The Sun.
London, England, 1868-08-27 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, AUGUST 27, 1868.

trans
ans that it would have been quite impossible to
have proceeded with anything like success had not
some change taken place. 'The facts of the care
are most, clear, and many will wonder that the: o
could have arisen such a misconception
as V ) the correct mode of conducting
the b usiness ; but, of course, allowances must be
made for the unusual character of the calamity, and
due regard should be had to the feelings of the re-
latives of those killed by the accident. This cannot
be done while strife and contention are the order of
the day ;
and the relief experienced at the settle-
ment of the dispute will be great in all directions,
for the sympathy of the country has been fully
aroused by the sad affair, and it will not abate its
interest until a complete knowledge has been
gained of all the chief particulars of the melan-
choly case. It is true that the question of
compensation will not come before the jury now
sitting, but then the most trifling details assume an
importance on such an occasion as this ; and the
mourners are not alone in their eagerness that no
time should be lost in investigating the matter, and
also that the inquiry should be conducted in the
most suitable manner. All things taken into con-
sideration, it must be considered the best has been
done in the last arrangement entered into, and we
shall look forward in the hope of seeing the melan-
choly task completed as satisfactorily as the case
will allow.

The more ambitious portion of the feminine sex
have found an able advocate of their claims and
exponent of their grievances in the person of Miss
LYDIA BECKER, of Manchester. This lady has
seized the opportunity afforded her by the meeting
at Norwich to lay before the public her views on
those general questions which especially affect
women. Miss BECKER had the satisfaction of col-
lecting a large audience for the Economic Section,
before which her paper, " On the supposed differ-
ences in the minds of the two sexes of Man," was
read on Tuesday last, some of whom, it is to be
hoped, were convinced by the lady's logic, or at least
silenced by her eloquence. Miss BECKER complains
that while there is no question as to women's phy-
sical wants being the same as those of men,
their moral and intellectual necessities are sup-
posed ,to be widely different. Every one admits
that they are equally liable with men to suffer from
hunger and disease, but the conditions which men
find most profitable and most calculated to pro-
duce the highest enjoyments they appear to regard
as unsuitable or unnecessay for women. To remedy
these inequalities Miss BECKER proposes two con-
ditions. First, a liberal education, and the
opportunity :of using the advantages it confers;
and, secondly, political representation or a voice in
choosing the Government or the laws. It is evident
from these proposed remedies that Miss BECKER at
least belongs to the class of strong-minded ladies
who are quite ready to place themselves in the van
and bear the brunt of the battle of life. So far as
the question of a liberal education is concerned, the
common sense of the public supports Miss
BECKER. It is no longer thought necessary to
confine the studies of an intelligent girl to
the acquisition of mere superficial accomplish-
ments, and there are many facilities for the
prosecution of serious studies. No girl need now
remain ignorant because it is not possible for her to
gain knowledge. There are colleges, and classes,
and lectures for their benefit. One of the univer-
sities has organised a system of periodical examina-
tions for female students, and, according to the
testimony of Mr. HEYWOOD, the University of
London proposes next year to confer degrees upon
female students who pass a " stiff " examination.
It is not therefore reasonable to complain that
women arc absolutely debarred from the higher
intellectual enjoyments open to man. No doubt
there are great deficiencies existing in the education
of the majority of girls, but these are owing rather
to their own and their parents' indifference to any-
thing better than to absolute difficulties. In spite
of Miss BECKER'S confident assertions women are
generally very little disposed for hard study and
continuous application. Some ladies, like herself,
may prefer intellectual enjoyments to all others,
but these are no more to be taken as samples of their
sex than the doctors and professors and philosophers
now gathered at Norwich are to be accepted as
specimens of the common tastes or acquirements of
mankind. It is one thing to say that the educa-
tion of women should be extended and improved,
should soar higher and go deeper, should be
directed to the study of principles rather than to
the acquisition of mere surface knowledge—and
quite another thing to declare that there is no re-
cognisable difference in the natural abilities and
mental qualifications of the sexes. When Miss
BECKER, in answer to the chairman's ob -
servation that delicacy and refinement are espe-
cially necessary in the female mind, declares that
delicacy and refinement are equally necessary for
men, she confirms our impression that in one respect
at least she shares the common mental failings of
her sex, and is only able to see one side of a
question.

