STAR SATURDAY SUPPLEMENT.

AUCKLAND, N.Z., SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, ISB3

ROUND THE THEATRES.

C HAT ABOUT SOME NEW PLAYS.

(FROM OTO LONDOK COKUKSrOSHKNT.)

wS BW COJMDT AT TIIK ST. JAMB* H.KA- Tl' KF -"YOUN(! FOLKS WAYH'-JIK IIAUK TSAILOB AND HIS I.ASS" AT DUVRY t.\ne-Mai:v Aniikusos in tiik "Lady ok i'j. 0Ng »_"FALKA" AT THK COMBIIY TIIEA" , m l GILUKUT'B NKW I'IKCK FOR MAUY ludkuson-Nkw Plays at tiik Princesses u'gilbttk" at tiik royalty.

fm premieres, so frequent at some of our London theatres, aro fow and far between at ,i,o St. James's. Taking my seat in the stalls the other evening to witness the first performance of "Young Folks' Ways," I feHiembered that my last visit to this house was on a foggy December night, ly t en months ago, over since when tho re acting of tho Konduls and their com mnv has managed to retain popularity for Htoeularly poor piece. Thank goodness, however, " Impulse " is at length a thing °» the past, i"l' ia its l' lilce Mrs Burnett , n d Mr Gilette have given us a play almost eaual in fresh breeziness to the ovcr-to-be reWabcred "Squire." "Esmoralda (or " \ oung I olka \\ ays, „ it is somewhat feebly re-christened), comes to us from Yankee-land. An old nlavbill reminds mo that I saw the comedy at the Madison Square Theatre in New York on the 7th of April, 1881, as I was. on mv way l'°me ( rom y°ur Part of tho wollcl- I remember enjoying it intensely even then. k U t I don't think anyone can thoroughly realise the possibilities of tho pfocc till ho or she has scon r r'aro a"d. "If am' rs Kendal in the principal parts. "Esme raldft" ran many months in New York, anc [ achieved a more than ordinarily genuine buccoss there, so you may imagine «httta/«'W-c there was to ba present at the first representation here. I never saw atheiitro packed much tighter than the St. James's last Saturday. Every nouk and cranny of tho stalls and dress circle held a •'celebrity." Tho American and Australian correspondentswerc grateful to be permitted to stand flat against the wall at the far back of the balcony. To get out during the ditriichc was impossible, and the hent made one profoundly uncomfortable, but vre en dured bravely to the end, congratulating ourselves that our fate was not as bad as that of the perspiring throng of pitites and upper box folk, many of whom had waited outside the doors from four in the afternoon io half-past seven so that they might get decent seats. "Esmeralda" is a dramatic adaption of Mrs Frances Hodgson Burnett's novelette of the same name, which may be obtained anywhore for a shilling. The story U tender, graceful, ami often extremely pathetic. In a log cabin in North Carolina Jiro three people—Blbert Rogers, a simple hearted, kindly old man, who farms an un productive claim in tho barren country that he loves : his daughter, Esmeralda, a silent, thinking girl; and Mrs Kogers. a soured, discontented, domineering vixen, who doteats the life they lead, and ia per;>etuallv "nagping" at her husband for enduring it. This woman proves the evil g«nius of tie piece. Mining engineers vnit the farm, and it is a terrible blow to old Rogers then "mother" (as he always calh his spouse) welcomes the offer of a speculator to give a tritle for the stony, barren farm : nor is ho much consoled when Esmeralda's accepted lover—a manly young fellow named Dave Hardy—discovers the truth, and arrives on the scone just in the nick of time to prevent "mother" disposing of an enormously valuable mining property for a mere nothing. Old "Rogers loves his "little house in North Caroliney," and it is only the obedient habit of a lifetime that induces him to cany out his wife's wishes and sell the place. But tho will of Mrs Rogers, who was " brought np in Elizabethvillc," and know 3 tho world, has long been paramount in the log cabin. Her daughter dares not disobey her, and her husband cannot, so when wealth comes to the little family she easily asserts herself asitshead. "Mother's" first act is to break oft' Esmeralda'a engage ment with Dave Hardy, whom the girl has shyly promised to marry a short time before, and who has jnst furnished the modest little house close by where sho is to be installed a farmer's wife. This awful irom.in then announces her intention of carrying off husband and daughter 1 olive in style in Paris, and it is worth their exhibition of distress over their sudden prosperity that the first act (which is in "many respects the best) closes. We noxt find ourselves in tho studio of a •semi-artistic, semi-;usthotic, and altogether charming family of Engllth folk residing in Paris. Jack Desmond is a painter of some Jnerit,hie sister Nora(played by Mrs Kcnd'al ■who naturally makes her a very fascinating person) dabbles in sculpture, and the younger sister Kate is a'Sthetic. The Desmonds have a great friend—one Esta brook^ wealthy young man of leisure, who flirts outrageously with Nora, and evi dently admires Kate not a little also. A year before Estabrook, travelling in America for pleasure, happenod to accom pany a mining engineer acquaintance on a prospecting tourin North Carolina, and thus was at the log-cabin of tho Rogers on the afternoon they became wealthy. He followed up the acquaintance, and, we learn from conversation, that the Desmonds have ■called upon the Rogers, who are now living in Paris, and that they take a great interest in the old farmer and "little Esmeraldy,"as he calls her. Mrs Rogers is 'continuing her ambitious plans. She has be throthed EBraeralda to a blackguard French Marqnis, and by his help forced her way 'into a very second-rate set of titled foreign 'era; Dave Hardy also turns up in Paris. -He iB discovered on the Boulevards penni less and starving by Estabrook, who takes lim to the Desmonds', where the. fellow is rnademuchof and encouraged in hjs pur suit of Esm'eralda.

