STAR SATURDAY SUPPLEMENT, DECEMBER 24, 1881.

A Swim for Life: A Western Episode.

(From Camll's Magazine.)

ii g A y, stranger, there's something wrong yonder, ain't there?" . Thus spoke a rongh-looking miner on the outskirts of the camp to a Mexican who was walking hastily past. The stranger under stood but imperfectly the remark addressed to him, tat replied, "Horses stole," and proceeded on his way, his long spur jingling looked after him anxiously, and when he had disappeared down the hill turned towards the saloon, muttering something about horse thieves and hanging and strolbd, or, as he wonld have himself said, "loafed" into the bar, where an ex cited assembly was gathered. t "Wa'all, they're gone clean away, cried the owner of the missing animals ; "and my hwses nor donkeys don't stray by nature. There's been some thieves around, you "Like enough; bnt who's the man? Howsomever, if we ketch him, gentlemen, we'll shoot him fait." "Give him a trial and rope him-that s the cure," said the owner. •■ And now tew business. My treat, eentleinen. Drinks ronnd, and then I'll follow the tracks a bit, and let yon know." Such an offer was not to be slighted. The "drinks" having been fully appreciated by all present, at the expense of their health and brains, the owner of the missing beasts departed to follow the trail, which led to wards the canon up the river. Ogdon Smith, or " Soft" Smith, as he was°not unusually called, had that very morning token his horses to water down stream, and left them in a safe place pend ing their disposal. Ogdcn had been unfor tunate in lus prospecting. He was neither quick-witted nor ; quick-tempered, though ready enough with nis six-shooter when cir cumstances seemed to warrant its use. Bnt for this trait, "Soft" Smith would have been stamped with a strong variation of the term "idiot" , He followed the tracks mechanically, and after about half a mile, finding they still led up towards the hills, he returned ; and as he strode back, breathing vengeance n«ainst his spoilers, he noticed human foot prints on the farther side of the trail—heavy boot and spur maiks. He felt inclined to track these again, but knowing the trail would lead to the river, then Hooded with melting snows, he decided to return 10 the c&mp and enlist the vigilant* in his cause. It has never been correctly ascertained why horse stealing was then, _ and may be stilt regarded as a worse crime than the taking of human life ; but that this waa the case in the Wost is undoubted. Many a iou"h digger waa permitted to add to the notches already cut in the pistol butt, but a horse thief, was hunted down and executed summarily. . Notwithstanding a gathering storm, the men in the saloon, as soon as they heard o<nleu Smith's report, determined to do vengeance on the criminal. The sufferer, meantime, met with much sympathy, and "dust" (gold-dust, which passed for cur rency) was freely shakeu into Ogden's hat in the bar-room. The diseiission as to who the thief might be waa waxing warm when a voice cried: ..«,., , , . " Keckon some Mexican's had a hand in this game." • Tlus suggestion was at once adopted, and Bill the miner said— "Ay, then I can show him. I saw lain on the hill above this morning. Did ye notice any tracks?" "I did," replied Smith eagerly. "Large boots, and spur nurks too. That's the "We'll go for him. Who knows his place?" , , , Several present did, and one man adoed— "He's a mighty quick shot, you may de pend." "We're more of us than him," was the answer of the leader. "He can't fix us all. Now, gentlemen, we must proceed reg'lar. 'Panel a jury, if you please ; but therms no use wasting time." The jury was quickly chosen, and in order to avoid unnecessary delay horses were brought out, and the whole party rode through the driving rain and tempest to the Mexican's hut. The door was burst open, and before -the surprised occupant could use his weapon he was seized and bound, and thrown helpless on tho floor. Before he was disabled, how ever, h« managed to seize and retain a small knife, which he thrust iuto his sl«eve. To his questions he got but scant replies. The jury were ushered into a small shed, and told to deliberate upon their verdict, after a few questions had been put to the criminal, who protested his innocence. One bystander, more humane than the rest, volunteered to act as prisoner's advo cate, and addressed the jury as a matter of form, for he knew the stranger's doom was sealed. After a pause the jury again retired; and in a few minutes the telf-appointed judge, knocking at tlic door, asked for the verdict. To the astonishment of the bystanders, the answer woe, "Not guilty!" A cry of joy escaped the Mexican : an exclamation of disappointment was vented by Ogden Smitli. But the judge drew his revolver, and beckoning to the committee, replied calmly— "Gentlemen, you'll have to do better than that.* Try again; and this time at tend to the evidence."

