ENGLISH SCHOOLS FIFTY YEARS AGO.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2148, 15 April 1886, Page 4

ENGLISH SCHOOLS FIFTY YEARS AGO.

— -«-- - - Fikty yi-ats aj»o no educational establishment com prehensile in its range as thH tinivLi* lty (HdAMi'd) existed among the Ungliau - apnaking t nations of the worll. The old systems then in vpguo were, however, happily more honoured in tlie breach than in the observance. While somo boys profited by the scheme, others of equal tahnt and merit, likn Sir Walter Scott, were sent forth dunces. In history they were deficient, and I may say they were not taught to wnto Latin or (Jmek. The Greek they wrotu would makean Athenian schoolbjy laugh. Happily, that day is past, and I am happy to say that 1 have contributed my sii.iro towards giving the death-blow to that system of training. The fantastic folly of making every boy write veises in languages he does not understiiid Ins had it-> d.iy. All that has been chinked, and honour now is given to every branch of human knowledge. My object was not to dispaiagc the classical studies, but only to destroy the autocracy of those ancient languages I only pleaded that they should not be exclusive, bat I do not mean to say that they should be excluded. The study of those languages has now became a science ; we cannot do without the vast stores of learning that are accumulated in the literatures of Greece and Rome. Latin, the language of daw and empire, instinct with the spirit of nations, grand and dignified, should always live, ' niuce it is one of the noblest instrument! of/ .thought that the world has pro- : duced. How different are the pleasures to him who passes through , the world, who is deaf and blind to what is going on around him. Hundreds of dis- | ■coveries are yet to be made, by men of trained and observant mind.* What an immense stride since the days of your immortal Benjamin Franklin in the use of electricity ! The lightning of which we still stand in awe is nothing more than what a lady would brush from her cat'it back, or from her own hair with a .btyish; - Science reveals us two infinities 'It be gins in wonder and ends in wonder. — Archdeacon Farrer.

