Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

10 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

- LITERARY EXTRACTS. -

Newyddion
Dyfynnu
Rhannu

LITERARY EXTRACTS. F^THI AUSTRIAN EMPEROR. — Francis Joseph I., iperor and King, is a man of great intellect and ength of mind, a lover of all that is most beautiful Nature and art, a soldier of the utmost intrepidity, ength of mind, a lover of all that is most beautiful Nature and art, a soldier of the utmost intrepidity, lift he has on more than one occasion proved by his personal bravery in the field of battle a diplomatist and a statesman of deep thought and foresight, a totary to sport of every kind, a sovereign with a heart that beats as truly for the lowest of his subjects as tor the highest, a kind master, a sincere friend. Many are the anecdotes in illustration of these qualities, but space allows me to mention only a few for the truth of which I can vouch. One day the Emperor encountered two poachers on his own domain. As soon as they recognised their sovereign, they threw themselves on their knees to entreat his pardon. They were both old soldiers and fathers of large families who had suffered greatly through the agri- cultural depression, and in their need they bad yielded to the temptation to procure sjia^enance by poaching. Francis Joseph allowed them to depart, only taking their names and addresses. In terror and fear they awaited their arrest and sentence, but after a few days they were notified of their appoint- ment as gamekeepers to the Emperor, the latter having ascertained the truth of their statements, and found that they had bravely served him through the san- guinary war of 1866. One stormy and rainy day when the Emperor was driving to Schonbrunn, he came upon a fire-engine unable to proceed on its way to a conflagration through the wheels having sunk so deeply into the mire that the horses had not strength enough to extricate it. He at once stopped his carriage, ordered his horses to be taken out and harnessed to the engine and used to assist in bring- ing it to the site of the fire, whilst for himself he hired a hackney conveyance and drove to his destina- tion. That he refused for years to sign warrants for judicial executions is well known, and his deeds of benevolence are innumerable. During the outbreak of cholera he visited personally the hospitals and spoke words of encouragement to the sufferers. He hastened to the flooded town of Scegedin in Hungary and assisted with his own hands in the rescue of those in danger. His purse is ever open for the alleviation of suffering and pain. It was not seldom during the warr that he ordered his own stores of delicacies and wines to be given to the wounded of all ranks and partook himself of the simple fare of his soldiers. He moves freely and unostentatiously amongst his people, very rarely and only on State occasions escorted by guards, never surrounded or fbllnwed by secret police. Only last year I heard one of the ambassadors who had spent many years at the Austrian Court, say he felt certain the Emperor was the only person he knew who had no enemy. This truly expresses the position of this monarch. Very extraordinary is his knowledge of languages. He tpeaks fluently every one of the many used in his realm, besides French and English; the Empress, like her husband, a great linguist, adds to these ancient and modern Greek. At one of the great military pteviews near Vienna, when the troops numbered over 30,000, I heard the Emperor addressing five different iments in their respective tongues,—viz., German, Hungarian, Bohemian, Wallachian, and Italian. He always been remarkable in the selection of his ministers, councillors, and friends, and it is not with- out interest for our own country to find tha this most intimate boy friend, and later for many years his prime minister, was an Irish peer—Viscount Taafe. —Casseirs Family Magazine. CLERGYMEN AS ATHLETES.—The clergyman of this end of the nineteenth century is a very different man from his predecessor of 70 or 80 years ago. There is hardly a place of worship in the country which has net some form of athletics connected with it, and there is no doubt that the appointment of a curate who can "handle a bat is always popular with the young people of any congregation. There are two or three clergymen who figure very prominently in first- class cricket. For instance, the Rev. W. Eashleigh, who plays for Kent, is one of the finest batsmen the hop-county possesses. He always plays a brilliant game, and from his University days up to the present time has gradually improved. The Rev. A. P. Wickham, Somerset's wicket-keeper, is equally well known, and there are few men who are smarter with the gloves than this popular parson. Clergymen do not seem to be so fond of football, probably because they are more likely to be incapacitated from per- forming their ordinary ministerial functions by exer- cise in this direction. In the north of England, however, some of the younger clergy are connected younger clergy are connected with the local clubs, and Yorkshire people are very proud of the fact that Dr. Boyd Carpenter, the Bishop cf Ripon, was oace a