THE GARDEN.

(By Hobtus),

Calendar of Operations, November 17.

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 Cor respondents must give their full names ana addresses, though not for publication.]

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Violets (Amateur Gardener, Parncll). — \ou can rcmovo violets at uny time of tho year, only, if the removal takes place during the summer months, duo attention must be given to watering and shading till thoy get estab lished. The old beds want renewing every two or three years. When such is wanted, the new stock would make better plants if thoy were struck from cuttingß early in the spring. They will strike easily in any good, light, sandy soil, in a shady place.

Cinchona (F.A., Whangarei). - These plants are easily raised from aced. 1 could not say whether their cultivation will be a success or not in New Zcnland yet. A few extensive ex periments are about to be tried by several gentlemen. Ono gentleman talks of planting lOOacros. Tho Auckland Domain Jioard will have over 1,000 plunts for distribution next, winter so as to give settlers an opportunity of tearing the plant. Tho best temperature for cinchonas is from 53dcg. to 66dog. F., but they will grow in open places at a minimum of 32deg P. There is, I believe, ono plant in tho Auckland Acclimatisation Garden which stood out last winter, and was exposed to several hard white frosts, without much injury re sulting.

Run Spider (R.H., Epsom).—Thia insect has a groat aversion to moisture. Whenever it makes its apiwuranec frequent heavy syriiig ings will assist in keeping it in check. A moist atmosphere is one of the best preventa tives. Hy syringing once or twice a day it will then make very little headway.

PKA.cn (S.M., Ponsonby). -Your trees have boon attacked by ono o£ tlio numerous Hpoeies of aphides. Next season we will ileal with provontiilives somewhat largely. Wo already deall with this question early this season at the proper time. Don't cut your trees down. There is a euro, but the materials must bo ujeel before the tree comes into flower.

Kitchen Garden.

Cojjtinuk thinning out the different vege tables a? soon as they are largo enough to handle, thinning out to tho proper distance for each variety; afterwards stir tho .surface soil with the fork ; earth up those that are advancing. Still plant out cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, and tomatoes. Thin out those which were sown in the beginning of this mouth, leaving about two of tho best plants on each hill. Erect a wooden trellis to train the tomato vines to. A few strong wooden posts driven into tho ground and light wooden battens fixed from post to post make a nico cheap support for the plants. Make celery trenches for planting out main crop next month. Prepare a small break of ground for planting out main crop of leeks about tho middle of noxt month. Tlioso liico dcoply-tronchod ground, highly manured ; and where a few lino largo plants are wanted, mako tronchos wuno as for celery." Attend to tho staking of peas and running beans. All tho crops ought now to bo making vigorous growth, and every assistance ought to bo given thorn by fre quently working ovor tho surface soil, mid keeping weeds down. Flowor Gordon. Continue planting out tender annuals which have been established under cover, tilling up all vacancies, and thinning out those which are sutliciontly far advanced. Attend to tho pinching and regulating of bedding plants, and lilling up vacancies which may have occurred, from tho reserve. Stimulate growth as much as possible now, so as to cover the beds before the dry season sets in. Mixed flowor border and lawn samo as directed last week. Greenhouse. Continue ro-potUnga* tho different plants advance in growth. Attend to the airing, watoring, syringing, and shading as recom mended lust week. Bints. Tho " Ivonigsborgor Land und Forts wirthshaftlicho Zoitung" contains a short and Interesting account of an experiment in killing insects and mildew in plants with a solution of carbolic acid. One part of carbolic acid was mixed with "20 parts of water, and left standing 24 hours, after which it was well shaken. A coating of oil and fat formed on tho surface, which was carefully removed, so that nothing but wator was left. The mixture was poured ovor a bed of radishes and cucumbers, which were badly mildewed, but the plants woro destroyed by the first and second experiment*. But tho quantity of water was afterwards increased to 100 parts, and tho mixture was successfully used for the smallest and most delicate plants. It wa.< poured over troes, rose-bushes, and peach trees, and was most efficacious in destroying all kinds of inaoots. A small quantity was also poured over an ant-hill, and tho insects forsook their nests with such rapidity that they left their eggs behind—a circumstance almost unknown in tho annals of ant history. A smaU cherry tree, the ripening fruit of which attracted the ants in such great numbers that it was gradually dying, was wiVed by a narrow rim' of the solution being made round tlw roots, which, l>y boing ronowod every four or live days, effectually kept tho intruders away. No plant cart continue in bloom if Nature is permitted to do her work com plotely, for tho going to seed exhausts tho energies of any subject, and stops every thing else. By constantly removing docay ing flowers before a seed pod can swell tho growth of tho plant, and tho continued development of now buds and flowers upon tho new growth arc mattors of cour.Hc. Try tho experiment. Two cottages, having fino plants covering their fronts, being in tho hands of different per son?, frequently exhibit tho most, striking contrast—one a mass of flowers, while tho other is bare ; and those who pay no atten tion to the cause are nevertheless often sur prised at tho fact. Jf they look v little further into the matter thoy will observe that tho one is loaded with hips, or soed vessels, which are swelling in great num bers, while on tho other not a solitary borry could bo seen. In tho one case every bloom was trimmed off as fast as it faded; in tho other they took their chance. It is only necessary to cut away the'dead flowers to prolong the season of bloom. Those who are so careful of the flowers and dread to soo one plucked are depriving them selves in the long- run, as well as denying others the enjoyment of a fresh bouquet, and getting tho name of boing selfish and stinf y. There is an absolute gain in pluck ing every full-blown rose, and do not do privo a neighbour or yourself the pleasure of tho full-blown rose. Lot tho bush pro duce more instead of maturing seGd pods which are of no value.