The- dead bodies of two Japanese sailors, who died from cholera, havin? been thrown overboard between Kobe and Nagasaki, the Japanese authorities immediately forbade fishing along the coast. As examples of tropical rainfall, it is stated that during the present rainy season in Jamaica, which has succeeded a period of serious drought, there was recorded at the Government Cinchona Plantations, on December 21 last A Fall of 11 80in in 24 hours. On the crest of the Blue Mountain range, on the same / plantations, the record was 31 *50fn for one week, of which period three clays were fine. A p.iiastlv table is to le shotyn at a New Yoik exhibition next year, lent from the Pitti Palace, Floieuce. It is made tiom petrilied human corpses, the claws and pedestal being composed of hearts, lun^s, svi<l intestine, and the top of the table of the latter muscles. A bolder of petunVd eyes and eats inns round this cheerful piece of furniture, which was constructed fifty years ago by an Italian. Nine cowloys rode into Burlington, Texas, a few days ago, and spent the night in caiousmg. At daylight they assembled in the public square, and began an indiscriminate fusilade, frightening the towusfolk. Finally, the officials, supported by the citizens, attempted to capture them. This attempt was resisted, and after four of the cowboys and five horses had been killed, the others escaped. Poor Old Ireland.— Mr Froude, in a letter to his Ulster friends, states that English public opinion is not yet awakened ; that in a very Bhort time John Bull will put on his boots and kick the Irish, as he did in the days following 1645, and after the Revolution. This means, if M'ords new anything, that events aie rapidly iiinning to a further English conquest of Ireland. Mr fJoldwin Smith (who cannot be accused of the reckless pirtmnship which Mr Lecky imputes to Mr Froude whenever he deals, with the Irish question) is not less emphatic. In a long lettei to the Toronto Globe he declares that Ireland has no grievance, and that it England had any Government worthy of the name, the law would soon be asserted, and rebellionput down. And this, too, from a man who has professed an enthusiastic admiration for Mr Gladstone. Mr Frederja Harrison is a Radical of another sort,, and in his view nothing short of an Irish Parliament on College Green would conform with justice to Ireland. ' . It is related of Mr Abraham Hayward, the famous " Quarterly " reviewer,* that he once thought he should lilje to have some aucestors. Ho he walked t»traight to Wardour-stroei;, wh,eje one can generally pick.up an ancestor or two of the Cromwellian, Queen Anne, or Georgian period, accoiding to fancy. Selecting a porti ait of a cavalier in halfarinour with features not unlike his own, Mr Hayward made a bid for it ; butj deeming the puce asked too high, he said he would think the matter over, and went his Avay. A foitnight after, the ancestral fever coming stiongly upon him, he went to Wardour-street, prepared to pay the dcilcr his price. The picture was sold— of course to an unknown purchaser. A few days later Mr Hayward went to dine with Lord Houghton, and was astonished to find the picture in the dining-room. Seeiug that it attracted his- guest's attention. Lord Houghton said, "Very good picture that! Come into my* hands m a curious way. Portrait of a Milnes of the Commonwealth period." " Ah, indeed !" said Mr Hayward. "He was very near being an ancestor of mine." ' , List of visitors to the To Aroha Hot Springs last week : — Mr A. Kidd, Auck» land ; Rev. G. B. and Mrs Munro 1 , Romnera ; Mrs Mains, Remuera ; Mr OBrien, Hamilton ; Mr McGreevy, Waipa wa ; Mr Nicholson, Waipawa ; Mr Coom, Auckland ; Mr Mac Lean, Auckland ; Mr .<nd Mrs Vaugh^n, Stiva, Fiji ; Mr Chrk-n, To Aiol-a; Mil Iniute.jTe Awamutu ; Mi MichuU, OnchuuiM ; 'Mr Wink-, Parnell : Mr KitJtr>\*/eU-, Auckland ; Mr Ancle: .-.on, PnrnoH ; Mi^ifiench, Auckland; Mr Jolu-MirC Aiicin.mil; Mr aud MisNeN<«n. Ponv-nby ; Mi>Cai<ro, Ponsonby ; Mr T. y!m, Aui.kl.uid; Mi Basser, Auckland ; Mr W;nte, Auckland ; Q)r. Campbell, Auckland; Mis Retnuem; Mi* H< again, Te Aroha*; Mrs Preece, Auckland; Mi* Andcwm, Denmark; Mr Young', Auckland'; Mr Scott, Otago ; Mrs Chum, Mr and Mrs Bennett, Miss Goodenouvjh, Mis Lewis, Mr carry, Thames ; Mrs Cox and maid, Mr Perkin", Mrs Whits and niir-**, Mr and Mrs Smith, Mrs Haultain, child, and servant, Mis, Cobbett, Miss Newby, Mr Aborts., Mr Nancarrow, Sir I'redk. Whitaker, Mr nnd Mrs Baker, Rev. Mr Tebbs, Mr W. «. A. Tebbs, Mis Reynolds, Mrs Keals, Dr. Dalzell, Mr Stuikey, Mr Williams, Mrs Anderson, Hon. Mrs Townsend, Miss Plumlef, Mrs and Miss Sullivan, Auckland ; Mr Sizer, Melbourne ; Mr Ellis, iiemeu ; Dr. Stevens, Tauranga; Mr .Ellis, Waikato ; Mr Shepheid, Nelson ;" Mrs Westney, T«> Au.unutu; Mi>s Mitchell, Raglan; Mi* Sarnie--, Hamilton; iUtFisher, KaLikali ; Mi>s J-icluodor., (.Jisborne; Mr find Mi> Wethoicd, Alaiden- : head, Enjrl.unl ; Mi McVici.l, Mrs O-'Brieii and son, Mr L). M. lieoi-e, \\ T ai -lrito;'Mr (ip«>. Wilmm, Mr Paining, Mr and Mr. Southeiliud, Mr and Mi^ Uill, Mr McKeitsoy, Mr and Mm Joiikin*»n, Mr Clement-,, Mr and Mis Mo&e, Mr and Mrs Cameron; Mr Fencher, .Jr Wormsley, Mr Smith, jVlr F.nber« Mr Brewer, Mi Gutter; Dr. Smith, Mr Hickroty Mi Horkings, Mr Hogft Mr Banks, Mr Jj redo, MprDownes,cM# Roy, Mr Alison, Mr Kennell, Mr Jones, Mr McCabo. Mr M& ; JVJ> and, •J. B. Whyto, Waikato: Mr Lindsay, Tour Thumb, Mr Logan, Mr Clements, Mr ] Lane, Thames ; etc., etc. ,j REMEDvroR Hard Timps."—' Stop j spending $p much ou fine Jothes, rich food, apd s^lo., Buy cor.d frod, r<>f-pcrand btfttcrclothiiW, a*d Stop the habu of usuiff expensive or quack doctors, or humbug- mc.li. me »h .t does you oil y J^rm, but p-it 3ourlrii«-t mtl.p (rrcafr^t of all simple, pureVm. fli.» Am«-r r>nCo '< Hop Bitters, that Cure.ilw^iJtalrHHpic cost, and you will; see better times and good health. Keau