OCCASIONAL NOTE

At less than fifty years of age Edmond Rostand is dead and he has given the world no second masterpiece which can compare even remotely with the matchless Cyrano de Bergerac. “L’ Aiglon,” it is true, would have attracted attention at any time, if only by reason of Sarah Bernhardt’s splendid effort in the title role. It may, however, he doubted whether, even had Coquelin taken his place in the much boomed “Chantecler,” any generation but Rostand’s own would have pronounced that tragedy of the farmyard other than tedious. Of “Cyrano,” on the contrary, it may be confidently stated that it is, and will always be regarded as, all but the choicest gem in one of the world’s greatest literary centuries. Coquelin may have enhanced its effect by his superb acting, but intrinsically the beauty of “Cyrano” lies in the perfect employment of many and diverse metres, in the exquisite nature alike of Rostand’s pathos and humour, and in the manner in which the very “soul of France” finds embodiment in Rostand’s hero. Rostand was still less than thirty when his masterpiece was produced. To the world, and to France especially, his subsequent work, as has been said, has been a disappointment. There is, however, ample cause for thankfulness if the whole corpus of his literary output be viewed as one, and his country can acclaim him among its great men without compunction or reservation.

MOTOR CAR CASES

Before Mr. G.H.K. Hutton at Bankshall Street, the driver of a motor-lorry belonging to Mr. Madan was prosecuted for driving his lorry on Strand Road (near the Eden Gardens) after six in the evening, in contravention of the rules which lay down that no lorries must be driven on the Maidan roads between the hours of 6 and 8 P.M. This being accused’s first offence, the Magistrate imposed a fine of Rs 15. As the hearing of cases proceeded, the question arose of attendants wearing dirty uniforms and the difficulty that is at times experienced in tracing persons accused of such an offence. In regard to this, Mr. Farrow mentioned that in order to obviate as far as possible this drawback, it was under contemplation to introduce a new rule which would provide that all motor car attendants must be licensed drivers as well.

MEDICAL INSPECTION OF SCHOOLS

The Government of Madras have passed orders on the proposals of the Director of Public Instruction regarding the medical inspection of schools and colleges, suggesting among other things that it would be a useful procedure if for each large school a suitable registered medical practitioner should be engaged as medial officer, who would arrange in communication with the headmaster or other controlling authority each term to examine newly joined pupils. The medical officer would also make periodical examinations of the school buildings and premises and advise the school authorities regarding any sanitary defect.

THE REFORMS COMMITTEES ON TOUR

Commenting on the list of witnesses appearing before the Reforms Committees now sitting in Lahore, the Civil and Military Gazette says:- We fully recognise the difficulty attendant on the submission of names of witnesses who would be fully representative and yet not too numerous, having regard to the break-neck pace set for the career of the committees through India. Still we cannot help commenting on the omission from the list of the name of any officer of the biggest department in the province, the North-Western Railway, and of any representative of the European nonofficial community in Punjab. Of course, that community is very small in number, but in Lahore the committees, we venture to think, should have been able to hear the views of say one of the heads of the banking or important commercial firms stationed here; or failing that, the head of the biggest non-official industrial concern of the province might have been asked to make a short journey from Dhariwal and give the would-be reformers the benefit of his experience.

IMPERIAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

A Press communiqué states: The terms of office of additional members of the Imperial Legislative Council expire, with a few exceptions, between the 28th of July and the 16th of August, 1919. Under existing regulations for the nomination and election of additional members the Governor-General has power to extend their terms for a period not exceeding six months. The Government of India have now decided, with the approval of the Secretary of State in Council, to amend the regulations so as to admit of the extension of the terms of office of additional members for a period of one year. In exercise of the power so taken it is intended to issue orders which will keep the present Council in existence till July, 1920. The Government of India hope to be in a position shortly to make an announcement in regard to the Provincial Legislative Councils.