The Sun.
London, England, 1871-01-25 00:00:00

DRAWING-ROOM ALCOIIOLISINI.

Vice in women is almost more fatal to social safety than
crime in men, for custom is more than law in the conduct
of a people, and women—especially the women of the
upper classes—have large control over custom. The rich
escape the publicity of their practices which befalls our
poor, and consequently we cannot so well guess at the
causes of that failure in duty at home, and indiscretion
abroad, which appears to be on the increase ; but there is
reason to believe that the frequent "pick me up," the
midday and afternoon sherry or champagne, may have
much to do with the pace at which young men and
maidens, old men and children, Mayfair mothers and
Belgravian beauties, are posting downhill. It is probably
a misfortune for women that in their own homes they
have less employment than they had in other days
before machinery interfered to do everybody's
work. There is not incumbent on them the same
duty to be useful, but there still remains for
them the duty to ,be as ornamental as is consistent
with fashion. Supposing the lady of the house never
exceeds the sherry she can carry with dignity and self-
approval, and gets decently through her daily round of
deadly-lively occupation, she remains a proof that a
woman with a taste for strong liquors has seldom any
other taste. Her maid puts on her clothes, but she is
careless of her appearance, and even liable to personal un-
kemptness. She is often unpnnctual, fractious before her
dram, and dull afterwards. She does not cultivate
friends or acquaintances who could be any check to her prac-
tices. She likes her mankind to be much away from the house,
and if they take no notice of the quantity of wine consumed
in their establishment she will be affectionate, if rather
stupid, to them. Of what is pure and noble in life she
loses appreciation, while all that is animal is intensified in
her. If she has children, they will probably suffer from
constitutional depression and weakness, and " tone " will
be plentifully supplied by port wine, and even brandy,
from their infancy up. With the career of the boys we
are not here concerned, but of the girls what may or may
not be prophesied ? If they have escaped positive disease
by the time they are launched in the world, they will
be, at all events, dependent for their " go " in society
on copious champagne and frequent sherry. Naturally
they will join the increasing mob of fast girls, with all
that is involved in that evil. We are sensible of a distinct
moral relaxation among women, and a new sort of un-
womanly recklessness in the presence of men. We com-
plain of a prevalent coarseness even among, the virtuous,
not only of manner, but of imagination and pursuits, and
we are sometimes tempted to prefer the age of Nell
Gwynne or Madame Pampadour to the actual confusion
of daredevil women and unabashed spinsters. It would
seem that alcoh.ol has something to do with this disorder,
for the physical effects of it on women are
proved by medical investigation to be p.recisely
what would denaturalize them. We know how
repulsive are most forms of mania in women, and, hard
as the saying may seem, the development of impulse and
the lessened self-control which follow the slightest excess
in strong drink are symptoms of a brain: excitement that
is the precursor of disease. A line, we think, can be
drawn ; and it is certainly time to observe the limits
where wine ceases to be useful as a stimulant of circula-
tion, and becomes poisonous as a narcotic, and morally
ruinous. What appeal can we make that will be
most likely to succeed? Let every woman who,
from whatever cause, finds herself increasing
her old quantity of drink, take timely alarm.
In the earlier stages of dipsomania the victim will ra-
tionally acknowledge every fact connected with it, and
will even expatiate on its horrid possibilities, but five
minutes after she will swallow an increased dose of the
confessed poison. Education and intelligence are rather
against her than otherwise, for they snake her believe that
she at least is safe. It is a bad sign when little is drunk
at meals by a lady whose flushed face and full eye and
hot hand betray that alcohol has been freely
applied to her blood, whose loosened tongue
and slightly reckless manner announce unhealthy
brain action. Had she taken her allowance of
wine with food, its effects would not have beers so power-
ful or so immediate. It is easy to guess how deceit be-
comes as habitual as her vice, and how her daily life is a
struggle to secure her dose at any cost of self-respect.
She is continually driven to act a part, and is never at
ease except when she arrives at the " tone " she requires.
To do this an increasing quantity of alcohol is
needed up to the time when debility sets in,
or some accidental trouble reveals her alcoholisation.
The test of safety in the moderate use of alcoholic drinks
seems to be the power of persons in fair health to leave off
their accustomed beer or sherry without inconvenience or
moral effort. This test might be occasionally applied by
rational women to themselves, or insisted on by their
mankind, and we believe that a sensible improvement
in both moral and physical well-being would generally
surprise the fair abstainer. Had we thought it useful we
should have quoted the latest analysis of popular wines,
and shewn how little serviceable they are in the animal
economy ; but in this matter, and when womanly cha-
racter is concerned, we have preferred to dwell on the
moral rather than the physical reason for extreme and in-
creased caution in the use of the common domestic sherry
and the almost equally common domestic champagne.—
Saturday Review.

