The World.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2242, 20 November 1886, Page 2 (Supplement)

The World.

[The following paragraphs are extracted from the London society papers und Other journals.] The question of public pageants which are to mark the Queen's jubiloo are already greatly exercising the minds of the officials on whom the responsibility for their carrying out will dovolve. The Queen herself takes a strong personal interest in tho discussion of the various projects which aro under consideration, but nothing is settled except a gorgeous State procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster. Although the Queen is at present much mcore out of hpirits than «he has been for some time past, *he is nevertheless enjoying excellent bodily ho.iltb. The turn thinirs have taken iv Bulgaria and the departure of tho Duke of Conuavight for India havo of late caused her considerable worry and anexioty. Tho minutest information which can throw light on tho fortunes of Prince Alexander is constantly transmitted to Balmoral by telegraph. Princess Beatrico and Prince Henry of Battenberg are to leave Balmoral about the third woek in next month for Windsor Cdstle, where the Princess's confinement will tuke place early in December. All Court arrangements during tho winter will depend ou this interesting event, and I hear it is fettled that ths Queen is to pass Christmas at Windsor, for tho first time for many years. A sensation has been excited in Kentucky by the marriage of Clem Bishop, a backwoods doctor and preacher, to his ward, Reta Boston, who is ten years of age, while the bridegroom has passed his seventieth birthday, and had only been a widower for a fortnight. Lord Heytesbnry's water on the river Wylye, which wus often fished by the late Duke of Albany when he lived at Boyton Manor, has just been dragged for the first time for many years, and upwards of three thousand fiah were taken, principally roach and perch. Lord Randolph Churchill is sustaining the work of the Session pretty well. His friends have some fear that he will not be able to bear tho prolonged and bitter conflicts which are inevitable next Session. Many of the Radicals declare that they will give him no peace till they drive him from the leadership of the House. The slate of things in India continues t J give rise to much uneasiness. Russian agents are hard at work both in the Punjaub and the North-west Provinces ; the Sikhs are said to be dissatisfied and unsettled, and the proclamation issued in the Maharajah Duuleep Singh's name is another ominous sign of the times. The highest authorities on Indian politics make no secret of their firm conviction that a war with Russia within twenty months is almost inevitable. These disquieting reports also affect appreciably the Queen's spirits. A prophet may be unhonoured in his own country, but a singer has seldom to complain of the same cold neglect and indilFereuce. Certainly Mr Birtou McGuckin, who is now singing Italian operas in English words in the Carl Rosa Company in Dublin, has no cause to do so. It is only a few years since Mr Barton McGuckin was in the choir of St. Patrick's Cathedral ; at present he plays Mario's and Giuglim's parts, though his acting is certainly not up to the Mario standard, nor has his fine voice the quality of Giuglini's— few have. Police protection has been accorded to all sorts and conditions of men in Ireland. Judge Birry shoots his cock-grouse under police protection ; Lord Spencer hunted his fox under a similar a?gis ; Judge Lawson visits his club with his detectives, like an Oxford proprietor with his bulldogs ; and many a landlord, baililF, and sheriffs officer never stirs without such an umbra. But in the history of the lust rum there has been no instance of a "stalwart incapable" bridegroom going to the altar, or, at any rate to church, '•under police protection," till that of Mr Frank Joyce, Lord Chnrioarde's agent/, who married on Monday last the beautiful Miss de Vere. Now, tell me," said the doctor, addressing the aged Somerset peasant he had been summoned to attend, "I suppose you do not often have a bath, do you? Well, no !" returned Hodge, after some moments thought, "I don't never take such things, but I've heard tell as 'ow my old mother took several when she was alive." This reminds me of the small west country farmer who, when canvassed by a newspaper agent, refused to subscribe to his journal on the ground that his (the farmer's) had taken in the Magnet for more than twenty years, and so had left his son far more newspapers than he should ever get through