STAR SATURDAY SUPPLEMENT.

AUCKLAND, N.Z., SATURDAY, JULY 21, 1885.

RANDOM SHOTS.

[By ZAMIEL.]

Some write, a neighbour's name to lash. Borne write -vain thought I—tor needful cash. Some write to please the country clash. And raise a din. For me, an aim I never fash— 9 I write tor fun.

A GOOD "physical basis" as the ground work of all kinds of excellence has been very much insisted upon of late years, till it seems to me that the extreme limit of insistence has been reached, and that it Is time for the reaction to bet in. Physical training ia essential, beyond all doubt, to make good labourers, good artisans, and good soldiers; but when people get the length of asserting that an indissoluble connection exists between calisthenics and caligrapby, athletics and losthetics, jump ing and geography, cricket and " cram ming," dumb-bells and drawing, football and fiddlesticks, it is high time for sensible people to give a tug at tbe reins and give vent to an emphatic " Whoa !" Mr Laishley, in nis recent exhaustive essay on education, ranged himself on the side of the extremists who believe iv the "physi cal basis" theory, and insisted on its necessity as the foundation of all learning. Probably Mr Macandrew, the energetic Southern politician, read the essay in question (with the aid of several dictiona ries), or, probably, it only proves the identical workings of two great minds that he should have adopted the same views as Mr Laishley, and moved in the House of Representatives —" That in the opinion of tbii House, it is desirable that physical training should constitute an essential branch of education at the public schools throughout the colony ; and that it is the duty of the Government to see that a fair proportion of the vote for education shall be expended in that direction." It was well known that Mr Macandrew had several " fads," such as direct steam navi gation and insular separation; but it ia quite a new departure for him to become an advocate ot physical education as part of the curriculum iv State'tjchools. Coming as he does from that hardy Northern stock, whose motto is "We cultivate learning upon a little oatmeal," I tremble at his sad degeneracy, which makes him alter the noble teutiment to the words, " We pursue knowledge through the medium of the horizontal bar 1"

As for Mr Laishley, to fight him with his own weapons i can only hurl at him a Latin quotation, Quos Deus vtilt portiere, &c, and warn him that he stands on dan gerous ground. All history disproves the assertion that physical training is condu cive to moral and intellectual elevation; and present day experience corroboratss history. Physical Iwalth has a direct bear ing on tbe mental and moral nature, and there is truth in the statement that a badly nourished and excellent race of men has never yet been fonnd. But what bas •'physical training" ever done for the world ? What moml effect was produced by the gladiatorial struggles of Home, the bull-fights of Spain, or the prize-ring com bats of England? What great intellec tual eminence is reached by the rowers, .cricketers, athletes, and bicyclists of the present day, in comparison with those who refrain from cultivating muscle and give their attention to mind ? Is it not true that high physical development has been the characteristic of the cruel, the tyrannous, and hurtful members of society inpatstages, of whom Bill Sykes, the "bruiser," is the modern type ? And is it not confessed, on the other hand, that many of earth's greatest benefactors have been the weak things of this world—the men of the study—the sickly votaries of learning—the pale and strengthless tollers in the vast field of Science? I protest, ia the name of.all that is true and reasonable, against the arrant nonsense that has been uttered on the sub ject of physical training, and which had its fitting climax this week in a local pugilist challenging an Auckland editor to a bout at fisticuffs 1 The apotheosis of physical train ing always has resulted, and always will result, in the elevation of physical force into the position of the one cardinal virtue —the one power which can outweigh all reason, arbitrate in all disputes, resolve all intellectual doubts, and settle all questions of morals or manners.

