Sporting Notes From Home.

_-OT OP Ttlß '83 BACINO SKASON- W^'Xebwo Coumiso Cup-The TOB Ja SVOWFLIOnT AND HORXPIPE- W^ , ?,ifl FOB THE CUI-SNOWFUGHT TBB^wlp Ml^- WILP MINT WW tfHSSt " „„_„ ujted ON TUB LAST COURSE twsS££™ pkiob : ioo°to io -WS^^ngiTH or W. S. Cbawfokd **> S«S*BBWITCn IN ISIS - MB CRAW JJJSI^IOSTIJDATBBDFOBDCOTTAGK.

(rBO a OUR LONDON COKRESPOKDBHT.)

LONDON, Match 9,

Xhr interval* the series of letters on Qfc .port,;» *<*>.interrupted by UJtonof the '82 racing seasou. My Tilly for colonisswh", without car [wW'hrous hcolumascfracing re' Lin the Home papers, yet take an in- SntinterestiaaUthefireatcunte-tsof *„I shall not go deeply into detail, X.We rather to give such an intelli Seaccoont of each big race a* will enable .* mod people at the Antipodes to form a J Zof «hat it was re .Hy like. Wise- SSoXibe to half-a-dozen sport- The advent of the world-famous Waterloo n \»V,ch is to coursing men what ihe S b yisSta'fi'«,broi,gh, back from all , n the compass the sporting iolk who Cbeen wWeriog abroad The dear Snikeri wem fatter and more pros «ihan ever, and the brazen manner F'whi<i ihey yelled out the odds during I last three d»ys at Altcar proved coj- Lively a few months rest had in uo way S^ la»g power. The sreat Waterloo Coursing Meeting is wld on"he Earl of rtef'on's p-operty about ■miles from Liverpool, and the draw !,f „ ta kespl»ca at the Adelpbi dotel in h.teo»d old town. I he attendance on the inL'oftbe&ithwaseiiorraous, and the Sub-both ou individual courses anri Sst Jogs winning the stake straight dUery beavy. I Tin Waterloo Cap, the chief event of the :>*uk»,<- ainaally sub^cribj-d by sixty tar gentlemed who pay £2o eacb and wind we doe apiece, lhe subsenp. l m »«, made np in December, but the to b«e lotto be nominated till the night I'lkdiaw The result of this is that bettors ZiMtion." and trust to the gentleman s SttSlWbwiid they think he will Y, n . often. Mr So aud So does nothing of tbe sort - in fact, no one oin tell for certain ,bo wiirun which till the draw diui.er. The "draw" is s'tanged in a perfectly fair wntier, and comes off in the dining win superintended by a company of about J»psrsot», including most of the members 'if the ring" The re3nlt of the first round :hYeB 32dog8in the stake; that ot the mud 16; the thiid, 8; and s» on, the Woe greyhound having to be successful |no lew'than six separate contests to Kite the prize, the winner receives £500 iii the secoud "runner-up " £200, oesid^ s j lUch, tore are lesser amounts for other to. TM Cup c6nrsiii2 lasts over three lira, and, in o/di-r'.to fill up time, th.re fit t«o. iaiaor, evenls, the Waterloo ma for'tha ihiny-two dogs beaten iSiat '^1 of the! Cup, and the Waterloo fitee, ior'ihe.lC dogs beaten in the secoori mull (or* firit ties as it is more usually SMI. ;;'"".; ,■;■;: llastyeMthß:W»terloo Cup was won by i black bitch called Snowflight the runner ipMngljordHaddinsiiOQ'a Hornpipe, As these dngiiiftiPitiotti engaged once more ihi» year, and sa th«y were said to be in iplendidfeftle, it wa»natural they should he jresi faToarilM »f the draw. About Snow flight, backer-took Sto 1; the more liberal odds of 18Mbeioft tendered ag-unst Horn pipe. tb,ers fancied were WaterforH, who tuwelliD krJofnt stake at Kempt-n.at 30 to 1;:Spio aiffl^jraii i .:i«it 13 to 1; Witchery, at 25 to 1 iTfaiser, at 25 to 1; and MirK kan,at KMftt'li' The prices of the. others wind fronijjSgOto 35 down/to 1000 to. 5 ml amongst thisr very, outside divi-ion fared tb*H)v«ntual-' frianer; ;Wild MV, nose chance at the.diaw dinnej.was esti wed at ]OqkspJ(L".Tby on toe opening day of the meeting proved delight. lil, sod tbe first round ot the cup less liaitrous "to" backers thin usual, for tsi only prominent favemitea beaten Kit Markham and Hornpipe. Snow fybt (ilsooaed of her opponents hoth ii the first and second rounds -with tuiiiumatd ease and Snic and Span, litaford, -WiioliPry, »nd Wild Mint were ib jmongst those who got through the iiitdsjsaftlv. At the - cl«-l|ilii Kotol on Wviday night the betting on tbe Cup niStol against Snowflighr, 9to 2 agaim. Spieuid Bpan, 100 to 7 against Witch^y, 100 to 5 a»in>t Wat' rford, and 66 to 1 post Wild Mint, who was still looked lpttit the least likely (of the 1G left in) to pave Buceesßf Ul^ Tlinmhy ranrning broke bright and fine, edthe third and f-urth rounds of the Cup fttt intensely lotere<tiug. The favourite fcowfiight again Hi wonders. In trie wd triei Gjenlivet could not live with •3>t all, and in tbe fourth she conquered feJoiishtyJpicand Spio easily. Water- Wdideqnally well; iofact, the four left a m ThnWayInight were Snowfligh-, J«O'd, Hotspur;, and Wild Mint. The MW'Bwaa tiemendou'ly heavy at the %iitbatertnini> * Tho»e who had laid MftAli against Snowflight were wild to piWgbt,_and_6.t!>. 4. was freely betted. ike bitch proving successful in the ■"in^'the prices of the other three nre-5 _W4 liigainst Waterford. 4 i attinst Hotspur, and 8 to 1 against "MMiw, The weather on Friday »gain •TO propitious and an enormous crowd, jMtog for more than a mile along the T> W*W the final feiilv At 11 nock, Watttford and Snowfliuht wer>- Waforth^thround for tae Cnp, the '""gtani.&tol on the latter. The wt, howayef I -"did-not inntify that fo r Waterford fought out f 7, W, and Bnowflight only won by «m of her teeth. A miss, however, is IK !? \?fy< and people now looked Wttl^lack's second Cup victory a' ™Wy. Before the final round though, W"Ptoindi*iid Mint had to try conclu SJ "? 5 was betted on the former. '•BPjltoeg.inwell. but Wild Mint went l,f"? ?* H\*&t Pace, and scoring every 2, m™! stt,V#le, won a gruud trial S / c ,ni»^» h'>iiU have warned the *«"ofßno«flight not to he too confident J^sy laughed -at ihe idea of the "^towUprthener beating their crack, Wbd 3 to 1 on the latter merrily ,iVlk [SWwflight and Wild Mint), P^W-mto the slips f. )t the deciding torn, and loo«pd af'er a etrong "might immediately Parted off «...aud, to the delight ot 'WJisooh six lengths in front. OTea miracle qould now prevent waning;; hut alas, that miracle Some trifle (heaven alone knows

