THE GARDEN.

(By Hohtus).

Calendar of Operations, September 15.

fHoRTUS is willinK to answer any queries. Cor respondents must give their full name and address, though not for publication.]

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Early Potatoes (J.K.1.)—1 do not think your soil is suited for early potatoes-it is too cold.wet, and damp. They probably will not suceoed. Lot thorn stand for another month. II not doing well,then pull them out. You can then fill tie space with some other crop. It is only light dry soila, with warm exposure, which are suited for such early planting. Annuals (A.G.)—You had better apply to a seedsman for a catalogue giving the colours, height, habits, and general description of each vanoty sold. Tomatoes, Cucumbers (R.A.) —I would advise you to wait now till the proper season. Thore will be any number of nice young plants of tho above for sale by the different seedsmen, that is, in v few weeks.

Kitchen Garden.

The season is advancing—fine, genial weather will bo setting in. Make every ftxertion to put in main crop of vegetableß whenever the ground is in a favourable' state. Make the usual fortnightly sowings of mustard-cress and radishes for salad. Peas sow every three weeks for succession; earth up and stake advancing crop. Plant out cabbage and cauliflower in a well manured break. Sow a fresh patch of seed for later planting. Advancing crops thin out, giving plenty of space for eacli plant to fully mature. Early potatoes earth up ; plant a few more intermediate varieties. Sow parsley, leeks, turnips, carrots, onions, and parsnips. Big and manure ail grcund which was under winter or green crop. Let it lie for a few weeks to sweeten for the later crops. Look well after the slugs. Attend to cucumber and melon plants under glass. Flower Garden. In fine weather have the soil finely broken up, and sow extensively • all hardy annuals. Try and make an artistic ar rangement of colours, placing the smaller growing varieties in the front border and the larger in the rear. Some of the annuals make as good, if not better, bedding plants than the old orthodox varieties, which have to be struck from cuttings. There is one thing to be said in their favour—you can purchase seed for a trifle every season, and to get up a stock of other bedding plants takes time and labour. Where such are in stock, make preparations for planting out. Continue plantingout bulbs for successional flowering. Plant out the old. roots of dahlias, and divide and pot those started in heat. The slugs are very fond of the above. Pick dead blossoms off camellias, and prune back slightly those done flowering. When azaleas are coming into flower, water them occasionally with liquid manure. Lawn— Give a dusting'of guano so as to produce a rapid growth, and so as to get a good soil established before dry weather sets in.

Greenhouse.

A more active growth will be apparent in this department. On the first fine day give the house a thorough overhaul, take all the plants out of the house, and thoroughly wash the glass and woodwork with soap and water ; under part of the staging paint with a wash made of quicklime and tobacco water. This will kill the lava? of any in sects which may have lodged there. Re turningthc plants into the house,thosewhich do not want repotting, simply wash the pots, scrape about a half-inch of soil off the surface, replace with .fresh compost suited for the plant. Those that require repot ting have done at once, turning them out of the pots, reducing the ball, and repotting In clean, dry pots—larger, smaller, or the same size, as they may require it, putting plenty of drainage at the bottom of the pot. All dirty pots should be washed and dried at once, so as to be ready for future repotting. Put in a batch of coleus cuttings, and keep the house closed for a few days, so as to establish the newly-potted plants.

Seasonable Hints.

Never sift soil for potting rooted plants of any description. For the surface of seed pots and cuttings it is desirable to sift it.

When repotting hard-wooded plants, take care that the plants are not placed deeper in the pot than they were before, If the soil about the roots is very dry, water them first, so as to soak the ball before potting. _ __

When sowing flower seeds in clayey soil, make the lines or rings ; sow the seed ; have a barrow-load of finely-sifted soil wherewith to cover them up. By doing this the seed will germinate better, also producing better flowering plants. When sowing flower seed in border or bed, never sow broadcast in the border ; sow in a circular drill. In the bed, sow in parallel lines. The advantage in drill or ring, apart from the convenience of thinning, is that you ran easily distinguish the weeds from the plants, so that you may destroy the former.

