GOLDEN THOUGHTS.

Another Popular Delusion Gone.

*' Like moonlight on a troublod sea, Brightening the storm it cannot calm,

Bo sympathy softens a sorrow it has not power to remove.

Divine direction is one of the best evidences of divine favour.

The bravest are the tenderest; the loving are the daring.—Bayard Taylor.

What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult to each other ?

The highest perfection of reason is to know that there is an infinity of truth beyond its reach.

There is in man a higher than love of happiness. He can do without happiness, and instead thereof find blessedness.

• In this life-actiag we cross and re-cross each other's paths all the time moving onward to " fue bourne whence no traveller returns."

John Calvin has said, "I have not so great a struggle with my vices, great and numerous as they are, as I have with my impatience."

There is no worship where there is no joy. For worship is something more than either the fear of God or the love of Him. It is delight in him.

" Thinketh no evil." Fow very very far short are we of that standard. As the pigmy dwarf shrub of the lowlands is to the majestic mountain pine, so are we to this moral nobility of soul.

The noblest spirits are those which turn to heaven, not in the hour of sorrow, but in that of joy; like the larks that wait for the clouds of heaven to disperse, that they may soar up into their native elements.

The day is coming when our garments shall shine as the sun, but meanwhile our glory is hidden ; we are princes in disguise. It doth not yet appear what we shall be ; only we know that in the resurrection day we shall put off "incorruption."

When we consider thoHghtfully what we might be and what we are, death seems not so sad as life, and the chances of the future, with all its uncertainty, to be pre ferred to a present being in which we have so signally failed of our ideal.

Happiness is like manna. It is to be gathered ia grains and enjoyed every day; it will not keep; it cannot be accumulated ; nor need wo go out of ourselves, nor into remote places to gather it, since it is rained down from heaven at our very doors, or rather within them.

We can never have much confidence in the uprightness of others until we have dis covered some degree of uprightness in our selves. We are apt to suspect everybody if wo ourselves ought to be suspected, and just as apt to trust others only when we ourselves can be trusted.

The religion that we can trust where we ace the wny, is the religion that we can trust where the way is hidden. The re ligion that commends itself to our common senso is the religion that commends itself to our faith. The religion that is faithful in little is the religion that will be faithful in much.—"National Baptist,"

The course of the river is often broken l>y sudden rapids or perilous eddies. The life of the Christian is not one perpetual flow of buoyant melody. It ha 3 its breaks, its discords, its attritions. Like the river, its course is often fretted by the eddies of trouble or diaturbed by the sand-bars of defeat.

Natural law 3 arc just as truly under the direct control of God and just as fully ac complish His will as though everything was done by the direct lhterventiou of divine power. So that when we pray for a given blessing of a temporal character we have all the assurance we need that Gad is able to grant our request.

I'or a long time I felt myself to be a lost sheep, not knowing on whom to rely; and now, with the deepest consciousness that I I have at last attained rest, I exclaim, ' The Lord is ray Shepherd. What is there that can harm me?" Aud as I look forward into the future I exclaim with David, " I shall not want.—" Tholuck."

"What strange stepi God sometimes takes in delivering His people ; He often brings them to the utmor-t straits when Fie is ready to appear for them. The lowest ebbs go ba. fore the highest tides ; and very cloudy mornings commonly introduce the fairest days. God's time to help is wheu things are at their worst ; and Providence verifies that paradox, tho worse, the bettor.

It is to wait on God in a quiet submission to the trials which he allots. They are a necessary part of our experience here. "In the world ye Bhall have tribulation." And theec trials, as they come, we must meet, and accept, and bear, as from tho Lord. They constitute as much a part of our appointed lot on earth as the duties which we are sent to perform. And to wait upon God implies that wo so receive them and cudure them as from his hand until he sees fit to relieve us of them.

