THE GARDEN.

(By HoF, rjs>)

Calendar of Operations, May *yist, ISB3.

Kitchen Garden. - -The late wet weather will have retarded operations, but at this season <?et weather must be expected. Every, advantage must therefore be taken, "when'twere are a few dry days. Little cau "be dorco when the soil isclaggy and adhe sive. It is better to suspeud operations, especially iv clay soils. Light scoria and sandy soils are nometiine< improved by being wrought while tuey are in a wet state. It makes them more retentive. Khubarb roots should now be lifted aud placed in a shed to rest for a month or so. Where new planta. tionsof rhubarb are required, the ground should be trenched and manured. The first favourable opportunity, make a small sowing of cabbage and cauliflower for early spring planting. Hurry the planting of the young strawberries, it uot already planted. Let unoccupied ground be left in as rough a state as possible dm ing tho winter, in order that a large sui face may be exposed to atmospheric action, aud the soil may become thoroughly loosened ana pulver ised.

Flower Gakuen. -When the weather will allow, sail continue operations pointed out last week, Sonio of iho chrysanthe mums will soon ba coinin!» out of llower. Wheu past Howling cut away th ■ llower stalks close to the giound. This will eau<e the old plants to break away for ficsh growth near the bottom. Then in the, spring you will be able to get nice youug plants tv transplant. You will obtain better flowers from young plants next year than from tho old. Liv dahlia roots wbeu they are ripe enough; put them on some place] exposed to the cvii to dry before storing them past for the winter. Mever remove leaves from bulbs or tubers after ilowering till thoy are quite dead. As long as the loaves retain lite they ar<i employed in preparing nourishment aud transmitting it to the root". GREES HOUSE, —The opiphyllurns should now be coming into Huwor. Bring them into a promineut place in the house. Every attention must now bo given to the wiuter and spring flowers. Keep as near the glass as possible. Avoid overcrowding. All plants coming into blonm should receive plenty of air aud water. If insects should show upon any of the plums, have them cleaned off at once. Did stock which are subject to the attack of mealy bug scale, should receive a thorough overhaul in wet days, Wash every part of them with soft soap and wurm water. Lawns.-When the lawn or any crass plot gets overrun with moss, a good dress ing of lime over the mrfaco will overcome the intruder. It will also have the effect of strengthening the urass. In wet weather moat lawns have a leudeucy to swell with the wet, so during tho time tho lawn is wet send the roller over pretty frequently. Tho rolling will keep it iuoio compact, also having the i fleet if reducing intqualiiies. Fences.—All live fences should now receive a thorough ovirliaul, clipting them back, to as so leave thorn neat aud trim for the winter. All rubbish, «.uch as leaves, grass, or weeds, should bo cleared away from the roots ; such rubliish taken to the rot-beap and spread over the op. Then * give a liberal dressing of fait and lime, so as to kill boch vegetable and insect life. All such rubbish trualetl thus will materi ally assist the quantity of manure for uext spring, Manure.—Every garden should bo pos sessed of three manure heaps—ths first in process of collecting and building; the second in process of fermeutinj>, or rotting ; the third, well-rotted, to winch heap tbo cultivator will always apply" sv^en manure ia wanted for any portion of the garden. Vegetable riEFUSE.—Never use the haulm or ttalks of vegetables or flowers for manure without.orue upctitil treatment. Such refute i» uecl for insects to deposit their egg?. Whoa these aru not killed, by burning tbe mntuiali for niauuie >ou only assist to piopngatu ca'<ie ■ pusts in greater numbers, ca'.t aud il'tiu will kill.

Fruit Growing,

(Continued from Last Week.)

