THE EDUCATION BOARDS .

(To the Editor,)

DEAR Sir, —The x Herald's ' correspondents seem to knew the business of clergymen, and then- motives, better than they themselves do. An "Observer" remarks that "clergymen are exempt from serving as jurymen and militia-men for want of time." The fact is, that all professional men and J.P's. are ex empt from militia duties because, according to English law, their social position is above that of a private soldier, while they would be of little use as officers. Doctors, lawyers, and clergymen are exempt from serving as jurymen, not because they have no spare time (many lawyers and doctors think they have too much), but because they are liable to be required at death-beds, and on other occasions which brook no delay. The retiring of one juryman breaks up die hearing of a case, and seriously impedes the course of justice ; but the retiring of a member from the sitting of a Board of Education need not interrupt its proceedings. In fact, clergymen are more regular attenders at such meetings than other members, as the minutes of former Education Boards in Auck land can testify. Some other writers in the ' Herald' are afraid of clergymen dragging religious or denominational matters into the business of the Board. Here is a fact which speaks for itself on that point : An Education Bill, as thoroughly secular as could be desired, was prepared for the Provincial Government some twenty years ago, chiefly by Bishop Sehvyn and Rev. D. Bruce. In carrying that bill through the Council, and in bringing it into operation (the late Mr, Williamson being Superiniendent), the thin edge of the denomi national v>*edge was introduced. By this, the permanent utility of the measure was endan gered ; and for the- very reason that the religious element was introduced, Rev. Mi- Bruce, along with the late Mr Clark, rejected the seats on the Board to which they had been appointed. These things were not done in a corner. Of the clergymen nominated for our next Education Board, Mr Bruce is not the only lib^ral-mindel, honest man, who regards a position on the Board more as a duty than a privilege.—Truth.

THE TELEPHONE

(To the Editor). g II i j —All your readers know that the telephone is an instrument for transmitting sound, either instrumental or oral, from one place to another ; and many speculate as to how it is done, what the instrument is like, whether it has a battery similar to electric machines or uot. lam one of those who would like to know more about them, aud perhaps this letter will get me the desired information. But, sir, few of your readers know that every house could have its own telephone in half-an-hour for less than sixpence,and you could have delightful chats with your friend ou the opposite side of the street, or at greater distance if needs be. I made one last night ; the things required are so simple and plentiful, the result so near perfection, aud the fun that could be had would well repay the time occupied in its construction. I picked up in the back yard two round mustard tins, and having emptied the mud pie 3 the youngsters had put in, I heated che bottoms till they fell off, then did the same to the end where the lid is taking care not to injure the rim of the lid, then rummaged in an old box and found a piece of parchment ; having taken off the ri m placed the parch ment ou the top, re-placed the.rim, and it will be like one end of a drum. Then pierce the centre of the parchment with a pin, and insert the end of cottou from an ordinary reel, and lay the pin to it, letting the piii remain in the tube against the parchment —do both tins the same way,and the telephone is complete—the length, of cotton of course according to the distance required. I use a whole reel, and both sing ing and speaking are perfectly distinct. — Yours, &c, H. J. SMITH, Howe-street.

THE DARDANELLES.

A CORRESPONDENT sends us the following extract from Miss Martineau's "Introduc trodnction to the History of the Peace " : —

" Before the end of ISO 6 Russia had driven Selim into the hands of France, and Alexander was filled with alarm. He be sought the British to undertake another of tliuse diversions which began to sound so disagreeably in the ears of Englishmen— to send a fleet of theirs which was cruising in the xEgean Sea up to Constantinople, and to compel Selim to relinquish his alliance with France and make terms with Russia and England. The Grenville Cabinet was rather glad of an opportunity of oblig ing Alexander, to whom they had refused bo*th money and soldiers, and whose friend ship it was important to retain, and they gave orders to Sir John Duckworth^ then cruising off Ferroll, to join Admiral Louis at the mouth of the Dardanelles. Mr Arbuthnot, the British Ambassador at the Porte, offered the final terms of the two Courts to Selim as soon as he heard of the junction of the two squadrons oil Tenedos, on the 26th of January, 1807. They were declined, and from certain threats about making hostages Mr Arbuthnot feared for his own safety and that of all the English in the place. He arranged with the captain of the Endymion, which lay at hand, to invite all the English merchants and the whole Legation to dinner on board his ship on the 29th January. They went, wholly unaware that they were not to land again. "When sitting in their dinner dress they were told that their wives, children and merchan dise must be left to the mercy of the Turks and the generosity of Sebastiar i. They had little appetite left for the dinner before them. No communication with the shore was, however, allowed, and by 8 in the evening, when it was very dark, the Endy mion was under way. The Turks did not find it out nor molest her passage down the Dardanelles, and she arrived in safety at the rendezvous at Tenedos. The strong and rapid current makes the passage of the narrow and intricate passage comparatively easy that way. The difficulty is in passing the other way up to Constantinople. A strong south or south-west wind is neces sary for this, and the fleet had to wait for this till the 19th of February. A terrific fire had destroyed the Ajax, of 74 guns, in the interval, with the loss of 250 lives. Seven line-of-battle ships remained and followed each other at intervals into the mouth of the Strait. Neither the efforts of Sebastiani nor the explosion of the Ajax, nor any other warning that the English were coming, had roused the Turks to make the slightest preparation. The ships sailed proudly up the Strait, undelayed by the fire of the forts at the narrowest part of the channel, and belching out flame and cannon balls as they went. They took and burnt some Turkish ships and appeared before Constantinople to the horror of the whole population, who were absolutely without the means of defence. The Divan would have yielded at once, but Sebastiani would have prevented it, and instituted a negotia tion which Droved a fatal snare to Sir John Duckworth notwithstanding express warn ings and instructions from Lord Colling ■wood. He was unwilling to destroy the city and shoot down the defenceless inhabit ants, and'le allowed himself to be drawn on from daj to day, exchanging notes and receiving premises, instead of fulfilling his threats. Meantime, not a moment was lost by the' Tuiks. Women and children worked day and night at the defences, and in a few days the whole coast was bristling with artillery, and the chance was over, ■i ac British oficers had seen through their glasses the placing of the cannon, the arrival of the ammunition, the lining of the coast with 3pirited troops, and the lodgment °i garrison, in the towers, and they chafed inder the ntolerable disgrace of their in action. Bit Sir John Duckworth had been negotiating during the whole of that fatal J^ek; at fee end of which there was no ting to bedone but to get away as safely as they bet might. The wind had not I cd ' aid i 4 di(i not change till March 1, ana the turner delay thus caused gave time charging the forts at the Dardanelles witnmen ad ammunition.For thirty miles, reckoning: y willdillg the channel, the and ray!tll Sauntlet of an incessant fire, SUcn a re as was never seen before.

