New-York tribune., 1876-03-04


to ship. Resplendcnt in paint aud gilt, they were
put at the PROV TO make a brave shcwing-and there
they stayed unless they got knocked of. If a dis
aster of that sort occurred, no one had rest till
another fgurc-head was whitfield out and tic place
filed again. Those who knew nothing of nayiga-
ton and judged from the look of things only per-
haps thought that the fgure-head guided the ship
beyond doubt the figure head itself thought But
far back and deep down-out of sight unless you
knew where 10 look for twas a rudder And every
sailor board knew all the while who steered.
Figurc-head have now vanished from the ocean,
but rudders not yet dispensed with, and much
doubt if ever they viii be! Still, beyond costing
good deal in the rst place and more 10 keep in pant
and repair, fgure-heads never did any harm. They
pleased the sailors fancy, and the ship probably
was steered none the worse for their being at the
fore. But with high-poops and quarter galleries,
their day done in the canon of naval ar
chitecture that what did not contribute TO ships
sailing or fighting qualities must go by the board.
Now all this about fgTe-heads is apropos, under
stand of the position which father occupies in his
! own family. Cast your eye back paragraph and
you will see where the train of thought shunted.
Not for the world would have it imagined that
had king or queen in my mind at the time. There
is too much reverence for existing institutions
for me- for that-and besides, may some day be
king or queen myself
Royal establishments can only be kept up at vast
expense and if they did not In some way pay, would
those who foot the bills maintain Onef England II
a commercial nation, and knows the value Of money.
II costs her millions of pounds to carry her busi-
ness in this fashion, and she probably knows what
she's about--her bank account is good argument
for the system. ] do think that could furnish
man, OF invent machine that would fulfill all the
royal functions at less expense, but might make
mess of it. so don't look TO me for any permanent
improvements on monaTchical governments.
One thing, however, is apparent enough. lhe
popular feeling for the sovereign of today cannot
be what II when personal prOwess was the chlei
claim to distinction and he ruled the country who
could conquer il. Long range rifles and cannon
have made the princes of old impOssibihtes. Rich
ard of the Lion Heart would make but poor fist OF
it stopping shell from tins last krupp gn-throw-
ing 22-inch projcchle. Edward overriding Scot
land, Richard trampling Saracens into the sand
Henry the With charging at Agincourt Henry the
With choppng off his wives heads-these were
the monarchs to kndle the popular enthusiasm and
carry il blazing with them. But times are changed
Sovereims now have domestic virtues, like other
people, and life under their government has become
dull and monotonOus in consequence. Heads In this
degenerate day are only "cut oil " fguratiyely, by
dismi-son from office, and spiritess ministers re-
sign instead Of staying on and being assassnatod.
There's no fun in living under tyranny now; one
might just as well, better if OF an active turn OF
mind, live under republican government. Fm
there are places in the far free West where the
voice of the pistol is still heard IN the land and
where at least a quiet funeral may be secured by
very little show Of Obtrusiye ostentation-wearng
clean shirt, say.
ENGLISH PRONUNCIATIoS
But one thing We do not do-murler English, and
nail the mutilated corpse permanently up IN public
places. My nation has often been analgned for
chronological baIbarities but ] do not know that II
ever crucfeda significant name, and set II at street
corners as a misleading sign, by vicious mi-pronun
citation. But Hobom was Old bourne am told
taking lis name from burn OF riyulct which Of old
coursed there away and was 80 known tll cockney-
clappcd the on. And similarly Hay llill-a street
which, | had thought, was named for our John Hay
originally stood Aye Ilill," the London yu-
garsm having permanently prciXed the aspirlte.
For this have the authority of Dean Stanley Did
lac not say that the locality appears as Aye Hill in
charter Of Henry VI. in the archives Of Eton Col
lcge should have doubts. however, as 10 the cor
rectness of the statement For IN the Memorials of
Westminster Abbey Nyhere I hud all that know
about Ave HID he saws that the Latin verses. allUd-
ing To the Savors nnoccntly suffering, on the tomb
Of Mary Queen of Scots, are | Peter /. 81 and %
Now, if know anything AT all abont the New Tcsia
ment they are from | Peter ii, 81 and % But
perhap. this does not come from want OF accurate
knowledge on Mr.. Stanleys part. IL may be that he
did not wish 10 show such an accurate acquaintance
with Scripture az might disqualy him for the office
Of Dean. But what do YOU saw to the stately iinlf
making mention OF the "Grcat Ealing School,
meaning, i supposel, some large medical university
or hosptal1 And to another journal of equal lit
crary pretenions-The PdH NdH, ! think-dclibcr-
atey saying in critcising a lot of paintings. "The
Old Group on the Onse." When it comes todropping
his in print, and The london Iimos and The FdH NaH
Gaseite do it, It is time submit, for one 10 90
round and pick them both mp.
But one thing let me say, the Post-Oiice Of Lon
don makes no indistinct figures in postmarkinR let
ters, however the populace may blur and blot the
language. And yOur Post-Oflice may borrow very
useful reform in this respect. Not letter have
received from New-York on which the postmark
was ledble, OF the date Of mailing could be read.
The nAiction of a simple red botch seems to be all
that il thought necessary. Now either dismiss post
marks entircly-and with them n lot of clerks en-
ployed for that work, 81 effectng n saving in that
o0ice-or put them legibly on A machine would
be less careless and expensive at thb JoD theh u
clerk II seems 10 me.
The waiter whO comes 10 take this letter ont for
mailing tells me 1t has been showing heavily all
night--that half a foot of snow has fallen. Ana
locking from my window see six inches OF lamp
black in the courts and on the pavements. lhere
NAV be snow underneath if one scraped for IT, but
have not looked beneath the surface never DO
the brevity of human life forhds. JOHN PACi~
VENTILATION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
To the Edttor Of The Tribune.
SIR: One of the ever recurring and most