Last week in sending in my paper on the selection of varieties of iruit trees, there was a pan of it forgotten, which I shall proceed to supply. bo amateur is often at fault ia choosiog varieties, and in lootc ing over the cnUloguef < f ■ the nurserymen, the eoorrnou- list, of names on these catalogues hi 1 farther confutes him, I will therefore k ive a lew names of varieties which succuio in a goal number of situa tions. There in anutbor point that mint bo looked to in (wL-ctiog fruit trees, and mat is making » selection -" as to prolong the season for gutheiiug frui'. I'urly, medium, aud )a<e va l'ti'h lughi to be chosen, by a judiciou" A>l.->c<ion the grower will he able to pock fruit of the different tree* from January till May. The list is arrauued in the order in which thiy ripeD. (L) signifias desrert, anr) X sijjiiilie-i kitchen.) ApplKS.—Joannetiig, D. ; Irish Peach, D.; Lord Kutliciil, K. ; Devonshire Quar rendan, D ; Ceilinu, K. D. ; Cox'h Orange Pippin, D : Prince Uisaiarek. K.l>. ; American Hi.lden Kusstt, D.; oawihorn den. X.; Keinetterle Canada, K.l>. ; Clay gate's Pcarmain, D. ; Bos.ti>n ruiß&ef, I). ; Mew York Pippin, D. ; Stone Pippin, K. ; Kentucky Ked Streak, 1). Apbicots. — Moorpark, Hemakcrk, Peack. ALMONDS.—EarIy Jordan, Papenhell. FiOfv— Green Ischia, White Marsailles, Brown Ischia. Brown Turkey. Lemons.- Lisbon. MUIiItERRY.—BIaCK. Nectarines.—Hunt's Tawny, Kivers oranee, Koman'* Balgnwnn. OUANGES.—BIood, Mandarin Emperor, Paramatta Seville or Bitter, Silutln, St. Michael. Peaches.—Early Kivers, Warly York. Eatly Silver, Noblesse, Knyal George, Lady l'almerston, Salway, Hobbi L*te. fE*Bg.— Dongonnc, d'Ebd, Jargonollo, Williams'sßonCarctilo,Brown Bearro, Wan sell's Berjatnotte, B«nrre do Capiaumont, Beurre Doel, *c plus Meurrin, Winter Metis, Uvedal6ii !St. Germain (Baking). Plums.-Early Kivers, K. ; July Green Gage, D. ; Karly Orleans, X.; Alngcliim Burdett, D. ; Green Gawp, D.; Coe's Golden Drop. D. ; Kune Claude de Bavoy, D.: Kussian Damson, K. Quince. -Portugal. "1 ho above li"-t is only given a* a general euide to thoso who are not acquainted with the names of the different varieties of fi uit trees. Growers who want only a few trees can make a very sood selection from the above. Any orchidiat who intends to plant extensively for giowinq fruit for the supply of the market would do bettor to select a good uurubor o? early varieties, if the situation of bis pr und is hlli'able for the production of early fruit. The enrly fruit always commands a good price in the market; only a few or tho intermediate or medium, as the supply of fruit at this time is always abundant. The bulk of the orchard should bo planted with late keeping varieties, so as to command the market when fruit is beginning to get scarce, and £ood prices can be' obtained. There is

