June 20, 1895. }
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
MR. G. G. BRADY AT THE KOWLOON | without the one the other does not exist. Soap
INSTITUTE.
Mr. Brady has established such a firm reputa- tion as an elocutionist and a comic singer, who is comio, that it was not surprising that his elocu- tionary entertainment at the Kowloon Institute on the 12th instant drew an exceedingly large audience. The room was packed, so that the funds of the Institute, in aid of which Mr. Brady gave his entertainment, should be materially augmented. It needs a very good man nowadays to give a whole evening sentertainment unassisted without making the audience weary of him, and without earning the designation of a bore. Mr. Brady very far from wearied his audience, and, as every one knows, he certainly is not an amateur bore. He possesses attainments which undoubtedly merit very high estimation, and more convincing proof of this could not have been afforded than the close attention which was paid to the whole of his efforts, and to the gen- uinely enthusiastic applause with which he was frequently greeted. The programme contained well chosen selections. The first two items were rather pathetic, and Mr. Brady is to be con- gratulated upon the powerful manner in which he rendered these recitations. Patbos soon gave way to bright, sparkling humour and the tears the ladies were displaced by broad smiles. The first of the comic selections was "How Uncle Podger hung a picture." We have heard many amateurs give this wonderfully humorous description by Jerome, and we can honestly say that Mr. Brady's performance eclipsed them all. He has an admirable com- mand over his voice and features, a thorough grasp of the character of the fussy uncle, and the happy knack of throwing himself into the humour of the situations, that made his per- formance a perfect one. The audience roared with delight. Of the other selections The Charity Dinner" perhaps comes next in point of merit, and Mr. Brady succeeded in a manner which it would be difficult to sur- pass in giving almost a life-like representa tion of the actions, manners, and half apologetic speeches of canting humbugs whose sole aim in establishing a society for providing blankets and top boots for the natives of the Cannibal Islands is to obtain free sumptuous feasts, and to thank God that they are not as other men. All the other items were carefully given in Mr. Brady's best style. The following was the programme "The Newsboy's Debt
Anonymous. "The Lifeboat”
George R. Sims.
"
COMIC.
"How Uncle Podger hung a Picture" “Mr. Montpelier's Recitation "
"Misadventures at Margate"
*
The Charity Dinner
Jerome. Turner.
Braham, Litchfield Moseley. "The House that Jack built" (by request) Anonymous. Mr. Brady concluded by singing two comic songs. Mr. G. P. Lammert efficiently acted as pianist.
A DISSERTATION ON SOAP.
NEW INDUSTRY FOR HONGKONG.
469
con-
they could supply a marine boiler for. On 14th has been productive of more ingenious advertise- December they sent him a letter containing a ments than any other article in the world; tender for the supply of the boiler. Therenpon its closest rival is pills. Wherever you go the matter between the plaintiffs and Senor don somebody's soap is sure to attract your attention. Crisante Lichando ended. On 2nd January the One maker's soap won't wash clothes another's defendant called personally upon the plaintiffs floats on water, and another's is matchless for and ordered the boiler for Senor don Crisante the complexion; all are the best in the world, Lichando, and the price agreed upon was $940, and one is almost driven to distraction in choos- and a commission of $20 to be paid to Mr. ing, from the sea of advertisements, the one Basa. The boiler was measured in Mr. Basa's soap that possesses all the virtues it is given presence, and the dimensions given to him. Öù credit for. Ruskin was wild when, on a railway 12th January it was shipped at his order on journey in the south of England, his eye caught board the Sungkiang. The boiler, on arriving sight of a board at the top of a hill proclaiming at Manila, was refused by Senor don Crisante to the world that a woman got older sooner than Lichando on the ground that it was not the right a man because she did not use Sapolio. The size. The plaintiffs were now suing the de- beautiful scenery was desecrated thereby, and fendant for the price of the boiler. The prin Raskin vented his wrath in the newspapers. cipal question that would arise was to whom And yet what an important part soap plays in credit was given in the contract for the the history of the world. ▲ London railway purchase of the boiler. Was credit given to the station would be almost a desert without soap defendant as commission agent, or to his foreign | advertisements, Every maker claims for principal residing in Manila? The defendant his soap that it is the best made. We would no doubt contend that the contract was are anxiously waiting for the man who will made with Senor don Crisante Lichando, but the come boldly forward with the declaration that presumption was that the defendant, as commis his soap is the worst that was ever made, that it sion agent, made the purchase on behalf of will wash clothes, and that it does not improve his foreign principal, and credit was the complexion of a corpse. Some time ago a sequently prima facie considered as having publican in England, in order to be different been given to the agent. Of course it could from other publicans, stack up a notice in his not be denied that that presumption window to the effect that the billiard tables in could be rebutted by facts, but it was a strong his house were the worst in town, and the bud-presumption, and strong facts were needed to ding Roberts's appreciated the joke so much rebut it. The defendant had also pleaded the that the tables were seldom disengaged f.om Statute of Frauds, on the ground that there was morning to night. Why cannot a soap maker no writing. But there was an acceptance of the come forward with a similar testimonial from goods and delivery by the defendant, and no himself? In Hongkong the soap industry is writing was necessary; therefore no question on gaining a foothold, and Messrs. F. Black-the Statute of Frauds could arise. head and Co. have recently opened premises at Shaukiwan, with a view of supplying the island and parts of China with soap made in the colony. There are one or two Chinese factories here, but | Chinese soap is very poor in quality, and, thank goodness, we have been spared eulogies on its In cross-examination Mr. Fenwick said he demerits. Messrs. Blackhead and Co. are seek-looked upon Mr. Basa as the purchaser of the ing to make this new industry a successful one, boiler. It did not matter to witness whom Mr. and at present they have machinery capable of Basa was purchasing the boiler for.
