STAR SATURDAY SUPPLEMENT.

AUCKLAND, SATUKDAY, MAY 27, 1882.

It Was His Wife.

A noted music teacher in New York city ■relates the -following incident, which con tains a morfil worth .recognition by wives :

A year ago last fall a card was brought iinto my music rom bearing the name ot a •well-kuown and fashionable married lady. When she was nshi-rod i" I was surprised 'to fee so young a looking woman, though to be sure, she is not ye?. 40, and a fair com iplexion and clear blue eyes make her look Wounger. She seemed a little embarrassed, bat asked me to try her voice. I did so, and found it uncultivated, but singu larly fresh and Bwcet; in quality a Iteht soprano. I told her so, and her face flushed eagerly fes sheasked, " Professor, could yon teach me to iing?" "Yes," I replied, •' If you choose to apply yourself earnestly?" " I will, and if you can manage it bo that I need not be seen, and that no one knows of it, I will take a lesson every day." We made the best arrangements we could, and the lady never failed to appear promptly at the hour. She was so anxious and so per severing that she made the most extraor dinary progress, and when spring came her voice hud so strengthened and developed as to be almost beyond recognition. During the summer I heard nothing of her beyond mention in the society papers of her being at Saratoga, but about a month a»oshe called upon me, and taking both my hands in hers shook them earnestly, as she said : "Professor I have come to thank you for making mo ihe happiest woman alive." She then told me that her husband to whom she was deeply attached, was passionately fond of vocal music, and had always regret ted that she could not sing to him. She had never cultivated her voice betore marriage, and afterwards the coming of children and the claims of society had pre vented her attempting it; but the unlucky day came when Mr JR. made the acquain tance of a charming widow with a charming voice, who was always ready and willing to sing sweet songs to him, and he gradually fall into the way of spending many of his evenings with her. At heart devoted to his wife, he was unconscious of his gradual neglect of her, and would have been astonished had she reseoted his enjoyment of these musical tetc-a-tetes. About the widow I am not prepared to speak. Mrs. R. like a nice woman, did not resent it, but undermined the enemy, as yon-will see. Her music lessons she kept a profound secret from her family. In the summer they went, as usual to Saratoga, and took possession of one of the pretty cottages, at the United States Hotel. , , , The morning after their arrival the local newspaper contained a notice that the lead ing soprano of the Episcopal Church was ill with a throat affection, and the congregation was asked to make allowance for the dis abled choir. The next morning (Sunday) Mr K. with two of his children, wended his way to the church of his belief, Mrs R. ' having excused herself on the plea of a headache. . After the opening service the minister an nounced tbat "a lady from New York had kindly volunteered to sing in place of the sick soprano, and in consequence the musical service would be the same as usual." A few moments later a clear, sweet voice rang through the church and touched the hearts of the people, perhaps even more through the exquisite expression and feeling with which the music was rendered than the qualities of the voice itself. Mr. R. was fascinated, delighted, and inwardly made comparisons between it and the witching widow, not flattering to the latter. After the services were over he eagerly sought the minister to ascertain the name of the charm- Ing soprano, whose face he had not been able to"see from his seat, . "Come with me and I Will introduce you," said t)ie minister, who knew Mr. R. by reputation. They entered the choir to «ether, and the good man began: "Miss Brown, permit me to introduce ' when he was interrupted by R. ejaculating: " Great heavens, It is my wife!" And, piace and company notwithstanding, he gave her a hearty embrace in his delight and suprisc. To cut the story short, he fell in love with ' her all over again, the singing siren was forgotten, and I don't believe you could find • a happier couple in New York,

Proposed Tunnel Between- Italy and Sicily.