auotner point which I would Btrongly impress on my readers. Make ereiy endeavour to get trees which are true to name, A tree not ptoperly named causes great losa and annoyance to the grower Perhaps after growing it for a few yeirs till it iruits, it turns out something entirely different from what was expected, and is entirely worthless for the situation or soil. Towards the .North of Auckland every orchardiut ought to plant a considerable number of orange trees. The North of Auckland in the tuture will be able to com mand the New Zealand market with oranges. They take a few years before they come iuto fruit-bearing, but when they do commence to bear they bring in handsome returns, and every acre devoied to the cul tivation of the orange will enhance the market value of such ground enormously. The oiange likes a warm, sheltered situa tion, good, strong, friable loam, well drained. Good shelter will be indispensable when the trees are in a full-bearing condi tion, s.l the oranges are on the trees till the be«inuing of winter, and it is a usual s'ght to see the branches weighted down to the mound with the golden fruit. A tree in such a condition must be well sheltered, either by the natural formation, or by planting shelter trees. The olive is another tree in favour of which too much caunot be said to induce settlers to plant extensively. It flourishes on any poor dry soil, stony or rocky ground, fruiting sonuer and . (jiving better crops frpm pour dry sMs tliau from good loam. The oil from the frcuc is sure to become a valuable aidcleof commerce in the near future of New Zealand, so any farmer with a poor piece nt laud could uoc do better than plant iiu olive plantation. It takes a few years to bring them into a fruit-bearing coudi tion, but once they commence to yield their crops, there is not atroawhich is planted that will produce such a sure and certain source of income to their proprietor, nor a crop which commands a steadier market, (Manu factoring the oil is a simple process.) The tree also attains a great age. • Triers are some trees over one thousand years old, producing the yearly crops, *oo much cannot bo said in advocacy of the orjuge and olive us valuable crops for the .North Auckland settler. Tiiansplantino.— I would like to say a few ,vords about tae transplanting of large fruit trees. When such work has to be undertuken, it should always bo performed early in the season. May is the best time for lifting pears and plums. Apples should be left uutil the beginning uf June. The same argument will supply to the lifting of such trees early as to root-pruning. It is not worth while to transplant peaches or necta tines ; they will always do better from the younti treo irom the nursery, Most of the other varieties take kindly to the removal. The effects aro practically tbo same as root-pruning, When such trees are removed, always try and take as large a baU as is convenient to carry. The less the ball or roots are reduced the oettcr it will be for the tree. If the roots have to bo reduced too much in pro portion to the size of the tree, then a cor responding reduction must be inailo in the brunches, so as to better balance the re la'.ivo pioportions of roo's and branches. If the transplanting is performed e;irly, let such branches as you intend to cutout stand lor a month or so. Ie May the sup is descending and will help to make root, and it is as well to have all Die a»M»tance from tho sap as possible. Some time in July cut them out, but don't let them stand uucut uutil the sap has commenced rising To cut them out then will cause consider able iujury to the tree. If a dry summer ensues,.mulch round the tree with long litter and give one or two heavy waterings. When large fruit trees aro being removed from one situation to another, they tthould always be v marked, so that in replanting they can be placed with the same side f.cing the north. It is a great advantage to the tree, giving it more of .the same conditions of sun and light on Us branches as it had before moving. (2*o be Continued.)

Monkeys and Light.

It is a strange fact that in the night-time an uukuown sound will scare monkeys almost out of their wits. The creaking of a wheel-barrow, a whisper, the rustling of a window curtain, is enough to throw them into a lit ot horrified screams and contor tions ; capuchin monkeys rush wildly through their cage, macaques try to force their prison-doors, the little marmosets huddle together like the princes in the Tower, all about a matter they would dis dain to notice in the daytime. The old males ol the anthropoid apes are about as bard to scare as any living creature, but after dark the veriest trifle will inspire them with an almost supernatural fear; and it may be a mew fancy, but I cannot get rid of the notion that this night-horror of our hirsute relatives mast be the origin ot the spectre-dread of savage nations, and indirectly, perhaps, of medieval demoniam and modern spiritualism,—" ghoat-mon gery," as the, sceptical Germans call it. Moukeys are not very Rharp-scented, and bave to rely on their eyes, and in night time, theteforc, are almost at the mercy of their enemies, jaguars, panthers, and leopards, whose owl-eyes enable them to hunt by mooolight, and in the virgin woods of the tropics the constant dread ot mistak ing the approach of a murderer for the rustling of the fitful night-wind would be enough to make Berserker nervous, "It is not books or pictures," says Charles Lamb, " nor the stories of foolish servants, which create these terrors in children, Tiioy can at most give them a direction. The stories of the Cnimfurasand Gorgonsmay reproduce themselves in the brain of superstition, but they were there before. They are trans cript?, types : the archetypes ara in us, and eternal. May it not be that those arche types are the prowling ferae of the tropical forests?

Trucks in the Brandy Trade.

