The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1877-03-06 00:00:00

ioeroet Conntg (bine

TIMSDAY, MARCH 6, 1877.

NOTES OF THE WEEK.
The flying visit of Her Majesty the Queen to
Buckingham Palace last week, for the purpose
of holding a Drawing-room, enlivened the I'Vest
End for a few days, and gave a fillip to this
Lenten end of the London Season. There is no
denying the fact that something of the sort was
desperately net ded. Up to this the Season has
been exceptionally dull, and the West End is
sadly feeling the effects which the uncertainity
.of events in the East may be said to have pro-
duced. After a week of suspense and the fear
that war was almost inevitable, the rebound to
a prospect of a certain, if not a lasting peace, has
not been as great as we might have expected.
On the first morning after the rumour of the
[ demobilization of the Russian army had reached
' the Stock Exchange, there was an attempt to go
in for a rise all round in foceign and risky
securities. But the knowing ones were on their
guard against it, and the market was not bulled
as it was expected it would be. In fact, the
impression is that the good news was known for
Some days before among the inner circle of
financiers, who kept the information to them-
selves. Cre‘lat .J.do tie may be our motto still
on the Stock Exchange. The Jews hold the
purse-strings of Europe, and they have used
their power with such effect at Berlin and
Vienna that Russia has had to draw in at the
last moment, and, for the present at least, the
war cloudhas blown over.
A roving, company if players arrived in Torda
a small plate situated, to use the words of
Shakspere, "near the desert coast of Bohemia,"
a short time ago, and announced that they would
have the honour of performing before an
intelligent Torda audience that evening. The
Mtecenas above mentioned, and whose har-
monious name is Nlarinka Miami, alone formed
the whole of the intelligent audience. After
waiting in vain for a more numerous one, the
stage-manager advanced before the curtain and
spoke Stout party in the boxes, as you are
the only person in the house, and as the price
you have paid for admission would not pay for
the candles, there will be no performance this
evening. Your money will be returned to you
at the door." "Fr how much will yon play
me the piece," asked 3larinka Baesci, 'For fifty
florins," was the answer. "Yell, go a-head,
said the solitary public; " I'll pay." The piece
began, but the first act was not ended when the
public cried, " I've had enough of that act, begin
the next one.' The second interested him so
much that he had several scenes of it played
twice over. In the middle of the third act he
called out, "That's enough, let the curtain
down, and all follow me." lie took the poor
players to the best eating establishment in the
place, paid them the fifty florins agreed on, and
gave them besides a supper the bill for which
amounted to another forty florins. We commend
this generous patron of the drama to the grateful
I remembrance of players everywhere.
[ A return just issued shows that the strength
of the militia last year was 125,179, but of that
number only 93,149 were present at training,
13,827 being absent (2,403 on leave, and 11,364
without), and 19,622 being wanted to complete
the establishment. 'During tho year 31,041
militia reserve men were enrolled, of whom
28,114 were found effective, 1,399 were absent
from training, 3,989 were wanting to complete
the establishment (30,171), and 1,211 were from
various collies found unfit for inspection.
Has the Trince of Wales been impressed by Mr.
Gladstone's remarks at Marlborough the other (lay in
ilisperageineut if Eton; or has he been impressed by
the good elre,is of a nautical training in the case of
his favouribe brother, the Duke of Edinburgh! At
any rate, he is going to make his two boys naval
cadets, instead of sending them to Eton; and very
probably a much better thing for them, too. They
will perhaps join the new training ship Brittania,
which is to be stationed at Dart 1111 l nth. The climate
of South Devon inc would think is too mild and
humid for the residence of young tan.
St. Patrick's Day in Ireland is not a more popular
holiday than St. David's Day in Wales. The Welsh
have no grievonces; they can hardly be sail to possess I
any distinctive polities, except a general tendency to
a mud kind of Liberalism ; they sigh over the memory
of no deparated Parliainent, for they never had one;
they are net embarrassed by any historical traditions,
tor no one knows anything of Welsh histstry beyonsl
the reign of Edward 1.. except in the pnlicitsdity ;
they have uo modern episodes if rebellion or riot to
glory in inpre serious than the rising of Rebecca's
Dangliterer (the sai4 daughter* being men attired in
shifts as exterior garments) and the disorderly conduct
of Mr. Priest and his friend at Newport in the time
of the Chirtists. Indeed, Welsh na,ional sentiment
seems mainly to consist in a characteristically shilds.re
determination not to renounce what to an Englishman
is an uncouth and barbarous language, and an e(pially
tinn resolution to charge the " Sassenach7 exorbi ant
prices on the score of their foreign extraction. And
yet on the let ..f March every year there is as much
fuss and festivity in every. town and village in Wales
as though great politicsal Issues were involved in the
maintenance of the national vitality, and as though to
have been lon, it Welshman were a subject for devout
thankfulness to I'roviderne. The really non-political
character Of Wales is best illustrated by the fact that
it is • country without a capital. We admit that we
are profoundly ignorant of the histoiry• of the Cyniraeg,
hut we never heard or read that Wales ever hail a
capital. In point of fact, however, London is the
capital of Wales. There must he inure Welshmen in
London than there are in any town in the Principality,
and the Isoidon Welsh always make a demonstration
on St. 'mod.. 1/ay. The Society if Ancient Brits ins
dines at 'Willis's-p.m.,. Its members say and sing
intensely gushing and patriotic things about their
country. l'hey assure the Saxons of their continued
goodwill and loyalty towards the reigning house, and
drink tic,, ,e health lif • their own Prince." The society
is 162 years 0141 It was founded in the ardour of
Hanoverian enthusiasm, for the Welsh to a man
were l'rorestants and anti-Jacoldtes. Lord Dynevor,
who presided (in Thursday evening, is certainly an
Ancient Briton. lie is considerably the wrong side
of 70. He is a thorough Welshman, with a very long
pedigree, But Welsh pedigrees are excruciating.
Since we casually read one the other chap anim..ity
Um-anis the Phonetic Spelling Society has materially
diminished.
Mr. Smith—Cremorne Smith as he is better known
—has made a bold dash at the City. Ile has taken the I
vaults of the Royal Exchange, has called in the carver I
and gilder to decorate these shades, and hopes by the
attraction of pretty barmaas, and what with syrens
and songs, to make a Capera of the City. The friends
of temperance have been, however, before hand with
him. Mr. Roslwell said a deputatbm of City clergy
waited on the horst Mayor to remonatrate, and tisi
Lord Mayor himself in the wine trade, ardently sides
with the clergy, though the sully redress he could offer
was to speak to the licensing magistrates on the:
subject. We can only hope that Cremorne will not be'
allowed to invade the City. Is it not enough that it
has oue t.'a,pel Count?
M. Arago, the Fr nick statesman (nephew of the astrono-
mer) thOugh tri years old is still • very handsome man,
and possums • nose of which he is justly proud. A few
days ago he was travelling by tram to Versailles, when
• child, who was in the same carriage, who had
watched Arago for some tour with dilated eyes, began
to hoWl. In vain did the child's mother. Arico, and
soother senator endeavour to Calm the perturbed juvenile.
Arago tried to cusses the *wailer, but that only
made matters wens. The poor 'mother was in despair,
and as the shrieks grew more and more piercing Amigo
felt ),oend to interfere and we what he could do. He
said to the child "What ails you iny child) Are you
afraid of me. I don't look very naughty, its I)'. Thus
addressed the child sobbed out ' Take off your nose. "
Arago looked at the mother, who grew very confused and
said " lb, Monsieur I excuse me, excuse my son. " "But,
Madame (said Arap(), what does he mean I" The mother
then explained that she had during the carnival taken hex
child to see a number of persons in masks and with false
noses. and he had got so excited that he could think of
nothing else. "By an unfortunate occurrence, " she added.
"we got into the same c irriage as you, who, for no doubt
some mood reason, are prolonging the carnival. But you
see what a deporable mult has followed. Get me. then,
beg of you to have pity on a poor inother and take off Pont
nose.' "But, Madame," raid Ammo stupefied —"
Little • and my rbild will have c.nivulsionie," shrieked
the is r, "Take of your false nose." "hut, Madame,
(said si in despair), that is ilow,s‘illle ; that is not *
false ,it is nil own." " I topossibk !impossible." cried
sad lamp. " Touch it." said Amigo. The lady gave
, the Senator's nose, lint it did not come off in het
she expts•ted. "A thousand pardons" she sail,
ray, oh pray, bide it with your hat" So Arm*
mei his journey with his nose in his hat, and the
howls gradually subsided. Arago himself tells the
••lo much glee.
DOBOIIBBTE.II.
depth of rain that fell luring February this
1.70 inches; the same month last year
—lir. G. J. G. Gregory, who for • Pine
years has so kindly lookpl after the Walks—was on
Thursday evening, at a c omplimentary dinner—pre-
sented in a thandsome service of plate valued at 40
guinea., as a slight recognition of his labour. The
Rev. H. P. Raikes occupied the chair at a babquet
the Kings Arms Hotel, where Mr. Gregory's
assembled. The proceedings were most har.

