THE GARDEN.

(By Hortus),

Calendar of Operations, October 20.

(Hortos ia willing to answer any queries. Cor respondents must give their lull names and addresses, though not for publication.]

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

DATS Palm (G.G., Whangarei).-iho above palm growswoll in the open air around Auck land. None that lam aware of has arri\ ed at a fruit-bearing ago, which is from 15to 20 years. I have not the slightest doubt but it would nourish and fruit in time m your dis trict It likes a deep, rich, fertile soil. It has been fruiting in California forsomo few years. Their climate is colder in tho winter than ours.

Dbbris prom Pines (R.F., Norfhcote).—Tho spines from pines do not mako good manure if worked into tho soil immediately after they fall. In. fact, they aro rather detrimental. Thoy ought to bo collected and placed in a heap, with alternate layers of fermenting stable manure or newly-cut grass, which will spoodily rondcr them fit for manure. Pbuning Pinks Conifebka - (S.W.. Mount Edon).-The pruning of the above class troos, so as to keep them in a symmetrical shape, must be performed by pinching the ends of tho growing shoots. You must notcut back old wood to indueo a Jrcsh growth, as with deci duous trees; tho coniferca will not stand it. Pinohing tho young shoots may also be re sorted to if you want to dwarf a tree to suit particular objects. The Pinus lnsignus will jitand a good deal of pruning. Wkepino Willow.—lt is frequontly necessary to prune them back, so as to develop a more regular and symmetrical growth. Cutting soveroly back in some instances will romortcl tho whole tree. Frequent thinning out is ro ?uircd, so as to preserve an equal and graco ul habit oC growth. Old and dilapidated troos should bo cut back severely, so as to Sromote a frosh, healthy growth, "'o winter tho best time to prune old trees back. Young trees mar bo regulated and thinned now. Sweet Potato (R.S., Ponsonby).—l would plant Ilieni out sometime towards tho end of this monl.li. Thoy like a doop sandy soil, well manured. Still' clay does not produce such flno crops or such woll-flavourod tubers. After planting out they will rcuuiro much the same culture as tho ordinary potato. T wonder they are not more generally cultivated hore; tho climate suits.

Kitchen Garden.