TniKMKo Sui'EUT'HroiTa Fruit of Over loaded Fruit Trees.—This is of vast^ im portance where first-class fruit or first cla33 cultivation is aimod at. The more a tree is thinned of the fruit, the better will bo the quality of tho fruit loft on the tree. But I do not believe in excessivo thinning. This I think con be overdone also. Ido not think it is a sign of first-class cultiva tion to see all the fruit thinned off so as to product) a few good samples. When thin ing is undertaken it ought to be done with the intention of taking as much as possible in weight without impairing tho quality, also with an eye to next year's crop. I have Often seen fruit trees here loaded with fruit, more than half ot that fruit unsuited for the market, the remaining only what

would bo called indifferent. Now, if about one-third of the fruit had been taken off the tree at an early stage, the remaining two thirds would have been produced of good quality, and the constitution of the tree would not have been racked, or forced to try 'to ripen off too much. A treo which has produced a crop like that of which I have given an example sometimes takes two or three years before it ia brought into a good fruit-bearing state again, the cul tivator under these circumstances losing at least another year's crop. Now, a cultivator careful of his trees, and even from a com mercial point of view, would have thinned the excessive fruit of these trees. The fruit left would have swelled to a larger frize, and would therefore have produced an almost equal weight to the unthinned tree. But whore the commercial benefit would have come in would be in the superior quality of such fruit, and its increased value in the market. The tree, not being over-exerted in ripening off the fruit, will produce a good crop the next year. Teaches especially aro often ruined by excessive cropping. The peach has got to make new wood every season so as to produce fruit the following season. Now, I have seen poach trees so loaded with fruit that the tree could not produco one inch of new wood with the fruit. Under theso circumstances tho tree could not produco fruit tho following season. There aro two actions of tho sap in a tree—tho one produces wood the other fruit. If either one for a soason is allowed to predominate, it is at the expense of tho other. There is a happy medium if it could bo reached, and that is a fair quan tity of wood every soason on a fair crop of fruit i and it is only by a judicious course of thinning and pruning that a fair average can be struck. In thinning stone fruits, such as peaches, plums, &c, do not thin till they have formed their stones, or what is termed stoned. There is generally a good number sot, but it is usual for a num ber to drop oil' in the stoning, nnd it is bettor to defer tho thinning till this stage is passed. Ai'i-LKs and PEAKS. —Thin when they liavo attained about the size of walnuts. If tho tree is a good, strong, healthy one, with a heavy crop, I would assist the tree by giving occasional waterings with liquid manuro white tho fruit is swelling. Con tinuo theso waterings till the fruit is begin ing to swell and colour for ripening. When tho fruit has reached this stage I would not water any more, as tho less moisture which is allowed to get to tho treo tho better at this stage. If a treo is kept modoratcly dry while ripening its fruit, the fruit will bo firmer, better flavoured, and will keep better. Where too much moisture is apr lied, either naturally by heavy rains or excessive waterings while it is ripening its fruit, .such fruit will bo soft, flabby, and watery, not so rich in flavour, and will not keep so long. If such fruit is made into preserves, these preserves will sooner ferment. Modorately dry conditions of atmosphcro and soil while ripening off are tho best conditions for producing first-class fruit either in tho open air or under glass. For instance, with tho grape vine, it would almost be impossible to produco a well ri ponod crop if tho house or border were kept moist during the last stages of ripening of tho crop. Moisture would causo tho berries to burst in some cases, in others It would causo a flabby, watery-flavoured berry.