in his life. The extensive and costly alterations which have been in progress for some | time past at Melbucy, Lord Ilchester's place in Dorsetshire, are now completed, and numerous visitors will be entertained there next month. The mansion at Melbury was originally built by Sir Giles Strangways, who died in L">47. The plan forms three limbs of a cross, with a hexagon tower at the intersection. The east front is a fine specimen of the style of Queen Anne's reign. Lord Ilchester has now added a wing, in which is a tower a hundred feet high. The new gallery and most of the rooms are very elaborately decorated. There are some very fine pictures at Melbury, but the glory of the place in summer is the beautiful and richly-wooded park, which contains some of the finest timber in the south of England. The limes, oaks, and sycamores are particularly notable. Dr. James Wakly, who died last week, w.'is an able man, and under his guidance tho Lancet, founded by his father, the well-known coroner, was much developed and improved. In his early days, before " red-hot youth cooled down to iron man," James Wakloy was well-knowu about Town, distinguished by the ecceutrioity and " loudness " of his costume, a peculiaiity which he rotuinod to the last, and the unconventionality of his manner-". He had what tho Americans call a " difficulty " with Albert Smith, who had satirised nome of his proceedings in the '* Natural History of the Gent." To one of Jullien's bah »ki's'///ca, which wero the besfc ever seen iv London, James Wakly went, dressed as' tho devil, horns, tail, and all. He had plenty of fun, impudence, and animal spirits, aud ho chatted all those he came across. At length ho found, leaning against the orchestra, and apparently in the extremity of boredom, a tall, languid " swell" in evening dro^s, whom Wakley promptly accosted, at the same time enforcing hiß joke with the point of his tail. " Who are you?" inquired the swell. " Can't you see? I'm the devil !" said James Wakley. " Then go to !" said the swell ; and J. W. joked no more. The Queen of Belgium had an interesting adventure a few days ago. In the morning she had a pressing letter from tho unfortunate ex-Empress of Mexico, who lives in seclusion ,near Laeken, begging her Majesty to come to her as soon as possible. So without delay Queen Marie had her favourite pony harnessed to the pretty little phieton she drives when staying in tho country, and set oft' to see hor ill-starred relative. But on the way there came on a storm of such extreme violence that tho Queen was glad to take refuge in some barracks she chanced to be passing. It was just the hour for Jc/( /<//(>>; and the officers lost no titne^* in improvising for their Royal visitor a meal composed of the very 'best that the village could furnish at so short a notice. But the Sovereign, whilst thanking them warmly for their attention and trouble, said smilingly to the colonel that, as a newly-anived lecruit, she ought to be quite content with tho ordinary fare of the regiment. And so she insisted on making her d>'/ruiicr on a plateful of .sotipo ((tt.r chnnr and a slice of bread, much to the delight of the soldiers, who all turned out and cheered her when she presently resumed her journey. If a Coutiuuntal paper is to be credited,

it is a custom in thoso Swiss cantons in which cheese-making is chiefly carried on, for the frionds and relatives of newlymarried couples to manufacture specially largo cheeses for presentation to them. The recipients of those very realistic wed ding- presents do not, however, proceed to turn them to practical account by citing them. No, the cheeses are as a rulo caiefully kept in tho family, where they in time become hehloom*, and Hie h muled down from generation to generation, serving meanwhile) as a kind of domestic dinry, for on the outside of the cheese a rough register of births, baptisms, &c, is scratched with a nail. This curious custom dates from 10(>0, it is stated, and the fact lam quite prepared to credit. Thero are, it is also assorted, some of these cheosei now in existence in Swi*s cottage homes, which are more than 200 years old— a fact which, without further corroboration, I absolutely refuse to credit. For though the cheeses made in Switzerland are not, as a mle, as stion^ in odour and favour as some of tho more pungent German varieties, which nro iv tho habit of following their purchaser-* home like n dog-, yet I cannot briti?? myself to believe that even the mildest Swiss specimens could bo kept anywhere for anything like 200 years, unless indeed fr were in the local prison under lock and key.