"Take my yoke upon you, for My yoke is easy and My burden ia li»lit." Truth, Lord 1 a light burden, indeed, which sup ports him who bears it. I have looked abroad through nature to see if I could find anything that could bear some analogy to this; but I cannot find it, unless it be the wings of a bird, which, while bune of the creature, bear him aloft. In truth, to bear the Lord's burden ia to be permitted to cast it, together with ourselves, into the arms of Omnipotence and Grace. — "Bernard of Clairvaux,"

The '-Pall Mall Gazette" remarks:— "The idea that fish-food is specially adapted tor brain nourishment is scouted l>y no les3 an authority than Dr. Beard, of. New York, one of the most eminent neurologists. Referring to this widespread popular notion, he terms it a delusion, opposed to chemistry, to physiology, to history, and to common observation. He casts the responsibility for the almost universal acceptance of this deluaon, by the Americans at least, upon the late Professor Agassiz, ' who impulsively and without pre vious consideration apparently, aa was his wontat times, made astatement to thateffect before a Committee of Fisheries of the Massachusetts Legislature.' The statement soon became the creed of the people. The well-known phenomenon of the glowing (or phosphorescence) of fish in the dark is popularly believed to indicate the presence of a large proportion of the nutritive element. Chemical analysis, however, fails to substantiate this idea, but demonstrates that the flesh of fish contains a smaller proportion of mineral elements than other forms of animal food. So, if wo can trust Dr. Beard, as we may very well do, here is one more pleasant popular delusion gone.

A citizen went into a Nashville hardware store the other day, and inquired : " How much do you ask tor a bath-tub for a child?" "Three dollars and seventy-five cents," was the reply, " W-h-e-w !" whistled the customer. " Guess'we'U have to keep on washing the baby in the coal, scuttle till prices come down."

Security of a Harem.

In the Harem a Turk is free from all inter, ruptions, because no servant will venture to call him on the request of a visitor, however importunate. During the late war with liustiia the observance of this rule lost to Turkey a battle, an army, and, perhaps, a province. In January, 1878, the Russian armies were swarming along the northern slope of the Balkan Mountain?, These mountains formed the last defensive line of Turkey. The line was, however, so long that if the Russians broke through it at any point they could place the whole Turkish army in dangor of destruction. The Rus sians did break the line of the Balkans at Shipka pass, and cut the Turkish army in tyro. Sulicman Pasha, the Turkish General in command of the left wing, heard rumours of the battle and telegraphed to the Commander-in-Chief, who was also Minister of War, at Constantinople, asking if the rumour win true, and if so, what, he should do ? Suleiman Pasha knew that the only safety for his troops lay in rapid retreat to Adrianople. It he could have began to move within an hour, pO3sibly he might have escaped. But no answer came to his telegram. All night he waited, and at noon the next day he took the responsi bility of ordering the retreat. But he met the Russians on the road, and was routed, and driven into Macedonia, losing a large part of his army, fend all his artillery. This disaster left the Turks no chance. Adria nople was abandoned, and in one month Russians were iv possession of the fortifica tions of Constantinople, and dictated a peace with thtir camps in full view of the royal mosques. Afterward the inevitable court martial was called to fix the responsibility for the catastrophe. It then appeared that the Minister of War was in his harem when Suleiman Pasha's telegram arrived, and his servant refused to disturb him. He only heard of the moseage at noon the next day, and by that time the Cossacks had cut the telegraph wires. The ancient usage which permits a man to abut himself up in his harem was respected by the court. The Minister of War w.*s not blamed, but his subordinate, the luckless Suleiman, was condemned to exile for having lost his army. —H. O. Dwight.

Mr Spurgeon on the Necessity of Occupation.

The Rev. C. H. Spurgeon, speaking at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, from the text Galatians ii. 20, observed that it had been assoited that the preachers of the Gospel taught men to live for another world, and failed, to teach tuem to live well for the pre sent life. N&thiug could no more untrue.for no more practical moral teaching could be inculcated than that of the faithful minis ter of the Gospel who really taught men how to live here below. It would be a pity if, in the process ot being prepared for the next life, man became disqualified for the duties of this. He (Mr Spurgeon) would venture to say that no lazy man could have faith in God. Tho. believing man became an active man, and he who be lieved nothing did nothing. It was a mark of faith that when it came into the soul it suggested activity. It did not permit a a man to remain listless and. indifferent, but made life lively, and caused a man to wish to be doing something, It was good fora man to have something; to do, and plenty of it. The first man, Adam, though created in a paradise, was given something to do. God made him a gardener, and his fiden would not be a paradise if he had nothing to do but to smell the flowers and observe the scenery. The trimming of the garden gave a zest to his aujoyraeut there of. Occupation was necessary to man as rnau, but much more so was tho active workiug principle of faith. This faith in God bade men to be industrious. Even He from his youth did not resemble the loiter ing son of a gentleman, but the toiling son of a carpenter. The principle of faith would not allow men to go through the world a? loiterers. It also aided in the choosing of a life's profession or career, and in presenting the sad mistakes so often made in early life in choosing ot wrong callings, which so often occurred. How were men to be seen endeavouring to do what they were mentally or physically in capable of accomplishing ?—the bird trying to imitate the fish, aud the ox endeavour ing to enter into competition with the race horse. The world's precept "Make money honestly if you can ; but make it anyhow," was put on one side by this faith, for the true Christian would embark in no enter prise in which the Saviour himself would not have engaged.

