The World.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2358, 20 August 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

The World.

[Tiik folk.wing p u agraplis me exir.oUid from th" London society papers and

other journal-., j

Tin Queen had intended to build a villa at A i x-les- Bains, overlooking the the l ike of B. iiirir. t. .H an eera-if.mil re.-idei.ee for fur Princess Beatrice, and Ihe plans of the projected house had been drawn nut and approved, and a day was fixed for the eereneiiiv of I iviiur the foumlalion--tone, which was to have been performed by her Majesty ; but a dillirully arose in conneeiinn with the site, and the work lias been indefinitely deferred.

I hear that the Emperor of Austria’s present to the Queen will lie a ease of the finest Imperial Tokay, This wine eontains a great fpinnlity of phosphoric acid, and it is a wonderful tonic. It was I’riiicc Albert's invariable custom to drink one glass of Tokay every day after dinner; and be had as much respect for it as a “pick-me-up’’ as George IV, bad for bis famous black cherry-brandv. A gift, of Tokay is no small affair at Vienna. The Emperor Ferdinand wishJH to make a present, of a quantity of this wine to the late King of the Netherlands, and as it was thought by the Court officials that there was none sufficiently old in the Imperial cellars, a thousand bottles of the finest and oldest Tokay in the world wore procured from Cracow, at the monstrous price of £3 fis Id a bottle.

J hear from Aix-le.s-B.iiiis that the season there is unusually early, and that already the hotels are quite full. Lord and Lady Bath intend going to Germany shortly for a few weeks. Lord Bath has been ordered to take a course of the llomlmrg waters. Mr O'Brien has just remarked that ho has “set Canada ablaze." Quite true ; but we notice that hu was the first to escape from the lire. Great sympathy is everywhere felt for Lord and Lady Bath, and the tragical death of Lord John Thymic is universally lamented in the neighbourhood of LongIcat, where he was much beloved.

The Comte de Paris has been receiving his adherants from the various parts of France at .San Romo ami at Lausanne, ami is reported to have been greatly cheered by their reports. Snails, it appears, are the latest delicacy in New York. Tho fashion was set by Jay Gould, who lias a quantity sent over by each French mail-steamer from Havre. The snails are first boiled, then slightly roasted, and then eaten after the fashion of periwinkles.

It is curious to note the hold which Indian and Ceylon teas are acquiring in England, and the corresponding decline of the China trade. Last month the China tea taken out of bond was less than fiO per cent, of the total quantity, the first instance of such a thing occurring. The following is a criticism of Madame Patti that appeared in a Mexican newspaper during her recent visit to that country " Patti is as brown as a nut, as cheery as a bird, as lively as a cricket, and ns full of melody as any first-class angol on either side of the line.” The Dowager Lady Iddcslcigh is about to erect a reredos and super-altar in the church at Upton-Pyno, as a incmoral of the late earl. The centre panel is to contain an ancient and valuable oil painting, representing “ The Last Supper,” which Lord Iddesleigh purchased in Italy many years ago.

I understand the Afghan nows continues to lie regarded as very disquieting. It is at tills season that Russian encroachments usually take place. A year ago there was trouble on the frontier, and two years ago matters were still more serious. We may, therefore, be prepared to have news very shortly of a startling, if not sensational, character. The statement in the Athenmnm, that Mr Robinson, the able and popular manager of the business department of the Daily News, is to take the place of Mr Lucy as editor, and that Mr Lucy is to return to ids place in the gallery of the House of Commons, lias excited no surprise. Mr Lucy will probably bo glad to get back to duties whicli must be more congenial tiian editing a serious journal. It was at one time the practice of the Times to give the proceeds of the births, marriages, and deaths column to tha uoinpositors as a kind of perquisite. Rut I believe tins was abolished some years ago, when houses were built, and a benefit fund and savings bank founded by the proprietors for their employes. There is an idea that Captain Walter is now the proprietor of the two first columns of the 'Fiines. Whether tins lie the case or not, I cannot tell.

In the face of mnch-talked-of agricultural depression, it is reassuring to find that in the fruit-growing districts of Kent the land still continues to fetch high prices, and is in demand by those who an; largely engaged in the business. Several fruit orchards wore last week disposed of by auction at .Sittiogbonnic, one lot realising £3OO per acre, while another was sold at £250 per acre, after a spirited competition amongst the bidders. Why not plant more land with fruit trees ?

Two young belles appeared at a Boston (U.S.A.) dinner a few days since with serpents apparently tattooed on their arms instead of bracelets, and a circle of strawberries and strawberry leaves round t.lio neck, exquisitely done, both as to colour and drawing, and producing a really charming effect, heightened, doubtless, by the novelty of the thing. Though it resembled tattooing, yet it was, of course, some thin substance excellently painted and made to adhere to the akin. South African juries are not always vary wise. A girl was charg-al at the Kiversdale Circuit-court with administering poison to a family which she served. The first verdict returned was '‘Murder.” “Impossible,” said the judge; “no one has been killed !'' The jury went buck, and returned with a verdict of ".Suicide,”

“ But the girl is still alive !” expostulated the judge. On this the jury gave it up, nud relumed a verdict of “ Not guilty.”

Scarcely a week passes beet tho Gazette chronicles tho promotion to a commission of some young sergeant, who has satisfied tho examiners as to his eligibility for advancement from tho ranks. One of tho latest promotions has been that of a young sergeant of Hussars, who is heir to a fine estate in tho West of England, and rent-roll of CIO,OOO a year, but who has yet gone through tho drudgery of u number of years in tho ranks to win a commission, which lie failed to obtain through tho mure usual channels of Can-non-row and Sandhurst. Each non-com-missioned officer, promoted from tho ranks is very properly presented by the authorities with tho necessary means to purehasu his uniform, sword, otn. ~LT.)O being awarded to each "ranker” promoted to a commission in ifin cavalry, whilst chose g ■/, Med to ihe infantry of the line receive I ICO.

" lhe ope would not be sorry,” writes an occasional cone-poiohmt from Rome. " to act as arlntr Pop in tin- dispute between Great Biiiim and Ireland, But there are insnr nonnta-.'e difficulties in the way of such a emr-e. In tire first place, between Great Britain and the respectable minority of Ireland, comprising all that is worth recounting, there is no dispute at all. In the next place, the majority, consisting of thieves, murderers, convicts, and conspirators, and the most degraded classes of the population, are not likely to accept the Rope’s solution of their difficulties. They would follow O'Connell in refusing to ‘ take their polities' from Rome, and, they might add, their morals as well. As to Great Britain, there is no question for arbitration from her point of view. Ireland is as much a part of the United Kingdom as Yorkshire or Galloway, and, if Ireland rebels, or will not obey, she must be made to obey ri rl urnns. That is all.”