He handled his pistol menacingly as he spoke, and the jury retired again. They were not long left undisturbed, for time was passing, the tempest was increas ing in severity, and the committee had some distance to ride that night. In live minutes the judge again called them, and tliis time the obedient twelve gave the ver dict " Guilty!" "Quite correct," said the judge; "I approve. It's a verdict. Carry out the sentence, yew," he added to two of his associates). '' And now, gentlemen, I think we've done our duty; the horses wait. Hey ye anything to say '!" he inquired of the criminal. The poor man pleaded earnestly for mercy, and protested his innocence wildly, but it was useless. The majority of the party then left the hut, and the two men, placing their unhappy prisoner astride a mule, unbound him,' except for a turn of the rope on his left -\vist, and walked beside him to the place o£ execution. There his outer •A fact.

clothing was taken from him, and his boots —tliose fatal witnesses—laid aside. He was then fastened to a tree. The place of exe cution had been well chosen. It was a low point jutting out into the river, just above the rapids. The current was running swiftly, swollen by the melting snows and the tremendous rain which was still descend ing in torrent's. From this point the river descended rapidly. Higher up, but then obscured by the thickly falling rain and mist, was a high ridge, which projected across the river and formed a sort of bowl like enclosure, in the centre of which was (and is) a small wooded island. Below this eyot the jiyor divides. It becomes narrower, and passing on the right side over a small rocky breakwater, or natural barrier, it takes a tremendous leap sheer one hundred feet over the rock, spreading out from the base for many feets in its descent. On tha left side of the island the stream has worn away the rock to a great extent, and on that side the water hurries down a rapid at a steep angle, and at the bottom meets deep water, which drives in a swift current over to the right shore, to a strip of beach on low ground—a watering station for animals. The men charged with the execution had well chosen the plac«. The prisoner stood with hands clasped as one of his guardians was making preparation*, and the other stood ready to fire should the prisoner at tempt to M>eav>e. One was adjusting tho cord upon a neighbouring tree, underneath which the mule had been already led, when an exclamation from him made the other guardian turn his head. The quick-eyed Mexican seized his opportunity. With a swift sweep of bis right hand he severed with the concealed kuife the ropo at his wrist, and witha desperate backward spring he threw himself into the eddying, boiling river.

The heavy splash was the first intimation that, the other men had of the Mexican's escape; and, with revolver ready, one waited till the swimmer should reappear. He rose, and struck out boldly for the op posite shore. The man raised his pistol, when his companion stayed his arm. "Gire him a chance, Bob," he said. "Yon or me may want a good turn some day; and besides, I don't b'lieve he lifted them animals. Soft Smith's an idiit." " Well, mebbc yer right," replied the other, returning his pistol. " Poor chap !" he added, with a touch of feeling to which he had long been a stranger. "Poor chap ! the fall will save us the job, anyhow." "He's gone!" replied the other. "He can't git orer, eh ?" "You bet!" exclaimed his companion. "He's right cnongh, I do declare; he'll git out now !" Meantime the unfortunate fugitive was struggling vigorously to gain the centre of the stream. He was swimming strongly hand over hand, and every now and then he cast a glance at the ridge of rocks that fringed the rapid leading to the fall of a sheer hundred feet. Could he clear this he might bo saved. He was making good way, but ever being drawn nearer And nearer by *,he resistless curront to his destruction. The men on shore watched his progress with feverish anxiety. Another yard or two and he would gain the rocky ledge which ended the fall, and where the less dangerous rapids began. Would lie last ? The men clasped hands in their strong excitement, and by a simultaneous impulse cheered the swimmer on. The poor wretch heard it. It gave him courage. One minute more and he would be clear; with renewed energy he strove, and with a despairing effort clutched the rock. His legs swung for a second into the milky mass of water above the cataract. Could he bear the strain ? A cheer from shore : a mighty effort—he swung himself over, and with a long sweeping stroke dashed down the rapids and disappeared.