Bismarck's illness is from an old com plaint—inflammation of the blood-vessels of the legs.

They were very fond of each other, and had been engaged, but they quarrelled, and were too proud to make it up. He called a few days ago at her father's house—to see the old gentleman on business, of course. She was at the door. Said ho: " Ah, Miss Blank, I believe; is your father in ? " " No, sir," she replied, "pa is not in at present. Did you wish to see hmi personally 1" "Yes," was the bluff response, reeling she was yielding: "on very particular business," and ho turned proudly to go away. "I beg your pardon," sho called after him as he struck the lower step, " but who shall I say called?" Ho never smiled again. This was too cruel.

Two Children Hang and Bury a Brother.

Statbsvillk.—N.C., May 24th.—Ab3alom Brown, a widower living near here, went away from lionis yesterday, leaving his three children alone. The youngest of these children, a boy, aged three years, had long been sickly, and the two older children, a boy and girl, conceived the idea of patting him out of the way. They accordingly tied a rope around his neck and swung him to a joist of the house, where he was found a few minutes later by a coloured woman of the neighbourhood, who passed through the lot on an errand. This woman cut the child down and laid it on the bed, when he began to gasp and finally regained con sciousness. She then went her way, and, returning homeward some time later, stopped again at Brown's house, where she ascertained that the brother and sister had taken the young child off the bed, carried it out behind the garden and buried it. She hastened to the scene of the burial, dug the child up and carried it to the house. The child died to-day fiom the shock..

A STORY WITH A MORAL.

HOW AN IMMENSE ESTATE WAS CREATED-OUT OF BLACKING.

("New York Mail.")

Just after the disasters of Napoleon before Leipsic, when there was a probability of peace for war-ridden Europe, two oldfriends sat conversing in the Strand, London, regarding prospects—the effects the over, throw would have on the business of the na tion. They had each a little capital, and this they were consulting about, how best to apply it to use in business should the war terminate, as everything seemed to in dicate that it soon would. They were in no especial business tben, bat each intended, should peace come, to commence some en terprise that promised lair profits. As they stepped to the bar to take a parting mug of ale, before separating for the night, a rather seedy individual, who had been listening to their conversation, approached them and said: "For a mug of ale I can tell you how to make your fortunes." The gentlemen smiled, and one, observing that there was not much risk in the investment, directed the barmaid to draw him a mug, which the fellow quaffed almost without stop ping to breathe. After be recovered his breath, the gentlemen asked how to make the fortune he had guaranteed them. Aiid thus it was : "Have some simple thing, and good—mark, good I say— that everybody uses; have that for sale everywhere, and let ereiybody know it." The gentlemen smiled at the logic, one re marking there was a true philosophy in it. They then separated. After the battle of Waterloo, whenpeace was assured by the utter overthrow of Napoleon, one of the above-mentioned gentlemen encountered a wounded soldier returning to his home in Stafford shire. . He took him to ' his house with him to have him tell him of his battles, kept him all night, heard his adventures, and in the morning gave him a good breakfast before he started on his way. As the soldier was about leaving he said, he hadnornoney to repay the gentle man for his kiudness, but that he had an excellent recipe for making blacking, which he had procured in a peculiar way while on tha continent. After a'slight wound he had been placed on duty as a servant to colonel Picton, ot hia regiment, who, it will be remembered, fell at Waterloo.