The French " brandy" merchants aro much moved at the publicity given to the tricks of their trade in the English news papers. The figures given by their own Minister of Agriculture in his recent report on the wines of ISS2 are conclusive as to the fact that tho vineyards of the two Chareotos, whichalonesupplied thegenuire wine brandy, are "irretrievably ruined. Tho-o two departments, which were devoted almost wholly to the grape culture, gave 311,000,000 Rations of'wine in 1875. last year they only cave one-eighth of that quantity, being a falling off of 273,000,001 callous; and the quality was execrable The condition of Charonte proper, which produced the true cognac, is even worse, for the vintage only gave the twenty-second part of the yield of 1875 ; and the ravages of phylloxera are each successive year going from bad to worse. In tact, the pest has now utterly destroyed throughout France nearly 2,000.000 acres of vineyards. Besides this, 1,600,000 acres more are how in different stages of destruction, which goes on at the rate of three years to each plant, for that is the time the insect takes to kill the hardest vine,

OUR LONDON FLANEUR.

Social, Theatrical, and lAterary Jottings.

(From Oue Own Correspondent in

London.)

Farewell Performance op ' Caste " at the Haymarket—A Leviathan Bouquet for " Polly"—" Cymbia" at the Strand—Miss Genkvievk Ward in tub Leading Part— Carl Rosa's Opera Company at Drury Lane - New Books-" Seven Years at Eton'—lndiscreet Gossip — Samukl C. Hall's " reminiscences "-Mrs Burnbtt'iJ "Through tub administration"—The Authoress of the "Ladies Lindores."