what) m >de tb.* hare swerve, and instead of keeping straight on she riodged back ri»ht uiMcr trie n^e of Wild Mint. 'Ihe latter luly alive to the opportunity gave neither puss nor the spectators time to tliiuk or even exclaim. Iv tw» secouda the ba^e lay dad b«toro her, the Wate.L'O Cup of 18S3 was over, and a cry of mingled rai;e and astonishment announced ihe defea' (a''so lutel> in the very moment of victory) of the favourite. It must certainly have b-en imensely aa",iavatin>; to >no*" flight's pany. Kveiyb-dy admi'S Mr lieil y's greyhound to be the b(ist. and. if the conree could be ruu Bguia, the Siin-^ ddd< would be laid on her beating Wild Miut. lA.r once in a way very few were pleased with the result of tno Uerhy of the leash. Even the ring g'ined n<>ming by the outsid.r's victory. Had Snowflis;ht beeu put out in the second or third round, they would have won lately, but, wl;en alter beatii.g live li st-dass dogs, the black was lelt with only Wate.foid and Botsimr, or perhaps Wilt Mi»tt-conquer, they-virwed her victory as a certainU, and squared their b' oks dv In ing lonu odd- on her. Wild Miut helouoa to liooert Osbonie, the faii!'>u-i ->sligill t'liiner, and >irar n"i>iiiia'ed by Mr Alexander. She is a rouu, by Haddo, ut of O.la, and directly descended from Muster McUrath ou the moth.rs side Though not in the smallest decree fauci.d Irom flr-t to last (tho odds being laid on her opuonenti iv all six cour-es), it was noticed v>ild Mint always killed her hare ; indeed, to this peculiarity she owes her victory, for Snowfliglit possesses tar gieater pace.

The Waterloo Purse for the 32 dogs bi-atan in the first round of the Cup, was cleverly won by Mr Carruther's Markham (by Banker out of Fall Mall), Mr siielton's Maid Mariau (by Woodman - Keckle-s) running-up and the Waterloo Piaie (for tbe 16 dog* neaten in the second round ol the Cupj tell to Mr Millet's Manager (by Mis herton — UtVutiou),- and Mr Haywoo^'s Rota (by Balfe out, of Kuby) who divided.