Therefore, I cay, It is high time in this colony that tbe curb should be applied to mad schemes for the regeneration of the race through the agency of bone and muscle and sinew. New Zealand youths require no incentive to engage in healthy and hardy 'outdoor exercises, and the surest way to kill their manly love of sport would be to carry out to the full the theories of extravagant enthusiasts by en dowing cricket and football, and offering Government aid towards establishing gymnasiums and subsidising boxers. Might I not go further and say that a plea may well be advanced in favour of the neglect of the physical development, as es sential to the expansion and perfection of the mental powers? Without going the length of the learned Frenchman who held that " Literature was a disease of the nerves," it seems to me that the world would be a great deal the poorer to-day had it missed the labours of men with physical deformities, nervous weakness, or disease, and generally of most defective "physical basis." Such men were JEaop. Alexander Pope, Lord Byron, John Keats, and, in onr own day, Thomas Carlyle. A somewhat ill-natured critic has remarked of the latter that dyspepsia is apparent in every line he wrote; but even if this were so, what product of his pen would we wish unwritten ? Everyone will much rather bless the day whereon Carlyle awoke to the consciousness that he had an infernal apparatus called a stomach, if with such discovery came the power and tbe will to write those immortal pages of glowing imagery, touching pathos, scathing denunciation, and prophetic insight, which have placed him on the highest pinnacle of fame in English literature. Mens sana in Sano corpora is a good rule for steady-going, happy-go-lucky people; but unless we wish, to see the world "cursed with medi ocrity," we must not discourage mental pursuits on the ground that they decrease one's fighting weight, nor must we teach that athletics are necessary adjuncts of algebra, leap-frog of logic, and the trapeze of trigo nometry. If we wish our youth to attain to full mental stature, we must tell them to cultivate brain instead of biceps ; but if physical training is to be our aim, then let

Jem Mace be made Minister of isducation, and let Mr Laishley abdicate his seat on the Education Board in favour ot that gentleman of the name of Murphy, who illustrated the noble science in the Lome street Hall on Saturday last!

x x

John Bryce is not going to pnt in the criminal dock the man who called him " the cruel cow-boy" aud the "slaughterer of Maori women and children," after all. 'That astute Minister has concluded, after solemn and mature deliberation, to go for Mr Kasden's ducats in a civil action, having, no doubt, discovered that the feel ing of the House was dead against voting public money to pay for a' criminal one, at all events. That was a very ingenious idea of his to make it appear as though the Ruaden charges were not made against himself personally, hut against the Depart ment ot the Native Minister. But it was " too thin"—the motive was just a trifle too palpable. Of coarse, bad members taken this view of the case, the House would probably have been wheedled into voting the cost of prosecution, and Bryce's ex penses, with a continental flying tour thrown Id, Bat, I fancy, I hear the sleeve eacchlnation bubbling out from hon. mem bers' shirt-cuffs, as they metaphorically make Midshipman Kasy's masonic sign, and shake their heads Incredulously, as who should say, *' No, John, it won't do, my boy." There can be no doubt whatever that the charges were levelled against the man, and not the Native Minister—against John Bryce, lieutenant of the Kai Iwi Cavalry. Of course, we all, as colonists, know them to be utterly false; and if Mr Hut-den also knew them to be so, he deserves the epi thets of "liar, slanderer, and coward," which Mr Bryce hurls at him with a justi fiable scorn. But the question is not the truth or falsity of the charges, but whether the Government would be justified in spending the public funds even in a civil prosecution where those charges are of-a purely personal and individual character. I, for one, say "decidedly not," and with the vivid recollection of the £6,000 odd which it cost tbe colony for that action against tho " Waka Maori" some time ago, and the State prosecution of George Jonns, junr., tbe House will no doubt allow Mr John Bryce the privilege and the luxury ot carrying his case through with out drawing on the public Exchequer.