The " Journal of the Society of Arts " of February 17 states that a project for a tunnel between Reggio and Messina has bpen presented tt tUe Miuister ot Public Works by the "Sociota Vencta di Pablicha Costruzioni." The author of thiM project is Sisjnor Fedorico (iabelli. The total length of this tunnel will be 13,200 metres, including the iucliued approaches, or 1000 metres longer than the Moiit Cenis Tunnel. The maximum depth of water over tho proponed tunnel will be 110 metres, the ends of which, at this place, will oe 35 metres below the bottom ol iho sea. The direction of the submarine portion ot tbc undertaking will be from south-east to north-west, between the PunU ile Pizzo and Sta. Agata. The incinert approaches 4500 metres in icoKth, will run parallel with the shore for a certain distance, and then, with a curve of 350 metres radius, join the tunnel under the straits, which will be 4200 metres lou^, or rather more than ".J miles. The gradient of the inclines is fixed at 24 per 100, or the same us that on the live from Turin to Genoa at the liiovi Tunnel. The submarine portion will have a tall of J per 1000 from the centre to the shore ends, in order tbnt the nitrations of waicr miiy drain and be pumped out by engines, which will be fixed at the vertical abaft from which the tunnel will be diiveu. From a geological survey of the locality it would appeur that the bottom of the straits consists ol crystalline rocka, sucb as granite, gneiss.", and mica sohist. The qunrteniary forma tion that cnveis the crystalline rocks both oh the Sicilian and Caiabrian consts, is not supposed to run deep, aud should fissures occur in the older formations, through winch it is propo-ed to drive the tuuuel, ti'ev are probably filled up with cluy or mud, so that there will be no fear of water finding its way into the tunnel. According to Signor Gabelli, tlie cost of the under taking will not exceed 65 millions of lire (£2,000,000), and could be completed in six years.

Dion Boucicault.

A party of gentlemen were supping at the Venuome. when the conversation turned on Boucicault. One of them, professing to knowtheactoriutimately, gave a programme of what he was about to do. A second knew how much he was worth and where his funds were invested. A third, who also knew him well, remarked he had been a guest in the hotel lately, but, scared by the presence of the smallpox in the cit>, he had secluded himself in Koxburjr. A fourth assured the rest there was no epidemic in the matter ; he knew for a fact that he had been carried oiF by Miss , one of the loveliest girls in Bos ton, and had secluded himself with her. An oldgontleman, rising from the next tablb joined the group. " Gentlemen," he said, "I am the person you are speakieg of. It always affords me pleasura to learn, in this manner, what I am doing, where I am, and what lam going to do; itsavesme thetrouble of making up my mind. I have no idea what lam worth, but I dare say the estimate of this gentleman may be correct. As for the epidemic, I have lately been vaccinated in effectually. The complaint is as indifferent to me as the young lady of whom you speak. It is very flattering to my sixty years to be accused of being carried off in such a lovely manner. I don't object to the imputation, hut the young lady might see it in another light." That elderly gentleman then turned lilb back on the most suprised party of the season.—" Boston Herald."

Feminine Brevities,

Jealousy.—Love's brain fever, from which he oftener dies than recovers.

Christine Nilsson's notes are still good though her husband's are not. —" Boston Courier.".

" Mrst. De ril" Is the name of a new opera boutl'e in Paria. It's presumed that the hero» inewillappearinasatindress.—"Norristown Herald.''