Stone balls, weighiug 7001b. or 8001b., broke down the masts, crushed in the decks, snapped the rigging, and amazed the hearts of the sailors. The hills smoked from end to end, and the roar of the artillery rolled from side to side. In another week Sir John Duckworth declared in his despatch any return would have been impossible. The news of this singular affair spread fast over Europe."

TOTTERING LILY.

Among things not generally known is the expected accouchement of the fair Chinese Ambassadress, the "Tottering Lily." Her Excellency's household are just now busily engaged in providing garments for the little stranger, who, it is confidently believed, will be of the sterner sex. At all events, the '' linen " consists of (it is a fact, O mothers of England !) coats, trousers, and caps. Coats and trousers for a baby ! Think of this, Messrs Capper and Moon, and weep at the barbarian customs of the heathen Chinee. But—there is always a "but' m quest ions matrimonial—the father of the pros pected infant is not inclined to take St. Paul's advice, and be " the husband of one wife." He is anxious to be married again ; aud, uufortunately, London not being Salt Lake City, there was a difficulty in finding a second helpmate for the diplomatist. However, this has now been overcome by the selection of one of his own household for the honour. The fiancee is a girl of fifteen ; and I think it right to tell those who live in Portland-place that any un earthly shrieks which they may hear proceeding from the Embassy are solely due to the defective education of the bride-elect. Her feet, like those of all Chinese women of the lower orders, are not of aristocratic smallness; and as it would never do for the wife of an Ambassador to be subject Lo|lhis reproach, strong measures are being resorted to for remedying- the defect. The girl's feet are, therefore, daily "jellified" and tightly bound with linen bandages. This does not sound pleasant; but I doubt if it be worse than the tight lacing which many buxom young ladies of my acquaintance cheerfully submit to before being introduced into the matrimonial market. Meantime his Ex cellency may be both bridegroom and father on the same day.

MASSACRE ON THE MEXICAN BORDER.

Houston, Tex., Jan. 3.—The official re port of Lieutenant Tays, commanding the Rangers at the LI Pasco massacre, is just in. The Rangers occupied a one-storey adobtThouse, with the windows and doors barricaded, and port holes cut in the walls. The Mexican besiegeis occupied the neigh bouring houses, fortifying the windows, and dug a trench around the Ranger's building which they also mined. On the first day, says Lieutenant Tays, the Mexicans charged upon the building, but they were repulsed. On the last day of the fighting he put up a flag, in order to let the Sheriff of Pacos County go out. The besiegers let him go without molestation, and sent word to Tays that they wanted to talk with him. "He went out, and a truce was agreed upon till next morning, the Mexicans agreeing not to fire during the night, and they kept their word. During the night, however, they continued to fortify and dig rifle-pits. Tays then met them in the morning, and the Mexicans told him unless he surrendered up Judge Howard, they would blow up the the Rangers' building, as they already had gunpowder under it. They promised that if Howard would come down to the mob and relinquish all claims to the salt lakes, the original cause of the whole difficulty, they would not hurt him. Tays told this to Howard, who replied, " I will go, as it is the only chance to save your lives ; but they will kill me." Tays went down with Howard, after telling liim publicly he did not want to do so, and that if he would remain with the Rangers he would protect him. Judge Howard answered, "It is useless to attempt to stand them off any longer. This is our only chance of escape." Howard then bade the Rangers good-bye, gave his valuables to his friend, Mcßride, and walked out with Tays to the mob. John Atkinson was taken along as inter preter. To save his own life Atkinson, by agreement with the Mexicans, returned to the Rangers, and falsely told them that Tays had ordered them to surrender. The Hangers did so, and were disarmed. The mob then held a meeting, and determined on the death of Howard, Atkinson, aud Mcßride. The majority of the mob were for killing all the Rangers, but were dis suaded by one of their leaders, Chico Barrillo.

