STAR SATURDAY SUPPLEMENT

AUCKLAND, SATUKDAY, MAY 13, 1882.

SELECTED POETRY.

"THE PIRATICAL MATE 01>' THE BETSY JIOJE,

Itwns the ochooner lietsy Jano. For Boston from Quincee. And the, skipper hud hobbled clown below

To take his rye, whiskee. Red was his nose nsT.carrrit.'t'Jp, His hreath of potation'tdlfl. A"d thfi only use1 forw-ater.'ttc swore, Was to float hUvess&'billil. The skipper he turned «r>'fromIjelow

With 11 new liirht;ii> His eye : And ho looked aloft and he looked alow,

And ho gazed At the evening sky. " A grood fair wind nnd an easy sea, And a f iist-rato mate I've not: I'll finish that bottle of liquor." he said,

And the vessel he soon forgot.

' Oh, woo to the skipper who tilled so full! The mate wns a pirate hold. And ho took a ilcep oath on a marli" spike That his aim was gore and gold. •Hohurl rend of (he dee's of Morgan and 'Tench, 'And lie revelled in Captain Kidd , 'Aridho had spent. i\ yoiirou Riinantum beach ' In searching for treasures hid.

He laughed to scnrn the wind nivd waves : " I'm the Sea ICiue and I'll llx This vessel up ns» pirate craft •■_ Sho was loaded then with bricks. Oh, the chaste full moon looked clown that nißht,

On a lad of royal mien Who stood at tlin helm of the Betsy Jane,

Aged just about thirteen. He aimed to rival the Hoy Buccaneer, And he cautiously looked around. .And matured his plans as his voassl sailed

From Qiiincy to Boston town.

Ho would take tho Bctey Jane to sea— Ho, ho, for tl'C Spanish main! And the Flo Ida Keys and the Hivhame3e, And hurrah for the Betsy Jane!

He would make the skipper walk the plank, And a plank hoaccordin&rly fixed : He would stand on the end and tilt it up— Oh,ho knew the pirates' tricks.

So he called the skipper up from below. And he gently lert the way Where the plank was leading from the side To the wdtors of the bay.

Pull half a foo' o'or the rosins sea The end of the plank w«H fixed: Tho Betsy Jane sn led very low, She was loaded deep with bricks. And tho pirntearmed with a marlinspiko Drove the Caitnin to his doom : He tumbled him over into the sea, Abaft otthemainjibboom. Then loudly laughed tho p'l'ftte bold, And aeain ho laughed in see. " Through Shirley (iutt the Betsy Jane Will sail away to sea!"

But alas for the schemes of the pirate bold! The skipper on board had climbed, And with a rope's end in his hand He gently came behind.

The laughter came to n sudden end ; Tho pirate's reiK^ ' s o'er : . , When he rose from athwart Hie Captains knee Ha seemed to feel unite sore.

The Bet3y Jane sailed on her way. From Quincy to Hoston town. Bnt'tw-ns fifteen rtiiysi-re tin- i.irate bold Found comfort in sitting down.

ROCK OF AGES.

V Rock of Ages, cleft for me," Thoughtlessly the maiden sung; Fell tho words unconsciously From her girlish, gleeful tongue : Sang as little children sing: Sang as sine tho birds in June. Fell the word* like light leaves sown On the current of the tune— " Kock of Ages, cleft for me. Let mo hide myself in thee.'

" Let me hide myself in thce.' Felt her soul no need to hido: Sweet the song as sweet could be. And she had no thought beside; All tho words unheodingly Fell from lips untouched of caro^ Dreaming not that (iach might be, On some other lips a prayer; '• Rock of Ages, cleft for me. Lot mo hide myself in thce."

'• Rock of Ages, clei't for me "— Twas a woman sung them now, Pleadingly and prayerfully: Every word her heart did know Rose the song as storm-tossed bird Beats with weary wing the air, Kvery note by sorrow stirred, Kvery syllable a prayer; " Rock of Ages, cleft for me Let me hide myself in thee."