Tha folly of takiug short odds about the performances ot gre> houuds is pointed out by the following table which shows the prices of the winners and runuers-up ut the Waterlou Courcins Meeting on the mght of the draw : 1000 to 10 again.t Wild Mint, winuer VWerloo Cuu ; 8 to 1 aust Snowll gbt, runuer-up Wateiloo Cup ; lv to 1 a^st Mark.am, wi .n.r Wa'eiloo Parse; ;000 to 7 ag»t Mai^Mirian,runner up Waterloo Purse; 1000 to 8 iig-t Kt-t*, winnt-r Watrrloo Plate j 25 to 1 ag*t Maua ger, dinner Waterloo Piate. bcurcely had sportsmen got back to London after wit ue^siiig the "Derby of the Ltash" than they were shocked by the news of the death cf Mr \V. "Sterling - Crawfurd, the proprietor of tlie largest raciuy stad m England, and for more than a quarter ot a ctn-ury a princely patron of the turf. Mr (J a«vfurd, whj was cnor mou>ly wealthy (or he could never have afforded to rice on the scale h- receutly oid), began to own hirse-i iv 1542 nod in IS4S, cained off several haudioaps includ ing tha Cesarewitcn with a gelding called Ihe Cur. It wjs this race eatubli-n- d the reputation of tlie leviathan bojKmaker, Davies. Loid Stangtord warned to back The t-ur for tho owner, aud on Daves oller iug him £12,000 to £1000 iv a siuyle bei he accepted the wager. The day after ihe race the bookmaker accosted his Lordship pleasantly, renurkiu". that*uch transactions «ere best settled promptly, a id in cash, banded ;him 12 notus for £1000 each. - Iv ISSS Mr Ciawfurd assumed his now celebrattd colours of "all scarlet," of tbe House of Uiaf on.und the followiuy ymr Kordham. on Mayouai-e, wou him his lir^t ■)ne Thousand. Tbamare was a tr> meudous favourite for the daKs"tuo, odan of C to 4 beiun laid on her proving successful!. Shu f.iled however, even to secure a place, surutnereide winning by many a length.

Mr Crawfurd, like all goo<i sportsmen, w>is ino--t anx'oai tn win the Derby, aud iv 1873 when his colt Gaug Forward c>med off th« Two Thousiiiid easily, ; lie seemed tn be very near i. : Tne4o to l'dinnce D.)o ca«ter, howve-, up-ei all calculations, aud it waa not till five years H-er tuac So ton credited him. wit a :theblue -riband of the turf. About six years ago Mr Crawford (not very wisely, many' thought) marriid the buxom relict qt ttie late Duke of M ntrose. Her Grace is what people leim a' " manag ing woman," and being dsvoied to turf pursuits, Sood persuad.od... her. bus band to increase his stud _ea>r ruou>ly'. Of! late - the scarlet jacket has ;tieea seen in almost every race of rh season ; and on the wEilile, good luck ap peared to a'tftd it.. T.ib iiXitsMaui inrty" won gr~at stakes over the, Lincoln Handicap "f ISSI, 'h- Gool*ood Stak-s of 1877, 1878. and 1579, and t>ie : Usar.:\Yitch i>t ISS2. 'Ihe zeuun of th ir good fo'tuuH, however, seemed to be reached iast' ictobei, when in one week the ■ all scarlui" carried off Champion S akes, Middle Park Piate, Cesarewitcii aud Great Chillnge Brakes. Ihe de<'h of Mt Crawfu d invaiidi^tes up ward of 500 nominations, otreicUiug ov.;v the next three years. The mos impouaot rtfer to the Two Thouaai d «ixl Derby, £»r which the colts Macbeath Keir and CuirVaux had nil been b<cked. Wh*t will btcoiue ot.Mr Crawf •ird'^numerous hdrso^ in fraiuingand ina-nific-nt^fcud is no ot coump Icmowu -yet, but I should riot wonder if SirJoKij A-hley and Sir George Chetwynd were tv form a private syndicate to work tljenr. The stud at S^iton Lidge, N wm.rkdt; U'cfuitt » model in its way, arid includes the 9.0U0 wuin>-a lsooouiy, whom, y^u may remeuibei, an agent of Mr Crawfuid's^ bought at ttuciou i^oine'Week« »go. .. .. :, ■■ ' The Cr •yloii Mar -v meetinsf •commen'Ort on Tu-sday la^t, the- -7tu ins':, the chief event b-mg the 'Grind National; Huidlu, Race, a contest that aiway-i.attr eta a g.^od field, and piovoKes n^avy betting. This anniversary there were 12 «tanerß;inclild ing He-per wh" w/m ihe Diwdjpap in 1878, and last year's winner CJlenluce.- ■>'> Th« Ou«t, a lightly-weighted chaser, wa^ most fancied to begin with, but; the. Irish cbii tingent brouulit over Mohiciin.. .and. on the afternoon of the race he fettled down f.iyourite at 9to 2. Nt-xt in demand were ihe Saurtown Grand t*'^ c winner Ptudhomme ' (*iili a 13at:' to carry.) Ghicheater, a novice from the flat said to be ye-y fast, Glenluc ■ and C'beonst. Abput'cach .of 'tjieie.four 7 til was freely tatien'.'.and. than came iheo r phratusatß to 1.-aud Hidotto andYoang Uukn at 100' to 7: 'ilia outsl'lers; of th" party were Condor, Wood, Keeve, and Uermita, whoran unbacked at 20 tol. • The race was not so exciting as' uaiial, for the weights they carried soon put Hrudbomme and Gleoluce .but of it.iand Yonog-Uuke, Theorist, Condor, and Wood E eve, were not clae* eniui-h. A f6Dg;Way"froii horiie it looked as tMougheithir vloh nan »r Cni cheater would win, and loud offerfftobe-* O'Msoa the'former could b- heard onfall Bides. The jfayourite led to;the last.niurilo when to pebpU's surprise, Ghiuh- sler made a determined effor'-and:headiin» Mohican on the Hat won "petty easily by^a .len?ih Tbe-etwo enms right away from all the other-i save Uermita, who pa sing a lot of pulling up homes, obtained tti« birrta hon ours of third. The winner, belongs to.a ho >kmaker named Benjamiq,-who bought him for a trifle last Autumu and soon founn he had got hold of n. smart-chaser, "The stake* at Croydon were worth nearly. £1000 and Mr Benjamin won £7000 in, bets. No other races at Crpy.dondeap^eßpqcia} jpen tion.