As for the opportunity of turning the knowledge
acquired to honourable and profitable account it
is a branch of the subject which concerns a good
many. There is one career or profession specially
adapted for women, and for which they are
in every way suited, which is being more and
more taken out of their hands. We allude of course
to the teaching of the young. Even Miss BECKER
can hardly think this a derogatory office, since the
lords of creation are very ready to engross it.
Common sense, however, argues that an intelligent
and well-educated woman must be fully competent
to direct the studies of any child of ten or twelve,
and it is very much to be regretted that strong-
minded women do not turn their attention towards
securing this profession for their fair clients instead
of aiming at the lawyer's wig or the doctor's
lancet. The Americans in this, as in some other
respects, are far in advance of us. The largest
proportion of teachers in the States are females,
who generally ...have the instruction of children of
both sexes. Yet no one can pretend that their
standard of education is too low, it being, in fact,
much higher than our own. We hope to see a
radical reform in the fashion in this respect, and we
are sure the cause of education would not suffer
from it if once women were fairly trained.

THE BUTE FESTIVITIES.—The corporation coin-
tnittee appointed to carry out the festivities at Car-
diff aro very active in arranging the programme for the
decorations in the town and the illuminations at night.
The festivities will commence on Saturday, the 12th of
September, and will continuo for seven days. The illumi-
nation of the Town Hall, the erection, decoration, and
illumination of the two triumphal arches, and the devices
and ornamentation of the Bute Memorial Statue, have been
entrusted to the eminent house of Messrs. J. Dofries and
Sons, of London, whose marvellous success in the new
brilliant art which they are popularising have never been
surpassed in the grandest cities of the continent of Europe
Over 300 men are now at work at the castle for the great
event. The decorations and illuminations are being car-
ried out on a more magnificent scale than that which they
did this time last year for the reception of the Belgians.

A GIRL KILLED BY LIGHTNING.—During one
of the late thunder- storms M. Perrard, a farmer at Cha-
vanges (Aube), was engaged, with the aid of his wife and
daughter, aged sixteen, in helping his men to cart some
oats, when the elect] ic fluid struck the girl and set her
clothes on fire. Tho father rushed to her assistance and
put out the flames, but she had been killed by the light-
ning, and her body waa burnt in Evora) places.

COUESPONDENOE PROM PARIS,

OltOgiArk OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

- -
PARIS, WZDNUDAY, August 26.
the Ziberte has received from a correspondent " who is
well acquainted with all that passes in the Court of the King
of Prussia" some information on the subject of the Schwab.
bach interview. Since the temporary retirement of Count
Bismarck, says the informant of the Liberte, the old Prussian
Conservatives and their policy have reappeared at Court.
This party do not altogether approve of the events of 1866,
and have accepted the results of the seven weeks' war only
through the predominating influence of Count Bismarck.
The prime object of their policy is a friendship or a species
of Holy Alliance between Austria, Russia, and Prussia,
which would result in the isolation of France. It is this
party which, having regained some of its lost influence,
has instigated the interview at Schwalbach. On that occa-
sion the King of Prussia offered the Czar, his nephew,
his aid in bringing about once more the friendly relations
which formerly existed between the Cabinets of Vienna
and St. Petersburg. The Emperor did not repel, if he did
not accept, this proposal. In consequence, the King of
Prussia is now playing the part of conciliator, and shewing
every attention to the monarch who two years ago opposed
him in battle. The communications between the two are
more frequent than they have been since Sadowa. The
correspondent adds that the French diplomatists are fully
aware of what is going on ; but the relations between
France and Prussia are ostensibly cordial, whilst between
France and Russia they are remarkably cold. At the
official dinner, given by M. de Moustier on the occasion of
the Emperor's Fete, the Minister proposed the toast of all
the Sovereigns represented at Paris. Upon which, a diplo-
matist remarked, loud enough to be heard by everybody,
" M. de Moustier gives this toast with all the more zest on
this occasion because the Russian Ambassador is absent."
All these details are of course "guaranteed."