On all light dry soils finish planting tho late crops of potatoes. On low-lying wet soil tho planting can bo continued later. Sow main crop of both whito and rod carrots; thin out tho earlier sown crops. Continuo tho planting out of cauliflower and oabbago for successional transplanting. Cucumbor, pumpkins, rock and wator melons, also vogotablo marrows, sow seod in hills, putting plenty of woll-rotted manure in tho hills ; also have hills pro uarod for planting out tho abovo from tho /ramus at tho ond of this or beginning of noxt mouth. Continue tho pricking out of colory plants mm thoy bocomo largo onougli. Shado and wator till thoy bocomo ostab lished. Linus for slugs and snails. Thin Out advancing crops as thoy bocomo largo enough. Attend to the fortnightly sowing of small sfilidings, such as mustard, cress, I'adishos, *c. Earth up and frequently stir tho surfacu .veil about advancing crops. Givo sood bedsficquontdressings of limu at night, so as to kaop slugs in chock. Flowor Garden. Finish planting out all sninnnor bedding plants an kooii as possible, giving a good drenching of water to settle tho soil about them. Cotnracnco planting out tho more tondor plants from tho framos. Hardy annual." continuo thinning out and trans plant. Still sow a fow moro. Dahlias started last month will now bo throwing out shoots. Divide old roots, and propa gate from cuttings. Attend to tho staking Of liliutna and gladioli bulbs as thoy ad vance in growth; plant for miccosHioti. Camellias will now bo making rapid growth; mulch with somo woll-rottcd manure. Kosos mulch and givo occasional waterings with liquid manure. Whoro a fow first-clnsfl blooms aro wanted, pick off "somo of the rest of tho budn. This will throw more strength into thoso loft. Hoe frequently the surface roils on tho flower bordor, loaving it a* tidy as possiblo with the hoo, using tho mko as soldom as pos siblo at present. Lawn.—Koop tho lawn inovvor constantly going, and frequently roll. Clip grass edgings. Walks.— Fre quently rako. Greenhouse. Tho re-potting of tho different stock plants should now bo brought to a closo. Azaleas dono flowering should be removed out of tho house to their summer quarters; plunge the pota in some shady situation out of doors. Pelargoniums and geraniums should receive frequent waterings with liquid manure ; give plenty of air. Liliums stako and supply liberally with liquid manure. Recently-struck cuttings pot off into small-sized pota. Earlier potted cut tings will require re-potting. Givo tho house plenty of ;iir during bright sunny days. • Syringe slightly when closing up tho house at night, so as to promoto a gonial atmosphere. Maxims* Vegetable." that aro valued for thoir juices and mild flavour should bo grown quickly ; tho reverse should bo tho caso when a strong flavour is required. Though rapid growth i« desirablo in sue oulont vegetables, this is not tho caso with moid flowering shrubs, which form bushy, and.thoreforc, lumdsoraeplants when grown slowly. Fow plants thrive in stagnant wator; potted plants should therefore always havo a thorough drainage of broken pote, brick, or rough gravel, mid should not. bo allowed to stand in damp saucors. Thoy require but littio water during tho wintor, but when thoy begin to grow thoy should bo liberally supplied. AH evergreen garden fonceg should bo kopt clear of weeds, olso whon tho lattor run to seed thoy will supply your garden •with a stock against next season. Tho Auckland Gardeners' Horticultural Socioty havo issued thoir list of prizes to bo given during tho spring show to bo held in tho Drill-shed, Auckland, on tho 10th and 17th of noxt month. They distribute about £60 in 200 prizes, ranging from 2s 6d to 40s. Competitors arc divided into three classos: Tho All Comers class, opon to nursorymon and gentlemen who employ professional gardeners; the Amateur Class, and tho Cottagers Class. Either of tho two last classes can enter into the All Comers class. I would ask every one interested in horti cultural matters to come forward and sup port tho abovo Society. It is only by tho support of thoso interested and tho general fuDlic that such exhibitions can succeed, hopo to see somo first-class oxhibits staged, and a free and healthy rivalry In -1 dulgodin by competitors. Anyone desirous of becoming1 an annual member can havo a tiqket posted by remitting tho prico there of in stamps to " Hortus.' Popular Love of Flowers.—A Londou paper says that anyone who can remember the homes of the poor in London fifteen or twenty years ago, in our backs streets and slums, will bear us out in saying that scarcely a flower-pot was seen "in their' rooms or window ledges outside At the period in which wo write you can scarcely ffo through ■■) street and find a window yrtthmif SOme plants in it, either out side or in. This fact being recognised, we come to the natural conclusion that the taste for floufers lias increased more than ten thous&nd-fold during the last 12 or 14 years, and .that consequently horticultural knowledge i'»as infused into

the mind of the people generally a greater love for flowers, thereby improving their taste and tending to make their homes happier. Then we hare to look at the effect of a love for flowers from a com mercial point of view. Twelve yeara ago the number of growers who attended Co vent Garden Market could be counted by the number of fingers on our hands. Now they are to be counted by hundreds, and the people employed in the production ot flowers by many thousands.

Destroying Insects Under Glass.—The following method, says the "Kevue Horti colo," has given most satisfactory results, and the inventor, M. Boizard, gardener to Baron Rothschild, Paris, assures us that it is in fallible, at least for three years, during which he has been experimenting with it. He says: Having procured two quarts of to bacco juice, I boil it over a slow fire on a furnace in the house. An hour and a half or two hours afterwards, the liquid being reduced to about one-third its built, becomes viscid and almost solid ; when, after having diluted it into one quart or one and a-half quarts of water, I boil it more quickly until all gets converted into vapour and fixed in the form of dew on every portion of the plants. I remarked no damage done, not oven amongst the most tender plants, such as adiantums, young Elants of blcehnuin, craziliense, coleus, &c. ome young fronds of adiantum alone suffered, but it should bo added that they were on the stages. If danger wore appro hendod in tho case of certain plants, they might bo taken out or their safety assured by moans of paper caps ; and if it was a ques tion of flowers or fruits, similar precautions might bo taken to presorvothem. M. Boizard assures us that no insoct can resist this treatment, and that tho greater portion of them do not appear again for six months. In the case of such as re-appear quickly it is easy to renow tho operation, but then ono quart of tobacco juice and one quart of water will suffice. This method is as econo mical as any other, and M. Boizard says that it is possiblo to remain in the house during the oporation without being incon venienced thereby.