Never commence the sowing of annual seeds packet by packet, but sort them care fully into .sections according to height, hardiness, and positions they are suited to adorn. In all cases have the labels written distinctly inaoors, which will facilitate the sowing. Never wait for crops of weeds to become large and imposing before hoeing the ground. Hoe the general surface of the garden frequently whenever there is the slightest appearance of weeds coming through. Pick out the weeds from seed bed, &c, whenever distinguished; thus it will bo found less troublesome and less laborious to keep a garden thoroughly clean than when allowed to get dirty. TAlways, if possible, sow asters, stock, balsams, partulaca, &c, on a bed of fine earth spread in the bottom of a shallow frame, or on a slight hotbed. When sown thus they grow quickly, and are in a good condition to plant out. Sow thinly in lines, and when largo enough transfer directly to the open border some moist, cloudy day, water directly, and they will receive very little check.

Tin-. Care of Hotbeds,

Two dangers threaten plants that are growing in the hotbed, viz., excessive heat and excessive moisture. On bright days the heat of the sun that shines through the glass added to that from the fermenting manure is often sufficient to destroy tender plants before one suspects it, unless the ashes arc partly open. On cool days, on the other hand, when the fermentation of the manure is rapid, the moisture that rises from it is condensed on the glass and drops down upon the plants, keeping them too wet. The excessive moisture, with the heat, causes what is called "damping off," which causes the more tender plants to sud denly droop and die. On examination it will often appear that the stems of such plants aws entirely rotted oft'at the surface of the ground. The remedy for both these evils is the same, viz. : (Jive tho hotbed plenty of air. It must havo uir to let out heat on bright, warm days, and air to let out dampness on cool days. Tho sun coming out suddenly, even for a few minutes on a mild day, will sometimes work Harm if tho sashes are

closely shut. It is only on tho sevorest days of spring that it is wise to leave the sash closed all day.

While tho importance of giving air by day it thus emphasised,it is hardly less import ant to covor the glass with some additional covering at night, particularly in early spring. It should not bo forgotten that plants grown in the hotbed in September and October are more tender, and con sequently less able to endure vicissitudes of temperature than those grown in the open air in summer. Plants in the hotbed should not be watered when tho sun is shining upon them. It is true that the more vigorous plants, like the cabbage and tomato, aro able to endure this kind of treatment, but if persisted in it will destroy the more tender ones. The best time to wator the plants is in the evening or late in the afternoon. ,In case it is necessary to give them water while the sun is shining upon them, it is best to shade them for a time afterward.

Hybridisation.

{Continued.) The subject 13 rather one to be taken up by amateurs having a special liking for some distinct species of plants, and willing to carry on such experiments for pleasure rather than profit. They will, in truth, derive no slight enjoyment from watching the various alterations in formation, and the ever-changing arrangement in the colours of tho flowers, which they may from itime to time produce. A difference exists in the fruit department in this re spect, as more patience and perseverance are therein needed, and some years may be spent before anything worthy of notice is produced. Still, instances of decided suc cess are already by no means wanting in New Zealand. There are a few splendid peaches whichhavo been raised hero already, also a few plums,apples, etc., which already compare favourably, if not excel, a good number of imported varieties, and wo hope in the future to see more of them. In the improvement of apples, pears, plum 3, etc., we think a good leal might be done by the hybridiser in raising varieties more adapted to our climate. In Britain, some varieties of those fruits that do well in the south of England are average croppers only in the midland counties and farther north in Scotland. They aro very indifferent, and vice versa with other varieties. The same applies to the north and south of America ; also compare the American catalogues with the British, and you will see a great num ber of varieties catalogued as being raised in America. Now, these new varieties must have been raised by American hybridisers, who must have carried on experiments with the object of getting new varieties better adapted to their soils and climates, a« well as an improved quality in the fruit. New Zealand horticulture must commence the same system with the same objects in view. When anyone wishes to try experiments in the fruit department, proceed with two dis tinct varieties, as already explained in our last paper. After the flowers have been im pregnated, care must be taken to keep bees and other insects away from the flowers, so as to prevent still further impregnation. Allow the fruit to fully develope and ripen on the tree. After the fruit is ripe pluck it, keeping it as long as possible. 'When such is beginning to decay, clean the seeds out, and put past correctly labelled, so as to indicate tho two parents. Keep such seed packed in dry sand till the spring of tho year. Then sow in good soil, growing the young seedlings till they are laige enough for budding and grafting. Budding and grafting those seedlings to large trees which are already producing fruit is the quickest method of getting fruit or proving whether the young stock is any good. Suppose you have apple seedlings. Take them and bud or graft them on to an old apple tree full of vigour and producing good crops of fruit. You may be able to get two or three dozen, or even more, buds or grafts on to such a tree as we have de scribed. It will take two seasons at the least, if not three, after grafting, before you can prove your young stock always fruit for two seasons, before discarding any stock, as it will take two fruiting seasons before you can thoroughly prove it. (To he continued.)

