The Sun.
London, England, 1867-06-22 00:00:00

Improvements on Smith's Sunday Liquor

Bill.

(From Punch.)

Mr. Punch,--Pray, Sir, use your irresistible in-
fluence to make honourable gentlemen attend in the
House of Commons on Wednesday, the 26th inst.,
for the purpose of moving an amendment to Mr. J.
A. Smith's Sunday Liquor Bill.
This much-called-for measure, which will consti-
tute so precious a boon to thirsty travellers, is
framed so as " to prohibit drinking on the prdmires
of the licensed victualler during the whOlc of Sun-
day, excepting where meat, confectionery, or other
victuals arc sold." Thus you see, Sir, this bill
recogni,es as legal the sale of confectionery.
Beer, sir, we know, is a very bad thing for every-
body, even ia moderation, especially on Sundays.
But confectionery is equaly bad. Pastry and
sweetmeats are extremely unwholesome, and judi-
cious parents never allow their children to eat any.
The principle of a bill designed to prevent naughty
people from buying beer on Sundays is one which,
consistently applied, would also prevent them from
buying tarts and buns, and goodygoodies.
So, therefore, Mr. Punch, please to instruct your
representatives to move the omission of the word
" confectionery" in the clause above quoted ; for
confectionery is very pernicious on any day, but,
as aforesaid, especially on Sundays, like beer.
Allow me to suggest another hint for the improve-
men of the endeavour at paternal legislation pro-
posed by Mr. J. A. Smith. The Sunday Liquor
Bill of the sapient and Sabbatarian member for
Chichester, I think, imposes penalties only on the
wicked licensed victuallers who shall be guilty of
selling liquor on Sundays. It provides no punish-
ment for their naughty customers. Cause your
Parliamentary party, sir, to supply that omis-
sion by an additional clause, providing for
the due chastisement of those last-named
offenders. The chastisement proper for the
correction of those transgressors is obvious.
To perfect a bill designed to treat grown-up
persons like children, make your delegates insist on
the insertion, in the one which Mr. J. A. Smith has
devised in the spirit of a pedagogue for that pur-
, pose, of a-clause subjecting every man convicted of
having bought liquor on a Sunday to the discipline
of the rod as administered to youth. To wean
adult Englishmen from indulgence in exhilarating
beverages, and teach them to observe Sunday like
pupils at a Sunday-school, there is nothing like the
application of TICKLETOBT.

P.S.— As Mr. Smith's Sunday Liquor Bill stands,
apparently, it will allow any publican to sell beer on
Sundays if he also sells lollipops.

THE CZAR AT LARIBOISIERE.

The llopital Lariboisiere has been especially
favoured by the august personages who have lately
been gathering in Paris. The French are
peculiarly proud of this hospital, which, notwith-
standing some deficiencies of ventilation, &c.,
certainly presents a most pleasing appearance, and
contains many points of interest. it can easily be
conceived that this extensive newly-built edifice,
with its beautifully stucconsi walls, fine dispositions,
and neat interior arrangements, has been con-
sidered better worthy of the visit of such high per-
sonages than the other hospitals of Paris, and even
the Hotel Dieu. The black walls and almost gloomy
appearance of this venerable fabric might disagree-
ably affect the eye of the more casual visitor, to
whom the interest which attaches to its legendary
history and its sanitary arrangements would scarcely
be a compensation. In addition to the Crown
Princess of Prussia, the Emperor of Russia has
favoured Lariboisiere with a visit before leav-
ing Paris. Accompanied by the Czarewitch,
and by his military household, he examined the hos-
pital in all its details, and paid particular atttention
to the ventilation department, which is very exten -
sive and interesting. The Moniteur mentions that
the Grand Duke took a peculiar interest in this in-
quiry, and even tasted of the food and wine pro-
vided for the patients. M. Hasson, the director o
the Assistance Publique, was present, and on this
occasion received from the Ctir the insignia of
Grand Officer of the Order of Stanislas. The Em-
peror has left 1 irge sums of money to be distributed
to the poor in Paris.—The Lancet.