The mob yelled fiercely, and the three doomed men were led out 100 yards, and shot standing at the head of their own graves. Howard acted with great coolness, and after the first fire was quite dead. He stood with his hands in his pockets. The shooting was done by Mexicans from Mexico, and ft was with difficulty the Texas Mexicans prevented those from the other side of the river from slaughtering the entire American population of El Paso. Two leaders from Mexico appealed to the mob to massacre not only the Rangers, but all the Americana in that county,

FIGHTING ATROCITIES.

AMERICAN BASHI BAZOUKS.

A JUDGE AND HIS FAMILY

BUTCHERED.

The following extracts are taken from a letter written by Hansen, correspondent of the Cincinnati " Gazette," dated De Kaib, Kemper county, Mississippi, Dec. Bth :— We ought not to judge Mississippi by this vicinity. As well might we seek out the foulest den in Bucktwon|and call it Ohio. 1 know of about two other sections of America which will even compare with this : One the home of the " lieno gang," in Indiana, as it was ten years ; the other the. "blooay district" in Cache valley, Utah. , , • -, , Within 10 years 24 men have met violent deaths in this vicniity, and Walter Riley, hanged yesterday, was the first brought to justice by law. At the last election Phil. Gully, now head of the clan, ran for Sherriff, and was beaten two to one by Welsh, independant. On the 18th December, 1876, John W. Gully was shot by an assassin, concealed in the bushes by the wayside, but not seriously hurt. On the 26th of April last John W. Gully was finally shot to death by a con cealed assassin. His money, hat, and boots, and all the valuables on his person Avere taken. Gully was buried on Satur day afternoon, and a.t the grave the mob began to organize. Early Sunday morning, the 29th, Alex, and Newt. Hopper and Charlie Rosenbaum were arrested and placed in gaol, but not until they had sent a private note to Judge Chisolm warning him what to expect. Mrs Chisholm and Cornelia urged him to fly. He refused, and pointed them to the example of Ben. Rush, and the fact that his guilt was considered proved when he fled. sheriff Sinclair soon arrived, and promised the iud-'e he should be guarded at home ; but in a°few moments the place was surrounded by a mob, and the house full of strange men Forcing his way among them, gun in hand, came old Angus Maclellin a firm friend of the Chisolms. Shenft Sinclair now appeared to completely lose his head. According to the testimony of aU parties, he was wf etchedly inefficient. He ran to the jud.-e every few minutes with the exprelsio-n, "Judge, they say the guard must be increased," and finally with, "Judge, they say you must go to gaol. "MvGod Sinclair!" said Judge Chisholm « what talk is that for an officer ? Are you Sheriff, or is this mob ?" By this time a horde of ruffians had filled the garden and grove back of the house anS unkempt barbarians were crowding the parlour and even the bedrooms, gazing with stupid

astonishment on the piano and parlour ornaments. One present told me that what excited their especial wonder was an artifi cial landscape made in a box, by Cornelia Chisholm, aud set back iv the fireplace for the summer. This and the paintings (her work) diverted them but for a moment. The front of the house was commanded by a score of rifles, and it seemed every instant that the attack would begin.

The jail was distant but two hundred yards, across the common, and the family soon decided that there was their only safety. "Willie was left in charge of the colored woman ; Clay and Johnnie accom panied their father, while Cornelia and her mother walked on each side of him, the Sheriff in front, and guards on all sides. Thus, surrounded by a mob of two hundred men, they reached the jail and were locked in the main room up stairs. Cornelia and her mother, accompanied by the jailer, returned for bed clothes. The mob moved up town, and it was thought the danger was passed. But J. P. Gilmer had jnat arrived and surrendered to the Sheriff, and as the latter was bringing him to jail the mob forced them apart and the Gully boys shot Gilmer dead.

A messenger was then sent to Rosenbaum and the two Hoppers that if they would not light they should not be hurt. They consented, and the guards seeing what was coining, slipped out one by one. Bat Judge Chisholm insisted on their leaving their guns, and old Angus Maeleilin again took up his post at the door. The Judge was in the main room tip stairs, behind him the two cells, with a corridor into which lie could retreat. At the head of the stairs is a sharp turn, where not more than two persons could come in at a time, and to one just from outside the place would appear dark. Besides these advantages the Judge had several loaded guns, and Rosenbaum and the Hoppers were still in jail, so the cowardly mob hesitated to attack for at least an hour.

