The Sun.
London, England, 1870-05-20 00:00:00

The Soldier as a Married Man.

It is a good sign for the military service that the
legislation in its behalf is no longer seemingly based
upon the assumption that the Aoldier should be
treated as a mere machine. By degrees his propr
social status is becoming recognised, and mucu nas
been done to render his married life as smooth
as the difficulties of the circumstances permit. But
there was a great injustice still unprovided for,
in the case of the unhappy women whose husbands
either married them without leave or enlisted after
marriage, falsely calling themselves single men. The
hearts of many poor creatures will be gladdened
to know that this injustice has at length
met the attention of the Legislature. Amongst
the alterations in this year's Mutiny Act is
one which provides that the Secretary of War may
withhold a portion not exceeding 3d. for eich day
of the daily pay of each soldier, if it shall . appear to
his satisfaction that such soldier has de-
serted his wife, or left her in destitute
circumstances without reasonable cause. The
Secretary of State is further empowered to allot
the pay thus withheld to the maintenance of the wife
in such manner as he may think lit.
The Cat.

If the only short cut to a garrotter's conscience is
through his skin, and the only instrument by which
the desired intelligence can be submitted is
the " cat," the means to effect the
communication is in no measure stinted
within the walls of Newgate. Numerous, however,
as have been the instances when the " persua-
sions" of Calcraft have been brought into operation,
the remedy does not appear infallible. Five speci-
mens of this class of vagabonds have just been
flogged in Newgate. One of them eighteen
months ago had been sentenced to that term
of imprisonment for robbery with violence, and
had undergone twenty lashes in addition. Barely
out of prison, he is convicted of robbery
with great violence on a drunken man, and sentenced
to seven years' penal servitude with twenty-five
lashes. Each of these craven bullies lost
his " bounce" in the presence of Calcraft, and made
the prison passages echo with his cries. For the
bandit of all whom it may concern it should be
mentioned that Calcraft is found not to be the old,
shambling, sleek creature depicted, but a sturdy,
rough-looking representative of a journeyman me-
chanic with strong muscular arms which, as he ex-
presses it, would knock any rum down. The fact
that he likes the business may be another circum-
stance worthy the attention of outsiders.
A Practical Illustration.

" Seeing is believing," says the old adage, and the
Corporation of London is determined to test it in
practice. By way of convincing the citizens that the
scheme of the Metropolitan District Railway Company
would, if carried out, be a serious disadvantage to
the new street to the Mansion House, they caused
temporary wooden structures to be put up in the
place designed for the appendages of the Mansion
House Station. The models were put up in
the night, so they met the startled gaze of
the wondering citizens most unexpectedly.
The difficulty arises, not from the station itself.
which is of course underground, but from the ar-
rangements for lighting and ventilation. Four erec-
tions, two of them being 60 feet long, and two
others 70 feet, are in contemplation. The

width of these erections is to be 15 feet,
and they are about six feet high. They
are in the centre of the new street, known as Queen
Victoria-street, and are, of course, a serious hind-
rance to locomotion, as well a great blemish to the
appearance of the thoroughfare. Meanwhile, "A Rate-
payer," who befriends the design of the railway,
writes an indignant letter to the Telegraph complaining
of the unfairness of the company's manoeuvre. On

the contrary, it appears to be a very fair test, since
if the model be incorrect nothing can be easier than
For those interested to rectify the error and remove
prejudice, while if it be an accurate representation,
the citizens of London had better be gradually
inured to the martyrdom which awaits them.

An Extra Week at Eton.

The Parent of an Eton Boy" writes to the Times

in a wrathful state of mind. His boy has written to
tell him, in high glee, that Etonians are to
enjoy an extra week's holiday this summer
" because the Prince of Wales has asked for it."
If he looked for sympathy from his parent, the
"Eton boy " must have been grievously disappointed,
for it is hard to say whether the request, the
manner of it, or its consequence displease him m ost.
In the first place he asks what right the Prince
has to interfere at Eton, or what signal
benefits he has conferred on the country in general
or the school in particular that his request
should be granted. Secondly, he points
out that Etonians now enjoy, between Christ-
mas, Midsummer, and Easter, thirteen weeks,
or one-fourth of the year, as holiday. What other
profession gets, or asks, a whole quarter's holiday ?
Last, though not least, the irate parent wishes to
know why the £2 charged for board and lodging is
not struck off for the extra week, and how it is the
tutors and dames think it justifiable to make a
profit of some £1,400 out of this unnecessary
indulgence.

Water-colour Societies.

There is a rumour current in London to the effect

that efforts have been made on the part of the
Society of Painters in Water Colours to
induce the members of the Institute of

Painters in Water Colours—the younger body—
to join the old society. Much comment has arisen
upon this alleged attempt of one society to get rid of
a rivalry, which, t►_.ough inconvenient to the
former, undoubtedly conduces to the excel-
lence of the pictures of both institutions, and
is alike beneficial to the profession and the public.
The expedient of absorbing the members of the
" Institute" in their own ranks is considered to be
anything rather than creditable to the
gentlemen connected with - the Society of
Painters, who thought of promoting the movement.
It gives satisfaction, however, to know that as yet
only one associate of the younger body of artists has
expressed his willingness to becoine a deserter.