The men turne<l away, breathing more freely, and returned as hastily as possible to camp to report. The storm still con tinued ; the river had run up the creek, and it was nightfall ere, wet to the skin and chilled to the bones, they gained the saloon. Here all was confusion; twenty tongues speaking at once, and all condemn ing "Soft Smith." The "judge" was present, and as the two men entered he said, "I'm kinder sorry we hanged that Mexican. We've done ldm an injury, boys, I'm afwud." "Save trouble in the end, mebbo,"said another. But the judge shook his head. " What's trie matter ?" inquired the late comers. " Why, Softy Smith's a fool. He's found his beasts safe at home, where they wot o' themselves, having broke halter. The track* was tho Mexican's trackß, bnt only to his own location. We've done that man a wrong, and I'm ready to apologise; I can't say fairer. Here's his health !" A voice from the (dxorway replied, " I drink to that!" and as all eyes were turned in the direction of the sound, a ragged, half-naked form, the limbs braved and bleeding from deep scratches, walked up to the bar. Terror sat upon every coun tenance. The visitor was the Mexican. ■

"Didn't ye—didn't ye hang him ?' gasped the sturdy but superstitious judge to his deputies. " Guess not," replied one of the pair ad dressed. "He slipped into the river and swam across the Cataract Rapid." •'Thunder! but I'm glad. Here's my hat, boys ; fill in your dust now, and let him have it."

No second bidding -was needed. Very soon the heap of gold tkist had reached a goodly pile, to which Soft Smith was a most liberal contributor.

Ogden Smith was considerably laughed at, out the Mexican was regarded as a hero, and prospered. The camp in time was broken np, but there are many still alive who remember that swim for life across the Snake River.

Solar Phenomena in 1880.

Fnoii his observations of the sun on 281 days out of the last year at Rome, P, Taoohhini has lately shown that the for mation of spots gradually increased from the beginning of the year to a maximum m September, from which it fell off regularly in Hovembor and December. To the maximum of spots corresponded a maxi mum of faculce in October. The extent of the spots shewed two minima, one in March and one in July. The minimum reached by the number of spots in the end of the year was still considerably above that at the beginning. It appear-1, from a study of

daily ob crvutions o£ the sp ts, that they show maxima and minima of frequency, separated fiom cachothcr by intervals which correspond to half a rotation of the sun. The protuberances do not show such pro nounced variations as the spofs. Their maxima seem to follow those of the spots. As to distribution of the phenomena over the sun's surface, tho following facts are elicited :—The spots remain near the equa tor, and present two maxima between the parallels 10° and 20° on either side. At the equator they are rare, or wholly absent. Faeula) always occur at the equator; they show maxima between plus '20° and plus 30*, and come nearer the poles than the spots. Protuberances are rare near the equator; they present two principal maxi ma between plus 50* and plus 60", and two secondary ones in the latitudes of the faeula) maxima. They reach further from the equator than the racnlre, but tho polar caps remained free of them. Of the two hemispheres, the northern showed the greater activity.

Vaccination Antony the Chinese.

A ItECENT speech of the Governor of Hong kong, Sir John Pope Hennessy, contains .11 interesting account of the up cad of vacci nation amongst the Chincm: in the colony and the neighbouring mainland. No port in the world is more liable to a, visitation of smallpox, yet it never spreads there. The health officer of the colony was also aston ished to find that nearly all the young Chinese emigrants had vaccination or in oculation marks upon their arms. Jlc says he was often puzzled to know how this vac ciuatiou came to be apparently so perfect among the Chinese. On inquiry it turned out that tho native doctors ot the Tung-wa Hospital—a charitable institution supported by the voluntary contributions of Chinese— not only vaccinated their conntrymen in the colony itself, but actually sent travelling vacciuutors over the adjoining provinces of China. In this way thousands of people have been vaccinated dining tlie last four years. The lymph U supplied them by the Governor, who gets it every mail in his desjmteh bag from Downiug-strcct. Three dentists also appear in tho census of the professions of the colony. " About eighteen months ago," adds his Excellency, " I visited one, not professionally, but for the purpose of eecin« the instruments he used, and I then found that he had tho same ap paratus we find' in iill dentists' establish ments. In fact, he did work for the first rate American dentists we have here, being fully capable of making or repairing sets of teeth. He was a gentleman of intelligence, and impressed me, I must say, as favour ably as a dentist could.''

The Summit of Mount Etna.