FROM NATAL.—Dissatisfaction was generally ex-
pressed in Natal at the irregularity of that colony's
postal communication with Europe. The news of the
Franco-German war was looked forward to with anxiety.
Business was depressed through the war and the state of
the home markets. The diamond fields were still en-
grossing public attention. The finds continued about the
average in number and size. Captain Lucas's party have
picked up fifty-five diamonds, valued at £140,000, and in
addition to the successful diggers, a large number of others
were returning from the diggings, some miserably disap-
pointed, and others in consequence of not being able to
stand the rough life and excessive heat, and many to orga-
nise new expeditions.
THE ORDEAL OF BOILING OIL.—In Khandahar
there is a house in which several travelling merchants take
up their quarters when on a visit to that place. In that
house lived a merchant named Jaithmul, who happened
while there to be robbed of 400 r. of English currency, and
300 r. of Khandahar, besides 14 gold coins, and 40 ushrafees,
valued at sr. each. They were all in a bag. Jaithmul
had a servant whom he suspected of being the thief, and
whom he charged with the robbery. The servant pleaded
innocence, and swore a solemn oath denying all knowledge
of the robbery, and of the moneys and articles robbed.
He was then made to submit to an ordeal, which puts
one in mind of the ordeal of fire ancients compelled
an accused person to pass through to prove his inno-
cence. Jaithmul boiled some oil in a cauldron, and
dropped a pice into it, and ordered the servant to
abstract the pice ; if he succeeded in doing that without
having his arm burnt he would be looked upon as
innocent, if not, his guilt was at once to be declared estab-
lished. The servant did as he was ordered, and got his arm
fearfully scorched and burnt. Nussurla Khan, who is the
Sirdar at Khandahar, representing the Ameer, got tidings
of the cruelty practised on Jaithmul's servant, and ordered
both to be brought before him. On interrogating Jaith-
mul as to the reason why he had so tortured his servant,
the Khan was informed of the circumstances of the case.
Jaithmul was then ordered by the Khan to go through
the same ordeal as that he had made his servant subject
to, stating that if he had such faith in it, he being of
course, innocent of the robbery, need not fear his arm get-
ting- burnt by plunging it into a cauldron of boiling oil ;
Jaithmul had but Hobson's choice left him, and he was
from last accounts suffering the same agonies his servant
experienced.—Sindian.

The operation of pumping the water out of the shaft at
Wheatley Hill Colliery was continued without cessation
on Saturday. At Thornley Colliery operations were also
pressed vigorously forward for the stoppage of the feeders
and the reduction of the water in the mine. About three
o'clock in the afternoon, while the work was being pro-
ceeded with, some of the men thought they heard a cry
and knocking from the direction of the Wheatley Hill
workings, followed by the repetition of the signals. The
men in Thornley Colliery then "jowled" in order to
guide the survivors to the place of safety. Between
that portion of the mine where the Thornley men were
standing and that from which the poor fellows were evi-
dently coming, the water stood within six or eight inches
from the roof. The Thornley men, with William Brown,
deputy overman, as the leading man, joined hands toge-
ther and plunged into the body of water in search of the
poor fellows. For a few minutes Brown waded in with-
out encountering anything, until at last his disengaged
hand encountered that of some one scrambling
towards him, which he grasped, and gave the
signal to those men behind him to retreat. In
an instant two of the lost men in Wheatley-hill
Colliery were dragged clear of the water and alive into
Thornley Pit. The survivors turned out to be Michael
Ragan and John Smith. Ragan appeared to have suffered