In the third act we again meet the Ttogers' family. They arc living in splen dour, but mother alone appreciates the change, Esmeralda punnj; for her lover, and the father for his North Carolinian home, One of the best hits in the piece is Mere Rogers expresses his delight at Meeting a familiar face from the little house. Mrs Rogers deeply resents the at titude of her husband and daughter, urging at them worse than ever. Esmer alda looks wan and miserable; moreover, "is idea of marrying the .French marquis is graduallj' making her desperate. Old Rogers appeals secretly to the Marqtii.« to relinquish his claim to the girl's hand. "Me and Esmeraldy," he says, "are simple folk," and then ho en deavours to touch the polished blackguard's 'feelings by cxpl:Uning that his daughter

loves Dave Hardy. The Martinis listens quietly and politely to what the poor old man has to say, and then bows himself oil' sarcastically observing that since Madame has given hor consent to tho marriago, thu views of Monsieur and of Mdlle. Esmeralda do not concern him. Esmoralda, however at length throws oil" tho veil of timid' heart-broken quiescence, and rebels. She wildly defies her mother, hysterically in forms iM. le Marquis that she loathes him and winds up a dreadful scene by falling into a dead swoon. Tho fourth act brings about tho usual happy denouement. The Rogers aro 'not wealthy after all Tho vein of gold on their land was very thin, and only led to a fine reef on tho adjoining plot, owned by Dave Hardy. The latter consequently turns out tho million aire, and "mother "is very glad to com promise matters by letting Esmoralda marry tho young man. You will soo from tho foregoing sketch that the old Farmer Rogers is the central figure of tho play. Tho loves of Dave and Esmeraldfi and tho flirtations of Estabrook and Nora aro commonplace enough, but Elbort Rogers interests tho audience deoply. Mr Hare plays tho part ivith rare intelli gence, avoiding even a fembltuco of ex aggeration. Ho is powerfully supported by Mrs Hermann Vozin as the domineering " mother," and Miss Webster as Esmoralda. Mr and Mrs Kendal aro most amusing in tho parts of Estabrook and Norn,but Mr(r. Alexander's Dave Hardy forms a poor sub stitute for Ebon Plympton, who played tho character in Now V ork.

