The Sun.
London, England, 1870-10-18 00:00:00

PHEASANTS.

Very few sportsmen to whom the Ist of October is a
red-letter day know the curious history of the spread of
the pheasant through Europe or the date of its introduc-
tion into Great Britain. The writers both of Greece and

Rome are agreed that it is not indigenous in any part of
Europe. According to Martial it was brought along with the
Golden Fleece in the ship Argo from the banks of
the Phasis, in Colchis (Mingrelia), where at

the present day it is very abundant. In the days of
Aristophanes the Phasian bird, as it was termed, was
kept in a half•domesticated state, to say the least, by the
Athenians, and its flesh was regarded as a great delicacy.
Both Pliny and Martial tell us that it was to be found in
the preserves around the villas of the wizalthy in Italy ;
and the latter author mentions that it was kept along
with flamingos, guinea fowl, peacocks, geese,
and partridges. It was probably brought into
France after the conquest by the Roman legions. Orni-
thologists are not agreed as to the exact date of its
naturalization in our own country, and generally quote a
notice in Echard of the price of a bird being fourpence in
the reign of Edward the First, as being the first record
of its presence in this island. There is, however, a much
earlier notice in the treatise "De Inventione Sancta
Crucis Nostra! in Monte Acuto et de Ductione ejusdem
amid Waltham," edited by Professor Stubbs. The allow-
ance made to each canon's household by the founder of Wal-
tham, the great Harold, in 1059, was, on the feast days
from Michaelmas to Easter, " either twelve larks, or
two magpies, or two partridges, or one pheasant,"
and for the feast days of the rust of the year
" either geese or fowls." It is clear from this
that the bird was known in Britain as an article of
food before the Norman conquest, and that its introduc-
tion mut be assigned either to the English or to the
Romans. And as the former came from the shores of the
Baltic, where pheasants were not living at the time,
while the latter were in the habit of importing their
luxuries into the provinces and of building country seats
as nearly as possible like those in Italy, the credit
of having introduced the bird must be assigned
to the latter. The Romans certainly naturalised
the fallow deer, the ornament of our parks, in
North France and in Britain ; and to their influ-
ence must be attributed the presence of the domestic
fowl, which forms so important a portion of our food. On
the whole, therefore, we may believe that we owe the
presence of the pheasant in the British Isles
to the Romans. Harold's bill of fare is very
interesting in another point of view. It shews to
what extent the taste of the. English has changed since
his day. Two partridges may perhaps be considered
by some gourmands to be the equivalent of twelve larks
or one pheasant ; but any canon nowadays would feel
himselves very hardly used if he had two magpies substi-
tuted for one or other of these dishes. The pressure of a
siege may perhaps render magpies acceptable to the de-
fenders of Metz or to the dandies of Paris ; but the idea of
my Lord Duke returning from a successful battue
with his bag filled with magpies, to be sold to the
poulterer or- to be distributed among his friends, is too
bewildering for comprehension. However, as there is a
society for the eating of horseflesh, why not establish a
society for the eating of magpies? In these days of
revivals the fare of the clerics in 1059 ought to be a prece-
dent sufficiently venerable for the restoration of an article
of food to its place on the table.—Pall Mall. Gazette.

A letter addressed by Mr. de Kantzow to Sir
Harry Verney states that, in consequence of a permission
granted by Baron von Thiele, quantities of chloroform,
supplied by voluntary agency, have been sent into the
beleagured towns of France.

FATAL ACCIDENT TO THE EMPRESS' STEWARD.
—An accident, which has unfortunately proved fatal,
occurred on Saturday evening to a gentleman' named
Foda, who was formerly steward to Mr. Stroud, of
Camden House, Chislehurst, and has latterly acted in
that capacity to the Empress of the French. He
was driving with his wife in a phaeton drawn by a high-
spirited horse. While passing the Victoria-road, Eltham,
the jingling bells on the horses attached to some vans
caused M. Foda's horse to take fright, and the
animal, despite his efforts to control it, darted
along the road at a great speed. On reaching
the turning called Green-lane, leading to Chisle-
hurst-common, M. ' Foda made a vigorous effort •to
guide the horse in that direction, Nit did not succeed in
time. One of the wheels ran into a ditch, the spring broke,
and the shafts becoming detached from the body of the
vehicle the horse galloped away. The trap immediately
turned completely over, and the occupants were thrown
out. Mr. Foda was picked up quite dead, with a fright-
ful wound in his skull, and his wife, who was insensible,
was severely cut about the faco, and much shaken. The
body of the deceased was removed to the Beehive Inn, in
Pope-street, where it awaits an inquest.

EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF gc SERVANT-

GALISM.'

At the Birkenhead County Court, Anne M'Cabe, a
young Irishwoman of rather untidy appearance, sued
Mr. James De Wolf, merchant, to recover £2 on account
of wages alleged to be due. The plaintiff had been
engaged as a " plain" cook— and. the title was cer-
tainly not a misnomer—and she had been summarily di-4-
missed. She now sued for a month's wages. The
plaintiff conducted her own case with great volubility.
The defendant, Mrs, and Miss De Wolf were present to
answer the case. According to the defence, the conduct
of the plaintiff had been of an extraordinary character.
She had not been "fairly settled" more than two days in
the house when she began the most extraordinary vagaries.
She repeatedly refused, when requested, to do work she
was specially engaged for. She would not clean the
kitchen fireplace, and another servant had to do it. Having
been desired to prep ire a warm bath, and remonstrated
with for not having done so, she told Miss De Wolf that
she " would have seen her dead and first " be.
fore she would have done it. She had not been there a
week when she was ordered to leave, but she would not go
without a month's wages. When Mrs. De Wolf went
into the kitchen to look after affairs, the plaintiff assailed
her with " Woman ! don't be coming here after yer
' dirty scraps. Send yer orders in writing." Mr. De Wolf
has a dairy, where fresh butter is made for the family,
but Miss M'Cabe, with national prejudices perhaps in
favour of the Cork or Waterford article, refused to have
anything to do with what she called this cursed muck."
and on the first favourable opportunity shouted to her
terrified mistress--" Woman ! what do you mean—giving
us muck to eat ?" She would tell Mrs. De Wolf to do
the work herself "and be hanged to you"; she would
sing low songs and whistle, and when told to be quiet
would laugh and shout like an idiot. But
there was clearly a method in her madness,
for her general reply to remonstrances was, " Give
me a month's wages and I will go." One of the
stipulations her mistress made was that she should
wear a clean print dress and a neat cap when at work,
but she " scorned the idear," and stuck to a dirty old stuff
gown that was reeking with filth and odour. One night
when there was " company" she insisted upon coming
into the room with a dish of meat in her arms, and her
clothes pinned up to her waist, and exposing far more of
her legs than could be tolerated in decent society, When
told to cover herself she got her " dander" up, screamed
and shouted "I will go naked if I like!" and brandishing
a large carving-knife rushed towards one of the visitors.
This was the climax of her career. A policeman was
called in, and she was forcibly ejected, but still refused
the wages offered her for the time she had been in the
house, and obstinately demanded her "month." This
catalogue of her delinquencies having been recited, the
judge asked the plaintiff if it was true. Plaintiff
Not a ha'porth, your.. Honour. Mrs. De Wolf
never behaved like a lady to me. She told me " There
now see; your ould Pope is gone to the devil.'
(Roars of laughter.) His Honour (to Mrs. De Wolf
Did you say that to her? Mrs. De Wolf : No such thing,
but she was most abusive and full of bad language, She
told the coachman we were a set of —scoundrels. She
always called me woman, and she told me to go out of the
kitchen into my drawing-room. His Honour (to plaintiff)
—ls there any truth in that ? Plaintiff--No, sir, it's s
pack of false lies. (Laughter.) His Honour—Well, I
shall give a verdict for the defendant. The plaintiff
seemed considerably astonished at this result, as it left he
without any wages at all.

HEAVY JOKING.

The Times has put forward a proposal which must have
startled and amused its readers.