Fruit-Growing.

(Continued, i

The Third Yeak : During this season, if tho tree shows any sign of fruit, I would allow a portion of it to grow and ripen during this season. Tho cultivator ought also to do tho utmost he can to induce the formation of fruitspurs, not only on the old wood but on tho young wood, as the tree advances in growth. Evory shoot which is not wanted to extend tho limits of tho tree spur back, allowing those which are wanted for oxtonsion only sufficient growth, so that when thoy are pinched tho pinching will ciiuho the development of the most of the best liuds on tho Bhoot. By this means all now wood will become furnished with spurs, which will in tirao carry fruit. A well trained and well-grown fruit tree should be furnished regularly from top to bottom with fruit spurs. The object in growing fruit treos is for tho fruit. Such cannot bo obtained without fruit buds aro dovolopod on the tree, and cultivators must study how to causo tho tree to de velop those, for if not wo can never hope to bo successful fruit cultivators. In tho third year the baeo or ground-work of tho tree should bo properly laid. In after years a systematic following up of tho system of pinching andjfpurring should bo carried out, and wheSrvor tho treo shows any incli nation for grossnoss in growth, root prune. In nftor seasons tako fair crops of fruit, taking caro novor to overcrop the tree. Somo of tho pears do best as pyramids. In growing a good handsomo pyramid a good deal of attention is required. Tho top will always have a tendency to draw too much on tho nap to tho detriment of the lower branches, therefore a closo watch must bo kept on tho top, and pinching those 6lioots whenever they show any in clination to oxtond beyond their horizontal line, which line must bo strictly observed. Pinching tho top will havo tho effoct of allowing the bottom branches to draw more upon tho sap, keeping tho treo in as near pyramidal form as possible only allowing sufficient growth in tho branches to suit tho purpose you have in view. There is no doubt that this, will give you a good deal of trouble at first, but it is worth it, and if it is not done in the .earlier stages of tho treo it can novor bo proporly dono afterwards. Once a treo is proporly trained and set while young, there is not much trouble with it afterwards.

Plenty of cultivators, I am aware, will say tho abovo is all humbug, or that it is all old country nonsonse; that trees are doing very woll horo as it is, and that they want no training ; but I bog to differ from them. Tho snmo used to bo said in America, but oven thero now tho leading orchardists aro beginning to find out that the more a treo is looked after in training and stopping tho bettor the orchards will pay—larger crops, finer in quality, and tho fruit brings a much finer pneo in tho market. The French hovo orought tho different systems to training to a much higher degree of perfection than any other country, and tho rosult is that thoir best fruit fetches the best prices in all tho largo markets of Europe. Our climate in many respects re pomblos tho French, and boforo wo come up to thoir fino standard of growing fruit a groat change must bo mado in our system of training and growing in all its branches. Although thoro Tiavo boon s«mo magnificent spocimous of fruit oxhibited in Now Zoa land, those spocimens only toll us what a splondid climato for fruit wo possess whon onco wo properly understand tho varieties which will suit tho different soils and locali ties, also whon tho hybridisor sots to work so as to produco now varieties with consti tutions bettor adapted to our soils than a groat numborof tho vnvlotios that linvo boon imported.

Brother Gardner on Ingersoll.

Elder Pbnsctock aroso to inquiro if any member of tho club had heard whether Bob Ingersoll was to lecture this winter or not. No one seemed to haro hoard anything about it, and tho roverond member re quested that tho Secretary bo instructed to write to Ingersoll direct and ascertain.

" What am de object V queriod the Presl dent.