At last, however, by whisky and mutual exhortations, their bravery was brought to the proper pitch, and with savage fury they rushed upon the jail. The brave old Scotchman, Maclellia, ran before them with a warning of future vengeance, but was riddled with ball in a moment. Then the crowd surged in at the door and up the stairs, with them Mrs Chisholm, who had just been on the lower landing. Johnnie Chisholm ran forward to close the main grated door leading to the upper corridor. His mother shrieked :

" Hun back, darling. You'll be shot, and then father can do'nothing." At this instant the foremost man fired and tyn\e Johnnies hand and wrist to shreds. With the other hand the heroic boy stilled pulled at the door, but it was forced open, and he ran back beside his father. Miss Chisholm had meanwhile reached the grating and struggled to pull it to, but in vain. The crowd forced her aside and entered the corridor. The first man in was "Doc" Rosser, and his shot literally tore the heart of Johnnie Chisholm, and the faithful boy fell dead at his father's feet. At the same instant the Judge dis charged a load of buckshot into the head of Rosser, tearing it to pieces. The next man surged back against his fellows, and there was no further attempt to pass out of the narrow passage. They put their guns around and fired at random, Avhi'e Cornelia and Clay stood by and pushed the guns aside, the shot striking all over the room. Meanwhile Mrs Chisholin had struggled forward and got into the room just as the first firing ceased. The murderers re treated down stairs, and Rosenbaum and the two Hoppers followed them. It seemed for a moment that the Judge was victorious. Then rose the cry : " Fire the jail !" " Fire the jail !" which was answered by a cry from the other side : " The jail is on fire !"

The Judge saw the smoke from the guns, and said —" We must get out, or be burned alive. I will go alone, and the rest of you may escape." But all started together Mrs Chisholm reached the lower door, and saw that Maclellin was dead, and the Hoppers and Rosenbaum had deserted them, and that all hope was gone. Then for the first time she cried for mercy to God and man. There were boys in the mob no more than fifteen years old; there were people who had eaten at their table scores of times ; there was a class leader in her church, but she appealed in vain. The family came down stairs as the mob again rushed in; the mother took Johnnies corpse in her arms. Cornelia clasped hers around her father. Again was Mrs Chisholm forced aside, and a shower of balls fired up the stairway. One struck the Judge in the breast, after passing through Cornelia's wrist. The gold bracelet she wore was shattered, and some of the fragments buried in the wound. Still the Judge stood up and resisted till, on the lower landing, and in the midst of the mob, Cornelia was struck in the eye and the small of her back, until her hold relaxed, and her father sank helpless on the floor. Then the shout was raised, " He's dead !" and the wretches hurriedly scattered. But, while a few still lingered, Cornelia ran to the door, and lifting her bleeding hands, cried out, "Oh, help ! Help my poor father !" Then—hear it, Satanic regions, and blush, ye inmates of the lowest hell!—one of these incarnate demons —a mere boy, by the name of McDevens —deliberately lowered his gun and fired at her, the buckshot striking her in the lower limb. Thi3 done, the few re maining murderers galloped off. The horrid act was done, and the dead and dying family were for a few minutes alone. Cornelia walked home, still crying for help, and a few friends came. The coloured servants had fled to the woods, and they had to break open the house. This done, the wonnded girl tainted from loss of blood; but recovering, her first words were, "Dear papa, take care of him—l'm only scratched." But examination developed hurts of which she had no knowledge dur ing the melee, and she appears to have died rather from the general shock than from any particular wound. Judge Chisholm lived two weeks, and his noble daughter nobler far than Roman namesake — survived him two days.

MEETING AT THE AMPHITHEATRE.

O'Donnell'Fails to Appear.—Crossley Attempts to Conduct the Meet ing, but is Bull-dosed—The Most Disgraceful affair of the Kear ney Movement— Crossley "Psych ologized.

(San Francisco Paper.) NOTICE of a meeting, to be held last night, at the Palace Amphitheatre, at the corner of Mission and New Montgomery-streets, appeared in the daily papers, announcing that C. C. O'Donnell would speak on " The Chinese Question." And pursuant to the hint given by Kearney at the Sand Lot, a large number of his followers assembled at the Amphitheatre, and completely filled it. They went in with a roar as soon as the floor was opened. The only illumination was the footlights, the main body being for some time in shadow. Crossley got a candle, and tried to light the side chandeliers at the stage, but encountered a terrific run of jest and insult from the crowd. The gas expired as fast as he touched it off, and the audience yelled with delight at every defeat. At length he gave it up, and proceeded to attempt to open the meeting. O'Donnell was not present,! nor did he appear during the meeting. Wellock, hew ever, and Kearney were, and the impatient crowd fairly yelled as their leaders, with cool assurance, appeared on the stage, dossley seemed to be alone, as manager, presiding officer, and speaker. He was met by an incessant din, but managed to inquire why they should insult Mm. ["Because you called Kearney bad names."] Crossley said his speakers were not present, but he was not opposed to any one speak ing for the working inens' movement who was not in favour of hanging to lamp posts. [Hisses—"Go put your head in a bag." "Take your hands out of your pockets," etc.] We want men with brains—[Here the speaker was overwhelmed with cries : •• We've got them !" "Wellock !" '■ Keaiv

