vening Club Mr. Macbeth on Britain's Advance in Victorian Era At the opening meeting of the autumn session of Union Church Tuesday Evening Club, held in the Church Hall on Tuesday evening, Mr. James Maebeta entertained the members with a very interesting review of some of the outstanding events during the Victorian ere, an era which marked a great advance in the history of the British nation, Mr. Macbeth began by remarking that there has been too great a tendency on the part of writers and people of lesser note to speak slightingly of the Victorian era, "rhe year 1837 marked the beginning of a very distinct step forward in the history of England. Up to this time the prestige of the throne had sunk to a very low level, but with the accession of Queen Victoria a new atmosphere was created. She was the first ruler in the nation's history who had a thorough appreciation of what was meant by a constitutional monarchy, and today it might well be said the old empire has ceased to exist, and in its place we have a Commonwealth of Nations scattered throughout the world and united by the ties of blood, of brotherly feeling towards each other and of loyalty to the Crown.
The reign of Queen Victoria witnessed many changes in legislation which made for the welfare of the working-classes, Among the measures enumerated was the adoption of Free Trade. Unfortunately, other nations were not willing to fall into line on this subject, and ultimately this later gave way to tariffs. Admittedly the root cause of all wars is economic, and it other nations had adopted Free Trade it is possible the world would not be in the plight in which it finds itself today.
The passing of the Education Act and the extension of the franchise were two other great advances which made for the awakening of the national conscience, and [with it the development of a larger spirit of humanitarianism, which had enhanced constitutional government and made the British nation a real democracy. At the close of the lecture a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the speaker on the motion of Mr. F. W. Poate, warmly supported by the chairman, Dr. H. Couper Patrick.
Preceding ihe lecture and during supper, a short business meeting was held, when the following were nominated and elected to serve on the Committee for the ensuing year:—Dr. Couper Patrick, Messrs. W. Charters, Capt. W. F. Davis, 3 Goodwin, W. M. McLennan, Shields, and Smith.
AN express mail service between Kunming and Chungking will be established soon. The first trial service is reported to have been successful, The new service will be limited to letters, postcards and newspapers, Barraud, de Boissezon, Colter van Hengel, Rothe, Moresthe, Sienkiewicz, Balfour, Vongehr and Dr. I. Steinmann, Mr. J. Chudzynski.
On Friday afternoon the Polish Women's Association will hold a Bridge-Mahjongg benefit tea at the Foreign Y.M.C.A. Tickets may be purchased from Mrs, Peltz 201 Grosvenor House, Phone 75378, Mrs. Sienkiewicz, 862 Rue Ratard, Phone 71264, Mrs, O. Vongehr American Club Phone 15239, or at the Foreign Y, on the day. It would aid the Committee very much if players would make reservations at once, through Mrs. Peltz, and bring their own bridge and mahjongg sets.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.