" I propose dat dis club take steps to prove dat dar am a hereafter fur do soul." " You do, eh? If de pusson who denies sioh a theory am a fool, do pusson who sots out to prove what seben-eights of de world already believes, am nex' doah to an idiot. Sot down an1 save yer breaf !" " But it am my dooty as a Christian mau to oontrovort Ingersoll's argyments !" ' " It am your dooty as a Christian man to let Bob Ingersoll have all dp rope ho wants ! If you has got de proper faith he can't hurt ye. If your belief won't stan' an attack den it am too weak to stan' alone. If, arter men and worn en have believed in God an' hereafter an' Heaben fur six thousand y'ars a lawyer wid a snub nose an' a voice like a dog barkin' in a bar'l, kin come along an' scare 'em into fits, somebody had better go to work an' plug up do knot holes an'put new rivets in de j'ints."—" Detroit Free Press."

OUR LONDON FLANEUR.

Social, Theatrical, and Literary Goaiip.

[BY OCR LONDON CORRESPONDENT.]

i London, September C. Thk Queen seems determined to make the much-lamented John Brown even a greater nuisance to the Court and the Royal family in death than he was in life. Not content with mourning over him day and night her self, she almost insists on the maids of honour and gentlemen in waiting pretend ing to be equally sorrowful. Her Majesty's journey to Scotland the other day was carried out with the same depressing privacy as when Prince Consort died. At Perth the Queen remained shut up in her saloon, and within an hour of the court's arrival at Balmoral she drove over to Crathie and passed most of the afternoon at John Brown's grave. It is whispered in society (and I believe truly) that the Prince of Wales feels deeply incensed at theso extravagant proceedings, and has refused to visit either Balmoral or Aber-, goldio whilst any pretence of grief for the deceased gillie is kept up. Mr Tennyson, too, is rumoured to have received what vulgar people call tho "straight tip," and if he writes any verses at all about Brown, will bo careful not to over-do the thing. " Dagonot" (the referee's jokist) says some one met the Poet Laureate the other day puzzling out rhymes to John, and ponder ing over a good figure of speech for a royal lackey. "I beg your pardon, Poet," said the stranger, "Aren't you Tennyson?" "No," was the reply, "Just at present I'm Browning." Bishop, the " thought-reader," who fancied himself clover enough to cross swords with the editor of " Truth," has nt last come irreparably to grief. It seems the wizard had a secretary who1 used to do all his dirty work for him. Finding he could get no salary, Mr Secre tary turned traitor, and in " Labby's" paper of the 30th August reveals "the secrets of the prison-house." The, story is too long to tell here, but those who followed the " thought-reading " controversy should make a point of perusing it. According to the secretary's view, Bishop is a very clumßy fraud, who learnt what little con juring he knows from Eva Fay. A swindle of a novel kind is the talk of Paris just now. The operator (who was a fairly well-known newspaper correspondent and a great favourite on the Boulevards) advortised in the principal Parisian journals that he had hired a well-found steamer, which was going to make a month's cruise in the North Sea, and that he was prepared to accept 200 passengers at £20 each, this gum te include all board, lodging, and travelling expenses for faur weeks. He was not long, thanks to favourable notices in the " Figaro " and other complacent papers, in making up his complement, and the 200 passengers, each of whom had paid his £20 m advance, were conveyed from Paris to Havre by special train one Saturday after noon. They found the ship waiting for them, and wont on board, but the news paper man did not put in an appearance, and the owner of the steamer said he could not start until he arrived and paid him for the hire of the vessel. Telegrams were sent in all directions, but of course Mr Promoter (who had the £4,000 in his pocket) never turned up, either then or ever afterwards, and tho unc^nsolate tourists had to trapeze sorrowfully home again, sadder, wiser, and considerably poorer men. Tho debut of the popular American actross,Mary Anderson, (a relative, by-thc way, of Mr Griffin, the U.S. Consul at Auckland), took place at the Lyceum Theatre last Saturday evening, in the pre- Honoo of a large and fairly distinguished audience, considering the time of the year. Tho play selected for the occasion was " In gomar," about as dull and stupid a piece of the legitimate drama as haß ever been placed on English boards. Where Ameri can managers leave their wits when they come across "tho herring pond " is what puzzles Bio. The importance of introducing a new actor or actress in a really good play can scarcely be over- rated, and yet again and again we find the most preposterous pieces chosen. MissLingard(whoso/for<eiscomedy, and who would have achieved marked and instantaneous success in " Diorcons ") instated on risking her reputation by challenging comparison with Bernhardt and Modjeska in " Camille," and now Mary Anderson handicaps herself by boring an audience of strangersjwith one of the longest, dullest, and dreariest piecos in her repertoire. The idea,of course,was not to commence by challenging comparison with Ellen Terry as Juliet, but surely something livelier than " Ingomar" might have been found to begin with.