Best Thoughts of the Best Men.

Patience and gentleness are power.— Leigh Hunt. I had rather do and not promise than promise and not do.— JVarwic/ce. Recollection is the only paradise from which we cannot be turned out. Ignorance bridles the tongue of the wise, but gives perpetual motion to that of the fool. - It is not easy to straighten in the oak the crook that grew in the sapling. True politeness is the last touch of a noble character. "It is the gold on the spire, the sunlight on the corn-field." Envy feeds upon the living ; after death it ceases ; then every man's well-earned honours defend him against calumny. Every man has his chain and his clog, only it is looser and lighter to one man than another ; and he is more at ease who takes it up than he who drags it. Affect not to despise beauty—no one is free from its dominion ; but regard it not a pearl of great]price, it is fleeting as the bow in the clouds.— Twppcr. The truest help we can render to an afflicted man is not to take his burden from him, but call out his best strength that he may be able to bear the burden.— Philip Brools.

Bear your own misfortune with half the resignation you bear other people's, and you will be happy all the time. It is so easy to tell other people how to beheroic, and so diffi cult to be courageous ourselves. Joys come to us like blossoms, and we think we have them, and then, when like blossoms they fall, we think wo have lost them, although the seed or shadow is left, but they are not gone because they have passed through a particular period of their development.

It is worthy of note that the men and women who think most highly of them selves and most meanly of others arc those who render back to society for the good things they enjoy the smallest return of personal effort.

Christian faith is a grand cathedral with divinely pictured windows. Standing with out, you see no glory, nor can possibly imagine any ; standing within, every ray of light reveals a harmony of unspeakable splendour.— Hawthorne.

The world will never be in any manner of order or tranquillity until men are firmly convinced that conscience, honour, and credit are all in one interest ; and that without the concurrence of the former, the latter are but impositions upon ourselves and others.

Lukewarmness has perils of its own ; it has the further peril of despised, grace, the peril of wilful blindness, the peril that the light which it shuts out shall be withdrawn and the soul left in entiro darkness. The very principle of the luke warm is a deniail of tho truth of the Gospel. "Whore is there any trace of love in the lukewarm? What is the object, the centre, the rule, the hopo, the fear of tho lukowarm ? It alls rolls around itself.

OUR LONDON FLANEUR.

For the Fortnight Ending July 27.

