STAR SATURDAY SUPPLEMENT.

AUCKLAND, N.Z., SATURDAY, MAY 26, 1883

RANDOM SHOTS.

[BY Zamiel.]

_~win a neighbour's name to lash. ®°m £h«-vain thought I-for needful cash, _SS to ptoase the country clash. ,gome write wi> And rftlßa _ din , -_-,» an aim I never fash— •pofme-anatmi j write for tttn .

HP EXCELLENCY SIE WILLIAM F, DiarMMOin) Jervois, Governor of New ■Zealand, now takes his departure from m, fair city, en route for Wellington, _,„tber also are tending our worthy .mbcra of the representative Cham w and the fossiliaed fogies of the •relative Council. Though "Zamiel" (___ behind, yet will he haply Imm time to time " draw a bow at a yen- f 0 b " and send a random Bhot into the row Sffrtinct volcanoes in the Upper Ke_ious, 01 on*, the acttvelv-belfiiiitig mountains "the lower range—throwing out, though JJ] ~~i 0 a good deal more smoke than fire. What I want to apeak about at present, v wever is uot the pendiug legislative <«_ but the just concluded very pleasing A-nrofitable gubernatorial visit. When we, t this part of the colony, beard the golden •nioMofnur Southern neighbours regard • the new Governor, we were (or at least T_rul rather sceptical oo the subject, aad ■a | "Taihon ! wait till he comes here, i'm shall fee what we shall s<se !" Wall Sir William Jervois came, he s.w It iictureque city and suburbs, with S__ WtUul surrouodincs aud twin har _ar.»dne conquered all our sceptwism lingering prejudice. Now that ha Cveß ni, it is pleasant to run the eye back S. all' tho happy incidents of hia visit, Jin doing so, the mantle of Poetry dee _j_b upon roe, and my thoughts take 'thine to the tune of an old sea song, which r*7i.. s the achievements of Admiral _nrl_ Sir William, by the way. is eatd to .mnounce hia nam** as if written plain Kjervis" and his disdain to take advan tare of 'the Frenchified turn of the " Jer !__»b inst auothe.' trait in his character which ie fitted to popularise him with the Zocratic community of New Zealand. Oder, then, for" Zamiel s song:- SK WILLIAM JERVOIS. (Afteb Dibdin.) r»e lived upon New Zealand's shore ffingh many different changes, iiabaok for thirty years or more My roving memory ranges. Ofgevernors, nigh half-a-BCoro Hare in that time seen semoe, Aid now I doff my hat before The great Sir William Jervois 1 All oraiae to Hobson, first of all. Onr noble city's founder: A?dpX to gallant Sir George' Grey. who did surround her. long ma* the Enight of Kawau live, To do us greater service, 'And nee his place so nobly filled B. good Sir William Jervois I . Then nasalng other men than these,' • •^■SenaStea 'twere vain recordin'. Icome to bluff Sir Hercules, And stiff patrician Gordon. We were not sorry when the last Was shifted from our service, •' i And ronnd about the word was passed " We've got Sir William Jervois 1" Sir William hastiO hungry pride likolandlesa Highland gentry. Bat wine men's hearts on every aide While travelling through the country. A man of knowledge, sense, and worth, ■ An! cool and strong his nerve is- A better olalm than rank or birth Has our—William Jervois I Atheßreoepiion, or levee, He's ever free and kindly; Oar mounts and bays ho gives good praise- Not flatteringly or blindly; like KoWnsan. he loves good sport. And t nil of li. c aud vsrve is; ' Then lond and strong, onr parting song ll " Five Sic William Jervois I. a ISewnow, at tbe risk of being accused of "toadjism," I have unburdened my soul; sod I pause for a reply. I flatter myself that in these remarks I have entwined to lather the four estates of this realm—Sir : ma. Jervois, as reoresenting the Queen; 7 the second and third estates in the shape of :tor "Lords" and "Commons"; and the '"loarth estate"—the Press—in my own ; homhle parson I ■":,-,

. The exchange of the brilliant trappings tl the British soldier for the homely but 'Mtiiceable drab has ao alarmed old recruit ing sergeants for the success of their cull ing that a special concession has been 1 vide preserving the gay plumage as a Kit to country bumpkins. It would be a ' curious subject of investigation to ascertain ' how much of true patriotism and how much «f lidiculo-s vanity there lain the Volun teer movement. Snmething like a military '.: strike was menaced the other day when the venerable Le Roy, as senior captain ia tbe totrict, summoned his comrades to attend ttefaneral of their late commanding officer. The records of the Telegraph Office are a Haled book, but the promptitude with ■which Coloaal Lyon was appointed to the command tells us a little about the storm that broke upon tbe Defence Office before the gallant old Major's shoes'were cold or his remains peacefully committed to the ' grave, Such is life, my masters I * ! * XX x