towa-ram

more
mother,
I *rap'
. Aft UMW, it
the agonised
a pull at '-
haw], se s.
i.nt pray,
continue.'
chibl's hoe
tory with
Tut
year Was
inchet.
PRII.SENV

held at
friends
monious.
Corm twin
Hard Lobo,
on board
Hayslop, or J 1
month, Mahala
and Thomas P
1 calendar ma.
In Stnrminster
misbehaviour
and Job
Prank _
, Acurross
tion to '
nothing.
Lodge,
the old 0.
auditorship
Hodges, wh
' succession a
Mr. Geomin
as illimsm‘ •

TO Till Doltsrr Comm PatsoL4—
Lahoor ; George Adams, disobeying comman4
'rd ship at Weymouth, 12 weeks; George
or John Jones, unlawful enlistment at Wey.
'•habs Grace, riotous conduct at Portland,
If aysom, drunk and riotous at Swanage,
month each; Charles West, misbehaviour
`er Union, 21 days; Theodore Burge,
—..our in Sturminster Cnion, Nelson Cooper
tohn Cooper, vagrancy at Shroton, 14 days smelt •
• Hoare, stealing fowls at Hampreston,
rroas AND AISSEMOSIL—The rumoured
the return of the
_ipilsedwg bargains, cuss
• Mr. Mine Mimi Graves, of Gre
a promising nffineglas heizeliss one added
official team, to mossy in
hip consequent oulutleVilecansed Mr. Oi
who had served that °Min arms' •
as also has hir. Maweep. ear
limy Davis. Bak
Jaw Fodor AM Qat

day,:
oPPoni-
ame to
Grove
Idea to
in the
Charles
years in
_ colleague,
gentlemen, as well
COZI maim do:kW