Among the items of news received by the Suez mail was this—that Sir Wm. McArthur. K.C.M.G., had been honoured with au invitation to attend a State Ball at Buckingham Palace. It was not told whether, the gentleman in question re sponded to the invitation or not; but if one may judge from his previous line of condnct, it is probable that he sent a polite refusal, and went to a prayer meeting instead. X do not know what etiquette demands under such circumstances, my turn not having come yet to be asked to a State Ball; possibly the invitation is a "command" from the Queen, to which no disobedience is allowed. If so, then it mi»v be supposed Sir William duly made hiejappearance and speedily made his exit from an atmosphere so uncongenial to a Wesleyan Methodist of strict principles. Certain it is, that when Lord Mayor of London, Sir William rigidly abstained from giving ball*, in this way marking his own disapproval, and that of the religious body of which he is a member, of the worldly in stitutions in question. In spite of sneers and ridicule, he had the courage of his opinions ; and one cannot but approve of his action. The Wesleyan Society has always been conspicuous for its abhorrence of dancing, the reason of which it would not be very difficult to specify. But will the opposition kept up so long be so strictly maintained in the future? I think not. Signs are not wanting that the younger adherents are unbeading ; that they are less exclusive than their fathers, and more kindly dis posed toward* what used to be called " the world." Just as the Quakers have let "thee" and "thou," broad-brims, gr,ey coats and gowns, go, and talk and dress very much as other mortals—so youthful Wesleyana are beginning to learn the last new waltz, and to patronise the theatre. The declension is natural enough. There are plenty of precedents for It. The older folk protest, declare themselves shocked, but nevertheless tacitly sanction and wink at their offspring's more easily-fitting beha viour. Into the question what significance is to be attached to this sufference of things once bated and banished, it would be out of place here to enter. I content myself with noting the fact that a small social revolution is quietly taking place among the raiiKs of a portion ot the community, and leave the wiseacres to ponder over it, and consider it in all its bearings.

The arch-enemy of mankind is not with out his apologist, and one must not com plain of a plea being offered for the man Stephenson who perpetrated the diabolical outrage in Dunodin, which deprived his innocent little children of both parents, casting them helpless upon the mercies of a oold world. The plea rung that Stephen - eon inspected his wife of infidelity; that the separation order was granted in his absence,and that hewas refused access to his children. In a letter written by Stephen son to the Dunedin " Star " a short time before the tragedy, he inveighed against the policy of separation orders, and he sent an appeal to the Minister of Justice on the same subject. Now, what hod been the conduct of this man? Possessing a good education, he had, by habitual drunken ness, brought himself down from a lucra tive and respectable position to the office of a groom. After subjecting his wife to the indescribable miseries pertaining to a partnership with a human beast habit ually wallowing in filthiness, he com pelled her to leave her home and go out into the world to earn a living for their ill clad and ill-fed offspring. And then, for sooth, the wretch professed—and his apolo gists re-echo tbe cry—to have suffered in justice because this unfortunate woman, who was linked in the bonds of an unendur able slavery, had the courage and indepen dence to emancipate herself and children from tbe degradation by honest labour. Let us hear no more of the woes of the double-dyed scoundrel, and no more insinu ations against the fidelity of the unhappy tempest-tossed creature who has been hur ried by the hand that ought to have pro tected her Into the presence of her Maker. And let us pray that the law will speedily be altered, not in the direction of placing women like Mrs Stephenson more at the mercy of their legal oppressors, but rather to ensure to their persons and their pro perty that legal support and independence which is necessary to sustain tbe weak under social conditions that compel the surrender of their liberties into the safe keeping of cowardly and brutish men I

A revival of the old farce, the " Devil among the tailors," was enacted at the Police Court on Tuesday, the 17th inst. the actors being Frank McKcnna, man ager, William Courtney, an overseer, and Maurice Sullivan, ex-detective, A. con siderable number of knigbts of the thimble were in the background, with expectant faces, wreathed with smiles. The prin cipal actors successively occupied tbe box adjoining the legal stage, performed their parts and made their entrances and exits. Maurice, with a natural blush upon hie mountain cheeks, spoke the prologue in heroics, of which the following is the sub stance and really the pith of the farce :— Borne week* ago I left the Auckland force. And sought for something else to do, of course; I met McKenna, an old friend of mine.

