The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-25
SCHEMES Of. RUSSIA,
Continued from First Page.

the matter before the Civil Service Com
mlssioners, and these officials take purely
Chinese mandarin view of the whole bust
ness.
They regard Greek and Latin as the
beginning and end of everything, and no.
body can Judge them. Each of these Ian
guages counts $50 marks on the examina-
ton papers, while English counts only
500, and French and German count only
$50 each.
Among the English tests put to 1s-year-
old applicants for minor postotice and
other vacancies of similar grade dozens
were read at which the House roared with
laughter, such as "show that Shakespeare
has laid scenes in each of his plays among
surroundings harmonizing with the plot"
but though all admit that it is ridiculous,
no one hopes for a change.
Emperor William has been able to do
very little in Germany to break down the
classical fetish in gymnasia, and though he
threw his whole weight vehemently against
it, here in England it is still more power
full because all movements to liberalize the
university standards are more than coun-
terbalanced by the increasing narrowness
and pedantry of the civil service, which
practically rules the country.
Interest has been aroused in the past fort
night by the prolonged race between the
two chief Northern Railway lines for a
record run between London and Aberdeen.
The competition between the East and
West Coast routes to this point gave rise
to struggle in 1889, but the opening of
the fourth bridge much altered the condi-
tions, and this new fight has produced some
extraordinary results. The East Coast has
some advantage in point of distance, but
much heavier gradients and rougher
country, so that finally it had to give in to
the rival West Coast route, which has ulti-
mately performed the feat of carrying q
regular passenger train of four coaches for
$40 miles at an average speed of 63h miles
an hour.
Over one section of thirty-two miles, this
side of Carlisle, the speed averaged seventy
four miles. This achievement has filled
the East Coast with awe, and by mutual
consent the contest has been abandoned.
London papers complacently point out
that no other country in the world could
do such wonderful things as this.
The Daily Chronicle does admit that
very high speeds are now and then at
tempted on American lines, "but every
one knows that they are risky in the last
degree, because of the roughness with
which the lines themselves are built and
kept" No figures are obtalnable here, but
fancy that the Empire State Express
habitually and without any cackling does
things quite as remarkable in its way as
this wildly yaunted miracle.
From the tone of the official reply the
other day in the Commons to Henniker
Heaton, it may be gathered that the new
postoffice administration has no idea of
embarking in international postage stamp
or cheaper colonial rate adventure. For
the first time in a long time the Post
master-General is peer and the Office has
no direct representative in the Commons,
so Heaton, who has made the opening of
the postal oyster his special mission in
life, can do nothing but ask a question at
second hand and trust to luck to get any
answers at all. 1t is understood, how
ever, that fresh negotiations for the estab-
lishment of parcel post have been opened
with the United States.
Mary Wilkins has won such high appre-
citation among cultured English readers by
her regular work that there was great
curiosity to see the short detective story
with which she won the prize in a recent
very much advertised competition, and
which is printed here in Chapman's Maya
zine. Reviews of it now appearing agree
in deploring it as painfully unworthy of
her rep utation. If that was the best that
they could find it is difficult to imagine
how bad the rest must have been.
Huxley's death occurred at the very
moment of the electoral excitement, when
people could think of nothing but politics,
with the result that the event attracted
very little attention and comment. 1t is
very likely that great number of people
who know his works, or at least his fame,
are still in ignorance of his demise.
For less tolerable reason none of the
important papers mention the fact that on
his tombstone, just erected, these five lines
are carved, in compliance with his request:
And IL there be no meeting past the grave,
IF all Is bleakness silence, yet tbs rest.
Be not afraid, We waiting hearts that weep,
!. For God still giveth his beloved sleep,
And If an endless sleep, he wills so best.
HAROLD FREDERIC.