We begin to doubt the grod influence of chapel devotions when the professor prays that the students may have a hungering and thirsting after " Patience."— "teacon." " One kiss ! Light of my life ! and then— fare—well."—Lilla N. Cushman. If the latter would be a positive sequence of the former, we should feel almost tempted.— " New Haven Register." Copy of a notice on the beach at Brighton: "In case of ladies in danger .of drowning they should he seized by the clothing and not by the hair, which generally comes off." —" Le Figaro." "Sit down," said a handsomely dressed and vivacious young lady at a fashionable watering place—" sit down ; it's about the only thiug you can do here without payiog forit. l; A little girl read a composition before the minister. The subject was " a cow." She wove in this complimentary sentence. "A. cow is the most useful animal in the world except religioD." A facetious member of the Connecticut Legislature has a bill to oblige every Smith in that State but one to change his name. Make it aoply to the Mi«seai Smith and they won't kick.—" Boston Post." Your real artistic London maidens have abandoned shoes altogether and adopted the Greek sandal, which gives the foot all theroomitwants. This wouldbeimpossible in Chicago,—" New Haven Kegister.'- Conjugal amenities : '' Do you know in what month of the year my wife talks the least?" "Well, I suppose when she catches cold and loses her voice " " Not at all; it lain February." "Whyistbat?" "Because February has the fewest days."—" Le Figaro." " How beautiful the_ dome of heaven this evening," said Angelica, as she leaned heavily on his arm. '' The stars seem to look down upon us " "Oh, yes," said prac tical John, "it's impossible for them to look up to us, you know. They can't."—"New Haven Register." " I declare I don't know what I shall do, the thermometer varies so," said a New Haven woman this morning. " One day it's as high as forty, snd the next it is down to nothing at all. I don't see why they can't make them permanent, so we shall always know just what the weather is."—" New Haven Register." A young lady in Milwaukee has sued a young man for kissing her, claiming $5000 damages.. She avers that "he then and there did seize plaintiff by the shoulders, put his arms around her neck and did then and there kisi her," and by reason of said act the plaintiff "was greatly hurt in her feelings and suffered and underwent fireat mental pain." Milwaukee girls are much more sensttive than those around these parts.—"Boston Pest.".

A Brave Adventure in the First Afghan War.

DRESSED in a shoep'kin clonk full of ver min, with his white fuco hidden up to the eyes, and mounted on Lady Sale's hors;; with .1 native saddle, Colin Mackenzie set out. He was attended by two of Akbnr Klian's troopers and guided by the noto rious Buttee, " the thief," and throe of his gang, on foot. Buttee was the ltob Roy who had eas.d of severnl hundreds of liis camels, which he resold to the General, The tlireo horsemen and four thieves s'rng gled up. the b dof a torrent till ihoy onmo to a cascade, which barred advance. Laughing at the troojier's abu«o, But too guided Mackenzie up and round by a goat's path till (hey surmounted hills " to which Ben Lomond i- a joke !" He know I'ovsiau and beguiled the way with;' Pushtoo war songs, till the Sc ttish Highlander was lost in i-ympathotic admiration a- the man who c nostrils were not even expanded as he climb ed the tremendous ascents, his heavy match lock behind his back, with the ends resting on the inside of his elbows. When thosnow was reached the danger increased, for the track sloped to the torrent at an angle of forty live. Even the Afghan troopers pro tested they had never seen such a road, while the perspiration streamed off them like rain, in spite of the wintry wind. So they crossed the Khurkhuchar Pa-s ; but in the easy descent on the other side the icy blast cut through them. As day dawned, and they came to a hostile tribe, Buttee carefully smothered the white otlicer in the Afghan •irens and mounted before him, passing him oil" as a sick chief of I'eshawur sent home by Akbar Khan, At the ford of iv river, oppo site the gate of fie chief, Mackenzie, worn out by fatigue, fairly tumbled oil' iiinong the henchmen who had rushed out with the cry of "Strangers!" But Buttee, the thief, was equal to the crisis. lie harangued his countrymen on the exploi's nf Akbar Khun ovi-r the inlidcl, while hi* followers dragged the "sick chief" away up tic mountain pa<h. After a week of hairbreadth escapes mid ex hausting toil, amid the tilth of Afghan sur loundings, Colin Mackpuzie and his horse, in n state which he used Scotch to describe as "sair furfauahtcn," rode into Pillock's camp. So black and haggard had be become that the sepoy vidette won d not lx-lievo he was a European. He was received by the General and his old friend Sir George Maegregor as an apparition. Buc the camp was soon alive with the news ha brought, and each little fact about the captives spread away over India into every cantonment, and tardily westward to tlie British homes where hope deferred had Hicfcened many a loving heart. Mackenzie's iuformation helped the avenging army to the rapid puccc»s which in due time enabled the captives to free them selves. And after twenty-four hours he ro turned into captivity, only to ba sent back again on, a second though less perilous mission, 'after seven houis' repose, while Pottinger was preparing another letter to the General. The second journey resulted in an attack of typhus, under which he nearly sank, so that his friend, Colin Troup, was despatched on the third and last of these missions by which Akbar Khan sought, in vain to save himself from the fate which his deeds deserved.— George Smith, L.L.D., in Good Word*.