41 Hock of Ages, cleft for n j Lipa grown nged sung tho hymn. Trustingly and tenderly. Voice gOwn weak and eyes grown dim. " Let me hide myself in thec." Trembling though the voic and low, Kan the sweet strain peacefully,

Like a river in its flow. Sane; as only they can sing Who life's stormy paths have pressed Sang as only they can sing who behold the promised rest— " Roc of ages, cleft for mo. Let me hide uiyßelf in thec.'

" Rock of Ages, cleft for me "— Sung above a coilin-lid; Underneath, all restl'ully, All life's joys and sorrows hid. Nevermore, 0 storm-tossed soul! Nevermore, from wind or tide. Nevermore, from billow's roll. Wilt thon need thyself to hide. Gould the sightlesn. sunken eyes. Closed beneath the soft grey hair. Could the muto and utiffened lips

Move again in pleading prayer. Still-aye still-the words would bo " Let me hide myself in thce."

Drops of Wisdom.

Money cannot buy merit. Advice is a_ first-rate thing when the person giving it knows what he or she is talking about. It may frequently be observed that the man who always states what he would have done if he had been there is the kind of person who never gets there. Such as are thy habitual thoughts, soch also will be the character of thy mind ; for he soul ia dyed by the thoughts. No man is wiser for his learning. It may administer matter to work in or objects to work upon, but wit and wisdom .are born with a man.

Obedience is a habit, and must be learned ' like other habits, rather by practice than 'by theory—by being orderly, not by talk ing about order. A tack points heavenwards when it means most^mischief. It hts many human imita tors.

A great many men who start out to re form the world leave themselves oft' for the la? t job. If an untruth U only a day old it is called a lie ; if it is a year old it is called a falsehood ; but if it is a century old it is called a legend. Who shuts love out, in turn shall be shut out from love.

The power to do great things generally ntises from the ■willingness to do small things. When you have a number of duties to perform always do the. most disagreeable one first.

It is not enough that yon keep your finger off from a man; you must not let your wicked thoughts touch him.

NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS.

THEATRICAL MANAGEKS,

A CURIOUS theatrical question touching the obligations of managers towards their audi ences has been settled by the Paris Court of Appeal. Some considerable time ngo the plaintiff, M. de Grandsagne, took a box at the Grand Opera for a performance of " La Favorit3," but bocauae certain portions of the opera were omitted, M. do Grandsugno summoned M, Vancorbctl either to give a. special complete performance, or to return the sum of fnrty-eight francs paid for the box. The manager naturally demurred lo this preposterous domand, -which was further aggravated by a claim for twenty pounds tor loss of time in attending the '' incomplete performance." 11 is ocenli s* to say that, confirming the verdict of tho Tribunal de Commerce, the Court of Appeal dismissed tho plaiut. llu/l it been .otherwise, neither M. Vancorbfil nar any other manager would have been tree from actions of this kind, as every opera-house, iv the world practises such excision^ as may suit the requirements of the occasion.

A NEW DRINK.

A Sydney paper treats its readers to this on whisky: "A Queensland shanty keeper lately found trouble to brew bis whisky hot enough to suit his customers, vh > mi»de repealed enquiries for something that would " bite all th« way down." As a. last resoarce, and to save his reputation, the proprietor mixed up a case of pain killer, a keg of fusel oil, four bottles of emu oil, find a tub of hair restorer, aud then r-iiMdod tho lot into a barrel of real old lii.urbon, made iv Ipswich. This he called (.lie "Shepherd's delight," and its popu. larity rose as high as a lawyer's costs in a libel action. The first man who tried it fairly screamed with delight, and actually went homo aud hugged his mother-iu-law ; the next one took two drinks, aud then broke his neck trying to turn a somevaault over a passing wool dray; and the third, who was a travelling hawker, after drink ing one quart, actually stole his own pack, and planted it up a hollow lo». That shanty man is now on the road to fortune, and perhaps a seat in the Upper House."

A MUSICAL PRODIGY.