Who thought I might do something in his line. He knew that I knew nothing of the trade Of making clothes, or tweeds of varied shade; And while McKenna plied his shears and goose, As a. collector I might be of use. But to my case : In travelled round and round, And bjr my zeal some customers had found- When in poppediCourtney, and, .says he, "Get out!" And clutched me as an angler does a trout; He pulled me .by the beard, pulled out some And, on my oath, he squeezed me, I declare.

j The Bench: "And what did you do?" ' Complainant: " I could hare put him on his back, but practical experience sug gested the proper course, and 1 fetched Brother Blucman—and he was arrested." Frank McKenna, who has won a reputation amoDg his brother snips of being a jolly good fellow, testified to the attack on Maurice's beard, but was not positive of any loss of Nature's covering. Frank and Maurice had agreed together as one firm; he was to "cut out," and when Maurice found any cash customers, he was to "cut in." Their little domicile, or hall of harmony, was situated at the corner of Pitt-street, over looking the sea. They mipht have gone on very well, but Mr Courtney came in and proclaimed himself " boss" of the establish ment, with tho exception or McKenna's shears, thimbles, and voiceless goose ; he disclaimed all connection with these. Frank had possessed them for at least four years. Sullivan was ordered out of the 6hop, but refused to "budge," when he was immediately bearded in the clothier's den by his professed lordship, who tore down the broad-cloth, and threatened his ears. Tbe worst part of it was, McKenna sat laughing on a roll of calico, thinking Sullivan big enough to defend his beard fiorn all outer attacks. Tbe mastership of Courtney was stated, and seemed pretty feasible, and as a question of title was raised, the Bench would not interfere, and the farce closed at the end of the second act.

XXX

The enterprising individual who makes a living by levying blackmail from those vo taries of Cupid who linger late in the shades of the Domain has been at his pranks again, and this time has sustained a temporary check. He has also unwittingly supplied the material for a rather good story, which is just now tickling the palates of tbe lovers of a quiet scandal. It was last Thuisday night, drawing near to nine o'clock, when the " black mailer," stationed at one of the outlets of the Domain, Intercepted a gen tleman and lady who were just emerging from a sentimental journey through the se questered glades of that rural retreat, and threatened dire exposure and other feaful consequences unless something golden was given to purchase his silence. The young gentleman was the scion of a distinguished colonial house, but he had the moral courage to resist the demands of the pretended official, though he aud his fair companion went away rather disconcerted by his furi ous threats. Next day, the gallant lover, jealous of his own and the lady's fair fame, called on the Domain ranger to inquire into the conduct of the supposed subordinate on the night previous, and, if possible, avert the impending public Ecandal. He was re as sured on learning that his fears were ground less ; but meanwhile, through his ownaction, the story of his nocturnal adventure bad got wind, and it reached the ears of his father in a somewhat alarming shape. Paterfamilias, jealous of the family honour (or presumably so) also sought the Domain officials ; for what purpose think you, my guileless reader ? To find out, if possible, the lady with whom his " young hopeful" had been rambling. " I should like to know her, by Jove, you know ; for perhaps I might get her to meet mc in the uomam some night 1" Comment is needless on this beautiful instance of paternal and filial affection and community of tastes ; but io the youthful or "spoony" reader a single word of caution may be necessary. It is this —Though the freebooter has been repulsed just now, he is sure to return to the attack, so beware of "shady" rambles by night in the happy huntiog grounds of the bogus ranger, unless you are prepared to pro pitiate him by a peace offering, or have the boldness to invite him to 'refer the question of " utu" to tha nearest policeman to be found.