Women's Influence in Politics.

Mrs Mary L. Griffith say* in the Woman's World: "The masculine ten dency is to generalise, the feminine to par ticularise. We think this js true, despite the fact that on this, as on any'othcr basis, men and women as individuals are liable to change places. This element of woman hood has been urged as a reason for shutting women cut from places in Governnleut. But the two tendencies arc mutually cor rective, and only when both are represented will justice and humanity be safe in the hands of legislation. The man sees the liquor traffic as a problem bound up with internal revenue and political faction ; Hie woman sees a younsr boy going in'o that painted hell across ihe street. IThe man says ; ' There is no use voting the unpopu lar ticket, nor in trying to infuse principle into politics, outnumbered as we are ;' the woman !>ayn ; ' I must do my part as in Goii'a sight, be the issue what it may.' 'Ihc man says, 'It will not do to exchange these prisoners of war, and give the enemy an advantage'; the woman pleads for her hus band starving and raving on the fields ot Andersonvilie. The man sees the nation — the cause to be fought fur; the woman sees

her darling torn and ghastly on the battle field. The man sees a possible discovery or confirmation of physiological truth ; the wo man sees a dumb creature under the torment of vivisection. The man deals with a race of aborigines whose place is wanted for a better and a greater people ; the woman remembers how it must feel to be starving, freezing, homeless, helplcs, hunted. The man gazes bewildered at life, death, time, eternity, good and evil, the known and the unknown. the questions wherein are God and heiven and souls; the woman answers simply and ssrenely :• I bave felt.' However false women may have been to womanly instinct, it was the masculine idea of compassing general ends by any means which made the Inquisition possible. It is the potent and growing feminine idea of justice and tender ness to the individunl which makes the Inquisition no longer possible. It was the masculine idea which said through Napo leon : ' A million of men,more or less, is no matter.' It is the feminine idea which shall soon cause Napoleons and war to be no more. The world is coming to see through womanly eyes. The femi"ine idea is the key-note of our present civilization. It shall be the genius of the twentieth cen tury. The union of both thes« elements— masculine and feminine—shall make that perfect law which may be said to have her seat in the bosom of God."

Remorse.—The k«y that locks out hope. Despair.—The dark starless night of ihe soul.

Dream.—A holiday the mind takes from tue body.

What (lower would furnish a drawing, room best ? —Kose would.

In the "good old times" they used to hang a woman for merely "hooking" a dress.

A Brooklyn man last Sunday who had just been calling himself a " miserable sinner," and asking the Lord to have mercy upon him, came out of church and knocked a man down for calling him the fame thins*. /Esthetic Wife (sobbing)—" Dearest, I'll see that your grave is kept green—but not one of those horrid bright greens. A nice olive grey green, with an old bronzed tomb stone, will look too awfully lovely for any thing."

Fashion Notes.

Flounces nre witter. Short suits arc shorter. Moires remain in favour. Spanish lace grenadines arc new. Sun-satin is a new yJoasy woollon stuitf. Length-wise pleats are-stitched like tuclb. Geometrical designs arc on now drew* goods. Brass ball buttons are rased for flannel1 suits. Rod straw hats will be popular next season. New bonnet pins have hammered gold heads, Linen-gingham is an old fabric just 're vided. Faille ribbons trim bonnets for early spring. Silver jewellery is worn with black Lenten dresses. Very long ribbon streamers hang from bouquets. /Esthetic penwipers represent a lily or a sunllower. New passementeries resemble applique emlirodiery. Wool goods are combined with the new cotton satins. Pomp«n passementeries trim satin dresses handsomely. Natural (lowers nre fastened on peacock feather fans. The Jersey jacket supersedes the Eoc; lish walking coat. Linen guipure laco, like Macrame, is new for m llinery. Haw silk in artistic colours is offered for spring dresses. Turquoise blue beaded lace bonnets arc worn by blondes. Bayadere stripes are imported for trim ming self-coloured dresses. Pull's of sain and crepe lisse are worn around the neck and wrists. Cloth chocs to match cloth dresses have patent-leather foxing. Folding screens are covered with Christ mas cards and bordered with plush. Transparent sleeves of lace or of beads remain in favour. Embroidery and moire trim the black cashmere dresses worn during Lent. Spanish lac« and English crape arc com bined on light mourning dresses. New coiton satines are imported in boxc?, with a fan and parasol to match. Large manilla hat*, laden with feathers, are in the artistic Rembrandt shapes. Ribbons of two shades of red,,such as pink with garnet, are used on white or black dresses. Coloured satin ribbon bows arc worn at the throat with Byron collars made of lace and insertion. Buttoned gloves nre sold at half-price because those with closed wrists are more fashionable.