LUNATIC'S JOURNEY TO THE MOON.

Perilous Hallway Ride.

One November evening a few years ago I had occasion to travel from Cannon-str.et to -pa Koad S'ation on the South-Hasten s»ilway. It had been a cold foggy day throughout; and theie weie comparutw.'ly few pas-ciigers. The comi artm.-ut whioo I entered- a second cUss-lmd nut one pre vious occupant, a stoutly-built man o. thirty-live or forty. He was attempting with evid. ntlv sm»ll succa'S to read a b > k. auJ he iilgeted about on his seat in rather a te«ty tasnion. Having a d->U"t as tn the ragulartty of the traiu- on such an eveniiiL' I said, ''I Buppose thi- atop» an Spa <-ad J "S.>a Koad ! Df course itdo-s,'sort this K-n'lem m, with what I conßtlored unneces sary vnlioiiience. " -^U these trams htop at spa Itond " •• uoii'ttiiankrao, sir," Losatd ampment later, i" I oriljf aus*erel a simple question —a fooljir nindnnn coul i do Unit. Here the ti»un nmw<i-slowly off, aniMrtro siie iker whoso face I hid not ye seen, re sumed hi- etrWis to r.-ad, muferioi; now ant ag,tin an iuiprecatiou at thu expense of the fog and the coll. When worc.ched tho tlass dome of the Bornimli Market the Irain cnio to a stop, and fo"r the tir»t time I found mysolf in a no-ition to ob ai'< a «ood vow of my fellow passenger. Hitherto h- bad .iblinatnly kuiit lTii back or ►hou'ders towards mi-. Now ho threw his volume ilo*n on tti« seat and faed me. He was, as I huve saH, a uiauin the full prime of life. Hath, r over the average height, ha bad the broad shoulder*, full chest, nud nervous hund ot an utaete. 'he Impiessioo which hi featuras produced Was decidedly imp oisanr. Ye». save for the eyes, which had a pqculur aud indescribabla glire io them, tbe face was not an'unrmndsome one. 'I d'd not know tuat wo were po clopo to the Crystal P^lac," ho Miid brusc[nely. •"■tli- Crystal Pdlace 1" I said, in some surp'ise. "We are not near tho Ciystal ' Palace "■ i " Ihe foginas affected your eyo»icht, mv fiiend," was the reply, "Trouble yourself to look out of this window." ■ "Oh, th.it 1" I said, smiling. "You like . your joke, sir, I perceive -The Borough M.rket must feel lUttered indeed to be'mistaken for Sydookam Palace. ' "Borough Market 1 Uf courso, it was only-my joke," la\v»lifd niy companion. Buf there waa no, mirth in the laugh. He vow took up hn book again and made another attempt to read. Tli-mgh he fixed his eyes on the pago and oven now and Hgaia turned a leaf, it was evident that- his reading was little mote ihau.a pretence Indeed it was-o a irk m the owriago <h*t to sea the s::iall charaoteri in an ordinary volume was to me gui o lm poasibio. While he was thus ...igag^d tbo train reached London. Bridge. The moment wo' entered the stutiou my com p'aaion who had drawn nearer me, re turned to his seat in the corner farthest ffom the ;plal form. From this ho gazed with evidently eager interest on the people passinij and repa-siog the ca'riagn door. As at Cannon-street, th« number of these was not areat, and we were siill alone when the tra'n again moved, ill. "'■'.;' ii. Xhs tnomeut we were outside tho station a change came over my/ fellow passenger. He threw his boiik on tie floor, and ro-e to his f^et. fiithe'rto, I had, being pre ocenpied with my own thoughts, given stnall he^d t6 him. Wow, without knowing why, I felt myself fascinated. Theto was v liekt in his dark eyes, an expression in his mouth vynich at once repealed and attracted me. ( ''Have you been much of a traveller? he asked suddenly. He was a-anriing with his back to the door, watching me "ihayinever been out of the island," I replied.

"Ahi" he said, "I h.ivo been every where-Italy, Russia, India, C iua, Tim bucti o, Asliantee, -anywhere—ev-rywhere, 1 have be n near the .(North Pole, aud quite at the South." '■Indeed, you must be a very groat traveller, t-ir," I ."aid. "I have never been to the moon. No niau can lie a groat ■ traveller who has not ben there "

"Then I'm afraid, that wi'h the excep tion of those famous homes of Jules Verne, there are veiy few about." "Just just so 1 And yet a trip up above this detestable fog beyond the clouiis would in; enjoyable, la a ulgbC like this it would bo peculiarly fo ; dou't you agree with tm?'