x x

Not the least of the many good features in Mr Conolly's new Local Courts Act is that which contemplates the cutting down of solicitors' charges. That something very like extortion and bleeding has been scan dalously prevalent in the colony, goes with out saying. Over and over again tales have been whispered about of unfortunate clients being ground down, and of charges made out of all proportion to services ren dered. Apropos of this, there is one aspect of legal practice which I have often thought has not received that notice at tbe hands ot critics which it undoubtedly merits, I refer to the recognised practice of taxing bills of costs. Now there is a beautiful snbtle meaning in this which some folks may not fully realise. Practically, it Bays to the client, " You must not call your lawyer a Shylock. or a cormorant, or a vampire, or things of that sort— that would be ungentle manly, not to say libellous. But we, tbe supreme judicial authorities, know all about it, and recognise the truth and the force of your unspoken sentiments, and, therefore, allow you the privilege of having from 20 to 50 per cent, knocked off the account." Preci-ely co ; there can be nothing clearer to the densest mind than that the very per mission to tax a legal bill of costs is a tacit admission of attempted imposition on the part of the "learned brother." If this be not a fair aud logical inference, then let some gallant knight errant of the " devil's own " fumigate the sulphur-odour from his armour and come forth on the war-path, with lance in rest and vizor raised, to smite this present writer to tbe dust for his rash temerity.

x x

A paragraph I read the other day in a Fiji newspaper brought vividly to my mind the time-honoured adage, " One touch of nature makes the whole world kin," and who shall say after hearing it that there is no true'i romance and senti

ment in an oil-smeared savage? A Fiji woman suspected her lord and master of wandering after other Delilahs, and all her devices to call him back to loyalty were futile. In vain did she lavish the savoury grease of the cocoa nut in adorn ing her charms; all in vain were the evening lullaby and delicately-chewed kava. Wearied with the non-success of these simple enticements, she determined upon an_ appeal to his pity. Procuring a fishing line, she tied it to the roof of the family wigwam, and, when certain of the close proximity of assistance, secured the live round her neck and drew it taut, emitting at the same moment the most piercing screams. Friends from <he next room rushed in and promptly cut her down. So far, everything prospered. But the innocent child of nature had not taken into account the fatherly character of British law. She was unaware that the State uudertakes to punish iiereons who, as Mr Justice Gillies remarked, are so foolish as to attempt suicide and fail, and she was piomptly arrested and hauled before the Magistrate. Matters haviog taken this unpleasant iorm, she was forced to explain that the whole affair was a trick contrived to regain the affec tion of her wilful adorer, and the evidence supporting her statement being conclusive, she was promptly liberated, the tragedy ending in a ridiculous farce.

The case of this poor savage is sot mate rially different from that of the young lady iv Otago whoa short time ago feigned the agonies of poisoning for the purpose of eliciting sympathy from a hard-hearted youth who had captured her wilful little heart, aud did not appear to value the treasure. Her appeal to him through the tortures of tha stomach was novel and in genious, but lacked the imprimatur of suc cess, for ufter a most agreeable party had been broken up, and the young Adonis dis persed with the other guests, the truth leaked out, and the eccentric maiden was covered with a lidicule that is embittered by the needless alarm which her tolly occa sioned. The results of the experiment in these instauces are not such, therefore, as recommend the expedient to the imitation of love-lorn maidens and matrons in other parts of the world.

#. & I*o

On Wednesday la3t, having nothing better to do, I made my way to the Supreme* Court for the purpose ot hearing the cause celcure of the sessions, viz,, Mr W. G. Garrard's action for £500 damages against Mr Tho?. Cotter (solicitor andKegis tration Officer). I found a somewhat lengthy cause list before the Court, and a large number of persons in attendance, who had come inspired with the same curiosity that influenced myself. Short work, how ever, was made of the cause list, for the majority of the cases were either ad journed or stated to be settled, and very soon after my arrival the name of the great demagogue was called upon. To my surprise, there was no response, and after the crier had bawled ineffectually for the "People's William" the prescribed number of limes outside tbe Court, the case was dis missed upon the application of the defen dant's solicitor. Shortly afterwards the great little man appeared in breathless iiaste, got up " regardless of expense," and with his war and blue ribbon decora tions proudly displayed upon his manly bosom. He had evidently received evil tidings on his way to the Temple of Jus tice, for he looked greatly concerned. After eagerly questioning the nearest spec tators and receiving corroboration ot the bad news, he slowly retired, but immediately afterwards reappeared at the side door bearing his blushing spouse upon his arm. She was also in gala attire. William George, like a man and a Briton, gracefully handed her to a seat, and then, after a look of sorrowful.remou strance at the Bench, sat down beside her. He was evidently anxious for a chance to address the Court, but as it was already pre-occupied, he waited in vain. At length he rose majestically, threw a glance of dignified contempt around, aud with Mrs G. on his arm, again swept from the Court-room, It is now rumoured that he intends to go for the Judge.