Russian Political Prisoners in Siberia.

My impression is that the greater number of the political exiles cither go to prison only for a short time, or Dot at all, and are then placed in villages and towns. They are then expected to get their living. This they do in a variety of ways. Some arc teachers of languages, some are tradesmen, and some are photographers. We met, for instance, two exiled photographers at Tobolsk. As strai'g-rs we had, of course, no means of identifying exiles from other people, though we were sometimes brought into contact with them, from the fact that many of the Polessp-^ak French. Moreover, ivs the question of prison and exilcs'was, so to 811 y, my speciality, I -was alwajsglud, when opportunity presented itself, to converse with them directly rather than get my infor mation translated. A stranger, howewr, who believes every exile who calls himself a "political," may easily be misled. To be a " political prisoner " in Siberia is to he more or less of a gentleman, and many try to thus pass themselves off. Mr Ashton Dilkc, M.P;^ who travelled some years ago in Southern Siberia and spoke Kussian, has told me that, on asking gangs of con vict if they had any politicals or •'gentle man" pri-oncrs among them, they usually said "No ! " and that in the case of one man who imposed upon him and tried to prilm himself off as a " political," the Go vernment showed Mr Dilke the man's papers, which described him as a criminal, thief, &c. In Irkutsk I met an exile who told me lie was a captain, and had been banished for a duel, which no doubt he thought wai a respectable crime ; but, upon ray repeating it to others who kuew the man, they said he was a forger. Look iDg, however, at the political pri soners, I saw in the separate rooms of the various pri«ons, at those with whom I came in personal contact, those pointed out to me, and those of whom mention was made aa living in the towns through which we pa«scd, I think that, if I had been com missioned to give a sovereign to each, 50 coins would bave sufficed for the purpose, It is not pretended, of course, that a lover of statistics can or ought to attempt to build anything definite upon this statement; but, until proof is brought to the contrary, it may perhaps tend to modify what I deem the exagse-ated and extravagant notions as tn the number of Siberian poliiical pri-oners, and to »how at least that they are not ns "plentiful as blackberries."— 2'kroicgh Siberia, by Henry Lansdell.

She Forgot she was Married.

It is related of an absent-minded younc lady that, having been duly married, she started oil" on her bridal tour. The party stopped at a Western city. So far, good. Some time in the niaht there came a suc cession of terrific shrieks from the room occupied the bride and groomjind the clerks a d jjcmployes generally rushed upstairs only to meet afmntic female figure, clad in white, ilecing in desperate haste from her apartment, crying : "Ob, thero'j a man in my room ?" * The clerk rushed in and found the groom half disrobed standing in the niiddle of the floor, one boot on and the other in his hand, the picture of amazement. He explained that he bad just come upstairs and was in the act of undressing, his wife having previously retired, when she sud denly nwoko with ashriekand lied. " What was the matter?" asked the clerk, "Bothered if I know," said the husband. Just then the bride, enveloped in a huge bed spread, procured for her by a chambermaid, came back, looking very red and foolish, and in half a rainutc she explained the mystery by saying : " Oh, Fred, I forgot I was married, ahd when I awoke I was so frightened."—"Chicago Inter Ocean."

SELECTED POETRY.