- - -
considerably from the noxious vapours, and looked very
wild about the eyes. He was able to walk to the carriage
with slight assistance. Smith, although perfectly aware
of what was going on, was in a more exhausted state than
his companion, and required to be carried from the pit
heap to the carriage, when both men were conveyed home.
The death of three of the sufferers is placed beyond a doubt.
Although very much exhausted when rescued from the
workings, the two men, Ragan and Smith, rapidly
recovered from the effects of their long incarceration, and
on Sunday morning were enabled to leave their beds. We
append the narrative of the accident given by John
Smith :—I went below to start my first shift at nine
o'clock on Thursday morning, and went to work in the
first hitch in the fore cross-cut. James Hall was
working at the same place. About twelve o'clock
I heard a rumbling noise like thunder, and
having called Hall's attention to it we ran
to the entrance of the board, past which we
saw the water sweeping at least a yard deep. A piece of
timber hit me upon the legs and knocked me down, and I
was carried away about twenty yards before I could re-
cover myself. I caught at the coal several times before I
got to my feet, and having recovered myself I called to
Hall, who had moved a little way up the hitch, and after
scrambling about thirty yards I joined him. We got to
the board in which Ragan was working. Ragan had
given himself up for lost, and had got into one of the
tubs there to await his fate. Hall called upon him to
make an effort to save his life, and he came out of his
board and joined us. Hall drew my attention to the boy
Cooper, who was lying in Ragan's board, and who was
then quite dead. We scrambled through the rushing
water up the incline, still in the direction of the 'Thornley
workings, through which Hall hoped we might escape.
A short distance further on we came to the tub which was
upset by the boy Michael Darby in his fight, and which
completely blocked up the way. On the other side of it
we heard John Bell, who in his flight from his board
(400 yards from the shaft) had been prevented from
descending the drift by the tub. We managed to shift
it to one side, and Bell then led the way, followed by
Hall, Ragan, and myself. The water in the cross cut had
up to this time been as high as our hips, but as we pro-
ceeded up the incline the depth increased, rose to our
necks, and at last was level with the roof. We made
several attempts to get to the Thornley workings, but
we failed each time. On one occasion Bell plunged
into the water, and after going some distance almost
submerged, he found a hole ;in the roof, and
shouted to us to come, as there was a chance of
escape. Bell and I plunged in, Ragan remaining behind,
but after reaching Bell we found that there was no
chance of escape that way, and with some difficulty we
reached Ragan again. We then tried other places in order
to obtain a place of refuge, and we at length found a
caunch in the side coal, which was just above the level of
the water. On to this we lifted a piece of brattice for a
seat, and then took our places. Finding that the others
were inclined to sleep, I called to them from time to time
to keep them awake. I succeeded in doing so until
what I think would be Saturday morning, when, over-
come by my exertions, I dosed off to sleep. How long I
was in that condition I do cot know, but on awaking
I found my cheek against Bell's, whose face was
cold, and on feeling his mouth and nose I could not detect
the slightest sign that he was breathing. I reached
out my arm, and found Hall, who also appeared to
be dead. I called to Ragan, but had to shout three
or four times before lie answered. When he did speak
he did not appear to be in his senses. I began to feel a
little frightened of Ragan, more particularly as he began
to threaten violence to the onsetter, whom he evidently
took me to be, so I made no reply to his remarks. He was
silent for a considerable time, during which he recovered
his consciousness, for he then asked if the other two men
had gone away from us. I said they were lying beside
us. He asked what they called me, and I replied, " Smith,
the stranger ;" and he then said lie thought I was the
onsetter. About half an hour after we had this conversa-
tion sounds of men working, which I had thought I had
heard previously, became a certainty, for I heard a noise
as of a man knocking a prop up apparently about fifty
yards off in the direction of Thornley Colliery workings.
I called out as loudly as I could, but I was apparently
not heard, but upon shouting a second time those in the
workings " jowled," and we were directed to go through
the water into which we had previously plunged. Ragan
went in front and plunged in, and I caught hold of his
trousers, and followed as well as I could. The water had
been reduced about six or eight inches from the roof since
we were in it before. We pressed forward, getting deeper
in the water at every step ; and presently I felt Ragan
was being pulled forcibly forward, so I held on with all
my might, and in an instant we were dragged clear of
the great body of water, and I stood with my companion
amidst the body of workmen who had rescued us, and
who, with tears streaming down their cheeks, seemed
overcome with the joy they felt at seeing us standing there
alive and well.