Count von Goltz is no better. The treatment of Dr.
Gdrard van Schmitt, from which such marvels were ex-
pected, has hitherto done little or nothing to mitigate the
sufferings of the diplomat'st.
The Figaro states that the Spanish Ambassador at Paris
has requested an interview between the Queen of Spain
and the Emperor Napoleon at Biarritz, but that the Em-
peror, entirely from private motives, has politely declined.
A pistol duel has recently taken place between M. F—
and M. Jolivet, who is said to be the son of the deputy
who was killed on the Place de la Concorde, on the 23rd of
February, 1848, and whose corpse was found under a heap
of sand near the Tuileries three or four days later. The
fate of this family has been strange. The great-grand-
father of the M. Jolivet who has just stood fire was shot in
a pistol duel, his grandfather was killed in one of the battles
of the Empire, and his father met his death in the manner I
have just mentioned. M. Jolivet has so far escaped the
general rule, for though he received a wound in the
stomach which was considered mortal, he is now deemed
to be in a fair way to recovery.
The sort of inspiration with which the official papers
are endowed is a mystery at present; for whilst the
Constitutionnel argues in favour of peace, the Pays pro-
nounces for war. As the latteris the better credited paper, it
has thus some advantage over its adversary; so thatperhaps
the inspiration is pacific, or at least cannot be very warlike, if
the Constitutionnel has no share in the utterances of the
oracle. The Constitutionnel is the centre of attraction at
present. Yesterday it published a short note announcing
that the Emperor and Empress would postpone tl.e'r
departure for Biarritz until they had received a visit
from the Count and Countess of Girgenti. The
Parisian public is even more mystified by this state-
ment than by the discrepancy between the Pays and
its colleague. Why the Emperor and Empress should
delay their plans on account of a visit from two members
of the House of Bourbon—for the Count de Girgenti is
brother to the ex-King of Naples—is a problem which
puzzles even the gossips of Paris. The House of Bourbon
does not, as a writer satirically remarks, exercise a pre-
ponderating influence in Europe, and the interview might
have taken place, one would think, at Biarritz. The
most enterprising inventor cannot deduce a war rumour
from this statement. It is therefore concluded that some
modifications of the system of home administration are con-
templated. What ground tl.ere is for this conclusion lam
unable to divine.

There is further trouble in the Republic of Andorre.
Indeed it would seem that revolution had established its
headquarters in the little valley which constitutes the
manes: State in the world. A provost had been appointed
by the Bishop of Urget, but the Council-General would
not accept the nomination. Public ire was at length so
much excited against the unhappy provost that he was
besieged in his house, and was in danger of his life. The
Council-General has been dissolved, but anarchy still
reigns in the Happy Valley.

THE WEATHER TABLE.-THIS DAY.

THE JURY SYSTEM.

It hi stated with an air of authority that in con-
sequence of recent events, the judges have resolved to carry
out a rather important alteration with regard to juries.
Hitherto it had been the practice in cases of misdemea-
nour, no matter what may be the character of the offence,
to allow the jury to leave the court if the case is
adjourned, and this has been found in many cases to
be productive of great inconvenience, if not detriment to
the interests of justice. This proceeding also led to the
following anomaly. In cases of felony, no matter how-
ever trifling the charge, the jury, to whom a prisoner is
given in charge, cannot by law separate until they have
given their verdict, but in a case where a defendant
may be charged with obtaining property, in money, to
the amount of £20,000, and which would be just the case
where improper influences might be brought to bear upon
the jury, they aro allowed to leave the court, and any one
who pleases has an opportunity of cemnmnicating with them.
This, it appears, I.owever, is merely a practice that has been in
use, and -which the judges have allowed to continue. but it
rests entirely on their discretion whether the course referred to
is adopted or not; and it is understood that in future the
judges have determined that when a prisoner is given in
charge, the jury shall not be allowed to separate until they
have given their verdict, and that this resolution will b 3
rigidly adhered to.