calling for Mr Henr , •s that gentleman wm now speaking. "Is that Mr Henry " ■aid the disturber of the meeting. "Thunder! that eai *t be Mr Hjnrv ! why, that's fc te little mm tia told me to holler! " Mr Henry did not join in thelaigh which followed. Mrs F. B Stowe, in a letter to young women on co nubiallov*. says :—" Many w^jrtjn sup/ose that they 1> ye their )u bands, when unfvwmately they have not the beaming of an idea what love Is. Let me explain to you, mv dear young ladies. Loving to lip admired by a nun, loving to be caressed by him, lovi q to he admired by him, is noUuving him All fiese ma< be w ten a woman has no power of love. They may all ho at a pi/ because she loves herself and loves to be flatte e<l praised, car&ssed, and COa\ed, as n cit likes to be c<>imcc 1 an-1 itroketl.^ aiyl f-> J with cream, uid have a warm co.ner. Bit all this is co love. It may exist, to be sure, where t'iere is n<» luv-d L*ve, my ileir ladies, is s If-sacii cc; r it life out of s if and in another Iti very essences is pipfeiring of the comfort, thi e^se, the wishes, of -mother to one's ov n fur the love we hear them. Love ia giving, not. ie:eiving Love is not a sheet of blotting paper or 3| onue, sucking in everything itxelf. Love's motto has be<n dropped iv this woild, ns a gem of great pri-e, by the loveliest, the fiirest, the purest, the strongest of Lovers that ever trod this mortal earth, of whom it is recorded that Hf said :—: — "It is more blessed to give than to receive." No : in love there are ten receivers to one giver. By the Rosamond, which arrived in Levuka on November 26, from Taviuni, we learn the sad intelligence of the murder | of Mr Ross, builder, of Levuka, on board the schooner Kate Grant when at Drummond's Island. The particulars are as follows : — At about 7-30 p.m. on the evening of the sth inst. the canoes which had been trading were told that it was time to leave — the sun had set. With one exception they all left. The one canoe hung on astern. The white men were now lounging about the deck, when one of them (McDougall) heard a sort of a scuffle, and look ; ng up saw a stab given. The next instant he himself was stabbed, nnd grappling with the native he rai^d the cry of " murder." He saw Ross run past him and fall some five yards away, almost at the same moment he himself was sf izpd. In the struggle with the native he (McDougaUy succeeded in wresting the knife from the native, and the captain who had procured a revolver fired at the ira-i, but shot McDougall through the leg. The man then jumped overboard, and the crew slipped the cable and stood out to sea. Poor Boss it was found had been stabbed through the heart, and nerrr spoke afterwards. He was a native of the Isle of Skye, and of about 40 years of age. Misfortune followed the vessel, for on Saturday morning she was drifted on to a reef near Goat Island, in Soma Soma Straits, where she became a wreck. The crew and passengers were landed in safety. The wreck, we bolieve, was bought by Mr W. S. Morgan for £26. At the meeting of the British Association, tip President of the Mechanical Science Section, F. J. Bramwell, E»q., in the course of his opening address, disputed the question of finding«ouicesotherthßn"Oftlfo mo ivenower. Hesueected that in the case of la^ue manfaeturing district*, within a few miles of the sea, whero there is a rise and fall of the tide, coupled with natural indentat'ons of the coast, which might be comparatively readily dam" ed un for tne storage of the water, there such storage should ' c made t^ar the water should be«er to work tu<-binesof Ihe best kind, nrd that I'iese turbines shouM be employed in pu n-i ng water at a hig 1 * pressure into Armstrong accumulator} to the ne : e l ibouring manufacturing town, and should then deliver thoir power to the consumers requiring it, to be n ed by them in water pressure engine*. He reminded the S< ct'on | of what had b^pn done atSohafThausen. Turb'ne* had been erected which were workpd by the river, and which Slivered to endless wire ropea carried over pullies, and placed alongside the R inc. This rooe gives off power at the enJ of each street abutting on tho bank, and that po-ver is conve ci along each street by a shaft in a channel unde the paviniEach manufacturer makes his own communication with this shaft, and thus obtains the power he ma" require.. In places where the rise and fall of tho tide is fweney-four feet, haif a square mile of water enclosed would, after a most lavish deduction for loss, yield a power equal lo 5,000 horses. The future mechanical power of most sea coast towns and cities may be regarded as a constant quantity, even should our jo«il become exhausted, aid no other •ourco of power be discovered by the race. Amusing Dubi, with a Mosquito. — The tuneful mosquito has had his trombone reconstructed, and begins the season in fine style. A Newark man received a call the otlic* day from his long-lost brother, who lives in California. He assigned the snare room to him, and, bidding him an affectionate good-night, retired to rest, only to lmrft Viis slumbers disturbed soon after by an incipient earthquake upstairs. Hastily donning his trousers, he proceeded to the long-lost brother's room, from whence the uproar came. When the unbridled brother went to bed he had thrown open his window to draw untrammelled breath and preserve the idea of his native freedom. Tho mosquito, scenting foreign produce from afar, whetted up kis knife and fork upon the stone ■window-rill, and humming a short eraee before meat, took a chair upon the Californian's noso, and, hiekina his napkin under his chin, set to work. The sensitive foreigner said an ungentle thing about the musical bir3 of night, and springing from his coiifh struck a light to meet his umeen odvorsary face to face. No sooner had he descried him than with uplifted pillow ho smote- np^n *ho w»ll -Vri> «nt tho patient insect, who ««k' named awny and left the spo* bare. I Two more unsuccessful aHemot* u-wn the rtoor mosquito's 1 life ntasperated the 1o*n"-1ost brother, and Ihe *r»en" bpeame exciting. Blow f llowed blow in quick succession as the irate Californian danced in fantastic pursu : r aJvwr tht* room. Just ns he had taken a careful aim at the artful dodder, who sat upon a pane of the door eojounz the sport, the proprietor of the mansion popped hi« hral in nnd received t.o wliack intended for the mosquito fu lin the face. He li»v down unpremed tatedjy and called for the ne • hboura. When outside reinforcements appeared, an entrance wns effected into the room, and a fearful tcne of ruin met tho gaze of the intruders The only whole remaining article of furniture was the bedstead, upon wh ; ch sat the diico«■olate Ctlifornian picking the fragments of the looking-glass out of his bare feet, and saving terrible thing*. Ho was inconsolable, and next day ho left for California without offering to pay for the broken furmtiure.