Political, Society and Local Notes.

The alacrity with which Mrs SENHOUSE, of Netherhall, has expressed her willingness to lay the foundation-stone of the new British-school shows how warmly that lady sympathises with the elementary education movement. The British-school in the past has a history of which any elementary school may well be proud. The growing requirements of the town, educationally, however, have necessitated a larger school to be built, and more commodious premises are about to be provided. A good education is a priceless treasure, and one of the best inheritances which a parent can leave to his children. It is very gratifying to see that we have in our midst persons who show in such a practical manner their interest in the well-being of their fellows.

The time for the annual election of three Trustees for the town and harbour is fast approaching, and already there are rumours that the retiring members are to be opposed. If the statement we have heard be correct, it is the intention of Mr William THOMPSON, who was recently elected a guardian of the poor for the township of Maryport, to offer himself as a candidate. We see no reason whatever why Mr Thompson should not – if he thinks he has the ability and time to place at the disposal of the ratepayers and shipowners – endeavour to obtain a seat at the Trustee Board. The Harbour-office is a place where men of business are needed, where all talking which does not tend to convey information should be dispensed with, and where the object should be to advance the interests and promote the prosperity of the town and harbour. We have no doubt the candidates who may be elected, when the time comes round, will bring to bear any talent and energy which they may possess upon the accomplishment of this object; and it is indisputable that the ratepayers and shipowners have a perfect right to elect whom they please as Trustees. We only hope that they will elect the best men they can find.

The business of posing as models, says an American contemporary, which ten years ago was regarded as so scandalous across the Atlantic that it was difficult to get a model of either sex at six shillings an hour, has gown so much in repute of late that any number of models can now be had for one-third that sum. At first a model cannot stand longer than twenty minutes without resting, but afterwards they pose from twelve to twenty hours a week. In one rare case a female model is said to have posed eight hours a day. Most of the female models are young women who work in workshops and factories; but in their cases, as in all others, "it is always the whip of necessity that drives people into posing." "One of the handsomest models," says the professor of the New York Academy of Design, "is an itinerant Methodist preacher. He has the form of a gladiator." The backwoods preacher who used occasionally to have to "whip" the more unruly members of his congregations into quietude seems to have left abiding traces on some members of the Methodist fraternity.