The Savage Club Fete—The Club as it Used To Be—A Royal Savage —The Ladies' Drksses — A Newspaper Costume—Five Shillings for a Tuberose—Beating a Retreat—New Comic Opera by the Com poser of "Billee Taylor"—"Virginia and Paul "— A " Lkgulau " Beauty — "Confusion" — A Successful Comedy- Theatrical Gossip — " Freedom" — Close of the Opera Season—New Books and New Editions— Forthcoming Novels—A Jour" nalistic Success. London, July. As a member of the much-belauded Savage Club, I ought, I suppose, to send you a highly-spiced account of the grand enter tainment and ball given by that eccentric band of brethren at the Albert Hall on the 12th inst. Truth to tell, however, I don't feel in the least disposed to " gush" over the affair. From a financial point of view it was unquestionably an extraordinary success. A mob of close upon six thousand persons crammed every nook and cranny of the largest hall in London. Several Royal personages graced the costume ball with their presence for at least "ten minutes ;" and the Prince of Wales's hobby (viz., the Royal College of Music) is richer, through the entertainment, by perhaps £3,000. But —and this seems to be the opinion of all dispassionate judges—the Club folks them selves have lost caste by playing the mountebank publicly. Two or three years ago London thought a good deal of the "Savages." Our Saturday "house" dinners, with their subsequent "sing songs," were famed far and wide for their "bohemian" jollity and general good fellowship. Strangers especially came away charmed. They met and talked to all sorts of theatrical and artistic celebrities, and they had the satisfaction of feeling that they had obtained the entree to a noted and exclusive coterie. Everything went well till the Prince of Wales dined at the Savage. Now, no one respects and honours H.R.H. more than I do. He meant, without doubt, to do the Club a kindness by joining it. Practically, how ever, his presence has utterly demoralised the tone of the place. Members now are divided into two classes—those whom the Prince has noticed and those whom he hasn't. The former are rapidly developing into third-rate hilt-hunters, and how the latter talk of the heir-apparent I daresay you can imagine. In old times, any "good fellow" who could prove himself either 'a journalist, an artist, or an actor, was (if properly introduced and vouched for) sure to be elected. Nowadays, au co?itraire, we seem to consider nothing but social posi tion. If my Lord Tom Noddy pays a printer £200 or £300 to inflict on the public a trashy novel, he is at once noted '' a worker in the field of literature," and becomes a ' 'Savage." On the other hand, Wilkins, the rising young actor of the Variety Theatre, gets black-balled. You see, Wilkins, senr., owns a large shop in Regent-street, and " such a club as the Savage must draw the line some where." This contemptibly snubbish feel ing—which is more than ordinarily absurd in nominally bohemian society—was rampant at the Albert Hall fete. Persons honouring the ball with their presence were compelled to obtain vouchers of respectability before the secretary would sell them tickets, and there was a laughable pretence of making the affair exclusive. Practically, as you may suppose (considering there were 0,000 people present), anybody went who wanted to. I know I should have been very sorry to take a lady there. The crush did not materially interfere with us men, but dancing being impossible, and the heat most oppressive, women-folk must have suffered seriously. A great many "Savages" got themselves up as Red Indians, and capered through the crowd in a manner that may have been diverting, but certainly wasn't dignified. The songs and recita tions, too, did not seem to "go " as at the Club—the fact, of course, being that airy trifles, which are amusing enough in a small room after dinner, were quite lost in the im mensity of the Albert Hall. I most cor dially admit, though, that there were some amazingly fine dresses to be seen at the/etc. Amongst the ladies Mrs Bernard Beere, Mrs Labouchere, Mrs Beddington, and Mrs Horace Lennard, appeared to " carry off the palm." The last-named lady, got up as " Kitty Clive," wore a most becoming cos tume. You can see a sketch of it in the " Ladies' Pictorial " for July 21, which also describes a majority of the principal dresses. There did not seem to be many Anglo-Colonials in the ball-room, if I except the wife of the able editor of the "Sydney Morning Herald." This lady's identity was most unmistakable. She wore a dres3 made up of three copies of the "Herald " printed in different coloured inks. The costume ex cited considerable comment, but is naturally bizarre rather than pretty. A monster fancy fair, which proved fully as successful as the " Savage " fete (though the voucher nonsense was dispensed with), came off at the Fisheries Exhibition on the following Wednesday, the idea being to collect enough money to build an English church at Berlin. The Princess of Wales suggested the affair, so that, of course, all other members of the Royal family threw themselves into it heart and soul. H.R.H. herself, surrounded by a bevy of beautiful peeresses, presided at the flower-stall, and sold button-holes and shoulder-knots at all sorts of prices. The Exhibition was gor geously illuminated with extra incandescent lamps, and the gardens looked like fairy land. I hope I am not a "snob," but the idea occurred to me that a flower from the Princess's own hand would be worth five shillings, if only as a curious memento of what was unqusstionably the grandest. fete of the season. I therefore commenced to drift in the direction of the conservatory, and presently found myself opposite the Dowager Lady Lonsdale, who was doing an immense business in tuberoses. Her ladyship promptly " nabbed" one, and re questing "five shillings" in a not-to-be denied sort of tone, handed in exchange a small buttonhole. Glancing up the con servatory, it then began to dawn on me that the Princess stood at the very end, and that before reaching her at least ten feminine brigands, in the shape of assisting peeresses, would have to be met and appeased. This appalling prospect was quite too utterly much for my fast-emptying purse, and turn ing precipitately away, I incontinently fled. The retreat, however, did not avail nmch. I fancy few men escaped from the Fisheries that night with a sovereign in their purse. The/ci« wan, from first to last, very enjoy able, but one couldn't afford such an outing often.