AT five o'clock in the morning we reached the summit, and before us lay the crater whence had issued such mountains of sul phur and ashes. To describe it would be as impossible as to describe our feelings on looking dowa into it. Vesuvius being our only experience of volcanic mountains, we had pictured a repetition ot its crater on a somewhat larger scale ; but the two cannot be compared in any way. Figures may give some idea of its size, though no exact mea surements are at hand. Its circumference is variously estimated—some Kay it is be tween two and three miles; one authority says only one; but we suppose that it would be about two miles round the top of the crater. What its depth may be we know not. We climbed the topmost crag, lay down, and looked over; but the bottom of the abyss was far beyond our vision. Its sides were perpendicular walls, variously colonred, the yellow of the sulphur ming ling with green and brown of other burnt substances, whilst from hundreds of points thin masses of smoke were issuing, showing that tho groat mountain had still within it the elements of destruction. AVhere we were lying the smoke and fumes of sulphur were so strong that we hid to bury our faces and wait until a favourable gust of wind blew them from us and enabled ns to look down into the awful abys-\ One of the guides dug out a huge boulder and sent it over the side. It was many seconds before it reached the bottom ; and when it did, the echoes that it awoke were as the sound of a continuous thunder-roll. Al though we saw what was being done, and knew what to expect, the effect was awtul and sublime. Then, when we tnrncd to look upon the view that opened .before us, we seemed as if we were on a pinnacle, isolated from all the surrounding country, which we surveyed as from a w«tch-tower or observatory. We then gained some better idea of the vast size of the mountain as we looked down upon its innumerable peaks, some 01 them covered with verdure, and upon its wild wastes, and, further down, upon its belt of forest. Tho mainland stretched away to the plain on every side, and an immense expanse of country was spread before us, affording a vast and boundless panorama, such as our eyes had never before beheld. But with the extent of the distant scene wo were disappointed, and that because of the haze that hung on the horizon. We hoped to tee the whole of Sicily, snrrounded with its border of sea; but we looked in vain fo<- any trace of water. As we failed in this, a line or two from " Murray " will give some idea of what may be seen under the most favourable con ditions. The " Guide to the Mediterranean" says: —"Perhaps from no spot on the earth's surface are the splendours of creation seen to more advantage. This pinnacle, on the brink of a bottomless abyss, commands a prospect which for extent and majesty, and for the combination it presents of the sub lime and beautiful, is unrivalled. Admiral Smyth calculates 130 miles as the radius of vision from the summit, which would give a clrcumfercnoe of 937 miles." When it is clear, Malta (130 miles) and the .Egadian Islos (160 miles) are visible, and at times even more distant objects have been seen. We might have waited long before such a vision awaited us, but tho nearer views we had were indescribably beautiful and grand.— Correspondent of the Daily News.

If a man's word 13 not as good as his bnn 1 the best thing is fo get on without either. If this can't bo done, look well to the bond, and treat the word as though it had never been spokeo. A youmj woman has painted the picture of a dog and a tree so lifelike that a person can't distinguish tLe bark of the dog from the baik of the tree.

Lina Kiln Observations.

"Doorin' my three score y'ars of life I hcv obsarved some curua tilings,'1 began Brother Gardner as the thermometer showed ninety-eight degrees and rising. " I hey obsarved, fur installed, dat de men nios' consarucd 'bout de welfar' of de kentry am do men who do de least to prosper her. " I hey obsarved dat dc poiitislinn who solfi out to nave de kentry am ginerally np for robbin' her.

" I liev obsarved dat charity kin make paupers almost as fast as a conflagrashun. " I Lev obsarved dot de men who seem to hey «lc mos' sympathy fnr do poo' nebcr wait five minutes to foreclose a chattel mortgage. " 1 her obsarved dat good cloze and im pudence will pass fur riches and cdnca shun.

"I hey obsarved dat brag an' bluster am better weapons dan argyment an' truf. " I hey obsarved data grand monument iv a graveyard doan' hide de mean ness of a dead man's rehvshuns.

" I hey obsarved dat while all agree dat honesty am de best policy, not one man in a hundred hesitates to work a lead nickel oil'on a street kyar company. '■ I hcv obsarved many odder things equally strange an' inconsistent, an' I am prepnr'd to say to you : " Mottoc+i doan' mean bizness. "Maxims kin be forgotten faster dan written.

'Promises am a wheel with one cog

gone. "Friendship will last as long as you kin afford to pay 10 per cent, per annum. Let us now purceod to bizness."—"'Detroit Free Press."

A Wily Adjustment-Major Caught In His Own Trap.