" A Sailor and his Lass," tho new melo drama at Drury Lano, is tie most miserable farrago of sensational mnsense that has been placed on tho stagp of a West End theatre for years. Evtn tho scenery, usually such a featuro of Harris's shows, is this time heavy and unnstural. Tho real horse and cab look hopeltssly out of pro portion, Mid the sinking ship goo* to the bottom 80 slowly that the audience shriek with laughter. To describe the plot would bo a dreary task. I shall, therefore, 101 l you that Gus Karris ;cts a rollicking British tar, and leave yoi to imagine the thrilling' nature of his "acrentures' when I state that some of the scenes lie passos through represent a dymmiro factory, an apple orchard, tho Old Biiloy Court-house, .Mary Anderson has timed the heads of London theatre-goers, and before sho leaves England sho wil probably bo as great a favourite as Hoiry Irving himself. Tho audience which assembled on the first night of the "Liuly tf Lyons" clearly showed this. From thoPrinco and Princess of Wales downwards, all the notables in variably associated w.th "special occa sions "at tho Lyceum vero present. Lady Burdett-Coutts smiled from one private box, whilst Miss Fortescue and Lord Oarmoyl'o were the observed of all observers in another. The array of dramatic critics, which included Yates, Sain, Labouchore, ChJmont Scott, W, S. Gilbert, Dunphy, and Percy Fitzgerald, was strengthened by a strongcontingentofauthors,editors, artists and theatrical folk—in fact, no foreign artiste save perhaps Sarah Bernhardt ever before attracted such a hotse.

Tho first act dngged sadly. Mr Frank Archer, specially mgaged to play Bam seant, and suppose! to be the man of all others for tho pait, failed altogether, nor was Mr Rosier as * Glavis " moro success ful. People had btgun tm feel rather bored when Mies Andersoi made her entree in tho garden scene, and perhaps this'accounted for the comparativt lack of enthusiasm on her reception. Shj looked charming, and played the love sceie with Claude so archly that the audience warmed up again, and when tho curtain foil gavo the young lady and Mr Barnes (Claude) a call. It was, however, in the foirth act .Miss Anderson achieved her real triumph. Tho upbraid ing in tho third, uually made so much of, fell comparatively-flat, but the alternations between love and pride, and the gradual overcoming of thehttcr by the former, were wonderfully shown and when Claude, Hing ing Pauline from Hm, rushed off to become a soldier, tho audince broke into thunders of applause.

The papers, as c rule, review Miss Ander son's " Pauline " favourably. All admit her grace, fascinalion, and charm of man ner : but all, or (early all, aver that she lacks power. Herrendering of the charac ter cannot {par exmplc) be compared with Ellen Terry's.

"Falka," the mv comic opera by tho young Belgian conposer, Chassaiguc, is a great "hit" at the Comedy Theatre, and will probably run nr a twelvemonth, like ".Kip Van WinkUis." I have not been to see it .yet, bu1, they tell me a bal lad called "At Eventide" will be heard everywhere >efore Christmas, and that rondos, polkas, and waltzes abound; one of the best morceaux being a lively ditty, commencing, " 'Tis the Captain Boleslas." Pretty Violet Cameron and Kelleter have the bos'- part" in "Falka;" the "doleful comediin," Harry I'aulton, supplying the fun. ..-; The great Gilbert hs> not meroly patched lip all difficulties with Vlary Anderson, but absolutely written a pice for her. It is in one act, and very dramrtic; tho great scene representing the agon/ and suppressed emotion of a young girl who has to enter tain a large party of fritids and aflect in difference whilst two of icr adorers—one of whom she desperately Ices—are fighting a dual in the adjacent garlen, from whence a clash of swords can occ«ionally bo heard. The new play is to beperbrmod in conjunc tion with "Pygmalion, o:Galatea." The reign of the " SiVer King" at the Princesses draws to a cose, though the drama still attracts good louses. Mr Wil son Barrett unfortunately pledged himself many months ago to preluce a now piece in November, and so " Claidian," Hermann Merivale's Byzantine drana, will be pro duced on the 26th inst.