;,,. My first random shot this week brought . fowha buxom lady of forty-five, who has teen doing what some people say she Mightn't, taking unto her bosom a fifth Itlhand. It is positively shameful, with » many maidens pinipg in single blessed w«.. Marriageable men', are so scarce at present, that it is most teprebensible for «W woman to so far forget herself, ;;Jw "fifth" wedding took plaoe in Auckland -to .recently, and created a great flatter ';»certain circles, as the lucky (!) No. 5 is r {Messed of. a very respectable income. 1 «re been trying for a wholeweekto discover - wJa'te.. of'.tue' first, second, third, and :,mlb /'good man" of this sturdy- lady, , ferny efforts have not yet home fruit, and :. wh the above meagre information, those ! wo ara curious may attempt to unravel Im myitery (if such it be) themselves. In tompaseion for the feelings of No. 5, names .Suppressed.

1 The patriarchal West wood has met with '.Poor success In his mission to the Lost ~ .wines. If he could only shew a ten per ««t, dividend in the Anglo-Israel Associa 'M. or fifty ounces of gold to the ton in 'He stones of the Great Pyramid, how juffereot would be his reception. The re uhonship to the tribe that wasn't lost is .«o near and dear to some of ns to make ■;* very anxious about seeking out the'stray 7«ibes. How calmly indifferent are the ;'«hosen people" to the dreams of natibnal Pry and restoration cherished bo dearly w their account by evangelical enthusiasts. *he "Jewish World" says the yeaminjr; JM a reiteration of the Kingdom of Israel v no portion of the ideal of the Jewish '■ e?jSP'". X fa mßre,y "m abnormal Stowth of the delirious hopes of ages of

persecution." The true mission of the Jews, thi* organ of the faith observes, ia to remain dispersed amongst the nation? in order to "propagate a sensible view of life and its duties. " Complimentary, this, to the Gentiles 1" observes "Civis, in the " Witness." " The Jewish view of life and its duties, as I gather it from observations of Jewish practice, is to make money, avoid pork, marry your fifth cousin, snd go to the opera three times a week. The first and last items of this ' sensible view ' might be difficult of attainment in Palestine,"

The good old days of Highway Board rows, when men fought throughout the weary night for the right of manipulating tbe public funds, are over, but people tell me that storms are brewing in the fashion able suburb of Remuera. The inhabitants of Arney Read mean to make amends for past deficiencies by scooping, if they can, the bulk of the rate?, and havo chosen the redoubtable Hammond as their champion, while the other sections of the district are combining to resist the attack. Over the water a battle ia impending between the rival whares of Woodside and Birkenhead, which will revive the memory of the famous battles of Devonport.

The administration of justice in Auck land and in the Police Court is uot credit able to us as a British commuuity. Tho public suitor and professional man, with their witnesses, waiting for a considerable time while the messenger U hunting up justices of the peace to administer the law, is a common occurrence ; but while this in convenience exists, there is something of a more serious character. I do not affirm that such has happened, but l know that when the question is asked, " Who is going to sit te-dayt" it is quite possible that either a complainant or defendant in a criminal or quasi criminal office, may wait upon some justice who entertains a kindly feeling towarus the suitor, to sit and adjudi cate. This possibility should not be allowed to evtst. If wo canuot have a stipendiary m gistrate, there ought at least to be a regnlu rota, from whicb the names of ineffective j astioes should be struck out.

Mr Brophy's solicitude for the modest feelings ot the Westmeath girls, which in duced him to engage a 'bus and convey them by a round-about route to the depot, that they might eicape the gaze of tho cheeky Queen-strest youth, was rather mis applied. One female occupying a top seat was evidently by no means anxious to eicape the admiration she considered her due, and by sundry demonstrations mani fested her desire for notoriety. The ap pearance of three or fonr of these females abont Queen-street at night in an advanced condition of beer, did not tend to improve first impressions. Some of the single girls by the ttangltikei are also not of unexcep tional virtue. The colony may, perhaps, be benefitted by the " unearned increment" of population, not set down in the Agent- General's lists, but it would, on the whole, be preferable to get these little treasures in a legitimate way. It is rather unfortunate for many respectable well-doing girls on the Westmeath and Rangitikei — and there vtere many such—that they should suffer from the unsavoury reputation ola few fellow-passengers, They have, however, been readily engaged, and have now a lair chance of establishing their merits. lam assared by one lady who took a girl from tha Westmeath into her service, that she has proved a perfect treasure of a domestic, untainted by the eccentricities of this s«rvant-gal-ridden community.