THY, ACT ON THE SHEFFIELD OUTRAGES.—The
act under which the inquiry at Sheffield now taking
place was passed on the sth April last, and it recites that
it would be " to the advantage and satisfaction of the
workmen and employers" if a searching inquiry was made
at that town. The inquiry is limited to matters within 10
years, without the written sanction of the Secretary of
State, obtained on the written request of the chairman of
the commission. The section as to indemnity to wit-
nesses declares that any witness under the act who in the
opinion of the person or persons conducting the inquiry
"makes a full and true disclosure" touching the matter on
which he is examined shall have a certificate, which is to
be a protection against any civil or criminal proceeding.
False evidence in an inquiry to be liable to the penalties
of perjury. The expenses of the witnesses are to be al-
lowed by the Treasury.
WEDNESDAY'S GREAT MUSICAL FESTIVAL AT THE
CRYSTAL PALACE.—We may well be excused for
directing the attention of our readers to the Great Musical
Festival to be held on Wednesday next, June 26th, in aid
of the restoration of that portion of the Crystal Palace so
lamentably destroyed by fire. The restoration of the tro-
pical department to its pristine beauty is,
we feel, of almost
personal interest to every one of us, and is altogether re-
moved from the ordinary and limited interest with which
the restoration of other places of amusement would be re-
garded. The Crystal Palace, as the home of music and
the fine arts, stands alone, and in its appeals to the most
cultivated feelings of the nation deserves to be supported.
That tumblers, acrobats, and pantomimes aro necessary as
a means of drawing the "enlightened" masses need not
depreciate tho more serious attractions which the Palace
lavishly provides its visitors. Such an extraordinary array
of varied musical talent has not been assembled since the
opening of the Crystal Palace on the 10th of June, 1854, in
the presence of Her Most Gracious Majesty. Very dis-
tinguished patronage has been accorded to the Festival
by her Majesty, H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, the Duke and
Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Mary, &c.-11/usical
Standard.
NATIONAL HOSPITAL FOR THE PARALYSED AND
EPILEPTIC.—The grand fete and fancy sale, held
during the past week, at the Hanover-square Rooms, in aid
of this invaluable charity, has proved a great success.
The rooms were crowded with the elite of the nobility and
gentry. Stalls were presided over by Lady Edward
Cavendish, Mrs. Stephen Ralli, the Misses Cosens, Mrs.
Octavius Phillips, Mrs. Chas. Lamb Kenney, Miss Smyth,
and Mrs. Barnand. The stalls of the Ladies Committee of
the Hospital, through whose indefatigable labours the fete
was organised, were sumptuously arrayed with every con-
ceivable article of taste and beauty, and bore the names of the
kind-hearted president, the Marchioness of Thomond,
Lady Taunton, Mrs. R. C. and the Misses Barton, Mrs.
Braidwood, Mrs. Thomas Laroche, Miss Neale, Miss M. L.
Parker, Mrs. Radcliffe, Mrs. Russell Reynolds, and Miss
Williams. Miss Chandler and Miss Bevington held the
patients' stall, Miss Radcliffe and Mrs. R. Hardwick the
refreshment stall. The lower ball was devoted to a very
interesting and novel entertainment, which was highly
appreciated and patronised, and consisted of a
wonderful troupe of "learned dogs." It is
almost impossible to describe their really clever
antics. Great credit must be due to their pratty mistress,
Madllo. Gertruse, for her patience and perseverance in
the education of these amusing specimens of animal saga-
city. The Piccaninny Christy Ministrels were most voci-
ferously applauded in their Ethiopian entertainment.
During the intervals of the performance the Piceaninuies
rendered most effective aid to the ladies in the disposal of
their valuable articles. We trust the pecuniary result of
the sale will at no distant period enable the committee of
the hospital to open all the uvocc tipied ward.
REMARKABLE DISCOVERY OF A STONE COFFIN
AND SIC ELETON. —On Wednesday as stone labourers wereem-
ployed in ballasting on the works of the North London
-Rail way, near the now station at Old Ford, they canto upon
a largo stone coffin, which lay some two and a half feet
from the surface of the ground. After clearing away the
earth from round it, the lid was raised, and the coffin was
found to contain a perfect skeleton, the teeth being iu a
good state of preservation. On being exposed to the air,
however, the rib bones fell in, and other portions of the
frame slightly parted. The coffin is about ift. in length,
and 2ft. 4in. in width. A number of old coins and urns
have also been turned up in the course of the excavations
about the railway. Some two or three years since another
stone coffin was discovered in the upper part of Old Ford.
The coffin has been removed to a neighbouring hut by the
side of the line.

HERRING FISHING IN THE NORTH SEA.—Large
fleets of decked boats are now employed from the Tyne,
Hartlepool, and the Wear in the herring fishery in the
North Sea. The takes have been very good, but the fish
have only been moderate in quality. They are improving
this week. Prices have been low, not exceeding 2s. per
100. The fish, however, were selling iu the Tyne on.
Tuesday at an advance of from 28. led. to 3s. 3d. per 100.