" >-ot quite," I said, " for mv own pat I d milob ra'hor be ut my iir side " " sou wou d, would you ? Lo >k at th it, smell ib.t, tu&to that cu'scd fog" Ho th-ewop n the window ami certainly tie fog which pouted iv wat bid enough in all conscience. "I gr.iu'. you it ii not peasant, enher tor c>iß or thr■•at," 1 said. "i knew you w.iuU," cmtinued my ►trange companion', Aiyooe would be glad I 1 ("C out of it. The ma'i who could free you fr.m it would d«crve your thank", wouldJlt! not ?" . .v■■-.,'iT(*V"" %i,oo w»is a lighr. in tho sp-akcrn'cyes which I "id not like, nnd bere w»< a mcve ment, at tho corner- of his mouth 'he oppo -i o of pl-asant. Whilst not feoii"g tfie least dread of him, I «»s u^t wi h v', a strong deg'ru io reach Spa Koad, as bad luck woul.! havj it. whi o yet we had not made half the short journey, tho train agnin enme to « sudilcn stop. "Yes, hu would b* a public bouefactor who could deliver the people of London from f g. ' I said. "He would, would he not? wimp -red my c •mpanion eagerly, " Then lam the A3 bo spoke he crouched down nnd looked op at me with a ularo that mado mo start. He buttoned 'ih coat and palled up hi< (■lecvcs, us he whispered iigilu, "lam tho man. I c&n free you from these fogs—l can free myself."

For the first time tho thought nnw flishotf into my mind tnat 1 was tilouo with « m ul man, I recognised now that wild light irt his eyes, th it i-tnngo twitctiing at th" corners of the mouth. 1 do not suppose that 1 am oonstiMHiontiHv mor« t'mid ihan most of my neixbb mrs ; yet at this moment I felt a cold swe«t break all over mo, and I kuovv thiit I look.d ■ agerly out iv toe dari< ue>s, hoping that at now th* train W;is .-lowly moving wo wore near the station. 1 saw only the thick fon and the foable light of here and there a lamp.

Yes, the man was mad, raving mad. There could bo no doubt ab"Ut it.. Only a tniiniic could luugb tho mirthless laugh which now cjtne from his throat, as he drew t*n stop* nearer to rao and hiscd at me, •' We Bbiill travel, together to the moon. *dieu to tha foga; say with me, adieu to the £»gs." . I was vow erect, watching my companion intently, nerving, myself for a struggle, which it was easy to tell wis very near. I could easily a?e I was no match for such an antagonist. My hope was that I might hold my own for the few minutes necessary to reach Spa Koad, where plenty of assistance would bo avaihible. " Your balloon would scarcely travel fin -uchan'ght" I faid with ntlected indiffer ence. "i he atmosphere ia ion 'hick." " Too thick 1 do v<>u think >o ?' lie said. " 1 do so. CousidT tho donsity ot the foe. How could we possibly go through it

"Well, there's Boniethins; in that," he snid, nitiing down. "Yet tho effort is worthatiial. Yes, it ia worth a trinl." He *prang anew to his feet and approached me Ho threw out his strong hands and made a clutch at my throat. " i hi» is how we begin, this is lmw I got the gas for the trip. I kill you first to Rive you the start. Jlien I start myself, aod follow ypa." One shout I gave for help, but it was lost in the report of a fpg sigaal; then we were swaying backwards ana fo]>

wards in t'e ca riage in a struggle whiih was .iterallyfor lite, or death. Th..! mad niaiils bieatu came hot iv my face Ins s'rong Jirms bel<i me in a fierce embrace. Thi re was a fi re- joy iv his eyes. Tha foam worked out of his mouth, and his teeth gnashed angrily against eaoa other. ife is dear, and I felt no inclination to yield miue without a desperate stuigglo ' torn m> antagonist's hands fom my thr.-at nnd for a moment forced biin to act on the defensive. I shou ed a-'niu and ngain for help. Hinl liow I longed for Spa It >ad no words em describe, The traiu was now running ai a good r*c aud 1 knew lhe at ition oould not be far off. If oily I cou d lio'd mv own for oue half miuute all would be safe. Pausing in bis exertion for a moment the madman suddenly quitted me. Jn-t irei to my borror tuo train rushed 'hrough ivy station without even slaoken'ni speed. I was io th' w ong tra'n, and there was no h^pe of imsistanoo nil we reached >ew Cross. H w,is evident that my fellow passengers had not heard my shouts for as.-<ist«ne«.

Without a word o f w.iruiig my compa ni n auain threw himself upon me tins time, with a fury so resistless that I'was bo/no to the floor.' ~,:., " "' We aha'l go to the moon," he shrieked I hav-a kuife-wecancut our way through the fog." I lelt myself h*lple<s. Mv previous exer tio.s had exb lusted my strength, while that of the m mine secned to increase with the struggl-. Strive as I might I was utterly ai.d • utirely iv Uis per uo*.

