The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1878-01-01 00:00:00

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Vaud Countg Expresso.

YUNSDAY. JANUARY 1, MR

NOTES OF THE WHIM

The Lastest, discussing "The Drink Qusseviee,n
gives the following formal jud ‘
gment ' Alcohol
in any shape or form should never be taken
except at meals, and, we believe, preferably at
only one meal in the day. The habit of drank-
iitg in the forenoon is pernicious in the extreme, I
and in our opinion wine or beer is beet avoided
at luncheon. In quality there are two things
to be considered, combination and dilution of
the alcohol, and digestibility of the liquor.
That natural light wines and light ales are
better, when they. do not disturb digestion by
their ether ingiedienta, than alcohol every one
will admit; sad where thee* disagree, recourse
must be had to stronger liquor diluted. In the
opinion of many foreign authorities, much of
the evil of drinking in England is due to the
fiery sad potent nature of our habitual drinks.
As to the quantity, it is more difficult to lay
down any rule, for that which may be taken
I with benefit by one person, or at one time, may
injure at another. The quantity which is
usually taken at a dinner party would, if taken
habitually, be undoubted excess. For young
and active men a glass of beer, or one or two
glasses of claret, at dinner is, we believe, an
ample supply; while men of middle age may
with advantage "stop at the third ear " of
claret, sherry, or port, and fear no ill result
I But beyond such general injunctions, the
infinite variety of constitution, habit, and diges-
tion would make any detailed prescription
worthless. The ultimate test in every case must
be experience, and until men have enough moral
control and discretion to limit their drinking to
that which they absolutely requre, all direction
and rebuke will be thrown away.

The Duke of Ocenaught is delighting the public of
Panany by teldm his part in amateur theatricals in
the Assembly Rooms if that may town au the
Backwater. Amateur theatrimL wars once famous
In the south of Ireland. It wee float the easateur
theatricals of Hillmany that the marriage of Sir
William W. Beecher with the celebrated Mhi O'Neil
twaseabout The Duke of Connaught is making himself
partioulary popular in Finney by falling in with the
national taste.

Mr. Gladstone has written an important letter to
lir H. J. Wilson, secretary, of the Sheffield Liberal
Association in which be says :—The summonimi.:,ast
Parliament at somewhat early date has
asnounced with peculiar incidents, and it is reason-
aSly supposed that Her Majesty's Minister has
determined on this proceeding with the intention or
toe likelihood of proposing meernaree which would have
tendency toward. war and increased taxation. The
effect of the announoment, as we see, has already
been to excite in Turkey lapse of our intervention
which we have no right to raim unless we have • sure
prospect of fulfilling them. To all such meeetwes,
, and whatever name, my belief is that all we who
have taken the part of the subject races in the Turkish
Empire are resolutely opposed; I believe also that
we shall, if necessary. take any legitimate step to obtain
• declaration of national opinion In that sense. I
trust, that though time in thne matters is precious,
yet some more days will be afforded for the action of
persons who usually concur with the Government but
who deprecate any comprise of our present neutrality,
and of bodies unconnected with politics erLirt Ferrates
the tendency of such a proceeding to yes the
Industry and increase the burdens of country,
re-Imposition tits onesug adutthey. Irrqs ;Tarr however,
that thet such • juncture cannot be greatly
prolonged
The Mansion-home Indian Famine Fund has
reached £496,230, and the total subscriptions sent
to India from all parts of the world amount to
ifloo,ooo.

The return for the pant year of efficient volunteen
shows an increase of 8,626 of all ranks, At the date
of the return the enrolled strength was 193,026, of
whom 18.2,810, or 91.70, were efficient ; 159,378, or
or 8216 percent, having been present at the Govern-
ment inspection, The proficient, have also increa•ed,
5,195 officer. and 11.111 sergeants now holding the
certificate entitling the holder to the extra grant of
505., against 4.947 and 10,518 respectfully in 1876.
The gross total of strea;rth is inade up by Light
Horse, 629; Artillery, 36,433 ; Kngineers. 7,960'
Mounted Effie., 144 ; Rifles, 147 296; and Unattached
Staff, 1,364; the ag.gregate showing 193,026. The
ratio of efficiency in the various arms la—Light Horse,
fCI 14 ; Artillery, 91 28 ; Engineers, 94.36; Mounted
Rifles, 72.91; and Rifles, 94.88 per cent.

When the Speaker meets the House of Commons
there will not be a single new meml.er to introduce to
him. For not a single election will have occurred
during the receas—an event unprecedented in Parlia-
mentary annals. It is the more remarkable because
there a.• some men in the Hones of very advanced
z:r.a.,rs:_ Mr. Bates will neat year be 79; iSir Thomas
817181; Mr. G. P. Boothia. 75; Sir H. S. Dad*
~ Erle-Draz. 78; Colonel Gilpin, 77; Mr.
Henley, 85; Mr. Hughes, 81 ; Mr. McLaren, 78' Mr.
Seel., ; Mr. Villas, 76; Sir M. Wilson, 76. There
are a large number of other 51. P.'s between 70 and 75
years of age. Then, too, it mast be remembered that
the House contain, many ekket sons of aged peers—
like Lord Bandon, whose father will be 80 next Lelrdr
and Lord Elcho, whose father will be 81
Helper, aged 77 ; Lord Cottesloe, aged 80; Lord Erns.
aged 76; and Lord Penrhyn, wend 79, also have their
eldest sons in the Hones of Commons. Thus there
are nearly 20 men 75 years old or upwards whose
deaths would cause a recency in the Lower House.