The " Merry Duchess " ban also come to the end of her tether at he Royalty, and Audran (of " Mascotte " f>me) will follow Messrs Clay and Simme, his new piece being an anglicised versior of " Gilette de Narbonne," oneof thenaugltystories in the Decameron. This was a jreat success at the Bouffes Parisiens, and i said to contain quite as pretty airs as " Olvette." "In the Ranks " is provng the greatest success the Adelphi has kiown for many years. Hundreds are turnel from the doors nightly, andthe booking sofar has been un precedented. "La Vie''a the Avenue, on the contrary; is almost a fdlurc.and I'lnng nette's " Nell Gwynne " <ill be put into rehearsal forthwith. A coiedy by Pinero is underlined for immediie production at tho Haymarket, and an Anbncfin piece has been accepted for the Cout, AVhcn I add that the Yokes fomily reajpeav in London at Xmas, that tho'Alhambn will bo opened next month, and that tho Standard Theatre is drawing crowds of Wet-enders to the city to see "Glad Tidtigß," I think I have posted you up piety fairly in tho theatrical news of the day

THE GARDEN.

I (By Houtos).

Calendar of Operations, December 22.

llloitTus is willing to answer any queries. Cor respondents must give their full names and addresses, though not for publication.]

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Potatoes (U.M., Parnoll).-I usually earth potatoes twice. Sometimes I huvo done it Hire;' times; in fuel, the oftencr the surface soil is disturbed the bolter for the crop. Draw tho soil well up to the plants, leaving v good mound. Do not put the hoe down deep near tho base of tho plant: you might interfere with tho small growing tubers. 2nd. I could not tell you how lun« it takes potatoes to mature: a grenl ■leal depends on the variety, sod, and situation.-Homo ripening quiekcr in one place than in aunt hor. Whenever the tubers are lnruro cmnwh for cooking tliov can he lifted. If you want, the tubers, to 'keep (luring the winter, let them lie in the ground till tho hiuim is withered. Cabbage and cauliflower aro earthed up similar to potatoes, and about the saint) number of times.

Ai-iacors <U.<;., Now ton).—l have seen these trees produce n good crop when they wore tivo years old down in tho province of Nelson where soil and situation suited them. \n Auckland a good crop \n an exception. I have seen trees ten years old and not bcarintr any fruit. 1 think gulllolout is .not known respecting the reasons why this fruit does not succeed hero. Perhaps some oreliardist who has cxporlmtiiitod with the tree and has been successful will detail his .•xperioncv. If ho. In; would confer a benetlt oa his fellow colonists.

I'k.u: and I'i.i'M Tube Mcgcii (R.H., Epsoin). ln usintc lim.i for the destruction of the above, Himiilytako newly slaked! hue in ndrr st-ito, anil dust it all over tho foliaßo of tho trues, repcatliiK the dose us often as tho insect appear*, which will probably be in about a fortnight after the first application.

Kitchen Garden.

Tin; weather seems to havo become moro settled now, Any operations which may have been neglected during the wet spoil must now bo carried on with vigour. I too

