The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1880-08-17 00:00:00

Littrature.

PsTince Or rfix POOL—It has been cruelly and
falsely said (generally in excuse for some harsh conduct
or neglect upon our own parts towards them) that the
poor do not feel so acutely as their betters ; that
domestic calamities fall lighter on them; and that
even disease does not wring them with such pain as it
causes more tenderly nurtured bodies. The explana-
tion for this fallacy probably lies in the fact that their
troubles are so severe that ordinary woes seem by
comparison insignificant to them; • toothache that
makes us doubt the benevolence of the scheme of
creation is to them a toothache and nothing more;
and happy are they if they possess the shilling that
absolves them from the kind offices of an amateur
tooth-drawer; while to the rheumatism whose pangs
we resent so bitterly, the field labourer's back Is
bowed in patient acquiescence, as to an ill to which
his class is heir. On the other hand, it is certain that
the poor are not easily affected by mental anxiety; a
fortunate thing for thee whose livelihood so often
clepends on the caprice of a master. The carelessness
with which the domestic servant will leave her
"place," the readiness with which the workman will
throw up his employment, and trust to the chapter of
accidents for a new situation, are marvellous. Risks
do not appal them; misfortune, as a rule, throws no
shadow upon them until it is actually at their doors.
—Belgravia.

TEE DRAINAGE OP WESTMINSTER —Fever in West-
minster is not a novelty. But the bulletins of the fever
which has been running its course, within the past taw
days, in Downing-street, have been read with anxiety
over all the civilised world. At the time at which we
writ there seems reason to conclude that the appre-
hensions entertained by some persons of the typhoid
character of the fever that attacked Mr. Gladstone were
unfounded. We wish it were as easy to dispel any
apprehensions that the district in which the most
important public services of the state are mainly con-
ducted had been so wisely cared for by the sanitary
engineer that we might honestly say we hat cone our
best to ward off the attacks of preventible disease. So
far, however, is this from being the case, that we think
a very small amount of reflec:ion will be enough to load
to the conclusion that a reconsideration of the drainage
of Westminster is a matter of primary importance in the
behalf of the public heath. This view is founded on two
considerations, or orders of data The first of these
regards the condition of the low-lying parts of West-
ml before the accomplishment of the main drainage
of London. The second regards the principle on which
that main drainage has been carried out through the
district in question. As to the first, we can speak from
personal knowledge, extending over a considerable area,
and for many years. As to the second, we rely on the
unquestionab'e evidence of Sir .1. Basalgette.—Builder.

A Routes Enrages's JOILL— The grim humour of her
uncle—iu which, however, there was a cintilla of cruelty,
a ruspicion that the fun we more d.lci pus from the feet
that the feelings or Boils of others was lacerated—wee on
one or two occasions manifested by Anne. As a punish-
ment (Jr his religious apostasy, els nominated Prince
O mire., a nobleman of middle age and the wearer of an
histor;c name, court page and court buffoon. There are
few men h. r3;c enough to prefer death to life on dis-
honourable conditions when one or other of tho alterna-
tives must instantaneously be chosen ; and this prince
was of opinion that even the life of • public butt was
better than life in Siberia or no life at all. Indignant
that he wi re the cap an! 1 e'le with a smiling face an!
showed no sense of humiliation, the royal hunaluner, wlile
a broad grin on her broad face, and • malicious twinkle
in her blue eye, ordered him t 3 marry • girl of low
degree, promising to superintend and pay the expenses
of the marriage festivities, and t 3 present bins with a
palace of great brilliance and b. auty. The one she gore
him was brilliant enough when the sun shone oo it I Toe
festivities were conducted on a scale of national magnifi-
cence. More than 300 men and women were ordered up
from the several provinces of the emp re to St. Petersburg
to attend the nuptial. of the prince, and commanded to
come in the peculiar dress and costume of their districts.
On the wedding day the motley mob was assembled in the
courtyard of the palace, where the habblement of many
tongues and the want of • common dialect almost drove
the responsible managers of the rejoiciogs to distracti
and whence the wedding guests started in procesad n
through the principal streets of the city. At their head
marched the happy pair, locked together in • cue perched
on the shoulders of an elephant. The guests, brought
from their far glens and hills to make an hour's fun for
• queen, followed on 'dodges drawn by all manner cf
beasta—swine, calves, doze, reindeer, end bear,. 133 mis
from far Archangel were hoisted bn the busks of camelr,
fierce monstereof who's existence they wot not, end spent
an hour of concentrated agony there; their reluctance to
mount having bees overcome by 61/149 objurgation, which
fell harmlessly on ears blissfully ignorant of their mean.
incand by the f roe use of the cudgel, to the persuasive power
of which they responded. A salute of guns aonoueced
to the cilia ma the departure of the procession from the
pause; it was fired from four small cannon and two
mortars. The cannon could oriltr, hold balf-en-ounce of
powder without bursting, and • mortars threw little
wooden shells hardly as dangerous as a boy's squib; for
the murderous weapons were made of in.. Dancing and
drinking were kept up till an early hour in the morning,
when the bride and bridegroom were conducted home by
• military gum t to the mansion the Ensure had promised
them. It wu a chamber of two apartments, built of ice.
The furniture was of lee, the marriage bed was of ice, and
into it the young couple, in obedience to orders from head-
quarters, after being stripped, were duly plated, and
(wird. ANA sentry all night at the door to prevent them
seeking warmer shelter.--Gesseismosa's Negunee.