ney !" "Give the man a show," etc.] Crossley said : "No one shall speak in this meeting unless you give me a show. You call yourselves freemen-" But here he was drowned by hisses aud "000 I' " Yip !" and laughter. At thistpoin Captain Short, of the police, who had been summoned in anticipation of a row, appeared on the stage. Every time Crossley attempted to speak he was met with cries for " "Wellock," and after a short consultation between Capt. Short and Crossley, the latter consented to Wellock presiding, and the latter stepping forward, was received with deafening shouts by the assembly, which by pure bull-dosing had carried it 3 point. He said it was expected O'Donnell would be present to clear his character, but as he was not present, he would take it upon himself to make a few remarks. He said he expected to be presented with " another filthy piece of paper with Ti-ranny stamped upon it." The Party seek no favours, heed no frowns. The reformation ought to be made by free American citizens, but if you can't find them, then fall in, foreign ers. If O'Donnell comes here, give him thirty minutes to clear his character and say his prayers of repentance. We must teach the people how to conduct public meetings. If there are 10,000, don't bull dose a man. If there is dirt in him, give him a chanco to plough it out. Don't be onesided, but give all men liberty to do what you want to do your selves. The soldiers are all on our side ; three-fourths, if not all, the police are on our side. Knowing those facts, all "heffbrts" to balk us will be iv vain. Now, Dr. O'Donnell being absent, allow me to introduce the President of the Workiogmen's Party, Dennis Kearney." At this point Crossley, with some indistinct and intangible impression that, as he was responsible for the ga"s and had hired the theatre, he was entitled to say something, advanced to the footlights, and was met with a storm of hisses and groans. Wellock, with mock interposition, quieted the crowd, and said : " If this great reformer has anything to say, let him say it." But the noise was re sumed.

Crossley then made a movement to turn off the <gas, but was stopped by Captain Short. Another conference was held, when Crorsley agreed to give up the right to the theatre, if Kearney would pay the gas—six dollars. The proposition was adopted with fiendish delight, and Wellock then said : " On that account. I will say to Mr Crossley, ' We can dispense with your services.'" [Laughter, cheers, and "Put him out."] A collection was then tak"en up, and coins were thrown on the stage. Kearney and his assistants gathered them in, and poor Crossley, who picked one up to hand to Kearney, was greeted with " Drop it ! " The sum of 25 dollars was raised, and, amidst the wildest shouts, the '' sun-burner" was poked into flame, and the faces of the packed audience became for the first time visible from the stage. Kearney then spoke, was soon interrupted by Linehan, of the Seventh Ward Club, who, from the dress-circle, spied Bates at the wing, and asked that he be put out. Kearney went on to say that there was no policeman or Ijuuge that could compel an audience to listen to a man unless they wanted to. I tell these fellows, they can never address a meeting of working men in California. (Cheers and " Never.") Why do they dare to come before the people? In a short time we will have charge of this State, and we will liberate the honest men at San Quentin, and turn them loose to earn their living, and put the thieves in broadcloth and office in their places. (Cheers). We will set the thieves of Nob Jlill at work witli ball and chain digging down Telegraph Hill. They are trying to turn your peaceable meetings into riot. (" They can't do it.") You don't propose to do anything until you are ready. (Laughter), Then, they may talk riot until they get black and blue in the face. We don't care a .snap for them. We will make it so hot for these gents in California, they will think it a boiling, seething hell. When you iind a meeting and a speaker you don't like, leave the hall and let him speak to the posts. It would save my friend, Captain Short, the trouble of attending these meetings. The old gentlemen is there every time. We'll turn the tables on these fellows that hold meetings. This is the cheapest hall we ever got. (Laughter). I'll give the thieves h— in court and out of court, and keep them in h— night and day. Just then Linehan said, " I saw a man put his finger to his nose to this audience." (Cries of "Bates," and "Put him out") Bates then retired from the wing.

Kearney resumed : You must not forget the military companies. Drill, but don't spend too much time on it. Learn to load and fire, so that when we are ready to go squail shooting, we won't shoot ourselves. Organize into military companies. Have their secret. Put a man at the door with a loaded musket and fixed bayonet. This will frighten the enemies of the workiug men and stir them up. You keep on,' and we will have 2,000 armed men to protect the ballot-box. (Laughter and cheers). We are going to take measures to arrest the Board of Supervisors, and punish them when we get in. Wellock then invited " any man of the middle class" to come up and speak. Kearney rather snubbed the Vice-President by immediately advancing to the footlights and announcing that there were no middle classes in this country. Every man is a king. After speeches by others, the meeting was declared adjourned.