" Let the strong places of Alsace and Lorraine be dis
mantled, we will enter into joint and several guarantees
with each belligerent to join either against the other in
case one should make an attack upon the other without
first submitting to our arbitration, as neutrals, the ground°
on which such an attack is sought to be justified."
In a word, let us realise the dream of the Peace Society,
and make war impossible.

Why did we not do so two months ago ? Why did We
not interfere after the battle of Sedan ? When France
declared her willingness to negotiate a peace on any terraot
save the cession of territory, why did we not protest
against the intention of Prussia to annex French pro
vin ces ?

Are the friends of Prussia, disappointed at the slow pro-
gress of the war? Have they discovered that a nation of
forty millions cannot be conquered in a single campaign ?
Are they alarmed at the growing unpopularity of
Prussia ?

Whatever the motive, any promising peace proposals
are welcome—heartily welcome.

Conceive the reply of Count Bismarck, if Lord Gran'
ville acted upon the suggestion of the Times :
" You have entered into an agreement about Belgium•
You could not fulfil it, if you would. Only three Year°
ago you guaranteed the neutrality of Luxembourg. you
are aware that Luxembourg is negotiating a union with
Prussia, and you do not even protest. Why, 0
month after your Foreign Secretary had signed the
Luxembourg treaty, he repudiated the responsibility
of it in Parliament. You were bound to protect the
integrity of Denmark. Did you do so ? You were
bound to protect the independence of Hanover. Did you
do so ? Prussia knows too well the valuelessness of your
guarantee to accept it."

If we had been faithful to our treaty obligations, the
present difficulty would have been impossible. As we
have been faithless to our treaty obligations, our guarantee
is worthless.

We can only regard the proposal of the Times as a jest
which will greatly amuse the man of iron and blood.--
London Figaro.

The N ouvelliste of Rouen says that about 4,000,
Irish volunteers, all well armed and equipped, are expected
at Cherbourg.

John Akers, engine-fitter on the Midland Railway,
Sheffield, was knocked down and killed by a passing
engine when leaving work.

Mr. Roberts, the president of the Revivers of
British Industry Association, has arrived at Colchester,
with other gentlemen, for the evident purpose of prop<36',
ing a candidate for the vacancy in the representation (?1
the borough who will support the anti-free trade or reci-
procity movement.

THE GOVERNORSHIP OF MADRAS.—The Governor-
ship of Madras will shortly become vacant by the expire,•
tion of Lord Napier's term of service ; and amongst other
candidates named is Mr. George Campbell, of the Madra9
Civil Service, who is said somehow or other to have
materially assisted Mr. Gladstone in the Irish. Land
and is also a protege of the Duke of Argyll. He is stated
to be a thoroughly honest and excellent official, who does
his duty, and insists on his subordinates doing theirs, all°
therefore is exactl3 the governor Madras needs.--
Scotsman:

LAW OF DEBTOR AND CREDITOR.—Not a single
case for hearing stood on the list of the BankruptcY
Court on Saturday, and only very few new application°
were made to the court. Most of the proceedings now
taking place are under the old law. Under the recent
Act few bankruptcies are gazetted, liquidations aplity
rently, having the preference. In Judges' Chamber°
Baron Bramwell, in dealing with a case in which a debtor
who, it had been proved, had some means, offered to Poi
£1 a month, made the order for £2 a month, observing
that imprisonment for debt having been virtually abe.
lished, debtors Must put some pressure on themselves to
pay their creditors. In the case before the Court it would
take six years at the rate of payment ordered to liquidate
the debt.

