WAIFS AND STRAYS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 189, 10 November 1876, Page 15

WAIFS AND STRAYS.

In 734 A.D., in the neighborhood of Belfast, a " horrible great thunder" was heard, succeeded by a shower of hail-stones, " the like of which had never been known for size, and on the partial clearing away of which a huge serpent was seen in the sky." Coining down a hundred years later, in 832, we find that " fire from heaven burnt the mountains of Connaught ; the lakes and streams were dried up, and many people -were burnt by the fire." Again in 950, in the midst of a " mighty great hailstorm," a bolt of fire passed through Leinster, killing numbers of men, cattle, and burning most of the houses of Dublin." More disastrous still was the thunderstorm of 1113 in which thirty pilgrims were killed by lightning on Croagh Patrick, and the hailstones were as big as crab apples and proved the death of "an infinite number of cattle." In June, 1776, the neighborhood of Tralee and Abbeyfeale were startled and deluged by the most tremendous thunderstorm, and at Clonmel "the hailstones were as large as musket balls/ Nine years later, in 1785, Arklow, Coolgraney, and Redcross, County Wicklow, were visited by a thunderstorm of " appalling vehemence, accompanied by a prodigious shower of hailstones, which killed a number of lambs, and wounded many persons."

Instances of persons posessed by devils are comparatively rare in Christian countries, yet in heathen countries, as in China, for example, these instances are by no means unfrequent. So numerous are they, and so well and unmistakeably marked, that even the heathen inhabitants of China recognise them as real diabolical possessions ; and heathen parents, without knowledge of or faith in Christianity, but moved simply by parental affection, often bring their children to Catholic missionaries to be baptized, in order that they may be guarded and protected from the danger of their falling into the possession of devils. The difference between the children who are baptised and those who are unbaptised, as regards this, is so marked, in China, that even the heathen cannot but notice it. They see that the baptised children are not subject to diabolical possessions, and they know that unbaptised children frequently are.

Ever since the world began this has been a disputed question j and ever since the world began the majority of the people have generally misjudged. Thoroughly dissatisfied with any present time, the people cast about for a golden age . We cannot find it in the future, as the cloud of uncertainty hangs on the horizon in that direction. We are compelled, therefore, to explore the past. The immediate past, with its facts and disappointments, is too fresh in our memory to allow us to throw the required halo about it, and so we continue our journey until we get to the point where memory grows dim and the imagination works actively, and we call that the hale halcyon period of life. This distant future and distant past are both creations of the fancy. To say that childhood is the happiest period of life is to offer insult to Providence. The child is at best but a bundle of possibilities. He is a creature of unrestrained impulses, of undeveloped affections. His mind ia Hke a grate in a well ordered-house. The coal is there, the wood is there, and the whole thing will break into a blaze when touched with a match. Now, after the match has touched it, what is a pleasanter and more profitable sight than a half dozen lumps of coal enveloped in a royal blaze, and filling the room so full of light and heat, that one forgets the wintry sleet without? So childhood, with its sugar plums and its toys, will be inferior to manhood with its burning enthusiasm and its burning ambition.

The little old theatre in Albany, N.Y., has been the scene of many curious theatrical stories. On one occassion Mr. Edwin Forrest, then a young man, and more famous for his muscle than his genius, gave a tremendous display of really powerful acting. He was supposed to represent a Roman warrior, and to be attacked by six minions of a detested tyrant. At the rehearsal Mr. Forrest found a great deal of fault with the supes who condescended to play the minions. They were too tame. They didn't lay hold of him. They wouldn't go in as if it were a real fight. Mr. Forrest stormed and threatened; the supes sulked and consulted. At length the captain of the supes inquired in his local slang, " Yer want this to be a bully fight, eh ?" "I do," replied Mr. Forrest. "All right," rejoined the captain, and the rehearsal quietly proceeded. In the evening the little theatre was crowded, and Mr. Forrest was enthusiastically received. When the fighting scene occurred the great tragedian took the centre of the stage, and the six minions entered rapidly and deployed in skirmishing order. At the cue " Seize him ! " one minion assumed a pugilistic attitude, and struck a blow straight from the shoulder upon the prominent nose of the Eoman hero j another raised him about six inches from the stage by a well-directed kick, and the others made ready to rush in for a decisive tussel. For a moment Mr. Forrest stood astounded, his broad chest heaving with rage, his great eyes like flashing fire, his sturdy legs planted like columns upon the stage. Then came the few moments of powerful acting, at the end. of which one supe was seen sticking head foremost in the bass drum in the orchestra, four were having their wounds dressed in the greenroom, and one, finding himself in the flies, rushed out upon the roof of the theatre and shouted " Fire ! " at the top of bis voice j while Mr. Forrest, called before the curtain, bowed his thanks pantingly to the applauding audience, who looked upon the whole affair as part of the piece, and "had never seen Forrest act so splendidly."