The latest imitation of " Gilbertian" comic opera is "Virginia and Paul," by Stephens and Soloman, the author and composer of " Billee Taylor" and other less successful works. This triviality—for I can scarcely call it anything else—is in two acts, and was produced at the Gaiety last week with an American actress named Lilian Russell in the principal part. The title proved misleading, for the story of "Virginia, and Paul" cas nothing to do with tho popular legend of " Paul and

Virginia." The scene, in fact, is laid at a quiet coastal villager which, owing to the machinations of our old friend, Mephisto (who on this occasion wears pants, and is styled M. De Villo) changes in a few short years from " sleepy hollow " into a fashion able seaside resort. The inhabitants, of course, alter with it; the guileless maidens of the first act becoming professional beauties in the second; the country bumpkins developing into "mashers," and so on. There are heaps of choruses—a chorus of milkmaids, a chorus of "mashers," a chorus of professional beauties, a chorus of photographers, a chorus of bathing-girls, and a chorus of navvies. None of them come within "cooeying" distance of anything in "Patience 'or " lolanthe;" in fact, the one genuine encore of the first night was obtained by Lilian Russell with a vocal waltz called "The Silver Line." This Miss Russell has created something of a sensation amongst the enfeebled youths who frequent the Gaiety. In New York she was entitled, " The Queen of the Dudes" ("dude" being the Yankee synonym for "masher"), and at Charing Cross the other night, I heard one 'Arry describe her grace fully to another as "a reg'lar bang-up swell of a girl, and no flies about it. In my humble opinion, however; Miss Russell is a comparatively plain young woman, whose attractions are mostly "legular," if I may coin such a word. She possesses a sweet soprano voice, and singa with taste and feeling, but, like most of the Yankees' swans, seems toEnglish eyes just an ordinary goose. " Confusion," a three-act comedy by Joseph Derrick (a new man), which was successfully produced at a matinee some time ago, has been placed in the regular evening bill at the Vaudoville, and is draw ing crowded houses. I went last Saturday, and was much amused. The piece is in reality a broad farce strung out to the uttermost limit, and rendered acceptable mainly through the excellent acting of Mr Charles Groves and other favourite artists. The story deals with the troubles of a newly married couple named Mumbleford, whose butler and housekeeper, though apparently strangers to each other, are, in reality, secretly wedded, and, what is worse, have a baby out at nurse up in London. In the first act the housekeeper receives a telegram requesting her to come and take away the baby at once, and at the same time Mrs Mumbleford's uncle, Mr Blizzard, is wired for to town to fetch down a pug-dog which he has promised to give his niece, but which Mumbleford has for bidden her to have in the house. The pu"1 and the baby arrive together, and are hid in different cupboards, and, of course, dreadiul complications ensue. The wife determines to surprise her husband, and writes him to look in the cupboard and see a pet all her own ; how he does so and finds the baby, and how the maiden aunt accuses Blizzard of owning the child, &c, I daresay you can imagine. It is all very funny, though a little broad at times, and too long drawn out.

Affairs theatrical have been brisker this week than for some time past. In addition to the novelties already dealt with, Willie Edouni's " Sparks " made their appearance at the Avenue on Monday evening, and a fourth-rate Italian troupo played an amateur lady's " grand opera on the sub ject of Mary, Queen of Scots," at the Folies Dramatiques. The latter, of course, proved a dead failure, and three nights later this unlucky house closed again. The autumn season at Drury Lane commences on the 4th prox. with "Freedom," a drama by Augus tus Harris and George Fawcett Rowe. The scene is laid in Egypt, and all the male characters are of different nationalities. Those who know say "Freedom" will en tirely depend for success on sensational scenic effects, the story beingabout as sane and coherent as " New Babylon " or " Pluck."

The Italian opera season closed on Satur day last, the final performance being reserved, a3 usual, for Madame Adelina Patti's farewell. Connoisseurs declare Italian opera has had its day in London, and that performances such as were seen at Her Majesty's and Covent Garden four or five years ago will never be heard again. The ensemble this summer was infamous from a musical point of view, the prima donna often proving the only real artiste performing. When old Gyo was alive, it used to be his pride that every member of the company down to the lowest chorus singer was thoroughly competent. Nowa days, big voices have it all their own way ; in fact, there is a story told to the effact that Sir Julius Benedict loft the theatre in a rage during the performance of "La Gazza Ladra" last week because the audience showed so little discrimination as to award Madame Scalchi's loud contralto voice more applause than Patti's exquisitely artistic singing.