I am bound to say Lovoll's solid old play hiis had every possible chanco given it. The scenery painted for the revival quite comes up to the Lyceum's high standard of excel lence, and the stage management is in all respects worthy the theatre's reputation. No amount of effort would, however, make " Ingomar " a success. So long as people aro attractod by curiosity to see Miss An dorsaii, the piece will draw, but the tirst Bush of interest in the actress over it must inovitably go to tho wall. Mary Anderson will, I should think, long remember the greeting of her first Lyceum audience. The " Irving-"ites are notori ously effusive and enthusiastic, and the American actress having been tenderly commendod to them by their idol, they wel comed her with quito a hurricane of ap plause. Lithe and graceful in bearing, and girlish in figure, Miss Anderson owos yet more to tho command given hor by nnturo ovor her features—not in themselves remarkably beautiful. Her countenance is singularly mobile, and changes with every varying sentiment so eloquently that the aid of words is not always necessary to follow her meaning. At first she pitched her voice so low as to be almost inaudible, and a candid friend in the gallory bawled, "Speak up, Mary." The actress obeyed, and from that moment hor success was well-nigh assured. Mr Joseph Knight, one of our most reliable dramatic critics, says, " She came, was seen, and conquered. Very few, if any actresses, of our own stock could go through such an artificial part with the same de lightful naturalness." Other critics write similarly—in fact, there can bo no doubt Miss Anderson has fully justified her Trans- Atlantio reputation. Whether she will prove equally triumphant in the more tragic rote, remains to be soon. Tho "Court Journal" has gone crazy over Mary Ander son's beauty. It says: " Her face is of the soft Creole whiteness which gives such im mense value to dark eye?} Her hair of the brightest gold, and the expression of the countenance that of the purest and most childlike innocence. Never was the realisa tion of the poet's ideal in the c Dream of Fair Women' so completely illustrated as by this new beauty." "Glad Tidings," a very highly-spiced sensational drama of the class that is so popular in the colonies, was produced at the Standard Theatre last week, and will, without doubt, be heard of in your part of the world before long. The plot turns on a very ancient idea, viz., the Likeness of two aistora to one another. It is in fact " Blow

for Blow " over again. The hero weds an Indian half-caste when scarcely more than a boy. She dies, and he marries again, upon which his late wife's sisterimperson ates the deceased woman, and brings about no end of trouble. The expedient (as has been said) sounds old as the hills, but " Glad Tidings" is relieved from common-place by excellence of the characterisation and glorious scenery. Douglass, the lessee of the Standard, is one of the finest scenic artistes we have, and his representation of Rotten Row in the heighth of the season would cause a sensation even at Drury Lane. A collison on the Thames between a large Atlantic liner and a crowded pleasure steamer (of the Princeus Alice class) also forms a feature of "Glad Tidings," and there are some exceptionally beautiful country "sets." Mr Arthur Dacre and Miss Amy Steinberg play the principal parts, but the honours of the piece fall to Mr Fred Shepherd, as Tom Stone, one of the fascinating villains of the " spider " class now so popular in melodrama. Mr Odell rejoices in a role that fits him like a glove, and crowds of " supers " (utilised at every opportunity) are really admirably drilled.