famous football player. The Hon. and Rev. E. Lyttelton occasionally plays, but not nearly to the same extent as he used to do. With cycling, how- ever, it is somewhat different. It is no exaggeration to say that thousands of ministers of all denomina- tions ride bicycles and occasionally tricycles. One curate who lives in Suffolk on two or three occasions has even been seen racing on London cycle-tracks, and although he can hardly lay claim to being in the foremost rank of racing cyclists, he is not an oppon- ent to be despised. During the past two or three years scores of clergymen who cycle have held special services for their fellow-wheelmen, and many a quiet country church has had its walls surrounded with machines of all makes, while the service- has proceeded inside. On one occasion, Win- chester Cathedral was so used. The Bishop of Colchester was the first bishop to cycle. For many years he rode a bicycle when he was Rector of Chelmsford, and when he was appointed to the suffragan bishopric of the diocese of St. Albans evidently saw no reason why he should drop the pastime. It was even suggested that the gaiters of a bishop formed an ideal cycling costume, and certainly they are better than the usual black trousers of a parson. He has been quickly followed by Dr. Bardsley, the Bishop of Carlisle, and by Dr. Boyd Carpenter, Bishop of Ripon, who are passion- ately fond of a spin on their machines. Probably the example of the Dean of Ripon, Dr. Freemantle, who has cycled for some time, induced the latter bishop to ride a safety. The most remarkable epis- copal cyclist, however, is Dr. Ellicott, the Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol, who quite recently—at the age of 78—has taken to riding a bicycle. Dr. Browne, the Bishop of Stepney, occasionally rides a tricycle. Very few people are aware that Mr. H. C. L. Tindall, who holds nearly all the short distance amateur running records, is a curate in Sussex, and took holy orders some time ago. One or two of his records have been beaten in America, but some of Mr. Tindall's achievements have never been beaten in this country either by professionals or amateurs. Mr. iTindall has an enormous number of prizes which he gained at different athletic meetings all over England, and he is certainly one of the finest runners ever seen at either of the Universities. Several clergymen have figured in the Oxford and Cambridge boat-race. One is the Rev. F. C. Jackson, the Rector of Great Stan- more, near Harrow, but in spite of the fact that he did not stroke his boat in victory, he was the finest oar of his year. Mr. Jackson is now noted for being the cleverest clerical painter, some of his pictures having been hung on the walls of the Academy.— Cassell's Saturday Journal. SUNSTROKE. Sunstroke or heatstroke is, in all hot countries, a very fatal disease. Soldiers oppressed by the weight of clothes and accoutrements when marching or fighting are often victims. Workmen, and artificers, and stokers employed in heated rooms, also suffer. It is commom enough in India during the hot season, and cases sometimes occur in England during the heat of the summer. A dry air is more readily tolerated than one loaded with moisture. Healthy vigorous people can bear a higher degree of heat, especially if they lead regular lives; while the sick and weakly qdickly succumb. Acclimatisation has considerable influence in establishing toleration, new arrivals always suffering more than those who are accustomed to the climate. It is well known that a Dative can bear an amount of sun on his shorn head, neck, and half-naked body which would quickly prostrate a European. But to a temperature rising above a certain degree all succumb, and the natives of India suffer like others, and die from loomarna, or hot wind stroke. In the old army days the mortality from sunstroke was very often great. A well- known authority says "In a large proportion of cases, from the commencement of the attack to the termination in death, the patient nover moved a limb, or even an eyelid. In former times bleeding was always resorted to in cases of sunstroke, but is now discarded. A few years ago a series of cases occurred on board a steamer in the Red Sea. This treatment was adopted, and a fatal result followed in every in- stance. Dr. Maclean says During active service in the presence of the enemy an officer of rank had sun- stroke. The assistant surgeon in medical charge of the battery Wbere this happened had the sufferer in- stantly removed to the nearest shade, stripped him, used the douche freely, and had the satisfaction to see his patient revive and consciousness return. An official Superior, an older, nut a better physician, unhappily coming up at this critical moment, insisted on open- ing a vein a few ounces of blood trickled away, and 80 did the hfe of the officer. Mortal syncope imme- diately followed the operation.' The best treatment consists in the plentiful administration of cold water. The patient should at once be carried to the nearest shade, stripped, and freely douched over the head, neck, and chest with cold water. He should be given plenty of water to drink and should it induce vomit- ive, so much the better. A blister or mustard poul- tice of the neck may be useful. Sunstroke i* often foht"'ze^ by prolonged incapacity for work of any kind, eitb er Physical or mental.