Just after the Franco-Prussian war the Ad jutant-Major of v certain "corps d' infau terie," iv order to lest n new (entry, who hud been placed upon a responsible post, approached, and affecting to have forgotten the word, at length, by means of threats, prevailed on the ignorant soldier to .allow him to pass without giving the word. This he immediately reported, the result being that the poor young fellow was sentenced to be shot, this decision fortunately beiugcom muted to Immshment to Algeria by in lluonce brought to bear from high quartern. This Adjutant-Major, at length, met with a well-merited rebuff, as the following nar rative—tho dialogue of which we give in English—shows. Finding a newly-joined man placed on a similar duty, he deter mined to repeat his former experiment. Fortunately, however, tho sentry had already been warned by his comrades, and was resolved not to be outwitted. As the night wore on he observed the officer ap proaching alone, lantern in hand, and at once challenged: "Who goes there?" " Officer of the guard !" at once came the response. "Approach to tho word, officer of the guard," continued the sentry. Tho oilicer, approaching, said: "I have for gotten the word, and you must let me finish my round without it." Hut, forewarned, the only reply made by tho sentry was : " The word ! .Stand back, or I lice." "I have forgotten the word, I teil yon," per sisted the ollicer. " Can't pass without tho word," w:w the only answer made by the sentry, as he kept aim bayonet's point. "You know me perfectly," insisted the officer, in a tone of chagrin. "I am your ollicer—your Adjutant." "I don't know you. Keep back, or I lire," wai the only reply vouchsafed him. " You dare not lire on your superior; as it is, I will have you severely punished for thus detaining me from my duty." S.> saying, the ollicer seized hold of the bayonet, and endevoured to force his way past. The gentry, once again shouting'-'.Stand back P drew away his bayonet and nude as if to charge the officer. Stepping back, the ollicer drew his sword and came on again, but was instantly disarmed by the sentry. Seizing hold of the muzzle of the ride, he next endeavoured to wrest it from the sentry's grasp. The sentry, being new to the corps, and know ing perfectly who he was, refrained from lirTng, not knowing what the consequences might be of firing on his superior, even though the pass had been refused. Iv the struggle, however, the rifle went off, and the bullet whizzed past the ollieer's ear, carrying with it a piece of his head-dress. Half stunned, and utterly confused by this nnexpi. c I turn of affairs, the ollicer lost his presence of mind, and actually took to his heels, and without reflecting on the prob able consequences of his act, lie reported the fact of his being lired on by the sentry, who was immediately inarched oil" to the guard room a prisoner. Next morning, a court martial was convened, and the sentry, afcer havir;g been charged with tiring on his superior, was asked what defence he had to make. In a few simple words he explained that he jsad been placed on duty at a cer tain spot, iv'ith strict orders not to allow any one to pasa without giving the word, anil on being prevented had seized his rifle, which had gone off by accident. The Ad jutant-Major, on being interrogated, could not but admit the truth of this statement, and the Colonel, a severe but just dis ciplinarian, amid the cheers of those pre sent, gave judgment as follows : " The Ad jutant will remain in his quarters during the next eight days, having necessarily en deavoured to cause a private to perform a breach of duty. The name of Private D will lie entered on the ordrcs an jour and rcnuin there during the same period" This was equivalent to eight days' imprisonment for the officer and to the highest praise given to pnvatos, the entry in the onlres tin font b-ing read to the assembled regiment at each morning parade as follows: " Monsieur le Colonel compliment private D — on the zealous performance of duty under the most trying circumstances." This public rebuke to the officer had a salu'ary effect. However, to his credit be it said, lie never attempted in any way to molest the sentry for his share in the affair.— Chambers Journal.

A youn;» lady at a certain place in Wayne County asked tiio prayers of the cengrefja tion because she could lift set eyes upon a certain young man in her neighbourhood without fouling as though she mu6t hughim to death.

THE WOODLAND SEAT.

(I'.yK. G. Green, In "Good Word).") l)eei) in ;i wood—l love ilic spot ! Tis fairest far in spring, When sweet, from every bowery plot, The golden line-lies sing. 'Tis lovely in (lie summer tini?, Thick Vim in deepest shude: When the year is in itstfulitai prime, And verdure crowns ttie gliwc. Jn autnmn 100, it is a place Of glory and of gloom ; And liieiv, Ihe. lust of :ill its rue?, The violet finds a, lomlj. In churlish winter's cheerless (by.?, Chill seems lliuloiiulyKlun; Ami yd. wiilml.il liutli » gnue Thut lingers even then. And long ore yet a How-trot show?, Within the trim parterre, Thfi early primrose nods and blows, The violet trembles there.

UNKNOWN

UEIt KAKLY Ciril/BHOOD, HER OJ'i'UATJC

CAREER, AND lIKR PRESENT HABITS. M.MX. PATH, ■whose parents wore both singers, iw n native of Mad>id, where .she was boru on February li), IS(3, daring the lUliau opera suason. "My father was a Sicilian and my mothor a Roman," she said, " but the first language 1 .spuke was Eng lisli. In 18^4 our family came to New York with the Italian impre«t<aiio o£ the Cham bers-street Italian Oncia ilouse, and I was brought up iv New York."