Teresa Tua, the youthful Turinese violinist, has been setting virtuosi of Kome by the cum. Taough but fifteen years of age, she is one of the first players on the violin in Europe. She executes the most intricate musical difficulties with perfect ease and precision, and with all the poetry of simplicity which belongs to true genius. The musical world is likely to hear a great deal of her in the tuturo.

RURAL SIMPLICITY.

An Indianopolis ruralist seated himself in a restaurant the other day and began on a bill of fare. Aftw ampioying tbiee waiters nearly half an hoar ia bringing dishes to him, he heaved a bitter sij>h and whispered as he put his finger on the bill of fare, "Mister, I've et totnat thar, and" —moving his finger to the bottom of the bill—" et it isn't agin the rule I'd like to skip from thar to thar."

A WAISTCOAT DINNER.

The follies of serious people are unap proachable. An assembly of artists and men of letters, all arrives, and several partis, have founded in Paris a monthly club dinner, the Waistcoat Dinner. Every member is expected to wear an extraordinary waistcoat, in which he must not appear twice. And so the Baron d'ifspeleta, for instance, at tbe first dinner, was crimson-breasted; M. Albiot wore gold and dead leaves; M. Bourgain, sea blue, with ships of all shapes cut out in white; Poilpot, the painter, had a yellow waistcoat studded with red fencing-foils; Baron de Vaux exhibited a black and silver garment like a small pall.

SHERMAN'S AVERSION.

General Sherman wept the other day after hearing "Marching through Georgia" played at a banquet. His neighbour, General Grant, asked him, " Wherefore doat thou weep ?" 'l'he general answered, "I never was so all-tired sorry I marched through Georgia as I have been in tho last fire years. Georgia he darned! The ?eople arc good enough, but 'in listening to that tune for the 3,465,857 th time. How would you like, Ulysses," he continued, •' to hear that infernal melody over three million times 1 They have socked it to me from Maine to Texa«, and from Florida to Toronto," and here he wept afresh. But General Grant quietly patted the ltitle hero on the shoulder, and said, "Sherry, it is only one of the penalties of greatness. I suffer worse than you do. I've had seven million cigars given to me because people think I like to smoke, 824 bnll pups, and more horses than I can count. Sherry," continued the general, "whenever I see a horse, a cigar, or a bnll pup, I feel just as badly as you do, but I never give way to my feelings. I—l sell 'em." " Yes." answered Sherman, between his sobs, "you can sell cigars, hull pups, and horses, but I can't sell that d d tune for five cents."

THE FORCE OF IMAGINATION.

The effect of imagination upon the physical condition has been illustrated io Camden. A boy named Edward Gardner died in that city Irom hydrophobia. Not long before be died, the boy, in his frenzy, spat at his father, and some of the froth from his lipa flew into the letter's eyes. Mr Gardner at once declared his conviction that be had been poisoned, arjd became terribly frightened. Within a few hours he had worked himself into a hysterical condition, and the next morning complained of severe pains, dryness of the throat, and a chilly sensation about the spinal column, and actually gave vent to short, sharp coughs like those of a mad dog. His physician assured him that hydrophobia could not possibly have been transmitted to him from his son's lips, but he remained unconvinced and terrified, and eventually had to be forced by drugs to sleep. His physical condition improved, and his reason resumed control o," his fancy. It is not improbable that he might have died if he had been left to himself.

Two Innocent Men Shot in the Streets of Sacramento.