Witness turning out ten tons a day. A representative was certain he measured the boiler, and told the of the Daily Press visited the works yesterday, defendant the dimensions. and saw the various processes of manufacture, which are well known. The boilers contain twenty tons of soap each, and after the various constituents have been thoroughly mixed, the soap, in the liquid form, is poured into iron boxes, allowed to solidify, and thea taken out of the boxes in huge blocks, each of which weighs two tons. The soap is then cut up by ma- chinery, packed in boxes, and is ready for the market. In establishing this industry in Hong- kong Messrs. Blackhead and Co. are to be com- plimented. They have but to induce Chinese washermen to abandon the use of the present evil smelling, unwholesome rubbish, and to use a better quality, to earn the thanks of every European resident..
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When David Copperfield, dirt-begrimed and in tattors, first made the acquaintance of his annt, Betsey Trotwood, the eccentric old lady, as soon as she recovered from the excitement naturally caused by the apparition, exclaimed to the docile Mr. Diok, What shall we do with him ?" "Wash him," said Mr. Dick, The advice was Coonsidered to be so sensible and the outcome of such a keen intellect that it was acted upon there and then, and David Copperfield was washed. If the residents of Hongkong were asked what should form the basis of reform amongst the house servants and vehicle coolies the unanimons reply would doubtless be "A wash.” There can be no doubt that, as a general rule, coolies do not like soap. If a lady can induce her servants to freely use soap and water upon their bodies she may claim to have performed à meri- torious feat; but it is very seldom indeed that clean hands can claim a coolie as their owner. About a hundred years ago Alexander von Humboldt, the great natural historian, said that soap was the measure of cultivation, and of the truth of this remark there can be no doubt | whatever. In connection with it is the signifi- cant fact that the Japanese, in proportion, use more soap than the Chinese. As civilization advances the sale of soap likewise advances. Civilisation and soap march together. They are two great agents which are inseparable;
SUPREME COURT.
17th June.
IN SUMMARY JURISDICTION. BEFORE HIS HONOUR MR. T. SERCOMBE SMITH (ACTING PUISNE JUDGE).
FENWICK AND CO. v. Basa. Messrs. G. Fenwick and Co., Limited, brought an action against Mr. J. M. Basa to recover $940, the price of a boiler ordered by the defendant on behalf of Senor don Crisant ichando, of Manila. Mr. Hastings (from Mr. V. H Deacon's office) represented the plaintiffs, and the defen- dant was represented by Mr. Gedge (from Messrs. Johnson, Stokes and Master's office).
Mr. Hastings said the defendant was a com- mission agent in Hongkong, and the plaintiffs were engineers in the colony. The plaintiffs had for many years carried on business with him. He had on several occasions ordered goods from the plaintiffs and shipped them to his clients in Manila. In November, 1894, the plaintiffs received a letter from Senor dou Crisante Li- chando containing proposals for the purchase of an engine and boiler and also of a boiler by itself. It was only in regard to the boiler that the action was taken. The plaintiffs were not acquainted with this gentleman, and they did not reply to the letter. They received another letter dated 7th December asking what price
Evidence was then given to bear out this statement, and Mr. Fenwick said that if the boiler had been ordered direct by Sonor don Crisante Lechando he should have required half the price of the boiler to be paid before delivery.
Witnesses for the defence were called, and Mr. Gedge, in reviewing their evidence, asked for judgment, as there could be no possible doubt, he contended, that the boiler was sold to the defendant as the agent for a disclosed foreign principal. The remedy was against Sonor don Crisante Lichando and not against the defendant. His Lordship gave a verdict for the plaintiff, with costs.
18th June.
IN CRIMINAL SESSIONS.
BEFORE THE HON. W. M. GOODMAN (ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE).
M
THE FATAL FIGHT ON THE ESTHER ROY,
Eugene William McKouna, seaman, was in- dicted for the manslaughter of J. McDonald, chief mate of the British barque Esther Roy, at Iloilo in April..
The Acting Attorney-General (flon. A. G. Wise) prosecuted.
Prisoner pleaded guilty.
The Acting Attorney-General said the in- dictment was not for murder, as the prisoner. had undoubtedly received great provocation, and his act was not premeditated.
His Lordship, addressing the prisoner, said he had read the evidence, and he was certain that only a verdict of manslaughter could have been given. The prisoner had stabbed the deceased twice, once in tho arm and once in the breast, and one of the witnesses had said that he attempted a third stab. There was a fight between the two men, and prisoner got the worse, and thought of the knife which was in its sheath at his side. He stabbed the deceased in the arm, and if he had left off there, his Lordship could have under- stood the matter, as that stab was sufficient to make the mate leave off. But the prisoner in- ficted another stab, which ended fatally. He undoubtedly received great provocation, and taking this into account the sentence would be two years' imprisonment with hard labour,
SENT BACK FOR FURTHER EVIDENCE.
Chan Ching was charged with uttering counterfeit coin, and the case was, on the ap- plication of the Acting Attorney-General, sent
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