There has, I am told, been a considerable falling off in the receipts at the Savoy Theatre this last few weekß, and Gilbert and Sullivan's new piece is being pushed on as f iwt as possible. A little bird whispers that the forthcoming opera will parody certain phases of University life, but all such reports must be accepted with reserve. The secret of the Gilbertian librettos iB generally well kept, and the first reliable information usually comes from America. At the Adelphi the fire scene in that venerable dramatic relic, the " Streets of London," draws so .well that Simms's "Soldier's Wife" has been temporarily shelved. The Criterion re-opens next week with a version of Offenbach's little known "The Parisienne," a rather naughty piece they say. The dresses are to form a special feature, Honderson, the manager, having given Winch, the famous man milliner, carte blanche. Planquette's "Nell Gwynne"does not,.after all, succeed "Rip Van Winkle" at the Comedy Theatre. The work is not ready yet, and a new piece by Suppe, the composer of " Boccaccio," takes its place. To-morrow (Saturday, Septem ber 8) Sydney GrundyV" Glass of Fashion" will be produced at thejGlobe Theatre, with Miss Lingard in the principal part. I shall be glad if the comedy succeeds, for the " Australian actress" (oa some of the papers persist in calling her) has had a very bad time Binco she came to England. Miss Lingard hopes to stay in London now till j Edgar Brace's new Theatre on Coventry street is ready. She will then play the part in Sardon's " Divorcons," in which she made a hit in New York. ■

Nearly all colonists like a glass of good champagne occasionally, so it may be of use to your readers to know what are really the best brands to ask for. I was present the other day (though only as a spectator) at a solemn conclave held in the inner chamber, or "holy of holies" of the famous Caf6 Royal in Regent-street. The meeting was held for the purpose of tasting and deciding upon the merits of the "extra quality champagnes of the year 1880, and the gen tlemen present were the chairmen of the cellar committees at the principal London clubs and the most notable connoisseurs of the wine trade. In order that the test might be a perfectly fair one, the bottles were stripped of labels and sealing wax and the corks drawn before the servants placed them upon the table. Some ten or twelve brands were examined and tasted, great care being taken to cleanse the palate with olive's, &c, between the samples. Eventu ally the committee declared numbers 5 and 9"tho best wine»,and the key being sent for, the Chairman announced that the selected vintages were samples of Moet and Chandon's " Brut Imperial" and Piper's "Tres Sec." The declaration cau&d pome little surprise, the majority having believed that No. 5 was either Pommery and Greno's "Cuvee Re servee" or Wachter's "Royal Charter." Extra supplies (duly corked and labelled) being sent for, however, the verdict was found to be correct, and as both brands are fairly plentiful, the merchants expressed great satisfaction at the decision.

When ordering these wines you should be very careful to see you get, the right thing. Recollect it is only the vintage of the year 1880 has been vouched for, and that both Moet's and Piper's manufacture quantities of inferior champagne, which is (to a man with a palate) quite undrlnkable. Moet and Chandon send three qualities of wine to the colonies. Neither their " White Dry Sillery " nor their better quality (the name of which has slipped my memory) should ever be touched, but their " Brut Imperial" of 1874 and 1880 (these years only, mind) are excellent. Wachter's champagne used to be good before the Prince of Wales patronised the brand. Latterly it has fallen off terribly. At the clubs nowadays "Ballinger" and " Piper" are as much drunk as anything.

