The Sun.
London, England, 1868-06-10 00:00:00

WORKING MEN'S CLUBS.

Yesterday a conference was held at the rooms of the
Society of Arts, under the presidency of the Earl of Lich-
field, for the purpose of reading papers and discussing
questions connected with working men's clubs and insti-
tutes. His lordship opened the proceedings with a brief
practical speech, and it was arranged that the various
papers should be read seriatim, and a discussion take place
at a later period on the more important topics brought
forward.

Mr. Buckmaster, of the Science and Art Depart-
ment, South Kensington, introduced the first paper,
which dealt with the subject of the education and recrea-
tion of the working classes generally.
Warburton, rector Ittiey, which adesCrlaufbilvil9E:l)l.4
of a club established in that village. One of the most
important conclusions arrived at by the writer, founded on
the experience of many years, was that the admission of
mere youths as members of the club had materialy im-
oaired its usefulness.

The question of refreshments was then brought
inder the notice of the conference by Mr. Edward
Hall, F.S.A., who urged that greater attention
should be given to the preparation of the food and
beverages supplied in the clubs, and recommended that
efforts should be made to induce the working man
of this country to imitate the example set by his
confrere in France in reference to the manner of
cooking his food. There was no reason, too, he thought,
why the working men's clubs should not partake of the
elegant decorative character observable in the cafés in
Paris.

The following was then brought forward as the first ques-
tion for discussion : " Is it desirable that a member of any
London club should have the privilege of free admission
to other London clubs, and that members of country clubs
should exchange with each other and with members of
London clubs the same privilege ; and if so •
on what conditions ?" Mr. Howell suggesting that the plan
pursued in connection with trade and benefit societies, by
which the members in one part of the country were
enabled to avail themselVes of the advantages offered by
the branches in other parts, should be applied to working
men's clubs. To Mr. Hall it appeared absolutely essen-
tial that there should be this privilege of free admission
into the various clubs, if the use of public-houses was to
be superseded. The Hon. Auberon Herbert urged the
delegates, when they returned to the provinces, to bring the
matter under the notice of their clubs, and communicate
with the council. Some other topics of minor importance
having been canvassed, the question of the proper age of
admission was then raised, it being generally admitted
that the circumstances were very few when youths under 18
years of age could be admitted with advantage.

The refreshment question was vigorously debated, there
being a considerable section who objected to the introduc-
tion of beer and spirits into clubs, while another section
thought the best way to keep working men from public-
houses was to provide proper places where they
could procure what they needed without being exposed to
the contaminating influences of the former places. There
were several other topics set down for consideration which
had to be left untouched owing to the length of
time devoted to the former portion of the programme.
The conference, which was attended by delegates from
various provincial clubs and institutes, concluded with a
vote of thanks to the Earl of Lichfield.

A TIGER AT LARGE-TERRIBLE SCENE.

The Escaut, of Antwerp, gives the following : —"A fright-
ful mishap, accompanied by the most tragic circumstances,
spread terror on Sunday morning last through the dis-
trict of St. Jacques. The Zoological Garden has for a
long time been in possession of two magnificent Bengal
cgers, one of which was to be forwarded to Loudon. To
avoid accident, the animal was placed iu a waggon secured
with strong iron bars. The greatest precaution was therefore
taken to avoid a catastrophe. At half-past 3in the morning
the railway servants perceived an enormous animal clearing
at a bound the wall which separates the zoological gardens
from the railway station. The tiger had, in fact, °seal ed,
having bent and broken two of the iron bars of his cage.
The first object of his fury was the cart-horse of a night-
man, which happened to be passing. The tiger bounded
on the unfortunate horse, biting him in th© flank,
and tearing the straps that attached him to the cart.
The driver, who at first sought safety on the horse's back,
hid himself under the cast, but not bef,re receiving a
wound in the log from the tiger's paw. Meantime the
horse, trad with terror and pain, galloped furiously towards
the market of St. Jacques, pursued by the tiger. Hero
another deplorable event occurred. A gardener, who
was passing the street, attracted the fury of the beast.
The tiger sprang at him, tearing his breast, logs, and
neck in a fearful manner. Having finished his victim the
animal dragged the body some distance; he then aban-
doned it and rushed into St. Anne's-court, where his pre-
sence caused indescribable terror. M. Vekernans, the
director of the Zoological Garden, having been informed
of the escape, proceeded with his staff in. pursuit, and
came up with the animal at the corner of St. Jacques'-street,
near the house Verstrepon. A night watchman and three
or four other persons took refuge in a small shop opposite
this house. The tiger spied them and stood for a moment
as though he intended to rush at them through the window.
pre pursued his course, however, through the market.
Vekemans with his assistant, after the animal got
into St. Anne's-court, barricaded the entrance and placed a
trap in it with a view of taking him alive. They then got
into the houses of the court in order to frighten him into this
trap. The tiger lay couched against the door of the atelier of M.
De Braekeleer, the sculptor, but perceiving ono of the men in
pursuit on the roof of a house, he leaped on the roof of a lower
house, and assumed a most menacing position. MM. Voke-
mans, De Braekeleer, Werbronk, and Verhoven were armed
with guns. The tiger having perceived them descended
from the roof, evidently bent on making an attack, and
when about four metres off he couched to make his spring.
The order to fire was given, and three guns were
discharged in succession. The first shot appeared to have
missed, the second struck the animal, the third inflicted a
mortal wound. He tottered back to the entrance of the
court, where M. do Braekeleer finished him with a fourth
shot. These gentlemen behaved with great intrepidity, and
but for their coolness and the measures they adopted much
greater injury would have been dono. Tho gardener who
was attacked never spoke, and died in the hospital the same
morning.

His Majesty the King of Prussia has presented to
thetrustees and the church committee of the English Church
in Kissingon the Sum of 500 thalers in aid of their funds, and
in consideration of the deficiency of the ordinary subscrip-
tions for the year 1866, occasioned by the absence of visitors
owing to the warlike operations at Kissengen in that year
during the bathing season.

MAYNOOTII.—A Parliamentary return has been is-
sued, on the motion of Sir F. Heygate, giving the amount
received by the Royal College of St. Patrick, 3laynooth
from the Consolidated Fund, in each year since 1840. In
1841 it amounted to £8,928, but in 1846 it was increased,
and in 1847 it stood at .£26,350 ; for the next twelve years it
did not vary, being £26,360; but in 1860 £3,000 was added
to the former amount. From 1861 to 1865 it again figures
at £26,360; in 1866, £26,272 12s. Bd.; 1867, £26,272 15s 2d ;
1868, £26,251 10s. 11d.
THE MANAGEMENT Op FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.—Mr.
Tidd Pratt has writt•ru another letter on the extravagant
sum raid to the committee of the Royal Liver Friendly
Society. From thii it appears that for the services of seven
of the conunittle men each of them received about £1 9s.
per day (exclusive of Sen Cays), cut of the contributions
paid by the members, in addition to which the treasurer's
salary was £560, the auditor's £250, and the accountant's
and solicitor's accounts are stated to be £B2O 12s. 6d.
This sum is stated to be more than is paid to
a director of any life-office in England. Mr.
Pratt says be is confident that if a commission was
appointed, as will probably be the case, to inquire into
the operations of such societies, the result would justify the
observation he has before made—that burial societies, as
now conducted, are not beneficial to the working classes.
Ha concludes his letter as follows: —"lt is rather singular
that none of these burial societies inform their members or
the public what is the actual amount of the sums now in
sure(' in each society! What is the reason for this?",