LONDOX, April 20. My gossip this mail must be principally ot matters theatrical, as there have been no social affairs of particular interest to Anti podeans during the present month. After a successful revival of nearly 100 nights, " Caste " was formally withdrawn from the Hay market on the evening of tha 10th mat,, Mr and Mrs Bancroft playing their favourite roles of Hawtree and tVlly Kccles for tbe last time' on any stage, and Mr Hare rejoining his old friends as bam tterridge for "this night only.'' The occimion was a memorable one, and will long be remem bered by those privileged to obtain an entree. Never did Robertson's dainty oiinetly go better or elicit louder and more genuine applause. Each or the celebrated artistes acciug seemed to strain every nerve to give hi* or her part the fullest signifi cance, and wnen at last George D'AJroy hud returned, uud the curtain fell on a stage picture whioh is in its small way almost Ijertect, the excited audience gave such a burst of cheering »» haj seldom baen heard even within ihc.se classic wills. Again and again the drop scene was raised, a»d again and again Mr and Mrs Bancroft und Mr Hare (linked hand-in-hand) bowed their grateful acknowledgment?. Bmquets covered the front of the stage from one .-ide to the other, in the centre beiug a lovlathan one of white camellias, about a foot aud a-balf in diameter, wit<i tho word "Polly" picked out in some sort of scarlet blossoms. The curtain ascended and descended seven times before the audience would consent to bid their old friends " good-bye," and then at last there win ti move, and we filed slowly out, pleastd 10 have assisted at such a notable pciformance. The Bancrofts arc now giving a few fare well representations of "(School" (prior to the production of "Fedora,") but the cast of characters is not a very strong one, and I was rather disappointed with the revival altogether. ■' Cymbin," the new English comic opera at the Strand, ha* been rather cracked up by tbe London papers; but, to my uncul tiirid mind, it seems deadly dull. Florlan Pascal, tho composer, ia a son of Williams, the rcusic publisher, and has written some pretty drawiug-ruom songs; in fact, the beat morceau in "Oymbia" is a ballad— " Tho old Wife dat in the Faggot's Glare." Pascal's music, however, lacks btighineas. Even the waltzes are commonplace, aud his concerted pieces, though ambitious, do nut please the ear. Mr Pauhoa's libretto, too, tins nothing very speciil in it that I can see. Tue idea of a magic robe or ring or thimble, which confers ou the wearer the gift not only of beauty but of commanding love, is awfully old, and betides, has been more amusingly turned to account than in " Cyuibifti" i don't thick you will ever see this work in the colonies, but Offenbach's "Belle Uirctto," and a new opera by the auuhor of "Boccaciof" which i» called "A Voyage to Africa," are sure to reach Mel bourne, at any rate, ere loog. Two new plays of the'society type have been produced during tho week at the Globe and Olympic Theatre?, but neither appear likely to set the Thames ou lire. " i-ndy Clare," by Kobart Buchanan, is a hash-up of several familiar pieces, 'ihe heroine is our old friend Pauline, of " Lady of Lyons" notoriety, under a now name. Having been jilted by a scampish lord, she, in a rage, marries Mr Marston, a middle-class manufacturer, who forcibly reminds the audience of John Brown, the Liverpool merchant, in "New Men and Old Acres." On ihe wedding day, L >dy Clare tries to leave her husband, but he prevents the catastrophe; and on his consenting to be her spouse only in name (« la Lady of Lyons) she agrees to live in his house and spend his money. The rest of the play is, of course, devoted to bringing about a happ) understanding between the pair. The scampish lo'd and tho husband fight a duel in the snow (a la" Old Lore and the New"), and Lady Clare, throwing herself between them, receives the bullet intended for her husband. '1 his, strange to tay, puts everything right. ScimpUh lord gets kicked out, and uown comes tbe curtain. " Rachel," by Sydney Grandy, the Olympic novelty, seems a much more am bitious and successful play. In the pro logue, which takes place in a wrctcned garret in Westminster, we learn that Sir Philip Grant, an unscrupulous baronet, needs a girl to replace his own daughter Uladys, who has died, and with her his hold on his wife's property. Sir Philip had a brother who married beneath him, uud died also, leaving a child, which was parted from his mother by the baronet's order. It comes about that the young widow, having just recovered her infant, without recognising It sells, it to the baronet, whom she hates, and owing to the sbrowdness of the police is arrested for child-stealing. la order to understand what follows, it must be stated that Kachel does not know to whom she sold her little one. Fifteen years elapss, and we find ttuchel, now a comely matron, living as companion to the supposed daughter of Sir Philip. He does not know her history, and asks her to be his wife. Hating him still, and knowing that the marriage woti'd be illegal, the feigns consent in older to Rain opportunity to prove tbe correctness of Her suspicion as to the identity of her chargu, Gladys. Bnt now a certain Captain Craven, who bad as sisted Sir Poilip in the child robbery, turns up from San Francisco, and demands as the price of his silence the hand of Gladys. Kachel s?e< that he has some hold on tbe baronet, and in two cleverly written scenes, one with the latter, und the other with Captain Craven, worms out the truth, pro. claims tier identity, and carries oil her daughter. This climax to the second act hi»s a sensationalending, ttie ("apt. firingaplstol, and Rachel pretenuing that it has wounded Gladys, holding up a handkerchief dipped in red ink by wpy of proof. Ot course, this brings down the curtain on an exciting situation, but it is wholly unnecessary to tin: play. In tho third act we find Rachel and Gl.iilv at Bailey's Hotel, London. The former tells the girl her true origin, and learns from her lips that she has no desire to know her mother, "a wretched convict, the cause of all her trouble." Then a Super intendent of police turns up, and it seems that he has been summoned alike by Kachel and by Sir Philip, who is in pursuit of the fugitives. Eventually the baronet arrives, and with him Captain Craven, There is