SACKAMENTO, April 10.—This afternoon, au exciting all'air occurred here. A Siberian named Simon llatcn has been employed in the railroad shops in the copper workers' department, A fow days ago he went on a spree, and lias been mere or less drunk s-nno days. In that time he had a difficulty with v man named Erriekson, who whipped him, and so far as can bo learned, did so justly. Eaten was up in the Police Court for battery, and was punished. Since then he has been bothering the l'olicu Depart ment for warrants, which were refused to him. He went to the I'olice Judge's house, and had to be ejected. To-day he applied for warrants, ami when refused,was iiou.-ive to ihe oflicials. At half-past fmir to-day lie was coining along X street, on the south side, between Fourth and Third,and toward Tnird, when he saw Erricknon, the man whom lie had the iiillieuliy with originally, and who was approaching iv his direction. Errick-on saw his former assailant also.and drew on one side, fcariog that he would re new the trouble. Kitten thereupon drew n pistol and lired, probably at his former foe, but ihe ball touk ell'ect iv the hand of a young man named John J. Livingston, wlio was passing up X street, and who did not know the ►hooter at all. This happened in front of the International Ho:el, kept by James Lansing, one of the pioneer citizens of S icrumciito.ancx-SlioriHaiHl ex-Assessor, and a man much respected and widely known. Itatcn immediately turned and ran toward Fourth Street, pursued by seve ral people. Lansing was in the hotel yard at work when he hoard the shot, and ran to the front of tbe hotel to see what it meant, He saw a man tleemg.and Lansing ran back through the hotel to the buck entrance in tho alloy to see if lie should pass through that way. As Ue got to the alloy he saw the shooter had passed and was running down the alloy to Third street. Lansing called to him to stop, when the fellow tinned and tired at Lansing, who staggered back. The

shooter stood a minute, as if ready to lire again, but as the pursuers came ou he van again to Third, ami thooce down Th'nl to L Street, where lie was captured by eit'zons and ollicials. After a violent struggle bo was fnken to tlie station house with dilli culty. He is a man about forty years of age, swarthy of face, and latlier rough in appearance Lansing was shot in the left side just belnw the rib and above the navel, and the ball is supposed to have gone down ward Mid backward. The doctors think his condi ion is very critical, and it is fea'td that he will die. Livingstone's wound is not very dangerous. The bull entered the palm of the right hand, passed through, and was cut out ou the top of the wrist back of the wrist-joint. Public excitement ran very high und tliorc were threats of lynching. A later dispatch says : Mr Lausing is con sidered at death's door. His autc-mortcm statement has been taken, lie says he vviw unloading coal iv the yard of the hotel, when he heard a noi-o and cries in the alleyway, and stepped out in the alley to see what was the matter. He saw a man running down the alley and passing where ho stood. He heard the wowd cry out, "Stop him!" He then ran after the man a few' steps, when the fellow turned and shot him. He had never seen the man before. From this, it is soon, Lansing did not go to the front of the hotel at all, and know nothing of the sliootiug of Living stone. Eaten, the assassin, is Strongly guarded, ami the station house is under a strong guard to-night. Ttateu lias been drinking hard for several days. Your re porter saw him in his cell to-night. He whs in a state of great excitement, and once fell heavily to the lloor, He says he was born in Siberia in IS-J2; came to California six months ago ; works at the railroad shops, and says he don't shoot anybody, but every one is"trying to kill him. The Chief of Police says Raton was not drunk when arrested. The pistol shows two chambers discharged. It is an Allen tivc-shooter, calibre 2S.

General Skobeloff.

Thk "Allgemeine Zeitung," a loading German paper published at Augsburg, has the following remarks on the personal character of the celebrated Kussian general:—" General t.kobelnlT, a man of 33 years of age, is a thorough soldier, and regards war as his element. He has perfected bis undoubted military genius by deep study ; he is now a general of cavalry, Commander of the Order of St. George—and a celebrated man. Great as his military advantages are, the qualities of hi* character are little esteemed in the circles in which he moves. The good-natured Prince Michael Niko'ajevitch took him with him, on his completing his studies at the Staff Colleges, as an orderly officer, but wa* soon compelled to send him away. Although he is the national and popular hero of the Kussian people, he does not enjoy the sympathy of good tociety.. Richly endowed by nature in every respect, with an attractive exterior, winning manners and the most polite ways, and educated in positive science, the brilliant young general creates a favourable impression. ADd yet there is scarcely any bad quality which in St. Petersburg is not attributed to him— not merely by his enemies and those who envy him, who are naturally many, but by the best ci'des in Kus-sian . society. He is said to be an intriguer, hearties 0, brutal, and cynical, devoid of all nolle feeling, unprincipled, and unscrupulous. Thinas are told of his sev-rity and cruelty while in Central Asia which make one's hair >tand on end. What'Ver exaggeration ther« may be in this, the judgment U too unaiiimous for one to doubt ita truth. And yet this man is the national hero, and decidedly the most popular character in the .Russian Emi ire, the god of the masse?, • whom be knows how to flatter—a man who, con timed by ambition, treats even fanati cism as a means to an end, and evidently may be destined to play a conspicuous part in the history of Russia. Jt is characteris tic of him that, although he went to the Balkan cimpaign without any command even on account of bis notoriety, his capacity soon availed him, and he re turned home a'ter a few months as one of the most celebrated generals. The Kmperor Alexander 111., who by no means .likes a man who i-i more than infamous in military life, will keep this general as far as possible from him; but he may be com pelled, in case of serious complications, to appeal to Skobeloff. If be lives, he will be the leader whom one will have most to think about."