The Horrible Suffering of a Child Bitten by a Mud Dog.

CHICAGO (111.), October 9.—Paulino S. Hart man, aged nino yearn, of 4,330, Arnold street, in the town of Lake, died Saturday night of hydrophobia. She was bitten by a littlo black and tan dog on August 2, but tho annimal was killed the noxt day. As thoy understood that tho death of the dog removed all chances of hydrophobia attack ing tho person bitten, the parents lot the matter drop from their minds, and with the healing of the wounds (two severe bites on the right leg above the ankle) all danger was supposed to be at an end. Last Tuesday night, nino weeks after the child had been bitten, sho was taken sick with all the symptoms of a billious at tack. Thoso symptoms continued until Thursday, when she complained of a pain in her foot, and later tho painbecamo gen eral, and appeared to pass all through the body. Friday sho was well enough to eat breakfast, but at noon she becamo alarm ingly ill, and Dr. J. F. Abel of 3,500 Dear born-street was called in. Sho then had symptoms of ordinary tetanus. Sho refused water, as tho effort to swallow caused

VIOLENT PAROXYSMS And a sense of suffocation. The sight of a fluid of any kind throw her into spasms. Sho felt uncomfortable, low-spirited and despondent, and had an unde fined feeling of anxiety or dread, and complained of giddinessandof alternate chills and flashes of heat. Then followed slight morbid sensations, emanating from tho cicatrized wound. Tho case was easily recognised as ono of hydrophobia. The child would lio on her bed perfectly con scious, tho froth coming from her mouth, and would talk rationally, oven whon the fever was burning her up and hor mouth was parched. Whon it was necessary to give her medicine sho would shrink to tho further side of hor bed, her oyes would bulgo from hor head, and throw ing up her hands as though somo terrible monster was about to attack hor sho would shiver and give vent to moans, followed by a species of barking, caused by the glottis not opening when sho desired to speak, and tho effort producing tho short snapping sound. The pain was then apparently centred in tho chest and tho back of the head. Sho continued about tho same during the night, being able to eat. only applos. Sho slept about half an hour on Friday night, and Saturday morning the spasms were less frequent. Sho complained a great deal of a pain in tho heart, and would cry out that hor heart was breaking. In the afternoon the spasms returned with groat forco, and she would cry out so that sho could bo heard a great distance. Sho did not become vicious toward those around hor, but would clutch tho bed-clothes con vulsivoly and sink her fingernails

INTO HER FLESH And tear great long stripes from her body, At about 4 o'clock she revived, and the fear of water loft her. She drank freely of water and milk, but soon sho was again afflicted with spasms. As night fell and a light was brought into tho apartment where the little sufferer lay, she rose in her bed with a violent scream, then tried to hide under tho bed clothes, and showed other manifestations of groat fear, a look coming into her eyes that thoso present say they never can forget. These were the symptoms of photophobia, and afterwards the room was shrouded in almost total darkness. At 9 o'clock she answered the query of how she felt, saying she was " all right," and that the pain had gone. Then sho requested that her bed be made, and she would go to sleep. This was done, and the little sufferer, who had borne so much pain with such a bravo heart, laid over on the soft bed, and without a word or a sigh, or a moan, breathed her last, and the spirit departed. The death was a sur prise and a shock to all who were present.

SCIENTIFIC NOTES.

Professor Maibii has unearthed some ex traordinary fossl remains in America, but his discoveries jnly whet the appetite for more. Here is one reported from Paris, Kentucky, whici gives an account of the discovery of theijones of a mastodon which must have been i veritable monster. The backbone, measiring from the head to the bones of the tail; was 40 feet in length, and the hind quarters stood over 23 feet in height. The heid must have been 5 feet in width, and the jw is 12 inches thick, with teeth in good preservation, weighing between 21b. an* 3}b. each. The remains are said to be all in good condition, and they are rightfy described as tho most astounding discovery in the way of fossil remains with vhich America has yet pre sented us.