How slowly the train seemed to movo. I be'ieve now thai it w*9 going at n. good speed, bu t> me it appeared to proaresp at ammil's pace. And Iviw curiously vivid where my thoughts. I »aw the homo *bere > wis expected, tho kiud faces w..iti»g t> greet mci I wmdo ed what they'd say when thuv heard of my denth. I o.ught mys.lf thinkiug h-w ugly were the mad man's i yes, and I cvi v noticed the. colom of his i.eckti-!—hluo, wi'h white spots 1 felt no 1 -lijer any inclination to shnut for holp. To all iu'ents I looked up m myself as dead. 1 even begin lo tliiuk of iuy»eif =is n third pers io, and to lament, in a philosophi-al fa hioa, the il toriunO which cut ..ff at thu beginuin* of his career a promi-ing you >g man. Then I re uieiu lered that I owed it sh".Oiuaker fo: a pair of boots and I piti-d tho unfortunate tradrt-rimn tor tno bud debt h» had made. While thesd and nhundrel other though'n were pis-ing througi my brain, it -tciiied lo mo thai nn agi had transpired. Iv reality i do not "uppose th'it at too outside more than a mmute had elapsed since mv unlucky tall. Suddenly as iv a dnam, I lieird thai roadman who was' now seated astrldrt my chi'St, tii"S - " We'll lout our w^y to the moon—my knife is sharp. Let's try it on your throat." '. . ': with cori. us dolibc.ration, he drew a strong pocktit knife and opened it. "{fll right, friend, nh?" he cried, Uugh ing. / ■' "Now mind, do not.lcavo the carnage till I have come, up to you." "I am swift" said J, and I declare I did not recogni-e my own voice, "If Igo first you shall certainly not overtake me—you start, and I'll follow," " Me start." "Yes you're brwer, stronger, nnd you have tlie knife. You must go first to clear the way." , , . ."(Jf course, I forget that," he cried, almost to tny hor.or, so utterly was I sur prised. "Of courso, I fogot that," he cried agaio. " I must clear the way.' S ill siHint; on me he deliberately drew the b.ight blade across his throat. In aa otner momen I wa- d luaed with blood. ■\t the same time his knife fell from his nerveless grasp. T.. soring to my ieet to seze the open wound and press the edges together, Whs tho work ot an in-tam — though the sudden escape made me staager. At the same moment we reached New Cross Station, and ft porter threw opea the carriage door.

Fortunately the self inflicted wound of the madman did not prove tatal Ultimately I hvard that the bloodletting had a benefi cial elf ct on his brain. I discovered next day that he was a must daugenma lunatic who had managed to escape iroui a private asylum.

To my surprise, whoa I looked at the clock I found that the journey from London Bri.lge baa not taken ten minutes. They woic cortaioly the longest ten minutes I ever speut.

CHOICE EXTRACTS.

an Ingredient of Jouhn»lism. — It is one of the continencies of journalism that its very existence depends on its truthful tie's. It dare not swerve one hair's-brearith from the line of veracity, without be*ng called i« question. Toe »ntiquated fieti»n that truth lay at tbe bottom of a well in almost torcottcn. It was promulgated bff.ne new-p-paw. .came Into existence; and ib no*, by.uuiu>noa-coas.ent, relegated tn 'he limbo, of exploded errors. In these day of g'ac1, ths tiuth--eeker eoes to the columns of bis new>spap'>', and his1 faith meets its just reward,— Boston Post.

A Hlkkgyman's Postal Cakd. -A dis tinguished B>~ton cier«>mtn, desiring to info in his mother of an investing domtsiic event, s<fnt her a postal card, conlaiuing tbe following' directions :—

"Rom hwait I■<»t*h t Buorud sang, rinth chapter

and vero.i tix, Flr>t thirteen -oda plauo tatio, and then the

Mto wing affix: *rom GBue»lf, iho thlrty-flfth, versa Beventeen Th»n add ye so twenty-six o£ Kings book

BtoinKi, chant-r four; Vhe last' wo Voraen, cbupier flrtt, first booh Of Samuel. inrt vui will learn wbat on lhat day soar luvlun v n bi-Jtill.

Not of tho world.— Language h powerless to paint tho grandeur, the attractive moral beauty of Hun who sa^d, wheu tierce foes thrcu'encd, "My Ki-g'iom is nut of 'his world," not to be establisied by human power, nor overthrown by human enemies T»e most soul-stirriug words are all too poor 10 o etiire tho nhuuphiut progress of Chriati niity ihroUih tho centuries, to tell how multitudes of every cr ed, in every rink tf| lit', bnvo seen sublued by the love of Jesus and have done h'm*jie to acrucified King-a King who uraspi no go'y war" weapon in clenched fist, but who from tbe thron« of peaceful splendour at his Father s side, ex'enda to men an op^n pierced hand, and speaks to them in gentle accents, saying, " Come unto M.c."-The Quiver.

TO GAIN WEALTH.

To ontch Dame Fortune's pcolilon smile, ArsWuous wait upon her. And gatlier Rear hy every wilo That's ja tilled by honour. Not for to hide tt In a hedge, Not for a train attendant, But for tho glorious privilege O£ boing independent.