For the Ladies.

The English census shows something like 20 per cent, more females than males in the country's population. "Well, wo cannot have too much of a good tiring.

A girl just returned from n boauli'ngscliocl said upon seeing a lire engine at work, " Who would evah have dweamecl such a diminutive appawatua would hold so much wntah."

Doctors now say that boiled cow's milk as not good for babies ;it is better raw. The doctors are right; a raw cow gives better milk than a boiled one.

" f'cli!" said a lore-sick Hibernian " what :i recreation it is to he dying of love! it sets the heart aching so delicately there's no taking a wink of siape for the pleasure of the pain."

Professor T?ell, the inventor of the tele phone, finds that penetra'ing and diffusive as the instrument is, it does not answer to the craving of his nature, and he is going to be mariied. With a telephone and a wife a man ought to be able to hear all that's troiiitr on. no 0 Two acquaintances meeting on a wet day. one greeted the other with, "Beautiful rain, this! fetch tiling* out of the ground !" Second Friend (disconsolately): "Hipe not, sir—hope not; got two wives there, sir !"

"Oh that I had wings !" sighed the sentimental young damsel, as she gazed longingly into the empyrean. Sbe was thinking of the charming new Whitsuntide bonnet, and wondering what would bo the most appropriate feather decoration for it.

Important question discussed by a local debating society—"'Whether nn untidy woman with a sweet temper is to be pre ferred to a tidy one with a sour temper?" The controversy, according to the last re port, was still raging, and no vote had been tilkot).

The latest quack medicine publishes a splendid testimonial as follows :—" Dear sir,—Two months ago my wife couldn't speak ; she has taken two bottles of your 'Life Ue'iewer' nnd now she can't speak at all. Please send mo two more bottles : I would not be without it."

A man more than half seas over was ob served one day supporting the parapet of the North lkidgo, Edinburgh, shaking his head, and repeating sadly, "It must be done, it must be done " An old lady pas sing by, thinking lie contemplated suicide, said to him, " What must be done, my man ?" " Must go home and face the wife," was the wofttl answer.

Lord Brougham in his latter days was once asked to return thanks for the brides maids. He whh then old :ho had always b en a very plain man, and years had added to his primness ; white a9 a lawyer he knew more than enough of the shady side of life. He said, as he rose, that ho " did not <]uito understand why he was specially asked to speak for the bridesmaids, bat he supposed it win on account of his youth, his beauty, and his innoconce."

The Brussels Tragedy.