There are some rather extraordinary proceedings in
Texas—that is, if they are to be regarded in any respect
as judicial. First, a gentleman of the bar, by name
Williams, shoots a State Senator. Judge and Sheriff,
with a posse, go to arrest the Senator-shooter, whereupon
he shoots the judge. Finally, this lively malefactor is
himself shot by a constable ; and the case may be con'
sidered as closed.—New York Paper.
WOLVES IN POLAND.—The excessive cold and the
snow, which lies in many places about a foot deep, have
brought fresh calamities upon unfortunate Poland, con-
sisting in the fact of several districts being infested by
wolves, which roam about in packs, and make travelling
along the country roads dangerous. This calamity is felt
most severely in Lithuania and the districts bordering on
the south-west of Russia, where these savage animals
have got the upper hand to such an extent that they
infest the villages and force their way at nightinto the
cattle stalls to seize their prey. Several cases have hap-
pened in which individuals who may have travelled too
far from inhabited places have been torn to pieces by
wolves.

BURNING OF A COOLIE SHIP AND 425 PAS-
SENGERS.—A fearful disaster is reported to have occurred
at sea, namely, the destruction of a large ship by fire,
and the loss of 425 lives. A despatch from Boston, dated
January 10, states that a letter had been received at that
place from Batavia, containing intelligence to the effect
that the large Italian ship Uncowa, bound from Macao
for Callao, with 537 Coolies as emigrants, was set on fire
by some of the Coolies when the ship was nearly opposite
to Neptune Island—the intention of the Coolies being,
no doubt, to plunder the ship and escape to the island.
The fire, however, spread with great rapidity, and the
captain and crew abandoned the ship, leaving the un-
fortunate passengers to their fate. The captain and
his crew were afterwards picked up by a San Salvador
ship ; and the ship Juanpore, which happened to be near
the Uncowa, succeeded in rescuing 112 of the Coolies;
the remainder, to the number of 425, perished in the
flames.

BREAKFAST.—L' PPS'S COCOA.-GRATEFUL AND CODM•
FORTING.—The very agreeable character of this preparation has
rendered it a general favourite. The Civil Service Gazette re-
marks :—" By a thorough knowledge of the natural laws which
govern the operations of digestion and nutrition, and by a
careful application of the fine properties of well-selected cocoa,
➢Lr. Epps has provided our breakfast tables with a delicately
flavoured beverage which may save us many heavy doctors'
bills." Each packet is labelled—JAMES EPPS & CO., IrOMCeO.
Pathic Chemists, London. Also, makers of Epps's CacaOine, a
very thin evening beverage.—Advt.

V, MOSES and SON'S
E

WINTER OVERCOATS, 19s. to £5.

BOY'S OVERCOATS, els. 6d. to 455.

EMOSES and SON beg to rculind the public
4, that the cheapoes4 of an article depends entirely on its
quality, and they venture to say that their prices will compare
favourably with those of any other house in England.

V. MOSES and SON'S
E

OXFORD COATS, 17s. to 50s.

AMBIUDGE COATS, 19s. to 50s.

]IERTCII JACKETS, 15s. to 425.

SUTHERLAND JACKETS, 19s. 6d. to 50s.

BUSINESS SUITS, 28s. to 60s.

MOSES and SON'S easy and accurate system
E• of self-measure enables them to execute orders by post.
With the guarantee of a faultless fit.

JD MOSES and SON'S
*

ROCK COATS, 245. to 635.

DRESS COATS, 255. to 60s.

MORNING TROUSERS, lls. 6d. to 21s.

DRESS TROCSERS, 12s. 6d. to 265.

MOURNING SUITS, 28s. to £5.

EMOSES and SON invite special attention
. to their large Stock of GENTLEME 'S DRESSING
11013 ES, at 18 to 2 ) Guineas; the assortment is unequalled
for variety of materials and designs, and neatness and elegance
of finish.

E MOSES and SON'S

BUYS' CLOTHING :

KNICKERBOCKER SUITS, 9s. 6s. to 40s.
--___

ETON SUITS, 15s. to 40s.

BRIGHTON SUITS, 18s. to 48s.

DRESS SUITS, 255. to 635.