The publishers are waking up for the autumn campaign, and the " Atbenruum " of Saturday last contained a long list of forthcoming works. Joseph Hatton, the author of "Journalistic London,". "To day in America," and several novels, accom panies Irving on his tour through the Unite! States, and will take down from Ms own lips th« great tragedian's impressions of Yankee-land. The papers will probably appear first in " Harper's Magazine," and then bound up in the usual three-volume form. I spent an evening last week read ing Bret Harto's new story "In the.Car quinez Woods." As a picture of wild western life, it is one of the best bits of work ho has ever done, and well worth the two shillings the English publishers ask for it. James Payn's "Thicker than Water " has at last been issued in the three volumo form, and will command a lnrjjo circle of rcadors. I should not class it with the author's best stories (which I take to bo "By Proxy " and " Walter's Word"),' but the tale fully comes up to the lerel of "Kit, a Memory," or "A Grape from a Thorn." Some of the'characters are es pecially well drawn, notably that of Beryl Paton, the eccentrio old millionaire, who abhors his own relatives,* disbelieves in blood being "thicker than water," and surrounds himself with impecunious and misunderstood men of gemua, who reward him by plotting to secure his fortune. The bill of fare of Macmillan's much talked-about sixpenny " English Theatrical Magazine" (which is to snuff out " Harper's" and make even the " Century" look small) has been iisued, and attracts a good deal of attention, I can't say I think the pro gramme very inviting myself. Miss Yonge contributes the serial story, and from its titlo (" The Armourer's 'Prentices") I sup pose we may look for a mtdiocral tale. ' 'The Supernatural Experiences of Patsy Long," a short story by William Black, sounds more hopeful, but I fear .not even Pro fessor Huxley will bo able to make " Oysters and the Oyster Question" interesting to Englishmen. William Black, by-the-way, is engaged on a new novel for "Harper's Magazine," which will be called "Judith Shakespear." The aeons is laid at and around Stratford-on-Avon, and the first chapters are to appear in the issue for January next. Amongst the most notable forthcoming works of fiction may be mentioned " Pearla, by Miss Beatum-Edwards, "June," by Mrs Forrester, "Peeressor Player," by Florence Marryat, "Under the Ban," by Charles

Gibbon, "Thro' the Stage Door^C? 3 ?'■■■ wick Gny, and "A Late ZtmoSi^' ' Frank Lee Benedict. There are ote ''^ rather good things in the Sopt6tS°rt f0.,.. zincs. "Longman's," especially]*'?* article on the chances and combiniti* *B " Poker," by your old acquaintaSs*of Proctor, which should be carefumS^"" all card-players, and the short .u 6?"? the "Cornhill" show a decided^ 8 *

A LADY'S LETTER FROM LONDON.

Fashions, Household Hlati, etc [Compiled by oub London CoEßEjfo All the photographs on sale or in st**]. Miss Fortesque, the actress, are said been bought up. A new portait »«' ■' the point of being distributed to its fef 1 but this has boon stopped.

The womon folk are bent npon nun the world believe that hair ig Bo jZ 111? worn. A short while ago, irhennS? took to waistcoats and other gahSr!j men, they had their hair cut lue foe? Now it is the fashion to stow thehM?" away into a high-crowned hat. NocriffiT 9 '■ ' is now to be seen, and the back ' "-* women of fashion is now peculiarly odT-

The latest fashion among ladlei .tv, seaside is to carry walking-sticks otJf 6 ' —plain, simple unadorned waUdng.S* without ribbons or furbelows, or anvthp else to indicate that they are not raKST as companions for a twenty-mile•■'<^fj' There is very little more for the ladisf copy from gentlemen. The fllofei1!, almost complete. Bowler hat Sithoneven ■'■!■'■ or trimming, cravat and " mastet-" a\%t''■■' and pin, ulirter overcoat, and njjjr'^tj^ i: stick; if only they could be induced tb afi" the divided skirt, it would be «liii&£'«»^ ■ ' sary to ask, before entering into emmm?." tion, the sex of the being addressed, Si g being-a-dressed " so much alike^^

lima, writing in the "World "mvbl— " With one consent the large higlwnw!^ hat, so general in Paris a year or two wm : ' has at length reached us, and awwrentl? abounds in popularity. At the closed tie ■ '!' London season their name waa legion. It '•■'■:. was curious to see, as if by magic, Mgk md : low, rich and poor, all wearing SS Early in the year two or three, oomW direct from Paris, caused a ssnsatioDj 5 from their originality, looked OOMJicnouJ Now their day ia almost by. Thae hsta are not really suitable to our Engliih climate. A gust of wind carries ttemoE or worse still, sets them all aftry^ '•}. feathers are ruined by a shower.«A refl ' outside is an impossibility, one undernMih hideous; and without a veil,' diihgrelled ' untidy locks beset you, and anata^pef. chance, accumulate. Thin netr for the hair, general among foreigner!, but'■ among Englishwomen, are a neceaatfy; The hair turned up at the back snitg the!