Flexible moth?r-of-pearl patterns are pro duced on cloth stuffs, according to a recent German patent, as follows: —On a soft clastic base is placed thin caoutchouc as large as the pattern, and upon this a thin plate of copper, with the pattern cut through. Over the copper is placed the cloth on which the mother-of-pearl pattern is to be produced. A. heater is now passed over tho whole, witl the result of melting the thin caoutchouc, and causing it to be pressed up against tie cloth, in firm of the pattern. The cloth it now removed with its adhesive pattern, and powdered mother-of pearl is sprinkled on it; then a heater is passed over it, and any superfluous powder is re moved with a soft brush. A fine crape-stuff, moistened with gum solution, is next laid on the mothor-of-poarl pattern, and, after dry ing, adheres to it with protective effect, while tho varying colour of the mother-of pearl is but littlo affected

Some experiments with alcohol made upon pigs by M. M. Dujardin-Beaumetz and Audige have been described recently to tho Academy of Sciences. Alcohols of various kinds were administered in a slow and continuous manner, and gave rise to various disorders, but it is specially noted that the more impure tlo alcohols the more marked where the clinbal and anatomical signs. Unroctified spirit caused marked morbid changes, whilst ethylic alcohol rectified ten times indiced but few altera tions. Thus two pigs at the end of three years succumbod to ;ho ingestion of in different forms of abohol, whilst othef animals of the same species treated with the hotter forms of spirits appeared to re sist intoxication.

A writer in the "Sciontific American" suggests that the enormous wind force now going to waste might be stored up in the form of compressed air, and used as a steady sourco of power. It is pointed out that within an area of 40ft. by 150 ft., no larger than the flat ton of many a store or manu facturing establishment, it is entirely prac ticable to place 32 wind-wheels, each 12ft. high by Bft. in diameter, and so arranged that each shall have full sweep of the wind from whatever quarter it may blow. The wheels would revolve on ver tical axles, or horizontal if preferred, witli fixed blades, one-half shielded and turning so as to suit the direction of the current. They would need no attendance, no brake, no check ; they might spin with the utmost fury of a gale, or Ho still in a calm. Rapid motion could do no harm, and would only increase their effi ciency ; whenever thay turned they would do work, and when they lay still they would do nothing. Each wheel would drive an air-pump of size suited to its power, and each stroke of the piston would send its given quantity of air into the common reservoir provided. The reservoir would thus become a magazine of compressed air, whose energy would be reported by the gauge, and could be used by any of the means now so well known.

The Sirs Standing Still.— Mr Samuel Kinns, Ph. D., in his interesting and valu ablo book on " Moses and Geology," at page 475 thus refers to the account of the sun standing still, as given in the 10th chapter of Joshua : — " This miracle is ridiculed by most infidel writers and speaker as boing in direct opposition to as tronomical facts, for they say that it im plies that tho sun goes round the earth. This is, indeed, their weakest argument, for they use precisely the samo kind of phraseology every day of their lives when they say the sun is rising and the moon is setting. But when that absurdity is pressed homo to them, they shift their ground, and say that tho earth must then have stood still to have produced the effects described ; and Colenso, in his work on the Pentateuch, enumerates, with alarm ing eloquence, the direful catastrophes which would in such cases have happened. There is no must in tho matter. The earth need not have stood still, for the simple material law of atmospheric refrac tion would entirely explain tho event. You will notico that on p. 474 Captain Bedford Pirn, R.N., states that in the polar tfegion this refraction is sufficient to cause tho sun to appear for ' several days' above tho horizon after it has really set. In those polar regions Captain Seoresby saw the inverted image of his father's ship abevo tho horizon when it was nearly twenty miles bolow it, and similar phe nomona are continually happening all over the world. In December, 1869, the >tliolo of Paris was soon in tho sky; and the mirage in tho desert exhibiting to tho weary travellers a beautiful country studded with shady trees, which, on their approach vanishes into thin air, is caused by tho samo law of refraction. Let not scoptics, then, talk any more nonsense about tho necessity in Joshua's case for tho earth to be stopped in its course, and to ceaso revolving upon its axis. Tho circum stance was doubtless a miralo, but not at all contrary to known natural laws. On p. 474 Captain Bedford Pirn, K.N., is quoted thus: —' Tho refraction is in creased by cold, tho sun boing for several days visiblo in the frigid zones when he is as much as ono degree below tho horizon.' Theso remarks hardly re quiro any comment of mine, but I cannot refrain from pointing out that the Bible hero is its own witness, and seems to point to tho law of refraction when it says in the latter part of Joshua xi., 10: ' Thoy were more which died with hailstones than they which tho children of Israel slew with the sword.' Do not the hailstones indicate the coldness of the atmosphere above, and does not Captain Pirn say, as already quoted, that refraction is increased by cold ?"