" What a strain that is 1" said Mrs Par tington, as she heard an air from Lucia sung in the highest style by a young lady where she was visiting.—" Yes," was the response ; "it is operatic."—" Upper attic, is it?" questioned she. " I should think it was high enough to be on the top of the house.;

"Poor old Polly Butler," as she was denominated by her Kentish neighbours, died at Wychling, near the pleasant village of Sittingbourne, in Kent, at the close ot the past year, 1877, at the ripe age of 103. Polly was born so long ago as May, 1774, at Gou'dhurst, another Kentish village, famous for cherries and filberts. Polly married early in life to George Butler, a man of Kent, eighty years ago. George died in 1857, age 85. Polly and George were known in the neighbourhood as hard working people, with a numerous family. About 40 of their children and grandchildren still live. Polly died in the full possession of her faculties.

A Difficult Lock to Pick.—One from a bald head. . - Affectionate wife (to her confiding hus band) : " I wish I were you for an hour or so, my dear. "—Confiding husband : "Why, my darling ?"—Affectionate wife (toying with confiding husband's watch chain) : "Because, then I'd buy my wife a new set of furs."

An Irish emigrant, heaving the sunset gun at New York, asked a. sailor " What is that?"—" Why that's sunset?" Avas 'he rep ly._" Sunset 1" said Pat. "And does the sun go down in the country with such a bang as that ?" A Bargain.—When Abraham Lincoin was a lawyer in Illinois, he and the judge once got to bantering one another about trading horses, and it was agreed that the next morning at 9 o'clock they should make a trade, the horses to be unseen up to that hour,, and no backing out under a forfeiture of At the hour ap pointed the judge came up, leading the sorriest looking specimen of a horse ever seen in those parts. In a few minntes Mr Lincoln was seen approaching with a wooden sawhorse upon his shoulders. Great were the shouts [and the laughter of the crowd, and both were greatly increased when Mr Lincoln, on surveying the judge's animal, set down his sawhorse and ex claimed, " Well, judge, this is the first time I ever got the worst of it in a horse trade." Floating Debt.—An unpaic!«for yacht. There is a church in Cambridge so round that the committee engaged, in its restora tion find a great difficulty in squaring up the accounts.

THE ROW IN TRAFALGAR SQUARE.

The "National Society for the Resist ance of Russian Aggression and the Pro tect i>u of British Interests in the East," tried, on December 29, to hold an " Anti- Ruasian Demonstration " in Trafalgar Square, with the avowed object of pres sing the Government to take " active measures" ia support of the Porte, and the result of the proceedings was at once a display of unseemly ruffianism and a decided demonstration of feeling against any interference on the part of England in support of the Turk. The society abovenamed has Lord Strathodcn and Campbell at its head, and he was present in the Square on the present occasion. Many other politicians were there as spectators. The society is composed of the knot of persons who have laboured for months to create a public feeling in favour of intervention on behalf of Turkey. At considerable expense it placarded Lon don some days ago with two "posters," one setting forth a "great anti-Russian demonstration" would be held in Trafal gar Square, inviting trade societies with their bands, and giving the idea that the call for this " anti-Rassiau demonstration" was from the working classes themselves. It was further said that a "chairman and speakers will be named at the meet ing." The second placard was addressed to Englishmen, calling upon them in huge type "to arise !" Small copies of the placard were distributed by tens _of thousands ia the streets. The pretension that these bills were issued on behalf of the working classes roused a very strong feeling among the latter, and meetings were held Finsbury, Soutlnvark, aud West London to organise opposition to the proposed demon stration. For this purpose a handbill was issued in trade circles, signed by F. W. Compin, William Osborne, of the Finsbury Patriotic Club, James Rowlands, John Galbraith, Henry Broadhuist, and fifteen others. It contained the following appeal :

