Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-29
The Employment of Maoris.

The Employment of MaOris.
The liberal papers comment severely on
the acceptance by the office of con-
tingent of Maoris from New Zealand The
Star says:
THE effect of this stupid blunder on the
Dutch will be terrible. After declining to
employ Indian troops, we are taking pal
try hundred Maoris. This will not only in
furiate the Dutch, but it will insult the
Indian troops, who will regard it as a
declaration of their tnferiority to an in
ferior colored race. Go on, oh, government
of muddlers! Even the gods could not save
you from your own invincible folly
However, there are signs of the dawn OF
that common sense, the lack of which the
English critics so deplore in the military
system, for the cavalry now going out to
South Africa is discarding the lance and
carbine and substituting for these weapons
rifles and saberS After over years Tight
ing the authorities have walked up to the
utter uselessness OF lances and carbines.
considering that thousands of British SOL
diers have never seen Boer during the
many engagements.
While Great Britain is tied hand and foot
to South Africa. the navy, which Is not
escaping the wave of criticism, is quietly
increasing it's strength and morale. For
months both men and ships have been kept
in an unusual state of readiness, and there
are now building in British yards no fewer
than eleven battle ships, nineteen cruisers
and fourteen smaller vessels, tOldllIS nearly
400, 900 tons. These exclude vessels when
have been tried but are unfinished.
Removal of Social Barriers.
The gradual removal of the social bar
riers which formerly restricted English po-
litical and educational life was never better
instanced than by the appointment this
week of Mr.. Joseph Owen to a fellowship
at Oxford. Six years ago Mr.. Owen was
a mill hand at Oldham, helping to support
his poor parents. He attended at night the
University Extension lectures, and so much
ability did he show that the lecturers got up
a fund and sent him to the great university.
where, with his wife, he settled down In a
humble cottage. He knew no Greek and
little Latin. His first success came when
he won the Brackenburg history scholar
ship, to the surprise of many learned, aris-
tocratic competitors. Four years of deter
mined, uphill work passed. and the final ex-
aminations drew near. On a position in
these depended Mr.. Owens whole future.
A few weeks before the ordeal his young
wife died suddenly. Mr.. Owens friends
thought it impossible for him to accomplish
anything; but the mill hands grit stood the
strain, and Mr.. Owen gained the coveted
first-class. with the degree His appoint
ment as extension lecturer quickly followed,
and Mr.. Owen lectured where, six years
previous, he had learned. The climax in his
career came this week, when Pembroke
College elected Mr.. Owen. out of all the
OXonians. to the lucrative and honored post
of fellowship.
Miniature of George Washington.
There are few original pictures of Gen.
Washington in England. hence the discov-
cry Of another miniature is interesting 1t
Is by Sam Folwell, and Is dated 1871. An
other by the same artist is now in the pos
session of the Historical Society of Philadel-
phia, dated 1895. The new find Is supposed
to be an excellent likeness. 1t represents
Washington wearing a pigtail.
Glasgow, which the Christmas and New
Year season has made notorious for the
drunkenness exhibited in it's streets. has ac-
quired possession of an old mansion house,
a cost of f7OOO, where habitual drunkards
will be sent for terms varying from three
months to two years. The authorities hope
to effect cures by making the inmates do
farm work.