The autumn publishing sea-son will soon be upon us here, and several interesting new books are announced. Percy Fitzgerald, the novelist and clever author of a number of works about tho stage, has just finished " Kings and Queens of an Hour —Records of Love and Adventure." Tho two volumes are said to contain all sorts of information about quaint and curious personages, and to be exceptionally amusing. Mr Gal mour's " Among the Mongols " is also in great demand at the libraries. The '' Spectator" gave it a splendid notice, comparing the work to " Robinson Crusoe," and declaring there was something almost uncanny in the way it gripped the reader. I forget whether I recommended Miss Con stance Fennimoro Woolson's " Anne " to you. The scene of the story is laid in America, and it struck mo as being the freshest and most vigorous tale of the kind I had read for a long time. Sampson, Low have issued an edition at six shillings, with all the original illustrations which appeared when it ran through "Harper's Magazine." Macdonald's " Weighed and Wanting" has also been added to the same firm's Standard series of novels, but I can't advise your readers to waste time over it. Tho story is wishy-washy, and in the author's weakest vein. A romance that cannot fail to excite extraordinary interest, when completed, is Mrs Oliphant's ■ " Wizard's Son," now run ning through " Macmillan." This prolific writer has more than once trenched daringly on tho mysteries of the unseen, but even in "The Little Pilgrim " she was not as imaginative as in this new story. Curiously enough, too, another book of [hers, which is also incomplete at present, has proved most disappointing to tho author's admirers. The story bears the title "Sir Tom," and is a sequel to " The Greatest Heiress in England." A syndicate, comprising about fifty provincial weeklies, purchased the serial right of publication in hope of making a hit with it. The public, however, didn't fancy the tale, and the weeklies had to pur chase Miss Braddon's " Phantom Fortune " in order to sustain their circulations.

"Serjeant Ballantino's Reminiscences" havo been issued in one neat volume at half a-crown, and the same sum will also pur chase a handy cheap edition of Anstey's "Vie© Versa." Colonists who have not read these two diverting books could scarcely lay out five shillings better than in buying them. Another capital story now brought within roach of you antipodeans for the first time is Charles Koade's "Woman Hater," which till quite recently could only be procured in three volumes. Chappo and Windus have now added it to their 2s series, as also the

same author's " Territle Temptation" and " A Simpleton." lieade is at work making a novel out of "Love or Money," the singularly feeble melodrama which all but failed at the Adelphi Theatre not long ago. Mrs Riddell's new story, " A Struggle For Fame " will be jut next week, and in the list of forthcoming works of fiction I notice James Payn's "Thicker than Water;" Lord James Douglas's " Estcourt;" Julian Hawthorne's long-promised " Fortune's Fool ;" and " A Fallen Foe," by Kathcrine King.

Something more than succes tTestime In journalism has been achieved by the " Gazeteer," a high-class sixpenny weekly, ■which comprises the news of the weok and all the best pars from the social, theatrical, literary, general, and trade journals served up in a readable form. This "piracy" business has often been tried before; in fact, there were two or three penny papers of the kind in existence when the "Gazeteer " began life. The advantage of the latter, however, is that the selection of items is so good. In making clippings for the colonial jourrjals, I find tho " Gazoteer" an immense improvement on the ordinary society paper. Unfortunately, the titl»is a bad one, and the extorior unattractive, or- I should expect the journal to develop into a real big thing.

FOR THE LADIES.