much baridyinfc of words, but at list Cap tain Craven addresses Kachel by her name, Gladys rushes to her arms, crying, "My mother," and the curtain fails unexpectedly, the conclusion being as peculiar as anything in the piece. It ia not my fault if I have failed to convey an intelligible idea of the plot of " Rachbl." There is an oddness and want of coherence throughout, and the whole of the characters speak and act in a semi mysterious way, as if they did cot quite know their own minds. And yet Mr bydney GrtndyV latest effort is by no means without its good points. Much of the dialogue is smartly written, and the main incidents interest strangely as they are evolved. The general impression was unquestionably favourable, for there were loud calls for the author, and co far as i could distinguish, not one dis*entient voice. Miss Genevieve Ward takes the title rdle of ltachel, while the other principal parts are taken as follows : -Sir Philip Grant, Mr VT. H. Vernon; Captain Craven, Mr Herman V. zin ; and Gladys, by Miss i*ucy Backs tone. The Carl Rosa English Op»ra season at Drury Lane has been remarkable for tbe production of two entire novelties of con siderable pretensions The fiSt of thesa was "Bsrueralda," an nuglish opera founded on th* story ot " IXotre Dame," ■ with words by Marziols aud music by Goring Thorrus; and tne "second was " Oolomba " (»ls« a purely Jtuglisb, work), with libretto by Dc Fiueffer and score by A. U. Mackenzie. Both attempts seem to have met with success. The libretto of "Ksmeralda" is thought specially good. Instead of hotting recitatious, full of. clumsy English and ridiculous expressions, Mr Marzlols writes flowing, graceful verses, in varied metre, tome of his songs are particularly happy efforts. Mr Goring Thomas, too, ban not altogether failed. Critics say the music of " Esmeralda " is a patchwork of reminiscences, and that War ner's works especially have been freely laid under contribution. 1 don't know about that, but 1 <Li know the new peora is a pleas ant work to sit ont nod that it will be played all over the world before long. "Colomba" ia much more ambitious, bat will never, I surmise, be anything tike so popular as "Esmeralda." The most attractive features are a Corsican love song, " Will She Come from the_ Hill," and an old Corsican ballad in the third act. Both of these pleased the fir.t night's audience, aud may safely be ordered from the music-sellers by amateurs. I do not, however, think tbe opera as a whole is likely to be heaid in New Zealand yet awhile. Several interesting new books have come out during April. The one most talked about in ''society," is probably Mrßrinsley Richard's " Seven Years at iStoD," which contains a lot of singularly indiscreet gostip about the boyhooi aud schooldays of popu lar political magnates, &c. Mr Samuel Carter Hall's "JKeruiuiscenccs" are also commanding a large sale. As editor of the "Art Journal" and other literary ven tures tor more than half-a-ccntury, Mr Hall was brought into contact with all sorts of celebrities, and tells a number of good stories in a very felicitous manner. Tbe clever author of " I hat Lass O'i.owries !> and other successful novels (Mrs Burnett) has just completed " Through One Admin istration," a atoty of American life, now running in " The Century." People al*o learn with mrprisa that Mrs Oliphant is the writer of '' The Ladies Lindores" in " Blackwood." This is a capital story, and should be as widely read as hur novel,. " It was a Lover and his Lass," which contains some of the truest pictures of Scottish life und character ever painted by romancist. The " Recollections of an Old Bohemian," a book that ran through several editions at the end of lait year, is now reissued in one cheap volume, and ought to b* bought by all who enjoy reading scrap* of chatty gossip. I see, too, lhat bampson, Law, and Co. announce six shilling reprints of Hardy's ex.traotdio.ary novel, "TwoonaTower,"ana Macdonald's "Castle Warlock." The latter is not up to much, Chatto and Wiudus ore bringing out a really admirable series of cheap novels, and indeed, by the cad of June, their two shilling list will in clude nearly e<ery high-class work of fiction published by the firm fox the last four years. The latest auditions include "From Exile," by James Payn; "What She Came Through," by S. i'jtUr; and " Transmigration," by Mortimer Collins. uawley Smart's new novel, "At F*ult," seem* to be much ruu after at the libraries, and so is Mrs Alexander's " Tiie Admiral's Ward," which, howem, cannot be com parad for an instant with either "The JTieres" or " Xhe Wooing O'ot." Practi cally, there are very tew really good stories written nowadays; indued, oftener than not, when a rozraßciet has published one readable volume, he reliea on his reputation to carry him through, and saiibbles non sense ever after. In, my next, I propose to say something about the eougs and dance music bow in fashion. '

A Dreadful Tragedy in a South American Bridal Chamber.

