The Sun.
London, England, 1869-07-01 00:00:00

THE SATURDAY HALF-HOLIDAY
MOVEALENI.

On Wednesday a meeting of the Ladies' Committee
for the promotion of the Saturday half-holiday
by not shopping after two o'clock on Saturday was
held in the metropolis, Earl Grosvenor, M.P., pre-
siding. Amongst those present were the Duchess of
Sutherland, Lady Constance Grosvenor, Lady Elam, the
Earl and Countess of March, Lady and Miss Hogg,
the Hon. Mrs. Maberly, Miss Marsh, &c. It appeared
from the report that the Ladies' Committee have obtained
pledges of co-operation from more than 2,500 ladies in
London and its suburbs, representing probably some
10,000 persons. Besides athletic sports, volunteer exer-
cises, rowing and cricket clubs, field excursion clubs for
botanical and geological purposes have been formed as a
consequence of the Saturday half-holiday. It appears that
clubs have also been formed in many large houses of
business for the microscopical study of nature. In one
case ninety employs had formed themselves into a
society for this purpose.—Earl Grosvenor briefly stated
the object of the meeting, and invited the ladies who were
favourable to it not to relax in their efforts, but to perse-
vere till they induced those shopkeepers who kept their shops
open to a late hour to join in a movement which
had been so productive of good to the employed without
doing any injury to the employers.—Mr. M`Gregor (Rob
Roy) moved the following resolution :—" That the
report be adopted, and that the meeting received
with great satisfaction the testimonials of the employers
with regard to the working of the Saturday half-holiday
in the retail trades, and pledge themselves to obtain
further co-operation ia aid of the movement." Dr. Farr
seconded the resolution, and bore testimony to the good
effects of the movement in promoting the health of the
employ6s. The resolution was further enforced by Dr.
Cumming, and adopted.

The select committee of the house of Commons
appointed to inquire into the expenses attending the Abys-
sinian Exrcdition have held a preliminary meeting, at which
Mr. Candlish was chosen chairman.
A number of volunteers srrived at 'Wimbledon
from various parts of the country on WedneEday to make
the arrangements necessary for the camping of the regi-
ments they represent. The camp is now neatly for med. It
will be ready for occupation on Saturday, and the shooting
will commence on Monday.

Mr. Peck has given notice that to-day ('l'hurs-
dny) Le will ark tie Postrenster-Gentral whether the pro-
posed merepoly of telegt aphic mersages will in any way
iritelfcro with wires alnady in operation, or v hich in tia,
future tray Le desired, Let wet n the offices and works of
rr,anufacturing and ether firms, which are frequently sepa-
rated by a core'dernble distarce.

On Tut Eday- BiSliCp GC FS, in the courzic of an
at n visitatitn to a I:ciran Catholic clinic'', exprcss: d
regret at the stringvncy of the laws with reference to the
observance of the Sumlay ; and announced his conviction
that nothing was so likely to promote the moral and social
improvement of the people as a game at cricket or football
after they had been to Mass.

A velocipede accident, which it is feared will be
fatal— and if so it will be the first of the kind -is reported
from Liverpool. On Tuesday a young man named Edwardes
was riding down Bootle Mount on a bicycle at a rapid rate.
Ile lost his control over the machine, and it ran with great
force against a low stone wall, against which Mr. Edwardes
was pitched lead foremost. His skull was fractured, and it
is feared that he will not recover.

THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS. —There is time
even now for the season to prove a good one as respects all
staple products of the land, provided only that the sun
will shine, and, with the aid of softer winds than have
blown over us for a long time past, bring the fruits of the
earth to perfection. The wheat crop must be a thin one,
comparatively speaking, even should the weather from
this time be all that we could wish. Barley, oats, and
beans may be good ; there is, at all events, time for them,
with the aid of sunshine.—The Gardener's Magazine.
BLACK LEAD ASA LUBRICATOR FOR MACHINERY.
Black lead has only been used as a lubricator for wooden
machinery, from the heaviest vehicle to the most delicate
watchwork, so dispensing with the use of oils and grease
of all kinds. We are not yet informed of the manner in
which the plumbago is employed, but if it can be success-
fully applied to railway carriages, a great saving to the
companies will be effected. It is said to be used with
many vehicles in Paris, and in machinery in several
factories, and seems to give satisfaction.—llfechanics'
Magazine.

THE TONIC SOL-FA SYSTEM.—III the Society of
Arts musical examination the papers may be worked
either in ordinary or tonic sol-fa notation, the tunic sol-
faists giving the prizes. Only three out of thess certificates
are, however, awarded to other than tonic sol-faists. The
certificates are records of a positive, and nut comparative,
attainment. In Mr. John Hullair's examination in the
theory of music, conducted strictly in ordinary notation,
both the prizemen and half those obtaining first-class cer-
tificates are pupils of tonic sol-fa teachers. This is the
third year that both the prizes have thus gone.
THE NATIONAL SUNDAY LEAGUE.—The annual
meeting of this association has been held at the Free-
masons' Tavern, Mr. H. J. Slack presiding, in the un-
avoidable absence of Sir Joshua Walmsley. The chairman,
in moving the adoption of the report and the appoint-
ment of the council and officers for the ensuing year,
drew attention to the report read at the meeting of the
Lord's Day Rest Association, held on the previous
evening, which report set fortis the number of petitions
presented to Parliament against the objects of the Sunday
League ; but the analysis of that report only convinced
him that ignorance from remote quarters had been
brought to bear upon a most important central question.
It was remarkable that only one large city had presented
a petition against the Opening of the museums on Sunday.
That was Liverpool ; and there were hardly 300 signa-
tures to it. Mr. Taylor seconded the motion, which was
unanimously adopted. The meeting closed with a vote of
thanks to the chairman and secretary.

MR. SPURGEON ON INFANT SALVATION.—In a
recent discussion on Christianity between Mr. Linscott.
a member of the Bible Defence Associatisn, and Mr.
Antill, of Judd-street, it was asserted by the impugner
if
Christianity that the Rev. C. 11. Spurgeon had declared
that " there are infants in hell a span long." Mr. Linscott
having disputed the assertion, wrote to Mr. Spurgeon for
his authority to contradict the statement, and his letter
has elicited the following reply :—" Newington, S.E., June
12, 1869. Dear Sir,—l have never at any time in my life
said, believed, or imagined than any infant, under any
circumstances, would be cast into hell. I hay:
always believed in the salvation of all infants, and I
intensely detest the opinions which your opponent dared
to attribute to me. Ido not believe that on this earth
there is a single professing Christian holding the damna•
tion of infants, or if there be he must be insane, or utterly
ignorant of Christianity. I am obliged by this opportunity
of denying the calumny, although the author of it will
probably find no difficulty in inventing some other fiction
to be affirmed as unblushingly as the present one. He
who doubts God's Word is naturally much at home in
slandering the Lord's §ervants,—Yours truly, 0,
gr1g9102,14