—Cassetl's Book of the Househt ■ Wi know ^e unseen world is ruled by the same laws wh 'c^ aB here. In that world we may exnec* J u.spline, but we need fear no evil.—Dr. John Hunter. same laws wh ich rule us here. In that world we may exnec* J u.spline, but we need fear no evil.—Dr. John Hunter. FIRST IMPRESSIONS.—Nearly fifty years ago a larg" company of artists set forth from Rome for a day's pleasure in the country. While they were lunching one of the donkeys on which the men had ridden kicked over a beehive. The bees hurried to revenge t heinselves. and put all but one of the donkeys to flight. The hundredth donkey was unable to free himself, and the whole swarm fell upon him. picnic party also fled, with the exception of a fair, curly-haired youth dressed in velvet, who, slipping on "Wes and tying a handkerchief over his face, ran to liberate the poor little animal. Giovanni Costa, who tells the story, started to perform the same iillice, but less resolutely, having no gloves; so he met the young knight as he returned, con- gratulated him, and inquiring his name, was answered, Frederick Leighton." If the Italian had been asked to what be owed his long friendship with the Englishman, he would have referred to that first favourable impres- sion. Leighton had painted no less admirably before this littJe adventure; his face had been no less comely his social qualities no less marked but for his simple act of humanity Costa would probably never have noticed him. Byron says that the man who made the best first impression upon him after- ward picked his pocket, but this is only one of the exceptions which prove the rule. Being habitually what we are occasionally, our characters are apt to be revealed in slight actions while first impressions, be they true or false, are generally lasting. Oh, yes," said a young man, recently. Milly may be a devoted daughter, but I can never forget the tone in which she said Nonsense to her mother in my presence," while of the elder lady he added, Co I talked with her only five minutes, and never saw her again, but I loved her." She may prove stupid, but I engaged her the moment I heard her pleasant voice.' said a housekeeper of her new cook. Answer this letter at once," directed an editor. I like the handwriting." These are all the merest trifles. So is the bloom on a cluster of grapes, but it tempts one to the taking; so is the odour of smoke about the breakfast toast, but it condemns the housekeeper. So is neatness of detail about the dress of a girl, but how inestimably does it count in her favour So was the kindly rescue of a tormented little donkey by the future President of the Royal Academy, but it brought him a valued friend. It is no small thing, then, the first impression. It may lead to influence, friendship, fortune: or it may result in antipathy, loneliness, misjudgment. When- ever we honourably can, let us see to it that other are impressed in our favour rather than to our detri- ment and undoing. WONDERFUL SLEIGHT OF HAND,—Fifty years ago the most famous magician of Europe was an Austrian named Bosco. His sleight of hand was wonderful. W hile conversing with a person he would distract his attention; then, by an almost imperceptible movement of his band, abstract some ornament from his person, and place it wherever he, Bosco, wished. An exhibition of his art, given at the English embassy in Constantinople, is described by Sir John Drummond Hay, then an attache. Lord Ponsonby, the English ambassador, invited Bosco, who was a gentleman by birth, to dinner to meet a large party, requesting that he would entertain the company after dinner by his sleight of hand. Bosco arrived before dinner was announced, was introduced, and entered into conversation with several of the guests. During dinner he was quiet, and took no part in the general conversation but just as the ladies were preparing to retire, he rose, and turning to the ambassador, said: I beg your Excellency's per- mission to say a few words before the company leave the table. It would be an act of ingratitude on my part, seeing that I have been honoured by your Excellency, were I to conceal from your lordship proceedings that have been passing both before and during dinner, and which might be stigmatised as criminal. Even Lord Ponsonby was disturbed by the gravity of the speaker, and thought that the man had suddenly became insane. "Your lordship," con- tinued Bosco, "must admit that this grave charge is not without foundation when I assort that in the coat pockets, or the breasts of the waistcoats, of several of the gentlemen there will be found some of your lordship's spoons—and the selection has not been confined to the clean ones alone. All the male guests at once put their hands into their pockets, and several of them extracted spoons and forks still greasy from use, salt-spoons, and tops of cruets. Great merriment followed, and the ladies laughed heartily at the unfortunate men. Then turning to the ladies, Bosco said: That noble lady opposite ought not to laugh at the disclosure, seeing that she has secreted in the bodice of her dress the bouquet of one of the gentlemen, who has been searching in vain for it; having probably received the flowers from another fair hand." The lady flushed angrily but she found the lost bouquet concealed in the folds of her dress. Then addressing another, he said, Madam, you cannot be justified in speaking harshly of the gentlemen who took his lordship's spoons, since you will find, concealed in your hair, an orna- ment belonging to that lady upon whose person sparkle so many beautiful jewels." The astonished lady found the ornament fixed in her hair. WEALTH OF IMPERIAL FAMILIES.