MOSES and SON supply every description of
Clothing, ready-made or made to measure, for all ages,
all occasions, and .11 classes ; also Hosiery anr Drapery, Hats
and Cat s; Boots and Shoes, and complete outfits for all climates.
All Goods marked in Plain Figures.
Any Article exchanged if not worn or injured.
List of Prices. with Rules for Self-measure, Patterns, and
Fashion-sheet, gratis and post-free.
E. MOSES and SON'S Lstablishments are closed every Friday
evening at sunset till Saturduy evening at sunset, when business
is resumed until Eleven o'cloek.
The following are the only addresses of E. MOSES and SO

LONDON.
COR'S ER of MINORI ES and ALDO ATE.
EW OXFORD-STREET. COB gER of HART-STREET.
CORNER of TOTTENHAM-COURT-ROAD and EUSTON-ROAD.

COUNTRY BRANCH.
BRADFORD, YORKSHIRE

ITA.LIAN OPERA BUFFA COMPANY
(LIMITED)—LYCEII3I THEATRE.
THIS EVENING (Wednesday), January 25, will be produced
(for the fifth time in any country), the New Opera of ALI
11413 A (written expressly for this Company).
Boxes on the grand tier, £3 Is. ; stall tier. £2 12s. 61; uopessr
circle, £1 Ts. 6d.; orchestra stalls, its 6d.; grand tier dre
seats, 75.; upper circle seats, 4a: pit tifikets, 2s. 6d. ; amphi-
theatre, is.

THEATRE ROYAL DRURY LANE.-
Sole Lessee and Manager, F. B. Chatterton.—Morning
Performances every Wednesday and Saturday, until Saturday,
February 25th, inclusive. THIS EVENING (Wednesday), will
be produced the Drury Lane Grand Comic CHRISTMAS
ANNUAL, written by E. L. Blanchard, entitled the DRAGON
OF WANTLEY !.and Harlequin Old Mother Shipton I with New
and Characteristc Scenery by William Beverley, whose personal,
services are now exclusively devoted to
actionsillutrating the produc-
tions of this Theatre. The general of the Pantomime
arranged by, and the whole produced under, the direction of
Mr. Edward Stirling. Characters in the opening by Messrs.
Fred. Yokes, H. Moreland, Charles Steyne, F.
Wright, bladon Vokes,ster
IL
Naylor, Seymour, Firth, Meade,
Webber, F.
Russell ; Misses Victoria Yokes, Jessie Vokes, Rosina 'Yokes,
Harriet Coveney, M. A. Basquerville, A. Hamilton, Hall,
Florence Harvey, De Grey, Ross, Timbrell, Elphinstone, Har-
court, Lee, Leslie, Mills, White, Burpitt, Rivers, Russell,
Hastings.
W. H.
Pan-
F. Evans and
tomimists, forming a Double Company,
Harvey, Clowns ; Paul Herring and J. Morris, Pantaloons ; W.
Fawdon Yokes and Stonette, Harlequins ; the Misses Rosina
and Jessie Yokes, Columbines ; Miss Lizzie Grosvenor, Har-
lequins. B. Slownian, Imitator of Birds, &c. Mr. H. Collard,
the Pocket Sims Reeves. Master Dassie, the Chickalery Boy.
E. D. Lyon, the Short Footman. Lawson and Garton, theaFrench
Pierrots. Master H. Rawlings, Clog Dancer. La Patrie, the
Baby Velocipedist. The Masks and Costumes from Designs by
Vandyke Brown. The Music Composed and Selected by Mr W.
C. Levey. The Dances and Action of the Ballet, and the general
business of the Children's Scenes, Invented and Arranged by Mr.
John Cormack. The Comic Scenes and Tricks, ttc., arranged by
Mr. John Cormack and Messrs. Evans and Harvey. Doors open
at Half-past Six ; commence at Seven. Box-office open from
Ten till Five Daily. Private Boxes, 1,2, 3,4, and 5 Guineas.
Stalls, 75. Dress Circle, ss. First Circle, 4s. Balcony, 3s. Pit, 2s.
Lower Gallery, ls. Upper Gallery, 6d.
----

THE DRAGON OF WA.NTLEY; or, Harlequin
and Old Mother Shipten, will be performed THIS
EVENING, and positively withdrawn on Saturday, February 25.
Places can be secured from the first until the last date.
MORNING PERFORMANCES every WEDNESDAY and
SATURDAY, at Two o'clock. Therefore, to prevent disap-
pointment, an early application for seats is respectfully re-
quested. Box-office open from Ten till Five daiIy.—THEATRE-
ROYAL, DRURY-LANE.