Mine. I'atti reciilletl the days when, as a little child, she was taking; 'piano lessons from her s'ster Carlotta and .singirti! lessons from her step irother Barilii. "Itis a mis take," the said, "to saytliat Strakosoh was my first sinking teachor. Ho came later to New York, Yon know lie married my elder sistsr Aiua'ia, Strakoscli only taught mo Rusina in 'II liarbiere,' and gni-o me tome hiuis while I was travelling in Europe in my lirst iCihous there after 1801." "Were yon taken to the theatre as a child I"

"Ye«. often. Indeed, whenever my mother sang. I used to get ho excited over the performance that I could not sleep. When I thongct all my family a-deep I got up, lit a nifiht-liimp in front of the mirror, put on an old scarlet, <;;at of my father's and one of my motlicr'H operatic hats, and went through nil tho gestures I had caught from my mother's performance, hunmiml* over the melodies. Sometimes I got through the whole opera and applauded inys If, aiid throw crumped newsjuporg at myself for boquets. Once, unforiuaately, I applauded myself so loudly tli.it I wi.k'e up Carlottn and got a scolding "

She was 7 years old wlion her parent? began to think of training hcrfnr tlic ntiya They bad been left destitute by the dV appearance of an operatic manager, and if occurred to them that the little girl who was 'always singing abjut the house might prove a resource to them.

"I wasn't ;i l>k nervous," said Mine. Patti, "when I was taken on the stage ai Tripler Hall and set on a table near the piano, so that people might see how little I was. 1 snug ' Una We,'from '11 Barbicre ' and ' Costa. Diva ' and the potformance's were successful enough to relieve my pmvnts from want. Then for a few years f ap peared, with Carlotta at the piano, before it was discovered that she had a voice even higher than mine. Mother always said that a voice might be lost, as you know mine was at one time, and so she had me; taught dressmaking and other handiwork.1' " How old were you when you first ap peared in opera here'"

" J>ct me see. It was at the Academy of Music on the 24th of November, ]S.j9. 1 was therefore 15. Kut 1 was very, very simiU, mid a uieic child in appearance, Strakosch had confidence in me, and per suaded Ullm.'inn, who was very reluctant, to give me a trial. Why, I remember Uil manu .saying I would never amount (o much, and I assure you it was only after much urging he allowed me to appear. 1 selected Lucia ill 'Lucia cli Lammennoor.1 I remember very well it was the evening performance of Thanks-giving Day. Mine. Anno Bishop was advertised to appear at the matinee. Underneath it said : 'In the evening, debut of Mile. Adelina I'atti in 'Lucia diLammennoor,' supported by Brignoli and AinoJio.' How proud I was ofth'it advertisement. Next year I sang in Boston, Philadelphia and other large cities of the United States. In ISGI I went to Europe," " Do you practice much now }" " I sing solfeggios about half an hour a day."

" How do you learn new parts?'1 "I sing them over softly to myself two or three times."

Just then an invitation to all evening dinner was brought to Mine. Patti. " I cannot accept it," she said. "I am very careful of ray voice, and avoid all social excitement. I sing eight months in the year, and during these rest as much as lean. The remainder of the year 1 rest altogether.—'l New York Sun."

A Kiss on the Sly.

Thece is to be found much refreshment in a well-proportioned kiss. This much everybody acknowledges, though onlyJ'a frank few have the coinage to acknowledge it openly. And it is a curious fact, yet unexplained by the philosophers, that the slyer the kiss is, the more there is in it of refreshment.

A kiss that is paid as a forfeit before a whole room full of people, is prosaic", not to say einbarassing. The girl laughs, ■which spoils the romance, anil the follow, ton to one, blushes—neither of them think ing much of it, and they both are apt pretty soon to forget all about it. But let the s.ime fellow kiss the same girl when nobody is looking—and the situa tion is as different as possible, That sort of a, kiss, tired ofl' in a hurry behind the door or in a conservatory, is like au electric shock and is as sweet as cream. Tuc taste of it sort of hold.* on, and constantly suggests the pro priety—or impropriety, us the case may ue-of trying it again. And the laugh ing and blushing arc exactly reversed. The fellow laughs, without spoiling the romance a bit, ami the girl blushes like a pink car nation.

It is queer that the vct-.r .same thing should, under such slightly altered eireuin stances, be so entirely diil'ei'tmt, nor is it any the less queer because the difference has existed from the earliest age of the world.—"Philadelphia Times."

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