LITTLE MEG AND I,

You ask mo, mates, to spin a yarn before wo go WolLaa tho night is calm and fair.and no chanco for v blow, I'll ftiyo you one—a story truo as ever yet wns told— For. mates. I wouldn't lio about thodcud; no. not for gold. The story of v muid and lad, who lived in days Kono by; ' The uuiiden wan Meg Anderson, the lad, mess mates, was I A nonter.trininicr craft than Meg was very hard to llntl; Why, she could climb a hill and make flveknot3 agin the wind; And, as for lurniu'hulks and spars. IVc often heard it said That she could give tho scholars pomts.and thon conic out ahead. The old schoolmaster used to Bay, and mates it made mo cry, That tho nmivrtesfc there was littlo Meg; Uio greatest dunce was I. Hut. what cared T for lrornin' then, whilst sho was by my side.' For. though a liul, I loved her, mato>>, and for her would have dieil; And she loved me, the little lass, and often have Ismiled When shu said,' I'll bo your littlo wife." 'twas theprnttloof a child. For there lay aittuM between us, mates, with tlus i waters running high; • On the one side stood Meg Anderson, on tha other sido stood I, Meg's fortune was twelve ahips at sea and houses on the laud : While mine—why, mates, you might have held it in jour hand. Her father owncda vast domain for miles alonir the shoro; My futh-r owned a flailing'smack, a, hut, ana nothing more. I know that Meg.l ne'er coelil win, no matter how I'd try, i For on. a couch of down lay she, on a bed of straw lay I. I never thought of leaving Meg, or Meg of leaving me, For we were young, mid never dreamed that I should go to sew. Till one bright morning father said, " There's a. whnleshit) in (ho bay; I want you. Hill, to nmko a cruise;you go aboard today." Well, mates, in two weeks from that time I bid them all good-bye. While on the dock stood littlo Meg, and on tho deck stood I, I saw her oft before wo sallod, whono'er I camo on shore, Aud she would say,."BUI. when you aro gone, I'll love youmoro and more. And I promise to bo truo to yon through all tho coming years." liut while sho spoke her bright bluo eyes would (111 with pearly tears. Then, as I whispered' words of hope, and kissed h«r eyelids dry, Her last words wera,"God speed you. Bill!" So parted Meg ami' I, Well mates, we crulsod for fouylong years, till at last ouo summer's duy Our good ship, tho Minerva, cast anchor in tho bay. 0 how my heart boat high with hopo as I saw my home once moro, , And on the pier stood hundreds to welcomo us ashore; My heart sank deep within me as I gazed with anxious eye- No little Meg stood on the dock, ag on the deck mood 1. Why, mates, it nearly broke my hoart when 1 wont ashore that day, For they told me little Aleg-had wed while I was far away. They told mo. too, they forc'dl hor tot—and wrecked her fair young lifo. Jnst think, messmates, a child In years to bo an old man's wife. But her father said it must bo so, and what could sho reply ? For she was only sixtoen-jrat twenty-ono was I. Well, mates, a few rhort years from thon— perhaps it might bo four— Ono blustering night Jack Glinn and I wero rowing to the shore, When ri-.;ht ahead wo saw o sight that made us hold our breath— There floating in tho pale moonlight was a woman cold in death. 1 raised her up; O, Godi inesstnotee, that I had passed her by. For in tho bay lay littlo Meg, and over her stood I. " 9. F. News-Letter." C.T.M.

JUPITER PLUVIUS "DEIGN".

[Dedicated to the Clerk of the Weather for hia twbUs industry on Sodwrclav, Sunday, Mon day:■ Tuesday, ll'cdnesdai/.ytnterdai/ to-dau. jn-übab y to-morrow, and indeed every day.] All tho joys of the past, all tho pleasure has fled 4 Despondency only remains ; Gone, gono aro tho rays and tho warmth of tho nun, For Jupiter Pluvius reigns.

The oloiuls float above, ami their torrents pour down, Deluging the cities and plains; No strouk of bright sky now see wo on hich. For Jupiter Pluvius reigns.

And gono arc tho sports which bright weathor courts. Farewell to the crisp country lanes ! No moro may I stroll with tho love of my soul For Jupiter Pluvins reigns.

