The Sun.
London, England, 1870-05-02 00:00:00

THE ROYAL ACADEMY EXHIBITION.

The exhibition of the Royal Academy for 1870
contains some thirty pictures more than lastyear, and
our London contemporaries report favourably of the
ganeral effect, which is agreeable and unfatiguing. The
Tizzies, however, cannot say that the exhibition strikes
it as one of unusual excellence. If it be true, it
says, that the number of rejected pictures is
to be counted by thousands, and that the thousand
accepted are really the pick and flower of the lot, we
can but be grateful to the Council, however
we may regret the exclusion. The Daily News
says a rich treat is prepared for the public
enjoyment, and gives special notice to " Desmond
and Ormond," the last work of Maclise. The festal--
like character of the opening day, it says, was not a little
clouded by the feeling that one of the greatest lights
was gone for ever in his loss. The Daily
Telegraph says the exhibition may be summed up as
one of average merit. It comprises a vast number
of works of sterling excellence, and a deplorable
amount of what is technically termed "slop."

LOCKING RAILWAY CARRIAGES.

The lamentable accident which occurred to the
little girl Maria Dandridge on the Brighton Railway
has resulted in a verdict by the coroners jury that her
death was due to the neglect of the guard. He
poor fellow, is beyond the effect of earthly criticism,
having anticipated the blame that would
accrue from his neglect by committing suicide.
But these occurrences naturally lead one to
consider the system of fastening railway doors.
That the present one is insufficient the numerous
accidents arising from it bear testimony, and surely
some simpler and safer contrivance might
b 3 found. Locking- the doors from the
outside is objectionable on account of the helplessness
of passengers in case of accident, while it is equally
objectionable from the liability of persons to casual-
ties such as resulted in the death of the poor
little girl Maria Dandridge. In France
beside the ordinary handle, there is a bolt upon the
outside of each door, on the principle of the ordinary
bedroom safety &it, in which a strong horizontal
bar lets down into a simple catch. Whether this
or any other plan be adopted, it is high time that
railway passengers should be protected from the
dangers arising either through the incautiousness of
guards or the perpetuation of a bungling door-
locking system.

WORKING MEN'S CLUBS.

The institution of workinc, men's clubs is a subject
which cannot fail to enlist the sympathies of all
who have the well-being of the artisan classes at
heart. It is satisfactory, therefore, to see that not
only are the efforts of working men turning to this
direction, but that wealth is also lending a help-
ing hand towards so desirable an object. A
crowded meeting has been held in Lon-
don to consider the offer of the Marquis of
Westminster of a site in Ebury-street, and a sum of
£l,OOO to assist in the erection of a true working
men's institute. This was a sum set aside
for the purpose by the late Marquis of Westmin-
ster, shortly before his death, and his son in
this offer is carrying out his father's design. It is
needless to say that it was unanimously accepted. Mr,
W. H. Smith, M.P., was the chairman, and took the
opportunity of recanting an error. He said
that when the cheap press was first established,
he, with many others, had anticipated deterioration,
but he was bound to say that he had made a mis-
take. No press deserved greater credit than the
English, and no part of it more than the cheap press.
One of the great firm of Smith and Son surely ought
to know.

A CONSCIENTIOUS SCRUPLE.

Men are not too much given in these days to
suffering for conscience sake, but some old-
fashioned scruples are extant among us.
There is a merchant in the City of Lon-
don who regularly refuses as a matter of
conscience to pay the tithes for the parish of St.
Gregory in St. Paul's Churchyard. The name of
Mr. George Henry Farrington, of Great Knightrider-
street, is familiar at the J)iansion House, although as
we ha-ve seen, he is one of the most conscientious
and scrunulous of men. As a member of the Society