MURDEROUS ASSAULT UPON GAMEKEEPERS NEAR
DERBY.—A murderous assault has been committed
on two assistant gamekeepers in the employ °E
William Mundy, Esq., of Markeaton Hall, near
Derby, named Joseph Dickenson and Joseph Dickenson,
jun., father and son, the latter of whom received serious
injuries. It appears that on the afternoon in question two
young men, named Robert Brookhouse and Stoddard,
sons of Derby tradesmen, left Derby with guns, Brook'
house having a certificate to shoot. On reaching Mack'
worth they turned into a " spinney," when two farmers;
gave information of the fact to the two Dickensons. The
elder Dickenson went up to Brookhouse and said to hilt,'
"Young fellow, what are you doing here? You know you
are doing wrong. What is your name ?" Brookhouse gave
his name,.but the keeper said he did not believe it to be
the right one, and he should not let him ge
until he had told him. He was going toward')
Brookhouse, when the latter cocked his gun aocl,
said, " Stand back you or I will shoot you.
Dickenson, however, closed with Brookhouse, who struck
him on the arm with the gun. The father called to his s°l3
to come to his assistance, and on the latter coming up
Brookhouse hit him several violent blows on the hello,
which felled him senseless to the ground ; indeed, so heavY
were the blows dealt that both the gun barrel and stock
were broken. Brookhouse was taken into custody by Ser-
geant Parsons, and on taking the prisoner towards Derby tho
officer met Mr. Mundy returnine, to Markeaton Hall in
his carriage, and on hearing whatb had occurred, he gq
out and sent his carriage back to Derby for medical
assistance. Dr. Taylor subsequently saw Dickenson, jun.,
and found an extensive wound on the head, although not
of a fatal character. The injuries inflicted were, however,
such that the doctor thought might bring on erysipelas,
when the consequences might be serious. Brookhouse,
who is well known, is 23 years of age.

SERVANT-

me M'Cabe,
3earance, sued
£2 on account
stiff had been
title was eel'
summarily cbs'

s wages.

rent volubilitY•
were present to
2e, the conduct

nary character.
an two days in
Unary vagaries.
o do work she
not clean the
o do it. Having
d remonstrated
g De Wolf that
first " be -
t been there
ae would not go
De Wolf went
laintiff assailed
here after yer
Mr. De Wolf
or the family,
ces perhaps in
'efused to have
cursed muck."
shouted to her
mean—giving
De Wolf to do
a"; she would
Ed
to be quiet
idiot. But
her madness,
was, " Give
One of the
at she should
when at work,
a. dirty old stuff
ur. One night
upon coming
arms, and her
ing far more of
ociety. When
up, screamed
ad brandishing
of the visitors.

)oliceman was
at still refused
Lad boen in the
month." This
;en recited, the
e. Plaintiff :
re. De Wolf
d me " There
the devil.''
[rs. De Wolf)
NTo such thing,
,nguage, She
andrels. She
;o go out of the
ar (to plaintiff)
o. sir, it's
nour—Well,
The plaintiff
It, as it left he

Lich must have

mr.....;ne be di'''
ral guarantees
t the other iu
other without
Is, the grounds
Ified."

Peace Society,

Why did We
When France
on any terms,
e not protest
K French pro

the slow pro-
Lat a nation of
le campaign ?
)opularity Of

ace proposal

f Lord Gran'

bout Belgium.
ly three years
abourg. You
a union with
t. Why, 9
d signed the
responsibility
► protect the
? You were
,er. Did you
ssness of your

ligations, the
ible. As 08
Dur guarantee

imes as a jest
and blood.--

about 4,000,
are expected

nd Railway,
by a passillg

Revivers of
6t Colchester,
rse of propos'
esentation of
trade or reer

e Governor-
It the expire,-
mongst other
f the Madras
;her to have
11.. Land
He is stated
ial, who does
g theirs, and
-as needs.—

of a single
Bankruptcy
applications
eedings noIV
r the recent

thous apps'
Chambers
licit a debtor
fered to Pa
h, observing
dually abo*
temselves to
nirt it would
to liquidate

PERs DrBO
committed
employ of
Hall, near
Dickenson,
ived serious
uestion two

-----
Stoddard,
me, BTOOk-
hing Mack•
two farmers;
sons. The

aid to hint,
u know Ya
house gave
ye it to ba
t him g°
g towards
gun (1.1.11
loot you.
who struck
d to his sou
coming Up
the bean,
Id, so heal_
and stock
,dy by Ser-
;Derby the
n Hall in
0, he got
>r medical
nson, jun.,
hough not
however,
erysipelas,
rookhousc,