(To tho Editor.)

Sin, —Since pending you my last con cerning the figures 957654321, &c, I have found that the problem will extend much further with the same result, thus: — From .. .. 0987651321 = 45 Tako .. .. 0123456759 = 45 Leaves ... 0564197532 =45 All added gives 1975308612 = 45 Multiplied bj- .. 2 Gives .. .. 3950617284 = 45 Multiplied by .. 2 Gives _ .. 790123J26S = 45 Add » .. _ 0123450788 Gives .. .. 8024691357 = 45 Add .. .. 0987654321 Gives ... 9012345678 = 45 Much more could be done, but this is suffi cient to show the peculiarity of the nine digits. Every line in the above is the same, only varied. I have also found that any

number containing more than one digit, when reversed, and the lesser taken from the greater, will give an answer divisible by 9; also, the digits of such answer will give a sum equal to one or more 9's, thus :— 97625 192 52679 291 9)MM6 = 27 = 9 3)198 = 18 = 9 4994 _n 6795 100 ---5976 001 = 18 = 9 — 9) 819 9) 99 = 18 = 9 H H 85 58 9)27 ■ 9 3 Hoping some of your readers can explain— I am, &c, T. S. MINCHER.

Heaven-Made Marriage.

How the Widow and Widower Came to

Terms.

A woman arrived here the other forenoon from the East with seven children in tow, and at almost the same hour a man reached the same depot from the North with five offspring of various ages and sizes. She was a widow and he a widower, and the children had not been whipped more than once around before there was a sort of mutual sympathy that begot admiration and then friendship. One of the widow's boys offered one of the widower's girls a bite of his fried cake, which was accepted in the spirit tendered, and a ten-year-old girl belonging to the man made up to the two-year-old belonging to the woman, and soon secured the privilege of wiping its nose and combing its hair. Presently the widower made bold to inquire: "Madam, am I wrong in believing-that you are a widow ?" " I have been a widow 14 months to-day," she answered.

" Great Scott! but it's just 14 months to day since my Hanner died ! Which way be you going ?" "To Illanoy."

" That't just where I'm going, too. Did you promise your husband never to marry again ?" "No."

" And I didn't promise my wife, either. Fact is I believe I shall unite as soon as I find some good woman." "And my children need a father's care," she sighed, as she pulled little John Henry off the window-sill and bumped him into a seat.

The man got up and walked around the waiting-room and took a closer look at the children. Then he returned and said:

"I suppose you've got a few hundred dollars, belong to some church, can wash and bake and mend, and are of a mild and forgiving disposition ?" " Yes ; that's me."

"Well, I'm kinder religious, even-tem pered, and am worth about $2,000. I'm sort o'struck on you. There's something about your eyes that reminds me of Han ner."

"And you look like Alonzo around the mouth, she sighed. Then he bent over and whispered some thing about Chicago and getting married, and Bhe nodded her head. He gathered his children under his wing, took them into a corner and solemnly and impressively ob served :

"Children, I'm going to git married to that woman over there and give you a new mother. If any of you is going to kick and boo-hoo about it, begin now, so that I can tune ye down before the train goes. Henry, you are the oldest. Are you going to declare you'll run away or commit suicide? Let me know right away, for this is a good cool place to prance ye around with a sningle." Henry said he guessed it would be all right and the rest of the crowd seemed to agree, and ten minutes later the widower and widow sat holding hands and trying to eat peanuts, and the twelve children were sitting bud pulling air and kicking to see who should nave a seat on the steam-heater.