Bodices with short basqueaarefsldMtle, ! place of most other shapes, and full bifi^ot; plastrons, are the featurea.of sII.JIIIb, ' These plastrons are chiefly madeoinuteU '.";' entirely distinct from that of thedrwitadt Artistic silk squares are very effikwce'w introduced. Oriental, Paislee, stiipjs^ and other patterns are all available for, forming,: the plastrons or stomachers refenwlto well as for those loose-fronted bodices mi baggy vests which prove excessively So figuring to any out tns tallest and diglitest figures. There are countless removalila ' additions of muslin and lace sold shich; tend to improve the toilet, and give an appearance of extension to what may be s very limited wardrobe. ,A darkgreen cloth; dress I saw made with three wamcqate, one of striped green moire of a lighter.shade, one of cream nun's veiling, and a third of silk, with green and gold strife tftoms ting. ' ■ ' '

Bridal dresses have been almbkt^fiiitirel) of satin during August, with long tr&iiu oftener round than square. BouilloM6 skirts trimmed with old Mechlin lace, ■with a diagonal spray of orange flenrew acriw the tablier, have been very'fashionable Diadems have boon more .worn Intel; than during tlio past two years'; they ar not very high in front, and are "very harrcs at the sides, and have no spray or pendan behind. > n The chief materials still for very elegan toilettes are pompadour silks, eatiiiso surahs, which form the polonaise over skirts of plain silk, pink, pale blue, lilac, gorged pigeon, water groen, &c. White lws polonaises, Spanish, Mechlin or Brossai, are also worn with the same skirts. Lita and violet have been very favourite colonis during the summer, and are so still, whethe for woollens or silks.—"Myra's Journal.''

While the weather is favourable we » nothing but dresses of washing materii Plain materials seem to find the sabs favour, and these in ginghams, zephyr! and sateens make up exceedingly wel The colours are drab, and several shades o grey, also dark red and blue, the two Us often used together. To make dresses o this description really useful/ they, ar trimmed with several rows M.narrO' worsted braid of a contrasting shade. Th bodices are invariably fulF and iounc ■waisted, the waistband and "ribboss match ing the braid. . * Over-dresses or polonaises are made o sateens or ginghams, having very■ Urge spots on a plain ground,, Red spote on navy, or pale blue with darker spot^crem on brown, and pale pink on deep red, au black and gold, are the favourite mixtures of colours for those goods, and.they art worn over the box-pleated skirts o',]™° material. ' .' , . ■ «. Travelling dresses are now 88 mnc studied as those for ordinary, wear; «n this season they are very, generally .cob posed of fine serge, in a variety of .colour? They are, as a rule, plainly, made, aw novelties in the way of trirtmrog.aM» new mixed braids, very narrow,; in biw and gold, black and steel, and .the S«n mixtures in several other cplonred braiafl..^

According to "Myra," who must be ac cepted as an authority, the polonaise w, w come into fashion again. It is W> W ; that the " almost forgotten faille'M)i« wen re-introduced. " Faille," says my contem porary, "is a very pretty itowri^ffi Sate, light, and harmonising perfectly Wtn lace, tie most popular bfA'Wftg'.-- Now. is the time to bring oar failfc dre*S<& whether shot, plain, or chequered, oM m. the presses where they have lain for y«fflj ■ ; and to utilise the light-coloured f&Ui* which were worn by our mothers or F^Jv C mothers, who stored up and preaervea their dresses to an extent which n° the present day dreams o£ doing. . S« of that, ye married men! Imagine .tot wives and daughters of your honsehoia taking their grandmothers' dresßes fr^i W l; place of storage, and, content mtt the cm tumes of fifty years ago, ask new" for the autumn. Thß MffS; see»», very much toe good to be true. , ■.'; >: i

STAR SATURDAY SUPPLEMENT, OCTOBER 20, 1883.

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