The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1889-02-23 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

NEWS, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1889.  and alert members of the House of Commons, where his pronounced Radicalism made him a prominent figure. He was reputed to be worth two or three hundred thousand pounds, and his downfall is said to tie owing to unfortunate speculations.  Mr. O'Brien having been sentenced to another term of six months' imprisonment it is not probable that he will be able to confront Mr. Balfour in the House of Commons this session. Nearly a dozen more of the Irish members are already in jail or stand in a fair way of being placed there.  China is once more suffering from famine, and millions of helpless people are stated to be in danger of actual starvation. England is, as usual, preparing to send help to the sufferers.  At Askam, near Barrow, on Monday, a inau 51 years of age, named Henry Baxter, committed suicide by hanging himself in his bedroom. Ho was found in this position by his little daughter, and some neighbours were called in, but they declined to cpt the body down until the police appolked. On the arrival of the police the body, which was quite warm, was cut down and every attempt made to restore animation, but without avail. Had the body been taken down when first discovered life might have been saved. It is difficult to believe in the existence of such ignorance and crass stupidity as that digplayed. The St. John Ambulance Society ought to pay some attention to Askam, and it is a pity that it 'does not possess a T. Archer Lowe.  It is impossible to avoid feeling a kind of admiration for the Rev. Joseph Forrest, M.A., pastor of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Douglas. He may hold extreme and old.fashioned views, but he has at least the courage of his convictions. Upon the occasion of Burns' anniversary recently a public dinner was held in Douglas, at which some of the most prominent townspeople were present, and reference was then made by one of the speakers to uncomplimentary remarks which had been made publicly in Douglas with reference to Burnes' private character, obviously pointing to some of Mr. Forrest's. I Last week it was rumoured in Douglas that Mr. Forrest had resigned his i pastorate in consequence of his parish• ioners having attended this dinner, and ; upon enquiry this really turns out to be I the case. The rev, gentleman has I caused it to be made known that "as a I minister of the Gospel he could not stand at the head of men who attended a `lBurnss' supper.' When the deacons ! and elders of his church went to such a gathering the only honest course he coul i pursue was to resign. It had grieved him very much to stand at the head of men on the Commuuion Sunday' which followed the celebration who had taken part in the Burns' celebration. He admired Burns' as a poet, and j had his works in his house, and allowed I his songs to be sung at concerts in Connection with the church, but, instead of ; the vices, the virtues of such a man should be pertSetuated." The reverend gentleman will, no doubt, be fiercely condemned by some of those who think that Burus' moral character ought to be whitewashed because he was a political genius of the first order. But his action may do some good, nevertheless, in helping us to see certain facts is connection with Scotland's national ; songster as they really are.  Prize-fighting is illegal. But glove fights, apparently, are not. It is, however, difficult to see in what respect a glove fight is less degrading than a prize fight. Take, for instance, the struggle which came off at the Lambeth School of Arms the other evening. The combatants were Ted Pritchard and Jem Hayes. The stake was £lOO a-side, and the fight was to be to a finish with small gloves. Pritchard is sft. 84in. in height, Hayes sft. 7in., and both men scaled lOst. 4lbs. Each looked fit, but Pritchard seemed the freshest. Odds of 6 to 4 were laid beforehand on Hayes, but after a few rounds Pritchard was made the favourite. Pritchard forced the fighting, and Hayes being nothing loth, there was plenty of hard hitting, and the work was very fast. The second and third rounds were all in favour of Pritchard, who cut Hayes' nose, damaged both his eyes, and sent him down four times. Rounds were of three minutes' duration, with ore minute time. In the last round fought Pritchard punished Hayes very severely, and ten seconds before the time sent him down with a right-hander on the chin, which, judging from after appearances, must have dislocated or broken the jaw. When time for the round to terminate was called Hayes was still prostrate in the 12 feet ring. His seconds got him up, but he had no chance of continuing the combat. This fact became apparent to a number of ruffians who, to save their man's defeat, broke into the ring, and started a series of free fights,which necessitated the interference of the police. Hayes' party were unable to send their man up again, but they pressed Mr. Angle, the referee, to declare a draw. This he declined to do, but he gave the men notice that he would require them to meet again at his discretion.  Some sensational witnesses have been before the Parnell Commission this week—Messrs. Soames, Macdonald, Houston, and Pigott. In the space at our disposal we cannot even attempt a summary of their evidence; but we call attention to the facts that the Marquis of Hartington was offered the famous letters, and would have nothing to do with them and that when similar overtures were made to Mr. Stead, of the Pall Mall Gazette, be declined to enterthem on the ground that he bad lost £3OOO • connection with the Maiden Tribute to Aodern Babylon series of articles. Sensationalism, then, does not always Pay.  Modern