"This is kinder the work of heaven!" said tho widower, aa he hitched a little nearer.

" You bet, love, as she shucked another peanut with her teeth.—" Detroit Free Press." >

The " Missing Link."

That interesting young lady " Krao " was the pubjeot of much discussion in the An thropological Section of the British Asso ciation yesterday. The serrants have come to the conclusion that " Krao." so far from, being a "missing link," is in reality a perfect woman, nobly planned in every thing save, perhaps, a rather undue de velopment of hair. This view of the case seems to have struck her god fathers and godmothers in the kingdom of Siam ; for they thoughtfully christened her with a name, the first letter of which wo are informed " expressed whiskers," with which appendages, as moat people know, "Krao" is bounteously supplied. For the rest, she is no different from other Siamese young ladies, having a good foot and hand and about the average of brain power. To say that she has a tail is no more than a. calumny. There are infinite impossi bilities in human nature, and dormant within a certain portion of the bodily frame of each of us there lies what one of the anthropologists called the " homologue of a tail," which, by a little prolongation, might easily pass muster as the regular caudal appendage. Such instances of development are said to be by no means unknown. A tailed negress, according to Mr Baring Gould, was sold in the slave market at Constantinople not so very long aco, and fetched a high price—probably aa a curio. The men of Strood, so said the general tradition of tho Middle Ages, were blessed with tails ; and perhaps the legend arose out of an instance of accidental pro longation of the " homologue " in some inhabitant cf the Kentish town. ' " Krao," however, is not even tailed to this extent. Her only peculiarity is her hairiness. This, however, though it does noS tend to esta blish her position as a missing link, is in itself interesting. It is thought to be a case of atavism of a remarkable kind. Primitive man was probably covered with hair ; and " Krao " has reproduced the traits of her remote ancestors who ran wild in the woods covered with a thick fell of hair growing upwards on the forearm and downwards above the elbow.

Half a million Young Eels for Australia.

We notice from a paragraph in the •' Deutsche Fischerei Zeitung " that a con signment of 500,000 young eels, the majority not larger than a lead pencil, is about to be sent from Hamburg to Brisbane. The fish have been collected in the neighbour hood of Sudwesthorn, and to fill the order of a Brisbane resident, who tried a similar experiment last yoar with carp fry.

"England's Only General."

Some curious and interesting informttfo& regarding the Anglo-Indian Egyptian c* pedition is being furnished byaßeng<d w Baboo in a series of letters published by Punjaubee native journal. The review «f ' Kassassain prior to the Battle of Tt,U\ Kebir included some incidents whint." ' escaped the notice of the English speckl correspondents. "When wo reached tho camp at Kassassain," says the wrlt«. "the wise, highly skilful, aadtE bravest of generals, Sir Garnet WolseW ■ was inspecting the army. The whole off the Indian Contingent had not yetarriTed in camp. A dark shadow of anxiety was glainly visible on the broad forehead of Sir ' arnet now and then. But no sooner couU you detect it than with the quickness ot lightning, it vanished. I do not mean to say that the great Wolseley entertained any • fear, but he was only anxious on account of the entire Indian Contingent not arriving in camp up till then. Presently, as though feed - ■with some supernatural courage, he ad dressed the troops in burning words of encouragement. He foretold the future when he said, in the course of his speech- ' 'Within the 15th-of this month shall T vanquish the rebel Araby, and make him bow down his proud head before the Ene. lish throne. If I fail, the profession nr^ which I have whitened my locks I will give up for ever. I will cease to utter the sacred name of warrior till life: is extinct.' He who saw his animated I face covered with a silvered beard, and the ■ lußtreof indomitable courage which shone forth from his eyes, could understand that it was no vain brag, but tHe prediction of a, true soothsayer of coming events. During the speech his proudly erect head seemed to V become more and more erect, his eyes flashed ■-''■ i fire, the sternness of his resolution became I depicted on his face. The troops became very much excited. They sang the National; Anthem, which echoed and echoed back through the field. Instantly the band I struck up sweet yet madly exciting music I the veteran soldiers became restless for I action. Sir Garnet then declared the in-, spection at an end, and entered his camp I with but a few of the chief commanders." ■ ; "

Seeking to Fathom the Unfathom able and Find Out all About the Unknown.