The Benedictines of Perugia and the Franciscans of Assisi have recently gained in court an important suit against the Government. By the exceptions of the Decree Pepoli, which in 1860 suppressed their religious corporations, they retained the usufruct of their respective monasteries so long as there should remain any of the professed brethren composing the religious family in 1860. This right has been clearly recognised by the courts ; hence government ia forced to restore to them the respective convents, but it is thought that rather than transfer elsewhere the college of Assisi, the monastery will be expropriated on the ground of public utility. The Oblate 3of Tor dei Specchi, or of St. Frances of Rome, have likewise gained their suit against the Giunta for Liquidation of Ecclesiastical property, the Tribunals of last appeal having decided that, as Oblmtes, they do not fall under the law of suppression ; the like will apply to the Oblates of the Bambino Gesu and of the Sette Dolori, both communities having been already liquidated. No doubt some new pretext will be found to avoid restoring the property seized. Meanwhile the work of spoliation goes on, the Lazzarists hare lost two-thirds of their convent on Montecitorio, the only house yet left to them, and will no longer be able to assemble the Roman clergy for spiritual retreats. The Convent of St. Fietro in Montorio (titular Church, of Cardinal Cullen, Archbishop of Dublin), belonging to the Franciscans of the Reformed Branch, and the residence of those Fathers engaged in foreign missions, was to have been taken possession of by the Giunta a few days since. Ifc is hoped that foreign protection may -possibly save ,t, as it is under the direct patronage of Spain ; a patronage already Recognised by the Italian Government. — C N. Y. Freeman.'

The ObibntaiT Hotel is now being fitted up with every convenience, in order that it may be made worthy of the patronage of all classes of the community, and will shortly be opened under the new management. The house is undergoing thorough renovation throughout, and a cafe and reading room ia being instituted for the convenience of commercial gentlemen and others. Neither expense nor pains is being spared to render the " Oriental " what a first-class hotel should be. — [Adti.] Histobioaii ! Tide " Jurors Reports and Awards, Hew Zealan Exhibition." Jurors : J. A. Bwen, J. Butterworth, T. C. Skinner 1 *' So far as the Colony is concerned, the dyeing of materials is almost entirely confined to the re-dyeing of Articles of Dress and Upholstery, a most useful art, for there are many kinds of material that lose their

colour before the texture is> half worn. G. Hirsobt, of Dunedin (Dttnedin Dxc Wobes, George stre er, opposite Royal George Hotel) exhibits a case of specimens of Dyed Wools, Silks, and Feathers, and dyed Sheepskins. The colors on the whole are very fair, and reflect considerable credit on the Exhibitor, to 'whom the Jurors recommended an Honorary Certificate should be awarded." Honorary Certificate, 629 : Gustav Hirsch Dunedin, for specimens of Dyeiag in Silk feathers, &c.

"Dttke ov Edinburgh." — The old 1 wooden structure that did duty as the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel, in .Russell-sfcreet for so many years, has, we are pleased to observe, grr* n place to a new brick building, erected at considerable cost, in ordei' to meet the rapidly increasing requirements of this popular and important part of the cV;5t The present proprietor, Me D. Habbis, has spai'edno reasonable ex^ pense in furnishing and fitting the building with e\ cry modern comfort and convenience. The situation is extremely healthy, and commands splendid views of the ocean and harbour, and is within easy reach of the business part of the city. Persons in pursuit of a respectable and comfortable residence will do well to go to the "Duke of Edinburgh" Hotel, Russell-street, Dunedin. — [Advt.]