The "Eazou" of Montevideo publishes the following amount of a horrible affair whicn took place recently at Bio Grande del Stir, near the Uruguayan frontier : " A young farmer wav bitten by a mad dog, and remedies wereimaiediately applied to the wound. Cauterization was resorted to, aud their was avery reason to believe that the virus had hoc entered tbe victim's system. Whin tho accident occurred the young man was ab.ut to marry, but in ooasequence of tbe untoward occurrence the ceremony was postponed for three months, when the medical meu who had baen con sulted on the case gava it as their unani mous opinion that there was not the slight est ground for apprehending any danger from the bite. The marriage took place on the farm, and was celebrated' with the customary festivities, After the nuptial supper was over, the bridegroom appeated to be seized with a fit of melancholy. One of love's caprices, said somebody. After supper came the ball, and when this was at its height th« newly-wedded couple with drew from the festive scene, and retired to their apartment. About an hour afterwards the house resounded with ferocious crios intermingled with shriek* and groans. *8 soon as the guests had recovered from their stupefaction they slatted in the direction of the cries, ihey proceeded from the nuptial chamber, The door was burst open, and a horrible spectacle (presented itself. On the floor lay the young bride in a pool of blood. Sim still breathed, but her body was torn and bitten as if the had been seized by a tiger. In a comer of the room was the bridegroom, covered with blood and foaming at the mouth, scratching, biting, and tearing away at the wall and furniture. With a sudden bound be sprang like a tiger upon the invaders of his lair, and he would have made one or more victims Had not a brother of the dying bride sent a bullet crashing through the madman's brain."

FOR THE LADIES.

Slang never heard from the 1 - bride—" Don't give me away."' * t it & Young women who are pin^y * "flower pieces" are remindej tiAf flower piece tbat is the most ati,^ tie the marrying man is a DatcßS^to bread. " (ijj. An English servant girl v^-. turned from tbe United States to Jf? >e« ■ triends at home, was told that she <a really aristocratic," to which Bhertiii^ "Yes, in America all of m;'fi?H belong to the hire class. ■' ;v^. Miss Verdant, of Verdant?il] e j. . " letter-writer," and then wrote'i*!?!' nant leiter to the bookseller beaSt* had to write the letters herself, *t Mrs Smith is a practical woman,' *m she was told of a wonderful inid^ prayer cure, she remarked : "OntJ%* cf it llt didn't cost a cent, did ( t f "^ Mamma—" Why are you alwami,., yonrdoll? That isn't nice." jJIi?J»& it is. I must Deat tbe doll, htvmMY»*i want papa to tell me, as lie aSt? you, that iam spoiling my chilfc,' ™» A Rufisian princess at a recsntyi j in & ice wore adreßS made entire!/f Tea cock's fei^hers. Heads of thebiifo' ppca* eyes made of garnets, were useri *'* looping. ' ™ %% ' 'Here I've been talktng for half^. exclaimed an auctiooeer, "and ' k ' got an offer." « o slf-an-honr *ySJ murmured an elderly maiden «£& half-an-hour to maoy long years anHj no hope of an offer!" ™*,WII APittsburggirJ.whobadrefusedaßwj looking telegraph repair man thtlT** within six montfj, gave as a rearonlSf was too much of a wanderer. TyT wandered from pole to pole, from onS to another, and if he did come hom,^ insulate that the neighbours would E* to talk. ™lnt!

rv ,'' Tru, t r h"s»Ss that at the mujj&rf, Mdlle. 'fourreil, daughter of the St* stockbroker, with M. Saglio, wh*ft celebrated on Tuesday at the TrinK Pans, the great baritone FanresaoTl pieces, for which he received thesn^!! four thousand franca. An iDgeniotnrf metician calculates that each note cjS.' francs. "w»ilea