MORNING PERFORMANCE 'of the Grand
Pantomime, entitled the DRAGON OF WANTLEY,
every Wednesday and Saturday. Children and Schools at re-
duced prices to the following parts of the Theatre :—First Circle,
Dress Circle, and Stalls. Box-offi
URce open from Ten till Five
daily. - THEATRE ROYAL, DRY-LANE.

A" ROBSART.—In answer to numerous ap-
plications, it is respectfully
B announced is Drama will
be revived on Monday, Feb. 27. ox-office opethn from 10 till 5
daiIy.—THEATRE-ROYAL DRURY LANE.

riEA.TRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET -
Fifty-fifth Night of a NEW FAIRY COMEDY.—THIS
EVENING (Wednesday), at Seven, O'Keefe's Musical Piece, THE
POOR SOLDIER, with selections from the original music
Patrick, Miss Fanny Wright ; Norah, Miss Fanny Gwynne.
After which, at a quarter to Eight o'clock, a new Fairy Comedy,
in Three Acts, entitled THE PALACE OF TRUTH. Characters
by Mr. Buckstone, Messrs. Kendal, Everil, Clark, Braid, Rogers,
Mesdames Robertson, Chippendale, C. Hill, Fanny Wright, and
Phanor's Country
Fanny Gwynne. Act I. Garden of Ring
House. Act 11. Interior of the Palace of Tr
WI uth
LL . Act 111. The
Avenue of Palms. Followed by UNCLE'S . Mr. Kendal
and Miss Robertson. Concluding with the Farce of THE SPECTRE
BRIDEGROO2.I. Box Office open daily from 10 till 5.
____---------_

--------
PRINCESS'S THEA.TRE.—SoIe Lessee, Ben
jamin Webster. Managers, B. Webster and F. B. Ben
min EVENING, at 7, THE MAN
After F THE WORLD :
Sir Pertinax MacsycoPhant, Mr. Phelps.whh, the -
tirely new, grand, spectacular extravaganza, entitled LITTLE
GIL BLAS, and How he Played the Spanish D(Deuce.—Box-
office open from Ten till Five.

__________
ADELPHI THEATRE ROYAL. Sole Pro-
prietor, Mr. Benjamin Webster ; Managers, Mr. B.
Webster and Mr. F. B. Chatterton.--THIS EVENING, at 7, a
new Drama, in One Act, SMOKE. Mr. Billington, Mr. Ashley,.
Mr. C. H. Stephenson, Mrs. Billington, and Miss Furtado. At
8.15 ONE TOUCH OF NATURE. Mr. B. Webster and Miss
Furtado. To conclude with the MISTLETOE BOUGH. MrS. A.
Mellon, Miss Elise Holt, Mademoiselle Debreaux, Mdlle. Camilla
Dubois, Miss Bellew, Miss M. Cooper, and Miss Bella Moore ;
Mr. Brittain Wright, Mr. John Rouse, and Mr. Odell.

VAUDEVILLE THEATRE, STRAND.
Lessees—Messrs. 11. J. Montague, D. James, and T.
Thorne.--THIS EVENING, at 7, CHISELLING (130th Night) :
Mr. David James. After which, TWO ELIZABETH 202nd nht), by
James Mess.bConclude with (60th night) Sup
ported by II. J. Montague, David James, and T. Thorne,
Btc.; Mesdames Amy Fawsitt, A. Newton., and Nelly Power, &c.

ROYA.L STRAND THEATRE.
Sole Lessee and Manageress, Mrs. Swanborough. THIS
EVENING, at 7, ON AND OFF. LIVING AT EASE.
Messrs. Cr
Turner ; Mesdames Ada Swanborough, E.
Beton, and F. Hughes. C(EUR-DE-LION, Messrs. Terry,
Paulton, Fenton, and Turn& ; Mesdames Amy Sheridan, E.
Balton, Santley, Lee, Goodall, tke.

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 1870