A great deal of very valuable time is. squandered by persons who seek to fathom : the unfathomable, and to find out all about the unknown. To fully comprehend and '^ lucidly explain to others all about the in comprehensible is a much more difficult ;• task than some persons suppose. It is not i'M easy on general principles to impart unto ;* others that of which we, ourselves, are not ;W in possession. During the middle ages, fe": learned and apparently earnest men bave.^H' given up the whole of their minds Jfe to discussing such questions as the -Sl colour of the wing feathers of the Hi arch - angel Gabriel. And probably at the very same time as these learned men ,|f were thus engaged they might haveculti- i vated and sold enough vegetables to have 0 built themselves comfortable houses pre-.4 paratory to settling down and raising ;i respectable families. If the mental wear ; ■ and tear that has been expended in the fi futile" efforts to square a circle, discover 1;

perptual motion and the North pole, hadvj been devoted to useful and practical pur- I poses, the world might have been made com-1 paratively happy by the invention of a new I kind of shirt button that could not be ironed j

off, or of a hair dye that would not cause 3 the moustache of the very blonde young § man to bear such a remarkable resemblance |

to the fins of a dead mackerel,

Even those

practical, commonsense, modern - tunes \ young men who might advantageously I punish the earth with a hoe, or fearlessly 1 curb the headlong speed of the street car j mule, spend much of their time in discus^ ■.] sing, in debating societies, questions that!: are about as instructive as the old time-

honoured one as'to the sex of Job's turkey, i

Marwood's Successor.

After a careful examination of the numer j ous applicants by the sheriffs of London and ' Middlesex, the actual snecessionhaspaesed I to Mr Bartholomew Binns, a foreman plate-1 layer in the employ of the Lancashire and 5 Yorkshire Railway Company, and it is satis- '.) factory to learn that he has shown.adis-1 position to bear himself modestly ■ and 1 with due reserve. It appears that he 1 arrived at Dewsbury with his fulMriown :jj' ; honours fresh upon himou Friday night, the v 28th ult., but his progress was unofficial.and 4 he travelled strictly incognito. A friendly | publican was, however, in the secret; and | this gentleman (pei'haps with an' eye to | business was not inclined to keep his dis-1 tinguished visitor too.much to himself, i, and Mr Binns has already held his first ; reception in the smoke room of the Albion ;o Hotel, Dewsbury. One can only hope that ij the social duties of his office will always^ be more pressing than the executive." "

Best Thoughts of Best Men.

Comparison, more than reality, makes men $ happy, and can make them wretched. Law and equity are two things which! God hath joined, but which man hath put ;| asunder, -5| Hope is a lover's staff: walk hence with' | that, and manage it against despairing 1 thoughts. He who receives a good turn should never a forget it; he who does one should never re- | member it. Being positive in judgment to-day is no | proof that we shall not be of a different i opinion to-morrow. : .'■"■ . ■■.« Happiness grows at our own firesides, and | is not to be picked in strangers' gardens. : Secret kindnesses done to mankind are as beautiful as secret injuries ars detestableffi To be invisibly good is as godlike as to jbfl| invisibly evil is diabolical. Kind" words are the bright flowersmH earth's existence ; use them, and especjiHH around the fireside circle. All the beautiful sentiments in the mirla weigh less than a single lovely action. ■ . The man who has never tried thij com panionship of a little child has canfeljf passed by one of the greatest pleastms of fife, as one passes a rare flower jrithoat plucking it or knowing its value. " No mocker y in this world seems so hollow as that, of being told tocultirate happiness. What does such advice me"1)'; Happiness is not a potato to bo plaited™ mould and tiled. "Happiness is li'lf"*?' shining far down upon us out otkWTen. She is a divine dew, which the ; » °n certain of its summer mornings, telwi™?: dropping upon it from the amaranth Bloom and golden fruitage of paradise, j'-'v.;^- No way has been found for ,II?r°^; heroism easy, even for the scholar, > "uWWi iron labour, is for him. The wnoW created as an audience for him; ft*** 8 of which it is made are opportunito 5-" Emerson. .. , H We ought not to wait watil we fewiTOV before attempting to do right ;%•'£■. to say kind words and do kindly acta,i *, ■ I berately, even when'we should nOtßajß" Ido them instinctively and iroputafW- .

STAR SATURDAY SUPPLEMENT, NOVEMBER 17, 1883

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