The following is startling evidence of the progress of the photographic art: — "A lady last week had her likeness taken by a photo graphist, and ho executed it so well that Her husband prefers it to the original." When the girl who has encouraged a young man for about two years suddenly turns around and tells him that she can never be more than a sister to him, he can for the iirst timo sue the freckles on her nose. " Ma, has aunty got bees in her mouth ?" " No, why do you ask }" " 'Cause Captain Jones caught hold of her, and said he was going to tako honey from her lips ; and she said, ' Well, make haste !' " "Are you nearsighted, miss?" said an impertinent fellow to a youug lady who did not choose to recognise him. "Yes," she retorted ; "at this distance I can hardly tell whether you are an ape or a puppy." One of the miseries of human life is going to dine with your friend upon the strength of a general invitation, and finding by the countenance of his wife that you had much better have waited for a particular one. " Speaking of shaving," said a pretty girl to an obdurate old bachelor, "I should think that a pair of handsome eyes would be the best mirror to shave by." "Yes, many a poor fellow has been shaved by them," the wretch replied. It needs wise and patient effort to make home the most attractive place of all—and it should never be less than that. Those ■womanly arts which by the skilful touch lend beauty and grace to the plainest things, and from being homely make them to be home-like, are all needed to this end. Many a husband too prone to stray might be kept by his own fireside by no more art or subtlo skill than this. She had an intellectual look, and as she came up the street, talking with her com panion, the strolling passer-by said to him self, "She is discussing Carlyle, or quoting Tennyson." And, as she came nearer, her face brightened with a now animation, and she waslieard to say, " Yes, just a yard and three-quarters in the train." A girl should be taught to detest two thingsthoroughly—idleness andaimlossne.-v-i. These two enemies have given birth to ennui, which is pain. If she be a child of fortune, instruct her even more carefully than if she were poor to work in some de finite manner for pleasure's own sake. More than all, train her hands, and stir her brain with the constant assurance that she will find her sweetest satisfaction in that which she is to accomplish in life. "The quantity of whalebone used in dress bodies," writes a fashionablo critic, " is now enormous, and when it is remem bered that the bones in corseUs now exceed by about 150 per cent, what they used to be, no wonder will he felt at the extreme stiffness and angularity of the fashionable figure feminine. Even muslin dresses have three bones at the back, one under each arm, and four in front." It would thus appear that while the battle rages round the divided skirt the whale is having rather an exciting time. Some day, a critic sug gests, the cetacean may tako it into its head to become extinct, and what will ladies do then ? It has been said that the pith of a lady's letter is in the postscript, and as an illus tration of this may be mentioned the case of a young lady who, having gone out to India and writing home to her friends, concluded with the following words:—" I'.S.—You will see by my signature that I am married." A lady whose style of piety was somewhat affected once took .1 friend to task for wear ing feathers. "But," said the friend, " why are my feathers more objectionable than tho artificial flowers in your bonnet ?" " Oh," replied the lady, "Christians must draw the line somewhere, and I draw it at feathers 1" What Shall We Teach A Dauoh tHe?—Teach her to bo pious. Teach her to bo solf-roliant. Teach her constant neatness. Teach her kindnoss of manner. Teach hor sweetness of temper. Teach her to be kind to servants. Teach her industry and usefulness. Teach her strict and loving obedience. Teach her to be scrupulously conscientious. Teach her the best rules of social etiquette. Teach her that poverty, however inconvenient, is not degrading. Music. Boys, as well as girls, should be taught to play upon some musical instrument. No more soothing or more refining influence can be introduced than the home concert. To vary the usual custom, and to give variety, let a girl learn the violin and a boy the piano. It is very interesting to see the usual position occasionally reversed, and there is nothing ungraceful or iinfeminine in the use of the violin. Very few natures are so coarse or so fierce that they cannot be leached by music. " I had," said a woman who was famed for lovely manners, "the good fortune to havo a musical papa. He used to wake me in the morning by playing Mozart's ' Batti, Batti' on the flute, and he always, although a busy lawyer, gave us an hour in the evening with his violin. I am sure Strauss, with his famous Vienna orchestra and his world-renowned waltzes, has never put such a thrill into my nerves, or such quicksilver into my heels, as did my father's playing of the Virginia Keel and the first movement;; of Yon Weber's ' In vitation a la Valse,' nor have I ever heard such solemn notes as those which came from his violoncello as he ac companied my mother in the funeral march in the Seventh Symphony.' Their music- made home a more at tractivo spot than any theatre or ball,. They were neither of them great musicians. I dare say their playing would have been considered very amateurish in these days of msuical excellence. But it served the pur pose of making home a very peaceful spot to their boys and girls, and. of koep ing it a memory of delight through much that was trying in the way of income, per sonal self-sacrifice, and ill-health. We had our trials, but everything vanished when father began to play."

STAR SATURDAY SUPPLEMENT, SEPTEMBER 15, 1883.

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