Attracted by the nightly gifts of suites of furniture, tea and coffee services, pianos, and other desirable articles of household equipment, I patronised the' Diorama one night this week. Being an early arrival, I installed myself near one of the iron buttresses, and then prepared to take stock of the audience. I found them to be a rather motley assemblage,—at least, so far as their vesture is concerned. Bed shawls, gaudy ribbons, and large bonnets seemed to find favour with the softer sex, while the lords of creation "sported" hats, coats, and comforters of the most "outre " description, and also appeared to enjoy the attention which they attracted. Presently I noticed that thenew-comers invariably made for seats near the buttresses or under the gaslight, and that a great deal of squabbling went on for the various seats. A strapping and raw-boned hobbledehoy at this junctnre advanced towards me, and in a whining tone said, "I say, mister, you might let me rest my back against that 'ere post, 'cos I've got the rheumatiz awful bad." Of course I consented, wondering, however, at the same time if the other people struggling and quarrelling about similar positions were similarly afflicted. In due time my eyes were opened to "tbe little game." Instead of the presents being distributed to the holders ot prize tickets, as formerly when the law was more lax, they were given away to people whom the distributor distinguished either by their dress, pecu liarity of appearance, or position. I made a mental note of the fact that the ladies with red shawls and large hats came in for a good proportion of the gifts—that men with " billycock " hats, red side whiskers, and bald pates, were con siderably favoured, and that buttress supporters were duly rewarded. Imagine my. chagrin, however, when the rheumatic youth jumped nimbly up in response to an invitation to come forward and receive a handsome gift. lam resolved now to go in for a prize—bald-headed if need be, but at present merely side-whiskered, and on no account shall I allow myself to be dis possessed or wheedled out of a favoured seat. I shall proceed tentatively, of course, and as a first essay in the way of bizarre effects, I intend to give my hair and whis kers a hue of the most intense red procur able.

The declaration by the New Zealand Government that Fiji is an infected port has already created a little excitement here. I'he passengers who arrived by the steamer Penguin had a veiy narrow escape of passing the quarantine ordeal, and as the incidents ot the past appear before me, I

can picture the interesting scene in which they might have taken part. First, the stea mer should have come up the harbour witli the Health Officer's flag living, or else the quarantine light ought to have been exhi bited. Then the Customs launch should have been got out, steam got up, and Dr. Philson, Mr Edward Brophy, and the re presentatives of the Presp, should have been invited on board, and the launch, under command of Captain Parker, of H.M.C, should have proceeded towards tho steamer. When a few hundred yards off, the launch should have stopped, Dr. Philson should have taken a small book, without a cover, from his coat tail pocket, and scanning it carefully, he should have asked Capt. Cromarty if he was quite well ?—if anyone had tho small-pox, or the cholera, or the measles, onboard! How much small-pox, measles, cholera, etc, was raging in the port which he Inst quitted? Kad be a cie;.u bill oi health r And all these and many ether inteiroga tions having been answered satisfactorily, the launch should have : on - uJfcngjidc, :»Dd Dr. Philson and Mr Brophy should have stepped on board. Then Mr Brophy should have displayed a long wooden pencil, a sheet of ruled foolscap, and an "official" envelope; and Dr, Philson should have said he wished to see the passengers and! craw. Tbe worthy skipper should then have called, " All the passengers step for. ward, please," and, the doctor, having ad journed into the most convenient enclosure, should have caused ench-both male and female—old and young, infirm and robust, to elevate the covering of their arms, and exhibit their "vaccinate" mark—if they had any; and if Such pioved invisible In any case, the small tubes and the lance should have been called into requisition.