It was his duty to black the boots of the officers. On a march they not out of black ing, aud could procure none in the towns they passed through, in a village not far from Bruges an old man, who was a painter, said he could sell him the materials for making; the article and tell hirahow to make it. This he did, and tbe soldier said it was an excellent recipe and proved superior to any he had previously used. This he gave the gentleman as some compensation for his hospitality, and departed. The peace came, and was secured by the banishment of Napoleon to St. Helena, but neither gentleman had commenced any set. business. He with whom the soldier tart ritd being of an. economical turn, thougbo he would make bis own blacking, and sd discovered that it was, as the soldier tol'1 him, "superiorto any he had ever ussd. The expressions of the old toper in the 'Jchophouse n in the Strand flashed into his mind. " Have some simple thing that everybody uses, and good; have that for sale everywhere, and let everybody know it."

The Mend tried the article also and finding it excellent they then seriously adopted their strange companion of the Strand's advice, entered into partnership in the.manufacture of a simple "article" and "good" placed that for sale everywhere in London, then proceeded in the only wise and pioper mamier to "let everybody Know of it" by extensive adver tising.

The world knows the result. A vast fortune was suddenly accumulated, and the world also knows the names of those two men, for there is not a city of note in Europe, Asia, Africa, or America but knows of Day and Martin's blacking. But the chief power, and . secret: of the

success of this enterprise was the; bold and fearless manner in which they ulti ized the columns of every newspaper^ in London, afterwards in the entire dominion, and finally throughout all the cities of the civilised world. This story was told us while visiting the extensive palatial manu factory in Oxford street, some years ago, where we saw immense casks ot this ware being loaded on vans, labelled Bombay, Calcutta, Alexandria, Montevideo, and scores of cities in the remotest sections of the earth

This article is not written in the interest of the firm mentioned, but as a suggestion to those thousands of business men who have really excellent wares, and who are so penny wise and pound foolish that they do not letpeople'know the fact by judicious advertising, and by so doing create a for tune instead of making a bare living.

Breach of Promise Case.

Miss Emma Eva, Partbidse, daughter of a substantial Devonshire farmer, has sued Mr JtUchard Woosnam for violating his plighted troth in the matter of a marriage engagement. It must be confessed, on a candid perusal of the evidence, that the gentleman's excuses lor breaking off the match were very lame. There was no doubt whatever about the original promise, but apparently Mr Woosnam saw some body he liked better, and hastened to be on with; the new love with a celerity and, we may add, a faithfulness which deserved all the punishment it has received. The de fendant, as a commercial traveller, enjoyed a good salary, and one day journeyed down on his own account to visit hia fiancee, amid the lanes of happy Devon; but he found her suffering jf roia toothache and a swollen face, and, apparently, considering that he had heen "put upon" in coming all the way from London to nod lug betrothed in such a state, he took the train back again. On a subsequent occasion, and iv the course ot a happy day in Eppiog Forest, the en gaged couple managed to fall out. Mr Woosnam's uugallant account of the affair was that Miss Partridge evinced a liking for the "flowing bowl "which jarred upon his pre-matrimonial notions of what was fitting and proper. Three glasses of beer, a glass of. port, one of gin and cold -water, two more glasses of beer, two glasses of sherry, and a bottle of stout were all laid to the charge of the young lady in question by her former lover. Down to the second glass of sherry he had treated her, he avowed, "as one whom he loved," but that second «lais proved too much for his feelings. It is comforting to find that the jury did not believe much of this story, or, at all events, saw in it no sufficient reason why a man should bieak his plighted troth; on the contrary, they gave £500 by way of compensation foe . a broken heart, i and added a rider to the effect that the rustic damsel left the court "without a stain on her character," Miss Partridge may there fore console herself.for the loss of a very shifty suitor .by.-the. verdict of the jury, which has satisfactorily done away with the frightful imputation involved in that tale about the holiday potations in the sylvan solitudes of Epping Forest. '..... ".'

A prominent wood merchant in Burling ton has bad his coat of arms painted on the panels of his ' carriage, •with the. Latin motto, " Vidi," which, by interpretation; is "I saw."