English and American JBtoM* Notes,

Gloves remain veiy lone. Mitts have very long wrists, Ohip bonijets begin to be seen, Jacques ar* the reigning rosej. v , Every kind of plaid and check wilt k. worn. ' * The newest coiffnres show mote of /•». forehead. ""' Low-heeled shoes are de riguturloimM children. Shaded straw and chenille ]»]&&«„ largely imported. ' Uld rose and garnet make an idmjtibla colour combiaation. : The pouf in the back is a feature his* costumes and wraps. The low-heeled English walking |W grows in popularity. ' Old rose and rose boreale are tie im names for asbes ot roses. There is a return of favour to button fond in preference to laced ones. Larjte buckles or alideg are the pretend ornaments of large hats and bonnets; Ribbon bows and cockscomb cockadea da cor at a costumes as well as bonnets. As many as forty-two different'coloun and shades appear iv the new tmfei? shades. The long wriats of mitts and gloves hive a fanciful finish of shirring, paffe, and ribbon. Jet sequins form the ornamental fringe of black tulle tabliers and draperies on black evening toilets. As many as eight differentcolonredribbon cockades with cockscomb ends are seen on some new bonnets. Carrot-coloured gloves are worn wifliA. sin the-coloured dresses at private balls sad evasing receptions. Cockades of tibbon in two coutrsaii£ colours, the ends of the loops cut into cockscomb*, trim ninny bonnets, ; ■ Girls of all ages above two and vtdei seventeen wear their hair in a straight Vandyke band, and the back ball is. slightly crimped and flowibg on to shoulders. Babiei' and little girls' caps ebon tfc same variety ia style that ap?ear& in the bonnets of old people. Some have pleated poke brim*; otnero resemble capote*, Fuk choas, and Greuze bonnets. Stripes may be either wide or narrow, ht thay most be of .equal width to b&mtk' highest fashion.

Court Dresses. &*.,, At o late drawing-room held at Bucking ham Fakes tktt QuMn wore « drees and train ef black moire autique and sato, trimmed with ostrich featbeia and jet, sud a white tulle veil, surmounted by a coronet of diamonds. Her Majesty alee wore a necklace, brooches, and, eanisp of diamonds, the ribbon ttni atar of th« mder of the Garter, the Orders ot Victoria and Albert, tie crown ot India, Louise of Prussia, 8t Catherine ot Russia, the Spanish and Portu gese Orders, and the Saxe Cobury-Uothj family order. Xhe Princess of Wales wore a dress of dark green velvet orer a jape of pale green brocade, embossed with gold. and volants of lace fastened with buncta of shaded carnations; coisage and train to correspond, head-diesa, a tiara of diamond*, feathers and veil; ornaments,, diamonds and the litverpool diamond cross; orders - Victoria and Albert, the Crown ot India,Bfe. Catherine of ttussfc, and the Banish family order, Princess Chi istian wore atrainaodwr sage of brown broche velvet, the train bin* rued with silver fox fur, over a.petticoattf vielor satin, haudsouuly draped ..with Houiton l«ce ; lica<i-dre«s, a, tiira.of tm qaoiac and diamonds, feathers and veil; ornaments, tuiqaoise and diamonds; orders, the Victoria and Albert, the Crown of India, St. Catherine of'". Rusfll, the Portuguwe, the S»xe • Coburg. Qotha family prder, ' the ''Pn> sian Order for the Care'of the Sick and Wounded, Che Order of Louis of PruMia, and the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. Princess Beatrice wore a' bodice and train of Pompadour satin, trimmed with sb»ded loses; the petticoat d'Arsen tin lace over salmon fatin;. head-orMS, feather?, veil and diamond stars. afX Royal Highness also wore a necklace,Jjroocn and earrings of diamonds, and the ordersi ot Victoria and Albert, the Crown of India, the Portuguese and the Saxe-Coburß-kotto family order.

ST^R SATURDAY SU^PIiIMNT^ WNft % 1883.

4



A season of French plays by French troupes is to be inaugurated at the Gaiety Theatre, London, on June 4th. The entire troupe of the Gymnaise appears first, then a contingent from the Vaudeville, and after them Madame Chaumnot, while arrange ments with Madame Judic and Mdlle Gar niet are pending..



f ipnora Graziosi is said to be the oqlj member of the Italian Opera Canspany re cently playing in Melbourne who MS» voice really worth listening to. . The opera season at <rury Lane w«s to commence under tbe direction of tan Ross, on March 26. Two new opera. were to be produced-" Colombo by £. C. Mackenzie, and " oy Ambtoiae Thomas. "CanneD, Fide iw, " Faust," " Mignon," " Tanßhaaser, "Flying Dutchman," "Favorite, « Dame Blanche," and "K**^^J also to be presented, a wide enough pro gramme truly-Beethoven to Verdi.