I Meanwhile, the Immigration Officer, smiling and corteous, as per usual, should have caught hold of each of the passen gers as he or she emerged from the doctor's presence, and inquired?, '• Have you any complaints to make?' and, as nobody would have any, all would pass by. The captain and crew should have next under gone a similar ordeal, and the former should have been presented with a clean bill of health, and the passengers should have been allowed to go ashore, Then the mails should have been conveyed in the Customs launch to the quarantine hulk, and the keeper of that interesting specimen of marine architecture should have been discovered looking over the side, with great anxiety depicted on his counte nance, and a feeling of satisfaction per vading his whole composition, because "at laßt " he had a prospect of " something to show "for his salary. Beside the keeper should have been the •' Governor" of Motu- Ihl standing on a box, in order that he might see over the bulwarks, and he should have had prepared nearly two hundred v ue-tions about sulphur aad carbolic acid* and-tin kettles, ready to launch at the visiting party. Then the launch having got along side and the mails transhipped, there ought to have been a row about the fire not being lit, or who would carry the bags, but even tually all should have ended well, and the mail having again been placed in the launch, it should have been conveyed to town. Last, but not least iv importance, a full account of the proceedings herein enumerated should have appeared in the daily papers, but it did not. I supply that much-felt want.

The bungling attendant upon the berth ing of the mail steamer on Tuesday morn ing has agaiu attracted attention to the vexed pilot service question, and the why and wherefore have been eagerly discussed everywhere during the week. But ia this connection one very important poiut has been overlooked. There are a few persons who know just a little on tne matter, and who would like to be informed why Capt. Murray was in charge of the vessel at all. Everyone admits that the most im portant duty devolving upon the pilots is to bring these big steamers into port. That being so, it is only natural to sup pose that the responsibility would be undertaken by the senior or best-paid man in the service. Now, I and others would like to know if Captain Murray is senior or junior pilot; and if, as is stated, he is merely the latter, then the duty of the Board is to discover why the two pilots who are credited as being ais seniors were both content to leave this duty on successive occasions to a man who is not supposed to possess ihe experience or ability of his superiors in office. The mere censuring ot tbe man who was in. charge should not be sufficient, and it will be a pity if some effort is not made to get at the root of the whole matter.

A Comprehensive Stewpan.

A MAN who had bs-en iv the West of , Ire land was telling hie experience.

" How did you like it over there ?"

"Not much."

"Don't they live well?'

" They mix too much."

" What do you mean by that ? "

" Well, I'll tell you. I stopped one night at a poor farmhouse, because I couldn't find any place else, and after putting away my horse I went in to wait for supper. The old woman had just begun to cook some meat in a stewpan, so I thought I'd watch her, and see how they got up a real home-made meal. After the meat was cooked, she filled the same stewpan with potatoes, and then with cabbage, and last with coffee, and supp> r was ready. At the sapper table the stewpan was served as a wa-ter-pitchei, and alter supper she washed the dishes in the pan, and then carried the slops out in it. That looked to me like stretching the uei of culit.ary vessels; but when I was ready to go up in the loft to bed I saw the old lady bring out the stewpan again, and, strike me Prussian blue with a toothpick, if she didn't wash the baby in it right before my eyes. Now, that is what I call mixing things, and 1 didn't like it well enough, to stay to break fast."

There is no arena io which vanity dis plays itself under such a variety of forms as in conversation. — Pascal. We no longer attribute the untimely death of Infants to the sin of Adam, but to bad nursing and ignorance.— Garfield, The darkest night that over fell upon the earth never hid the light, never put out the stars. It only made the stars mote keenly, kindly glancing, as if in protest against the darkness.— George Eliot. A father may turn his bsck on his child, brothers and sisters may become inveterate enemies, husbands may desert their wives, wives their husbands, but a mothpr's love endures through all,— Washington Irpinff,