the surface so as to kill weeds, which tho Into rains ami present warmth uro germin ating in thousands. Got rid of them in a seedling state. Earth up all advancing crops. I'inch back all running vines of cucumbers, melons, and pumpkins. Toma toes tie up to their supports, pinching back and thinning out when necessary. "Stake running beans; earth up those'that aro advancing ; sow for .succession a fow moro French beans. Finish planting out main crops of celery and leeks. Earth up tho early-planted trenches; give liberal supplies of water. If the main crops of brocoli, bntssol sprouts, savroy, cabbage, and cauliflower were not planted out as directed last week, have tho work done at onco, settling the f soil around thorn with water after planting. As tho period for watering is now approaching, have a barrel or some other convenience for making liquid manure so that a littlo can bo added to each can of water used ; the effect on vegetables U wonderful. Still look after slugs and snails. Flower Gordon. In this dopartment tlio warmer weather is making itself felt in pushing tho growth. A good number of plants are beginning to show a considerable quantity of flower now. Bedding plants are making active growth. Regulate mich to the require ments of the bed ; peg down and pinch any that require it; mulch if the materials con bo got at. (Jive heavy waterings with liquid manure in dry weather. Mixed border: Hoe tho surface soil, stake, tio, and regulate all the different plants ; pick oil' dead blooms ; thin out late .sown annuals. Hoses: Give frequent waterings with liquid manure. Lawn: Alow ami mil. Walks: Hoe, rake, .".ad roll.. Try now to keep tho whole garden in as neat and trim a condition as possible. During the next month everything ought to bo looking in best. January is generally the best month in the year for giving :\ good floral' display. Towards February many plants begin to suffer from the e(lec"t.H of dry weather. Greenhouse. Growth will now be very active, Colons, etc., pinch and regulate; ro-pot into larger pots,, as they rerjniro more room. Ciivo plenty of air and water. VVikdov." Plants.—All plants inside very sunny windows will be better removed to the outside during the hottest part of tho day, taking them in again between three and four in the afternoon. All window boxed will bo better for having the surface soil taken olf, and a little fresh compost put in its place ; give liberal' supplies of water. Tomatoes on Poles. A convenient way of training tomatoes is described by W. I. Woodworth in tho "Kural New Yorker," nn follows :—" My plan of growing tomatoes in the garden is to set pules about eight feot long firmly in tho ground three feot apart each way. A plant is allotted to each pole, with an old fruit can, with both ends cut out, Pet in tho ground near each plant, in which to pour water when needed. Cut out all laterals, and tio up the main vine to tho pole as it grows. This permits tho uso of rich soil, and insures much earlier, larger, sweoter and more abundant fruit, besides keeping it clean, andrendering it less liable to rot."

SELECTED POETRY.

1883. ON'K MORE YEAH,

One moro! We may have felt it oroinp:; We may have had to wait until it passed; Or, like a phantom sprite, it may havo cast No shadow—passed without our knowing. One more ! Like drop upon tho ocean, It 'momrst tho great eternity of years Has fallen, to eoinminifle with its peers. That nevermore shall know of motion. One more! But what the whence and whither! What aro the years, that woahallcall thorn gone? Are they the actore, wo the lookers-on I Or are we moving onward all together? One more! And is not Time abiding? Ts it not we, and not the years, that pass; Just as it is the sand, and not ilio glass, That rims, uniting and dividing i One move! O, list to tho delusion! One pone would surely mean one less to go. And there would come a time, if this were so, When Time would reach its own conclusion. One more! An oj?o or a nation, As myriad others may have done before, Jlav Kink into tlv m.rat ie Nevermore; But Time shall ever be Duration. Oncmore! TheworMsmarcciwothdrshining, And leave tlicir orbits, nui'vim? Chaos king.. Till lifcbeatanipcd and starved from everything; But Time shall never know declining. One more! How glibly it is spoken I We think to measure Time by Heaven s brow ; But ah ! it is one solid, boundless Now, That ovennore remains unbroken! Jas. Simpson. Auckland, '883.

CATCHING A GHOST.