—The means of the Russian Imperial family are of the richest in the world. Apart altogether from the civil, list, which usually amounts to £1,500,000 a year, but which may, of course, be increased by Imperial order, the home of Romanhoff owns 21,000,000 acres in different parts of Russia, which, under a system laid down in the reign of the Emperor Paul, are managed by a special bureau, called that of the Imperial Appanages, which is controlled by a Minister, who reports to the t Emperor alone, and takes no orders from the Ministry of Finance. The Ministry of Appanages now enjoys a revenue of more than £2,000,000, out I of which 46 Grand Dukes and Duchesses are sup- I ported, at an average cost in all of £500,000, or say £11,000 a year per Prince or Princes. The remain- ing income is suffered to accumulate, in order to meet the constantly-increasing number of members of the Imperial family, who are by no means always satisfied with their donations. The sums, though large, are not derived from taxation, and are probably less than those er,joyed by the Hapsburg, who are, as a corporation, immense landowners, not to mention the great fortunes of two or three branches of the family, or than those of the house of Othman. The revenue of the Hohen- zollern exceeds £1,000,000, and that of the house of Savoy is more than £600,000 a ye&r, the British house being, among the greater sovereign houses, bv far the poorest. Fifty years hence 1 he question of appanages will be a serious embarrassment to the dynasties, and will probably lead to a yreat relaxation of the royal marriage laws. Then the American heiresses, who by that time will possess half South America, will indeed have a chance.—Spectator. MR. GLADSTONE AND THE QUEEN.—Most of my political friends in England in the '80'? were under the banner of Mr. Gladstone. The Queen had, I believe, no Premier so devotedly, so chivalrously her servant. His feeling of allegiance to her never varied but it was a Scotch form of devotion, and not in the least that of a courtier, although Mr. Gladstone is a man of polished manners and beautiful urbanity. But he had stood so much in the presence of God, and so realised that presence, that regal station must have seemed a small thing in his eyes. He respected it, and almost venerated it but it was dwarfed by his religious feeling, and of small account compared to the moral elevation that the Queen's troubles during her widowhood have added to her original character. The mental complexion of Mr. Gladstone is not English, but Scotch. He can be humbly dutiful to the Queen, but he cannot fawn before her as Lord Russell and other Prime Ministers did. She is so accustomed to flattery as doubtless to be like a person who. after being long in a hothouse, goes into the nipping air. I have never heard that she complained of any want of dutiful submission in the manner of Mr. Gladstone, but that it was what was behind it that she did not like. Certainly his loyalty was clear-seeing and free-thinking, and free from the idolatrous element so common in England—a country that, being weaned prematurely from the saints and angels of Roman Catholicism, has taken to the base worship of loyalty and nobility. The Queen is a careful and provident mother. One of her old causes of dissatisfaction with Mr. Gladstone was this She could never, when the settlement of a younger child was before the House of Commons, get im have the allowances of all her family agreed oonce and for all. He was too much impressed with the esira l i y of the House of Commons holding in u,r_,thin £ 8> the power of the purse. The Pu n Jt down was, no doubt, unpleasant to the Queen and would hare seemed to her unnecessary, for her famdy are obedient to her and in public follow her and the late Prince's example. But there is a possibility of her having descendants more self- willed and less estimable or amiable. She has been blessed, indeed, m the docility and respect of her aons and in the affectionate companionship of her daughters. But, one way or another, the Queen's family were, when young, under nuny disciplinary restrictions, tempered always with parental affection a feature of Royal family life which was new when the Queen first appeared as a mother. Who can say that Mr. Gladstone's evasion of the request to settle the whole question of Civil List allowances was not a wholesome restraint on the young princes ? —Mrs. Emily Crawford in the Contemporary Review.

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