AUKEST OF M. LEON PEI/I'ZER OS A

CHARGK OK MURDKR. Of Leon Peltzor, who has been arrested at Cologne oii suspicion of murdering M. Bcr. nays, the lawyer, at Brussels, a Belgian correspondent of the London " Globe," says : — Public report has for sime time pointed to him ns the person most likely to nave personated Henry Vaughan, and the Liberal press have been using all their ellorts to prove that the M.L.X. so significantly referred to by the opposition papers bore no resemblance whatever to Henry Vaughan and was not in Belgium at the time of the murder. Liion Peltzer is said to have been a few years ago engaged in ("peculations which turned out disastrously, and being anything but steady he was sent out to Buenos Aytes, where his brother owns large property, and to this brother he is saM to be under great obligations for having settled his afl'airs. It was not supposed, that he was personally interested in the disappearance of Mmo. Bernnys' husband. What is currently reported is so atrocious that more particular reference to it must be delayed until the publication of the aete cFcwcnsation, It seems incredible that persons oocupying a position of the highest influence could be so blinded by a guilty passion as to run the terrible risk of being implicated in a crime the discovery of which must brand them and theirs with infamy, and the possible advantages to be derived from whicb.if successful, were most doubtful.. If it should uufortunately prove true two families occupying a prominent position among the Liberals of Antwerp will be compromised, aod a great blow will be dealt to their party, the eflect of which will be felt at the next election. Hence it has become a political question which one party is interested to liush up, while the other will do all they can to make capital out of it. The clerical party, held respon sible for all the delinquencies, moral and financial, of their hangers on, will be only too glad to have it in their power to retort, by showing what Liberal principles and librc-penscc doctrines necessarily lead to, and a fresh argument will be supplied for opposition to the godless schools established by the Government A search was made a fortnight ago at a hotel in the Rue Royale, in the apartment occupied by the mother of M. Peitzer, and among the papers taken possession of was a photograph of Leon Peltzer. Persons who had been in communication with Henry Vaughan were unanimous in stating that this portrait might be that of Vaughan without his wig and other means adopted to complete his disguise. Some analogy was also found between the handwriting of Vaughan and that of Ldon Peltzer. Among the things left by Vaughtn in the 'house where the crime was committed was a trunk which has iioav led to the indenti iication of the criminal. M. do Mot, formerly Belgian Consul at Buenos Ayrcs, was called before the Juge d'lnstruction to answer enquiries as to the commercial standing of Ltson Peltzer at Buenos Ayres. All at once M. de Mot, looking round, exclaimed, " Why, that is my trunk." "It is Vaughan's trunk," answered the Judge. "It ia the very same as mine,:) said M. dc Mot; "it was made at Buenos Ayres, and if you like I will go home and fetch my key, which I am sure 'will open it." He did so, and on his return at once opened the trunk. Lt'on Peltzer is about thirty five years of age; he was born at Verviws, and is of German origin, but is no relation of the member of Chamber of Represen tatives of that name, nor of the Burgo master of Spa.

Swindling a Beautiful Widow.

The San Francisco Chronicle tells a strange conspiracy story, in which the' " duke of Leicester " and a Mrs Etna Bennett' nre the principals. Mrs Bennett had been told ljy two lady friends that the " duke;" travel ling in California ns "Dr. George Logan," had fallen in love with her while she waa presiding nt a patent medicine stall at the Mechanics' Pavilion fair, San Francisco* She was led to believe thatjit was customary for the "nobles of foeat Britian," whea they paid mark td attention to a lady with the intention of conferring upon her the proud distinction of sharing their titles, to conduct tho negotiations through the medium of a friend, who m this instance appeared to be a "Dr," Barton, with the two ladies referred to. Preparations for the wedding were made by Mrs Bennett, and also by the "duke," who wrote her a bushel of letters full of biblical Quotations, ltoctry, ami love. The " duke "by the way had at one time been rcquestedjby the Queen to marry one of tho royal princesses, but had declined to do so for reasons not given. Her Majesty, however, hearing of "his grace's " engagement to this .Sum Francisco beauty, sent her a ca-hmere shawl worth §1,000 or, rather, the duke said lie had re ceived it for her. Three ministers were to be employed at the wedding, and the prin cipal bridesmaid was to lie the wife of a leading can Francisco physician. The wedding presents which the "duke's" agents said he had bought were marked "Etna-Leicester," andncrc of surpassing beauty. The bride was to be attired in the rich laces which had graced the fair forms of the noble "duke's" mother and grand mother. The wedding having been put oft' from time to time, Mis Bennett grew uneasy, anil insisted upon seeing the "duke," but Barton told her he was lying very ill at Viillejo. l hen it waa represented that the duke had taken a great fancy to one of Mrs Dennett's shawls, believing that if were only wrapped about his shoulders, it would have a very .salutary ell'cct. Believing this, she surrendered the coveted garment. It was also stated that lie desired to have sent to him ii breast pin she had worn at the pavilion, his intention hcing to have n similar one de signed and set with costlier stones. This was also given up. Under the impression that, when she became tho " duchess ot Leicester," she would possess the costly wardrobe prepared for her, she gave to tho two ladies must of her private wardrobe and effects. At length, after waiting seven months for "his grace," Mrs Bennett began to think that sho had been swindled, and swore out warrants for the arrent of Barton and her lady friends, Mr* Fannie ('lark and Mm Julia Taylor, mother and daughter. Barton had tied, but the two women were arrested and held for trial.