Aboot fivo years, -igo I had occasion to visit the pretty little village of B , a hamlet situated a few miles on tho outskirts of Manchester. Being somewhat tired, I entered tho " Jolly Carter" Inn, and takin" my place in tho cosy bar parlour, 1 called for a glass of mine host's sparklin" XX October ale, and sat idly listening to the following animated discussion which was being carried on by a motley group of village worthies who were gathered around the hospitable-looking lire, which blazed right merrily up the capacious chimney : — "Neaw, chaps," said an old man, who, judging from his appearance and the do ferenco paid to him by his companions, was a person of some consideration, " it's a wool-known fact ut, the' heawso ut Owtl Jack o' Turn's wut murdert in is haunted. Aw shudn't bi so sure o' what aw'm tollin1 ye if it wurn't for a raythor singular occur rence nt happened t' caur Sally in connec tion wi' Jack o' Turn's heaw.se. Jt wur th1 other neet when, havin' bin t' her grand mother's nt the other eend o' th' village, us lioo'ro pnssin' the heawso aw'm spoykin' aboawt, hoo lookt up t' one of th' bod roawm windows, un "wot d'ye think hoo swears hoo seed? Why, nowt' naythor moor nor less then th' face of Owd Jack o' Turn's starin' at her as if he wunkid f spoyk t' her, but hadn't courage V address her."

"They never cays!" was the naturally surprised ejaculation of several of tho com pany, staring with wide-open eyes of as tonishment at tho narrator.

"It's a fact," was tho reply of the old man. "Th' moon wur shinin'breetly at tli' time, so ut aw con weol believe ea.ur Sally ut hoo wurn't mista'en i' wot hoo seed. Hoo eoom whoam skrikin' us if th' vory dulc wur at hor heels, tolUn' us, us weol us hoo cud, wot hood seed."

" Dusii't think yo'r Dotty met ha' bin de saved by th' moon—it wur at th'fuil th't neet aw remember, un theaw knows ut it's commonly said ut raythor strango nodhuns gotten in t'folk's yeds ut that time," was the rather sceptical speech of a member of tho company, who seemed to bo cast'in a superior mould to the rest of his com panion*.

The old man glared at the speaker iih though he would have enjoyed punching his head.

" Aw'm noan mista'on ut aw, Billy Bat ter, ft aw's very nice for thee, boccwo thoaw's had a chance o' gottin'a bit o' book larnin', t' think theaw knows mooar than dwdor folks then tinsel', but aw'd raythor believe com- Hetty than twenty Billy Bat tew could tell mi, neaw then !"

" Keep tin hat on, Dicky," was tho reply of Billy; "aw'ro uobbut saying ut wur just possible ut yo'r Betty wur wrung i 1 wot hoo said lioo seed, that's all."

"Chus heaw it is," said the old nun, " not aw til' king'J bosses nor aw th' king's men nil induce Sally t' pass th' haunted— for that it's haunted aw'm us xartii) sure us if aw'd scon it misel'—heawsc after nee tf all, un lioo's not nat'rally a timid lass noathcr."

"We.11," said Hilly Batter, "aw think it ud not be a bad plan if some on us went some neet to tho heawsc, un stopped in o' neet, un then wi shud bo ablo t' tell whether it wur raley haunted or not."

None of tho company, however, were willing to adopt the suggestion of Hilly, and so, after some further desultory con versation upon the haunted house and its supposed uncanny visitant, tho company gradually dispersed until I found myxolf tho sole occupant of tho room.

Tho landlord, v jovial-looking man of about forty years of age, shortly afterwards panic into tho room, and from him I learned that some years before the "haunted" house waistenantcd by a miserly old fellow, known in the village as Jack o' Turn's. It, was thought by everyone thai he was possewod of an almost fabulous sum of " brass," and it was tho popular belief that the miser spent tho time when in county parlance, "dacint folks owt t' ha' bin' i' bed," in counting his money. He was shunned by old and young alike, and some even wont so far as to aver that ho had dealings "wi' Ih' Ovd Lad." One morning lie was found dead upon the house Uoor, :i terrible gash upon his forehead showing that the wretched man had boon most foully murdered, fur ther search revealed the fact that robbery had been the object of the murder or mur ders, as all the furniture, drawers, and every available place which could by any possibility be construed into a hiding-plaeo for money was knocked about, auil lay scattered about in all directions. No trace of the man or men who had cut short the earthly career of tho miser was ever discovered, and to this day remains among the many instances of undiscovered crimes. Thanking the landlord for his courtesy in telling me tho history of the (supposed to be) haunted house, I loft (ho inn fully deter mined, if possible, to visit tho house, and, by pa&sing a night in it, see for myself whether tho spirit of the murdered man really haunted the scene of his earthly habi tation.