Iho winds howl around the rain poureth down And bespattors my. window panes. nS rou T "h ? ort ot way« seemoth to say That Jupiter Pluvms reigns.

The beasts 'ncath tho hedge are knee-deep ia mud, The horses all drenched toss tlioir manea And roosters at homo ne'er more dare to roam. 1' or Jupiter Piuvius roigns.

Myself far from home, and drenching wet through. Whilst my gingham behind remains, I mutter and swear mid say it ain't fair That Jupitur P.uvius reigns.

SWEET EVENINGS COME AND GO.

Sweet oveninpts come and go, lore. Uhey camo and went of yore: This evening of our life, lovo. Shall go and oomo no more. AV?SIvT O hBT?.J"«»oa away love. All things will keep their namo: But yet no life on earth, lovo. With ouis will be tho same. Thn daisies will be there, lovo, t T. lli;, Btars, in licavcn will shine; I shall not feel thy wish, love Nor thou my hand in thine. AboUcr time will come, love, And better souls be born • I would not bo tho b«st, lovo Xo leave thee now forlorn. —QaoTua Eliot.

( Christianity nud Bodily Health.—"Waiv. ing the theological form of expression, it is difficult to put the duty of caring properly for the body higher than it was put by the apostle who oiled the body the temple of the Holy Spirit. And though no one wishes to detract from physiological science, or to underrate the benefits which a diffused knowledge of it might confer, it is certain that the temperance, soberness, and chastity, which Christianity has laboured not without effect to inculcate, are keeping unscientific people in perfect health with the cheerfulness which attends it, while even a thorough knowledge of phy'« siology poems often to be of little avail for self management.—Professor Goldwin Smith in "Contemporary Raview."



A FEW USEFUL HINTS SUGGESTED BY THE NEW ZEALAND INSURANCE COMPANY. How To Prkvent Fires : " Keep matches in metal boxo*, and out of tho Tcaoh of children. Wax matches are especially ■dangerous, and should he kept out of tho w«y of rats and mice, and never thrown on the floor alight, Bryant and May's. Dell and Black's, or •Lotchford's SAFETY JIATCHES-tostrike on tho box—« re the best "Fill kerosene lamps only dur ng daylight, ■and nover near a fire. Nover buy tho cheapest •oil, get tho beat. " Doposit no ashes In wooden boxes or bnrrols but in a non-combustible repository, removed a safe diatanro from wood-work. Place no ushts •or light under a staircase. Ho spi>cially careful with the ashes from Waikaro Coal. "Nover pile up partially burnt wool ngainst ■the ohimney; scoresof houses have boon burned In this way in New Zealand. Never put tire wood inside tho fender or on tho stovo to dry. " Never evamine a gas-meter or gas-pipe by .-artificial light. Ne-ver take a light into a room full of escaped gas. " Avoid placing a light near curtain 3or dra ipsry; or taking alight into a closet. "•! Do not read or smoke in bed at night. "Place shades o-vcr gas-lights in shop win •dOWS, and keep goods a s.ifc distance therefrom. '• Permit no smoking in warehouses.especially 'where goods are packed or flax is stored. " Stove-pipes should bo nine inches or more •from wood, enclosed in non-eombustiblo sub stance, and carried four feet above tho roof. " Hatchways and other openings in tho floors IoE stores factories and warehouses, should bo closed at Bight, Close iron doors be tween floors when not required to be open for 'business Have a few buckets alw»ys filled ■with water, available in caso of accidents. Stores should have an iron tank of water, • always filled, on each floor.! ■ "Buildings in which cotton waste, rags, or oil are used for cleaning and oiling machinery should have an iron box to hold tho same, as these substances are liable to spontaneous igni tion, and. it neglected, may constitute an element of very serious danger. "Have your chimneys regularly swept, nt -fixed intervals; at least once in three mouths." "Useful as theso precautions may be, your greatest safeguard is to INSURE AGAINST FIRE . IN THE TWEW 7EALAND TNSURANCE QO. QUEEN-STREET, AUCKLAND,