" Fellow Working Men, —A so-called 'National Anti-Russian Meeting,' convened in the name of the working classes of Lon don, is announced for Dec. 29 at Trafalgar Square. Fellow "Working Men ! this meet ing means war, for which you will have to pay. Are you prepared to sanction such a policy ? Will you allow the Tories and Tnrcophiles to sacrifice on the altar of their ambition another 100,000 of your fellow workers live? and another 200 millions of your hard earnings, in order to maintain in Europe the abominabla tyranny of the un speakable Turk? If not, will you please attend in your thousands at the proposed meeting to protest against such an unholy war. Remember Saturday, Dec. 29, at three o'clock, in Trafalgar Square, and bring all your friends with you.' Long before three o'clock people gathered about the large square, taking up their places around the stonework on the north, cast, and west, so as to command a good view of the scene. Half-au-hour before the advertised time a table, a chair, and some banners, one or two British flags and several others bearing the crescent of the Turks, were brought to the foot ef Nelson's mountain, but were afterwards "removed to the part of the square immediately below tha National Gallery. There then came up the men from the politicial and trade organisations, and one, mounting the table, proposed that Mr William Osborne, of Clerkenwell, should " take the chair." This was carried. Mr Osborne, a well known working class leader, and a vestry man of' Clerkenwell, mounted the table with his supporters. At the same time others, and those immediately concerned in calling the " anti - Kussiau meeting," made a rush and endeavoured to obtain possession of the table, and a fight ensued, the men who had held possession of the table being apparently undecided which side to support. At length one party was vanquished, and the person" who had ob jected to the chairmanship of Mr William Osborne were passed over the heads of the crowd far away from the table, and the Turkish flags, torn ironj the poles, were scattered in shreds on the square.:; In spite of all the disturbance caused by an endeavour to regain the chair and table, Mr Osborne kept his place as the elected chairman of the meeting, and in the course of bis address to the assemblage, said he was proud of the honour which had been done him and pronounced to give fair play to both sides if the desire really was to elicit the opinion of tharlarge public meeting upon the momentous question now before the public. The meeting had been called in a most questionable manner. (Cheers.) When a public meeting was called in London it was usual for the people calling it to give their names as authority that they were responsible, but a vast expense had been gone to in this case by persons of whom nobody knew anything, and therefore it was the duty of the meeiing to elect a chairman to conduct the proceedings. The great majority of those surrounding were English, Irish, or Scotch working men, and he appealed to them to answer this question. If war should be de clared on the 17th January by England against Russia, as desired by the original conveners of this demonstration, what would Great Britain and the working men of the nation gain by fighting for the Turks. (" Hear, hear," and cheers.) What were the working men of Great Britain to get by war but sorrow, increased taxation, and disgrace to the country in being associated with one despotism to fight another? (Cheers.) The desire that England should be free from entanglement in this war was reflected in that meeting. (Cheers). (At this moment the " anti-Russian " charged the meeting, and tried to regain possession of the platform, but those who made the attempt had to retreat, with a loss of more Turkish flags.) In continuation, the speaker urged that the two despotisms should be left to fight out the Avar by themselves, and that the British nation should resesve its strength to fight, if need be, in a cause which might promise to pro mote liberty and progress. He finished amid cheers, and then Mr Rowlands, a young working man, proposed the following resolution : —" That this meeting of the London working men, in the interests of their order, protests against this country being plunged into war with either party under any pretence what ever, especially for the cry of so called British interests in danger, and considers that such war would further tend towards depressing the already bad state of trade in the country." Mr Galbraith, a Scotchman, seconded the resolution, and Mr Kenny, an Irishman, supported it. The resolution was put to the meeting, und declared to be carried unanimously. Disputes were raging all over the Square, in the part on a level with the foundations, and various bands playing different tunes made the uproar greater. While the op ponents of the "anti-Russians"' were engaged in their meeting a contingent in support of peace came into the Square witn with a band and bearing a flag with the word "Peace." The war party rushed at the flag, which was carried by a small man, who had, in the ardour of marching, out stripped his supporters. In a moment the flag was torn to ribbons, and the pole snapped to pieces. The new-comers avenged the attack by snatching two Turk ish flags held by the war party, who fled. The party who had first arrived again gathered at the foot of Nelson's monument, and their leader, Mr Maltman Barry, stood upon the pediment of the monument and waved a Turkish flag, but the police order ing him off ha went down into the midst of his supporters, whom he directed to make a circle to admir himself and two or three others. He asked a respectably-dressed person to propose a resolution, but the person addiessed said that, finding so many " rowdies" present, he would withdraw. The chairman thereupon said that the meeting should be adjourned, but others came up and con ferred with him in the circle formed by the roughs, and they went through the form of proposing resolutions, the'words uttered not being heard' five paces off. The following were the resolutions :— 1. " That this meeting recognises

tne present l.u-^i.ui '. ■. -ision of Asia Minor and Ki-»'?rn K;r>pe aa a danger to Briti .■ ' :---'s and a violation of treaty law, au , I- upon the English Government '•> x\«i cw.y means in its power to put >xn on! without further delay to this cruel and aggressive war." 2. " That a deputation, consisting of the chairman and speakers at this meeting, be charged to deliver immediately a copy of the foregaing resolution to Lord Beacans field." '

The proceedings lasted till after daylight. A procession was afterwards formed, headed by two or three of the bands mingled into one, and marched along Pall Mall, stopping and cheering in front of the Crimean statue at the loot of Waterloo-place, tho War Office, and the Guards' Club, up to St. James*-street, andthence.jjby Oxford-street, the procession went to the residence of the Turkish Ambassador, in Bryanston Square.

Mr Barry, as chairman of the meeting, formally presented his Excellency with a copy of the resolutions passed. He informed him that the meeting had been very largely attended, and although a good deal of difference of opinion had been expressed, the resolutions had been adopted almost unanimously and with great enthusiasm. He stated his own conviction that the opinion thus manifested by the meeting was the opinion and feeling of the great mass of the English people. His Excellency Mursurus Pasha, in reply expressed his own sense of the great sym pathy shown to the Turkish nation, and assured the .deputation that the feeling which he depressed on his own behalf of appreciating English sympathy animated the whole of the Turkish people. England has been the ally of Turkey in times past, and the memory of their old friendship forbad the supposition that the mutual sentiment of the two nations had under gone any change. He was himself almost an Englishman, having had the honour to represeut his country at this Court for so many years. ' His residence in this conntry had 'convinced him that the Christianity of England and the Christianity professed and acted upon by Russia were two very different things. It was not the fault of the Turk that he was a Mahomedan— he was born such ; it was not the virtue of an Englishman that he was a Christian— he was born such. Kach was what he was born, and Englishmen and all-right minded men should judge persons and nations by their acts, and not by their pro fessions. For themselves, they were assailed by a great military Power. The per fidy of that Power history had shewn, the cruelty and inhumanity of that Power recent ■ history had demonstrated. The Turks were asked to make con cessions, to sacrifice their honour, and to dismember their Empire. ' But why should they do so ? They did not seek the war—it was forced on them ; it was fomented by the intrigues of the very Power which was assailing them. They were engaged in a struggle for their natural existence, and in such circumstances concession was impossible. They desired peace, they hated war, they would be glad when peace was procured ; but they would make no loffer incompatible with their honour and inconsistent with their rights. He should with great pleasure forward to his Government the resolution which had been adopted by their meeting, and he was sure that those resolutions and the expressions of sympathy which the deputation had been good enough to make for his country would revive and increase the attachment and the faith which the Turkish people still retained and cherishee for the English nation.