Procuring a dark lantern and a box of matches, 1 wended my way in the direction of .lack o' Turn's "heawao." Arriving there, I wasn't, long before I was cautiously exploring the lower portion of the house. Creeping stealthily upstairs, I came upon a room which seemed to me to bo rather more comfortable than the others, and here I determined to keep my solitary vigil. An old moth-eaten sofa reclined in n corner of the room, and, despite tho un inviting aspect of my prospective resting place, I determined to pass tho night upon tho sofa. Strotching myself at full length upon it, and placing my overcoat upon me, I prepared to await whatever might bofal mo. I folt utterly worn out, having walked a con siderablo distanco that day, so, having taking the precaution to leave my lantern lighted, so as to be prepared for all emer gencies, I felt mysolf succumbing to the soft alluring influence of Morpheus. I must have slept some longth of time, when I was suddenly awakened by tho sound of something falling heavily on the Moor beneath tho one in which I was. I sat up, my ears anxiously strained to catch a repe tition of the noise I had heard. Despite my heroic rcsolvo to solve tho mystery of the haunted house, I felt a curious seiu-u ---tion at my heart; my most conscious feel ing being a wish that I had taken up my quarters at the "Jolly Carter " instead of the room I now occupied. However, in country parlance, "having made' ray bed," I must perforce "lie upon it;" In other words, "face out whatever might now happen to me." Soon I hoard what were undoubtedly footsteps movo cautiously about, and my hair began to show a decided inclination to "stand like the quill.'! of the fretful porcupine" upon my head, when tho "ghost," or what ever it was, began to ascend the stairs loading to my room. Now or never, I

thought, was tho time to act, and, leaving my "couch," 1 prepared to moot my ghostly visitant. Picking up my lantern, I was iv tho act of advancing to tho door, when ;ii sudden gust of wind blew out the light, leaving me wliero Moses; was sup posed to bo when tho candlo " went out." 1 was not to bo baulked, despite my rather unfortunate predicament, and so, creeping stealthily to the foot of tho stairs, I missed my footing, hitting in my sudden descont a solid .substance which had all the usual characteristics of a human body, particu larly as the said "body" began to use language which, to .say tho leust of it, was very profane.

Instantly I felt myself grappled by tho throat, and before 1 could clearly realise my condition found myself borne to tho ground, tho "ghost" (evidently stronger than your humble servant) sitting upon my chest and holding mo by tho throat in v most uncomfortable grip.

"(J-good <!od !" 1 faintly ejaculated; "am I to bo murdered in cold blood? Help ! help ! help !"

" Aw'll help thoe, Mostur Ohost I" yelled a voice which I recognised an belonging to Billy Hatter, tho young man who, it will bo remembered, was rather sceptical in the matter of lietty having seen Jack o' Tom's ghost, as related by Uicky, hor father, in •tho "Jolly Carter " bar parlour. " For heaven's sake, man I" I gasped, " get off my chest, and then I shall be able to explain the mistake wo have evidently fallen into."

Hilly did so, and picking up his lantern, which, unlike mine, had not got ex tinguished, he scanned my feature. "By Georgo !"he exclaimed, "if it isn't th' stranger aw seed t'-neet at th' 'Jolly Carter!' But heaw did yo' find yo'r way here, racstur?"