—Robert Burns.

In the complex atid delicately adjusted relations of moderti society confidence in promises lawfully made is the life-blood of trade and commerce. It U the vital_ air labour breathes. It is the lightwhicn. shines ou the pathway of prosperity.

UNKNOWN.

Our soo'sl j'«ys a-e more than fame; ) ife withers In the nanllo ioo«. Why mount the pIU ry of a book, Or barter oomfurc for a name ?

Keoo to your lofty psdo'taU I The HBfer plan neiow I chongo ; Who never win* can rare y 'Ose, Who never °^£™0 7lVMker. 1808

There arehnarts all the better for keeping; they become mellower, and more worth a woman's acceptance than the erode unripe things too frequently gathered—as child ren gather green fruit-to the discomfort of those who obtain them.

The Signalmens Story.

" I eemember well—to my dying day I'm not likely to forget it—a thing that occurred many years ago, and added ten years to my age, It shook rue that much that I was rever quite the same man after. "I had charge then of a cabin not far from a large junction in the Midland bounties. It was a very busy bit of line— trains passhi" the whole day, and most of 'he night. I had not been married above three years or so, and my wife—Heaven bless her sweet memory 1 she's been dead and sone six years come Christmas-used to spend bits of W spare time with me in tha box, for my cottage was not far off j that "as the home where I spent the happieit yea'a of my life, only for this one thing. "Mv Jim, he was then a little curly haired boy, used to spend many and many an hour in the box, and you can guess he made th> days bright for me with bis baby's talk. Wo were some miles off the market town, and it was my wife's custom to go th»re by train en Saturday. One day eha hud gone as usual to her ma'ketintr, and as T did nnt expect hei1 back till late, I bad litt'e Jimmy with me in the box to spend the afternoon ; be was a wonderful little chap for keepine out of m^chief, and could amuse himself without giving trouble, so he did not interfere with my duties.

"The box was sitna-pd in a nice bit of open country, nothing wonderful abut it —for instance, it could rmt compare with the look-out riown thi« valley here - but in. the fpr'ng and summer time it was a pleasant pace enough, and Jimmy u«ed to spend hours chasing hutterflie* °r picking n-imro=es, and coltsfeet, and other wild flowers on the slop 6of the railway embank* ment.

'• There was one place egpecia'lv that was a great attraction to him, and that was where ferns and harts-tonaue gre*v up between the ballast. Bat that was not the only thing 'ha* took Mm the'e. His sharp voune eyes discover d 'hat »i d straw* berries also thriv d in the ba'lat—yotl have seen 'em, sir, doubtless? W<l!, of ("o'irse, b> pa; d a pond deal nfattention to them for th<-uzh they are so sm^'i they are eatahle, and that was enough for him.

" 1 must explain to you that for some mi'es along the railway there wtre four lines of way—two for fa«t trains, and two for goods trains and lncnK Opposite toy hox were the points at which the ordinary two li-c* spread into four, the locals were turned rff to on° fide <m tbe ' clow lines,' and the expresses were allowed to go straight abend on the main lines.

" It was about three in the afternoon on a hit, st'll summer day, not a brpath of wind stirring j a local train had come from the marke' town, and I turned her on to th" slow line. But ai another train had only ju9t piss»d my box in the SBme direction, she had to wait when on the slow line, until the distance signal from another hox not far f 'qm mine allowed her to pro ceed, I h»d just received ' train online' from the box between me and the market town which meant, that the North exprrss had left, and would pass mv box in a minute or two at hiah <peed—when all of a suddpn I missed little Jimmy,

" I shouted in all direction* for him, but could not hear his cheery little call in ansiwer; bnt on looking again down the line I found thnt he had jrnt to his straw-. berrv-?r"und, and, being overcome by the iwnt, bad laid dnwn and gone fast asleep, lyin?, sir—oh 1 it makes my heart sink to recall the sight—in the ' four-foot,' with his lit le he«d re'ting on the rail itself, " What was I*o do? The express was coming d<iwn. and I would not have time to r'm and fetch him. A sick, horrible feeling came over me, and, believe me sir, I was oesido myself. In my madness a thought enme ioto my head—shall I turn the express on to the slow line where tbe 'local' was quietly crawling aloag, and so save toy little darling lioy the lieht of my life—by means of a terrible collision ?

" The points were open to thb without my having to stir, for though I bad given ' line clear.' and allowed tbe express to come on, I had uor. mnvcrl the points yet, since the passing of the local; points and signals weren't locked as they are now, sir, then; I had only to stand still, and my boy would be saved.

" I cud have only a seennd or two to think of it in. Something, sir> within mo whispßred, ' Do your djity.' Oh lit was fearful. -~ ... ~,1 .■ -_v. I■■ : - '.i v

" The express.was now cominjr. I conlrl hear ber.' ;.Th»n she came, in sight round the ourvo, spanking along at sixty miles an hoor.rnnking tb.e ground, shake. ■ a ... . " [ felt maddpnpd by the mar she made. The driver'R whistle pulled me together. " I cosed my eyes with an awful feeling my heart seemed being torn oat of my body.