A largo shipment of Wilcox and White's beautiful organs are now on view at Messrs, B. Tonks & Co.'s, and will be offered to the public (without reserve) on Monday,.the Bth August. "Tho Wiloox and "White Organs have their greatest advantage over thoae of other makers m their wonderful tone—that most important point in an organ. If that should bo deficient, weak, harsh, or unsympathotio; the organ would baa miserable failuro, were it perfect in every other respect. The toue is perfectly pure and sweet, and yet its power is in no way sacrificed. It has that sympathetic quality whioh makes it such a valuable adjunctto vocal music, blend ing harmoniously with the voice, and yet, when needed, is brilliant in the extreme. The genius of the Superintendent of the voicing of reeds has triumphed over every obstacle, and made the tones of these beautiful instruments all that could be desired. Their capabilities in tho way of variety of. expression are almost unlimited. The speaking stops embrace every variety of tone capable of being produced with reeds, and also very many, which, up to the ad vent of these organs, had been thought to be beyond tho reach of instruments of this class. A very prominent feature of thoae organs is their beautiful exterior. It is not simply an incongru ous hodge-podge of ornate cabinet work, ■which bewilders the eye and leaves an unpleasant ihl pression, but is the outcome of a rigidly classical taste and represents the refinement and elegance born of correct cesthotic culture. Every desir able style will be found among them, from the neat and unostentatious case for the school-room or chapel, to those most exquisitely beautiful, designed for the drawing-room. The Wilcox and White Company has, in this respect, taken long strides in advance of its competitors, ex emplifying its sense of the fitness of things, by providing a suitable exterior for the perfect workmanship of the interior. Its large list of attractive styles is constantly being augmented, the Company proposing to remain in its present proud position of a leader in the trade. With the talent at its command, and the enterprise it has so steadily shown, there can bo no doubt of the ability of tho Company to successfully' maintain its claims in this direction. Of tho interior workmanship of tho Wilcox and White organs too much cannot well be said. They are made by the most skilful workmen, aided by elaborateand costly machinery, and are honestly made. Every part is subject to the most search ing and critical examination before an organ is sent out from the factory. The material used is of the best, the various kinds of wood are in the finest possible condition, and the exquisite workmanship ißreadilyapparenttoacompetent, critical eye. The instruments are mode to use as well as to sell. ... ......

CUTTINGS FROM AMERICAN PAPERS.

Mrs Fennell says her minister's sermons are " a little ob.-ciire, but," she says, " I do love to sit and watch the expression on his mouth."

In describing a n6W organ, a rural musical critic says—" The swell died away in a delicious Buffocation, like one singing a sweet song under the bed-clothos."

An old lady in Tennessee, living in a sickly district, being asked how' she ac counted for the unusual mortality in her neighbourhood during the present season, said, "Dear me! I can't tell; so many people are dying this year that never died before!" .

Some one tells a story of a Yankee steam boat passenger watchiag the revolver light of a light-house on the coast, and exclaim ing, " JUook J the wind blows that light out as fast as the man can strike it."

"Every girl in America wants a seal skin," and a shrewd Boston photographer owes his remarkable success to the fact that he keeps a sealskin tor his sitters. Hund reds of young ladies, who do not possess a sealskin of their own, hare been taken in it.

Said little Edith io her doll:-" There, don't answer me hack. You mustn't be saucy, no matter how hateful I am, You must remember I am your mother i" Strange what curious ideas children get into their heads sometimes.

" This engine won't work, said a fireman to the chief of the New York Fire Depart ment. —" No wonder," was the reply; "'it was made to play."

At a wedding in a church in New York, the parson haviDg several persons to marry, said, after entering the building, "All those who want to be married, will please rise," whereupon every single lady present instantly arose from tbe seats.

Josh Billings thus explains the differ ence between the words "mistake" and " blunder..1' If a man puts down a poor umbrella and picks up a good one, it is a mistake; if he puts down a good umbrella and picks up a poor one, it is a blunder.

Some one wrote to Horace Greerley in quiring If guano was good for potatoes, tie said it might do for those whose tastes had become vitiated with tobacco and rum, but he referred gravy and butter. : .