The deputation then retired. During the audience the bands and the crowd outside had been serenading his excellency, who afterwards appeared on the balcony and bowed his ac knowledgments. A telegram from Buda-Pesth, under date of 'December 29th, and in the following terms, was received by the Secretary of the National Society for the Resistance of Russian Aggres sion :— " In the name of Turkish friends in Hun gary we send sympathetic greetings to Trafal gar-square meeting. The sanctity of treaty rights must be secured. Where there is a will there is a #way.—Signed Simonyi, Eruve, Helfy, Ignac, Members of Parliament"

"SEND HIM TO THE COLONIES."

Very few ships sail out of London for the Australasian Colonies without taking on board two or three well-connected youths of good family, who are leaving the old country because they have made it too hot to hold them. These ne'er-do-wells may be divided into three classes, viz., the irre claimables, the re-claimables, and the penitents. With the first-named I have nothing to do just at present; they are thoroughly "bad eggs," and perfectly certain to be a curse to the community wherever they may reside. The question which my readers have to consider at the present momeut is, "Are the Australasian Colonies suitable places for weak and easily led lads (such as reclaimables and penitents usually seem), to start afresh in ?" I think not. My idea is that it requi.ies a youth of unusual steadiness and character to with stand the temptations and avoid the pitfalls of colonial life. Parents and guarding at home are, however, in most cases sublimely ignorant of what goes on at this end of the world. A great many of them, I feel sure, look on the colonies as a kind of Eldorado where any man who is not an arrant fool or an unmitigated villian ought to make his fortune in rather less than no time. Con sequently, when Jack D— shews symptoms of becoming a drunkard, his father ships him off to Auckland with twenty pounds or so, and probably congratulates himself on having provided handsomely for his son and put him out of the way of temptation as -well.

Many an incij i3nt drunkard has been per manently ruined by just such treatment as this. First of all there is the long sea voyage, a period of enforced idleness and ennni, during which even the most moderate men drink a great deal more than usual. Then, if this danger is tided over, which does not often happen, there is the awful Colonial custom of " nipping," which is comparatively unknown in England, but wrecks many hundred lives and characters every year in the Aus tralias. The man, whose besetting sin appears to be drinking, is infinitely more likely to reform at home than out here. To get palpably drunk is after all con sidered but a venial peccadillloe in Auck land or Melbourne, whereas in London it is certainly a disgrace. My readers will note too that the mere fact of the offence being thought trifling, decisively proves how prevalent the cursed habit must be. Young men who have made a mess of it through betting and gambling are also corf stantly exported to the Colanies that they may be out of the way of temptation. I met a, lad the other day whose father sent him to Melbourne to prevent him hob -nobbing with bookmakers and attending "race meetings. There is something very funny in the idea. What, I wonder, would be the poor old gentleman's feelings if he could only be made to understand that the Colonies are saturated through and through with the spirit of gambling. Of course there are ways of keeping young men out of danger in the colonies, as elsewhere. If a youth is strong and capable, he may be sent up-country to a sheep station, where he will have plenty of rough, hard work to do, and will never taste liquor, or spend a£s note from year's end to year's end. Such a life, no doubt, has its advantages'; but yet I can scarcely understand how a man of good educa tion and intellectual capabilities, can willingly condemn' himself to it. The object of this article, however, is not to discuss the delights and miseries of existence up country, but to point out that in nearly every instance it would be better to keep repentant ne'er -do - wee'ls at home in England, than to expose them to the manifold temp tations of colonial life. The rocks on which most youthful reputations are dashed to pieces, viz., drink, gambling, and women, are infinitely more prominent and danger ous in the new. country than in the old. Home influence, too, ought to be considered.

Generally speaking a g young man will never go so far wrong under the very eyes of his family a* he will away from them. Out here when temptation comes a lad says to himself " Nobody knows me, •what,does it matter even if I do such and such a thing." <Jn the same plea too appearances are after; abandoned, and a loss of self respect follows. Many a well intentioned but weak-minded and easily led lad, Avho would have done well in good hands at home, has had his ruin unknow ingly consummated by being sent out alone to Australia or New Zealand. MAM.

THE EVENING- STAR, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1878.

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