"I clenched mv lips, I thought a kind of lir.iycr;to the good Lord to pardon me MI ha<i rione wrong. I was killing my own blight hoy. Just as the exnr<>s< rushed by I pulled the p"ints over ana Ut her thnndeir on to where little Jimmy was ly; njf. Then I f. 11 down in a swoon on the floor of the ca^in. and knew nothing more

"WhfnJ came to again, Ifonnd mywifei binding over me. ■ t first I did not know where I wi>s or what had happened. Then it came back to me all of a sadden. 'Jimmy!' I gapped, and jumped up, 'Jimmy!1 I cried ag»in. " ' Never f-mr, Jack,' said the dear little woman, 'Jimmy in qnite safe.' *'' Safe !' I repeated, hardly understand ing her, "It was too much for me. I could not take it in. Safe? Jnd -ate he was too. 't seems, us mv wife afterwards told mo, that, liiivins: finished her marketing, «he came home by the first train—-the train, sir, the vory train tha' I thought of wrecking. "The train, as I told you, sir, stopped n"t far from my cabin tor a short time, and my wife, seeing to her terrorher child I >iug.no the rails, got out and picked him up. taking him into the carriage with her. As soon as che reached the station she came straight to the cabin andf >und me in ••on'ibl'1. h, that she had come to the cabio first I

" If I had listened to the tempter and tried to snve my boy, as I thought because I was in f uch a state of mind tbat I nad not noticed him beins; taken away; my eyes wer<s fixed on the express—l might bave killed my wife and child, and a many mow too. ~..

" That, sir, aged me a deal; my > hand shook, and I sometimes felt queer in the head when on duty for a long time after, especialiy when the N orth express came by, and 1 was right glad to leave that station for some other part of the country. " Little Jimmy never knew of his narrow escape from death, and he opened bis eyes «ith ad'oiiis' ment when I forbade him ever to pick strawhemes on the railway.' tluio old Jack ceased, as he had once more to attend to his monotous duties of signalling the trains. , _ ... few of the pasaeDgers, indeed, in either the local or the express that day, could have gue«sed what a drama was being acted in the common-place signal-cabin that they were passing and how a near it was to become ing a tragedy.

BEAUTY AND TRUTH.

Oh, how much more doth beanty besuteooseeem By that sweet ornament wbiohtrnihdothgive I The roeo loofes fair, bnt fairer we it deem Fot that aweet oaonr which do»h Jn It live. anaktsptarci

STAR SATURDAY SUPPLEMENT, APRIL 27, 1885.



Important to economists The attention of the Auckland Public is with confidence called to the following List of Goods, which we guarantee to be of a quality unequalled at the price in AmMand. JpSf^At HOLLOW ATS CHEAP DRAPERY DEPOT, 247, QUE]EN STREET, next Hewin Brothers, Grocers. 225 do*. Ladles' Hosiery (special value) at <jZ, Wld., Is., Is. 3d., Is. 6d., 25., and 2s. 6d. Children's do. (all sizes), Splendid Assortment, (id., 10d.. Is., and Is. 3d. Ladies' Corsets, an immense variety, and good value, 2s. (id., 2s. lid., 3s. lid.. 4s. int., ss. bd., ss. lid., and 7s. bd. __ UNDERCLOTHING .A. L-A-RQ-E! STOOI-, FULL SIZE. , _ Bs, 11<L 4s. 6d,, 4s. lid., ss. 6d., Gs. 6d. to 12s. 6d. Night Dresses ... ... - ••• - "' _ 2s. 3d., 2s. lid., 3s. Cd., 3s. lid., 4s. 6d. Chemises ... ••• ••• ■•• "" '" _____________«___________ ~ SPLENDID VALUE IN CASHSVIERES Is 2icL Is. 4kl, Is. Gkl, Is. 9d., Is. lid., 2s. 6d., 2s. lid- Black ... ••• - -• ■■■ ... ..". " ... 12kl, Is. 3d., Is. lid., 2s. 6d Coloured ... ••• ••• ••• "' • " GOOD VALUE IN LADIES 1 CLOTH JACKETS 10s. (Jd., 13s. 6d., 15s. (id., 205., 225. Gel, ,255., 305., 355. VELVETEENS—A large assortment in Black and Colored from Is. lid. to 7s. Cd. per yard. BLANKETS-A large stock of good quality, cheap. Now is your time to. buy for the winter season. FLANNELS-A Special Line of Flannels (All Wool), very cheap, at 13id, Is. lid.; Is. 3kL, Is. 6d., and Is. 9d. ULSTEKS-In the newest patterns, just imported, a decided bargain. 9s. 9d. to 255. Special attention directed to our Ulsters, at 19s. 6d. SHEETINGS-From 10R per yard. Counterpanes and Quilts, from 4s. lid, WINCEYS-A good line specially adapted for this market, at 4|cl, Gkl,, and lCkl IREDUEEiIicBEIR. THEE ADDBESS, HOLLOW AY'S, 247, Queen-street, TWO DOORS ABOVE WELLESLEY STREET, INSPECTION INVITED.