Portland, in America, has the politest man on record. While engaged in carry ing wood into the cellar of a house the other day, he fell down stairs and sprained bis ankle. The lady of the house rushed to his assistance, and was received with, " I beg your pardon, ma'am, for making so much noise."

A gentleman in New York Swamp met a rather " uncertain" acquaintance the other day, when the latter said: —"I'm a little short and would like to ask you a conun drum in mental arithmetic." "Proceed" observed the gentleman. '' Well," said the "short" man, " suppose you had ten dollars in your pccket, and I should ask you for five, how much would remain ?" " Ten dollars," was the prompt answer.

A Galreston father wanted to test the affection'of'his son, so he said to him— " You have been a very good boy, and now I'll give you your choice. Which would you prefer, my esteem or five dollars ?" The boy took the five dollars as if it had beau tbe measles, remarking that it was impossible for his father to have much esteem for a boy who failed to take advan tage of his opportunities. ... .... -

The facnlty of en Ohio female seminary have issued orders that no pupils shall have more than one male visitor per week. The wrnart girls invite their young men to call on Sunday, so that when their fathers come on Monday, the old men find themselves barred out. ;•■. -

One day Judge Dudley Marvin, who was a famous lawyer for more than a quarter of a oentury, was accosted by a man, who said: " I have a boy whom I want you to take and make a lawyer of." "How old i 3 he?" said Mr Marvin. " He's 18 years old, stout, and rugged. He's got a pair of lungs like a bellows," replied the father. " Has he any other qualifications V " Yes, sir, he's got the one great qualification of all," said the father, "he's the confoundestliar in our town. I thought when I heard you in the court-room just now that it wouldnt take very long for Sam to come pretty nigh up to you." .. . .

"Sir, I have been, requested by Miss Toots to ask you how you dared assert that she had told a lie 1" "Why, sir, you can say to Miss Toots that she is misinformed. I never accused her of speaking untruths. I merely said that if Miss Toots had been living when Ananias was a young man Sapphira would have died a maid, i.

The difference between perseverance and obstinacy is that one of ten comes from a strong will and the other from a strong won't. :' .

According to the decision of a Kansas judge, both husband and wife are entitled to enter a place of amusement on a a ticket reading "Admit one." ■

The average American statesmen says the Leavenworth " Tunes," bolts his dinner in twenty minutes.. The statesman below the average would bo glad to get a dinner to bolt. Many a woman dusts billiard chalk off her husband's coat, and a big tear stands stands in her eye as she thinks how late he works at nights at his desk by the white-washed wall.

She was walking on the cars, and she said: " The meanest people arc those who peep out of windows to see what their neighbours are doing. Now, this morning I was looking through the blinds of my window, and what do you sup pose I saw that mean Mrs. Jones doing 1 Why, she was peeping through her blinds to see if I saw her-the mean woman 1" ...... : . .;

Printed and Published by the Proprietor, Henby Bbett, of Symonds-street, at hia General Printing Office, Wyndham-street, in the Pro vince of Auckland, Now Zealand. ; V. ' SATUMJAT,'AUOUST 6, 1881.;; '! •';

STAR SATURDAY SUPPLEMENT

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Monday Next, the St A August. mmn mi en — GREAT SALE ■ OF AMERICAN ORGANS, By the Celebrated Makers Wilcox & White, Suitable for the Church, School, or Parlour, ALSO A GRAND PLAN O, By the Celebrated Makers, Lipp & Son. AT B. TONES .&■ CO/S, ATJOTIOITEBBS, QUEEN STREET, AUCKLAND. ———<-»-H—» —— m°XO BESEB YE.



BC R O C X E R . BOOT AND SHOE MAKER, _, Victoria Street. All kinds of Ladies' and Gentlemen's Boots made to order of the best quality. Town and Country Orders promptly executed. ■' ' 11 ADVERTISERS READ THIS. The circulation of the STAR is greater in pro » portion to the population than that of any other newspaper in New Zealand. The circulation of the STAR is more than that of all the other papers in the Province com bined. It is estimated that each issue of the STAR read by no fewer than 26,000 persons. Tho STAR is read by ail classes, and circu lates widely in the country districts. These facts should be borne in mind by adver tisers in selecting a medium for their advertise meats. The STAR is beyond question the best adver tising medium in tho Province. !