The Dress of the Period.

A X.ECTUKK on the '■ Dress of the Period " was delivered to promote the objects of the National Health Society, by Mr Frederick Troves, F.It.C.H. (of the London Hospital), on Feb. 25, in the Town Hall, High Street, Kensington. The large hall was crowded with an audience composed almost wholly of ladies. Enlarged diagrams from works on physiology and fashion plates, a life sized cast of Thorwulds-n's Venus, a skele ton, a " costume " a,la made lent by a linn of fashionable drapers, and a lay figure ou which an adaptation of a (Jreck dress was shown as a suggested improvement on the present style of cveuiug dress, served to illustrate the lecturer's observations. Pro fessor Flower, who took the chair in the unavoidable absence of Dr. Andrew Clark, read a lei tor in which, after speaking highly of the ability of Mr Troves, J)r Clark said

—" It is rumoured that the lecture will be a raid against dress. It is perhaps iinne ecessary to reply that thi< is an error. Nei ther the society nor Mr Troves will object to proper dressing, which is at once a pri vilege and duty; and no unworthy means of education the taste, exercising the judg ment, encouraging the arts, and giving plea sure to others. So long as dressing does uot violate the principles of beauty or the laws of health, so long as it is made comfortable to position, use and circumstances, so long is it to be encouraged— not only as a source of enjoyment, but as the fulfilment of a, serious duty : for the love of dress, which is to the body what language it tothougjht, is as true an instinct as is the love of wlmt is beautiful or good." a fter touching upon some of the eccentricities of fashion in the present day, Mr Troves, assuming that the primary objects of dressing were to cover the body and maintain an equable tempera ture, pointed out that in a low evening dross thee objects appeared to have recei ved little or no attention. The neck and arms and the upper part of the chest and back were left bare, whilo about the lower extremities was accumulated a mass of rai ment that would clothe a dozen children. In the ordinary dress of women little regard was had for maintaining an equable temperature. The covering of the upper part of the chest above the line of the corset was very thin, perhaps that of the dress only. The region of the corset was reasonably covered, -while about the hips many layers of clothing wore massed. Thus the body mjgjit be divided geogra phically into a frigid, a temperate, and a torrid zone. Dealing next with tk-ht lacing fust as a matter of b-auty, secondly a* a matter of sense, and thirdly as a matter of health, the lecturer maintained that if the most beautiful female outline was that of a young, normal, well-developed woman, then a narrow waist was hideous. Children had normally no waist, and if a mother gave her thought to the matter for a week she could devise nothing more fatal to health tiian to make her daughter wear stays " to improve her figure." The normal waist of a woman which was oval in section, had a circumfer ence of 20 in. to 39 in 5 the " elegant" waist, which was in section circular, a circumfe rence of 20 in., while the measurement of dressmakers' lay figures now varied from 21 in. to 24 in. The deformod feet of the Chinese lady, the flattened heads, perfo rated uostrils, and distended lips of savage tribes were less senseless freaks of fashion, for they injured but one part of the body, and that not a vital part. Coming to the question of health, he showed how, by the compression of the lower ribs, the stomach, liver, aud lungs were displaced and their free and necessary action prevented, quoting medical evidence of the many and serious, often fatal consequence*



' Goodwin's Baking Powder in half-pound tins, Is3d, sold by all the'ftrocerß ; whole sale by all the merchants.—lAdvt.]