1 then told him that, being anxious to dis cover whether there was really any truth in tho existence of the ghost or not, I had taken up my abode there for the night. Billy informed mo that his object in buing there was precisely of a similar nature, He had seen tho rofleotion cast by my lamp as he was entering the house, and having fully made np hi? mind thai the supposed ghost had paid one of its nucLurnal visits, had de termined to ,-i-rlli; ( he matter one w«yor the other. The noise i had heard, ami which lindarousedmofrom my slumbers, wascausod by Billy stumbling over a block of v/ood which lay in his way to tho kitchen. Billy had wisely provided himself with a bottlo of whisky and a number of hum sand \viche3, and with these we regaled ourselves until tho time when the Jolly Carter Inn being opened for another day's business, wo hastened there, and were soon entertaining mine host and hostess and tho early customers assembled in the bar parlour with our eirorts to lay the ghost. The next day I returned to Manchester, but from that day to this I havo never forgotten the agony of tho time when I thought I was about tii face a real live ghost for tho first time.—Mr J. Slater in tho " -Manchester Weekly Times."

Getting into Society.

Laukioi.a, who was as vain as he was vul gar, flattered by tho markod attention which his, three listeners—for Lysper had joined tho other two—.seemed inclined to accord to a recital of his groat social achievements, was probably moro oxpansivo than he would have been under other circumstances—cer tainly much more so than if Madame had been presont.

" Why, you see, my little woman is am bitious, and clever as sho is—though I suy it that shouldn't—beautiful.

'■ Albert," she said to me one day, " how is it you novel1 bring any peers or noble uiL-H to sco me

That was just after I had completed my contracts fur the iSubmariuo Telephonic Company, which brought me in pretty near half-a-raillion.

"1 was looking through the names of the directors of somo of tho boards you are on," she said. "There's the Earl nt Creed more, and Lord I'ytchloy, and Sir Georgo Datshington."

" ] only know them officially," I said, "1 couldn't venture to ask them to come ; and they wouldn't come it I did."

"Come out and drive with me in (lie park to-morrow, and we'll look out for some of them,'' says she.

Thi' lirst nmn wo saw ruling next day was Dashington : and when ho nodded to me, lie looked pretty haul at her; mid next hoard moetir..',-, she enme to call at the company's ollieea hi the brougham, and sent mo up a note to pay she was waiting. It had been arranged before th.it I was accidentally to come down with Dashing ton ; and when lie .saw her pretty face looking out, and smiling and nodding to me, "Introduco me to your wife," ho whisnrr-; so 1 inhxduced him, and wont back in thebo.ml-room to sign some papers i had forgotten, aud left him talking to Madame through (lie carriage window. And whun 1 came back —— ".lu.-t think, Albert," she said, " Sir Oeorgo Ims promised to dino with vis to night, if wo are quito alone, and will let him go to tliu House immediately after dinner." "And did Dashington go to the House immediately after dinner?" asked Lyspcr, with an air of assumed innocence " I don't know, for 1 had to meet a man at the club early in thoevening, and left htm with my wife ; but that littlo dinner was the beginning of our good fortune. Dosh ington would dino with us two or three times a week ; and there was nothing ho would not do for Jladamo, and he took such a fancy to her—so much deep sympathy between them, and all that sort of thing, you know. But I was not going to have scandals set on foot when I knew there was no ground for them, so I insisted he must bring Lady Adela to call ; and in order to make it still more proper, Lady Adela and Mndamo wore always driving out to gether. Then we began to give little dinner parties, and .Dashington asked our Duchess hero to invite us to her parties ; and wo worked the press and the photographers. First, there were mysterious paragraphs in the social week lies about the new beauty—wo always had some writers at dinner—and 1 yot my life written—how I look at home, and all that soil, of thing." " Yes, I remember, saidßasinghall : ?hat; was the first time I over heard oj you. Well, what did you do next?" " Why, we spared no expense to-"'&t pro' fossional musician*, and had only ;i Mi.leet eight w ten tortliem to play to : and t>n?h ingtou gave dinners specially arranged for us—poor aristocrats with pretty wives. I put the noblemen into good tilings, and they brought their pretty wives to dino with us out of gratitude; and the men of fashion who happened to bu in love with the pretty wives were only too glad to bo Bxktxi."—Altioro Ftfo, By Laurence OIU P h,n,t.