In my lucubrations last week I narrated a harrowing tale illustrative of the troublea of a o-nnibal lover of New Britain ; this week the trials of an Auckland swaU will inspire my pen, and 1 will thus have pre sented to my readers studies of the same subject In black and white. But to my tale. Amorous young couples have a de cided pronenese to moonlight rambles in the Domain and other sequestered pro menades

"Far from the meduing crowd's Ignoble strife," Here John Henry, the draper's apprentice, and Belinda Jane, the slavey, can hold loving converse, alternated with_ the latest scandal anant the " missus" aud fulminations by B.J. again*t her enemy, the cook, But I drivel. Last Sunday evening, about half-past, ten o'clock, a belated Grafton Road resident met a young girl, apparently about IS years of age, hurrying along that thoroughfare, and weeping bitterly the while. He asked her tbe cause of her trouble, and ascertained that the weeping damsel bad been enjoying her " Bnnday out" with her youag man. The young eonple bad been walking in the Domain, without the slightest thought of guile, when they were accosted by two birsuit individuals who professed to be detectives, and ordered the youag people to leave the moonlit Eden, Thoroughly scared before the awful majesty of the law, the pair betook themselves towards the nearest gate, the sham detectives following them closely. When the Stanley-street entrance was reached, the ruffians bade the now thoroughly-scared lover "make himself scarce, which he did with mora speed than gallantry* leaving, hia adored one in the hands of the enemy.; Those endeavoured to force her back into ihe Domain, bnt she shrieked • loudly, and used those feminine weapons—teeth, nails, and tears so effec tually that she escaped her captors, and struck a bee line for the parental dwelling.

;..,, .. . X.. X UuiOtftii The professors of our University College are young men of lofty notions and extrava gant expectations, Perhaps it would be jnster on my part to say that tbey share with a difference the humbler new chum's rose tinted conceptions of the fabulous wealth and milk-and-honey bounteousnes* of these antipodean lands. The fustlan-clad immi grant thinks complacently of the eager competition that there will be - among colonial employers for his services at any cost; be cherishes the hope of picking up a few golden nuggets in tbe stroet en route from the point of debarkation, and he makes up his mind to return: Home with a tidy fortune within a couple of years. Somewhat analogous is the case of the gifted professors. To their minds the term "University College of Auckland" con veyed the idea of a wealthily-endowed in stitution, whose governors were parvenu plutocrats, possessed with the desire of imitating, at whatever cost, the refinement, culture, and liberal eaueational equipment of the old world. It was somewhat of a dis appointment for them to find that the Agent-General was only prepared to dis burse some £1,000 or so for the books and apparatus they wished to order, but a series of more grievous ones remained to be experienced on arrival here. Rude and violent was the shook to their feelings when the old District Court-house was pointed

out to them as the College pro tempore, and their amazement wm uubiunded as they entered and were asked if the Council room would setve as a class-room, The deep gravity of the Chairman and Registrar having extinguished any idea that they were joking, Professor X answered " Oh, dear, no 1 this—aw -room would only ac commodate myself and two scholars, It wouldn't hold more than three men, I'm shawur," It was not considered necessary to explain that twelve members of a Coun cil (men of "full habit" of body) were accustomed to meet there, but the Chairman and Registrar must have worked out trie sum in simple proportion which the pro fessorial dictum suggested. I see from the newspaper reports that the professors have since made representations upon the mean, inefficient, and humble character of the buililiug, aud that' in tbe confiding trustfulness of their hearts two of them ha;e asked leave to order books and apparatus to the value of £1,500 and £1,600 respectively, iv addition to the amounts expended at home Previously the Council had not refused any payments whatever, even agreeing to refund the passage money of a youth whom one of the professors had seeu fit to bring out with him, but these missives filled them with consternation, more especially as tire other two professors would be sure to follow with similar requests. There was no means of obliging tne applicants with mis further little bagatelle, however strong the dis position was to gtat.ify them, for only £2000 remained iv the Bank, and so it was delicately iu-iuttated that tor the preseotit would be better to send only for absolute requirements. The professors insisted that their lists contained only absolute require ments, but the stern logic of relentless necessity has subsequently operated with marked effect.

There has been a truly awful decline in loyalty during the past few days, though the terrible Kedmond has not yet set foot upon our shores. Several ardent royalists have beeu heard to utter revolutionary sentiments, and the Imperial sceptre is menaced by popular wrath. Colonial man hood has been affronted by the representa tive of royalty, and outraged dignity cries aloud for vengeance. Tne cause of the incipient rebellion, like the beginning of all great movements, is very simple. A number of gentlemen who wasted their means and expended their energies in pre paring an enthusiastic welcome to His Excellency were overlooked in the invita tions to the Government House ball, and some of these emissions were so pointed as to wear the appearance of a personal affront. 1 The honorary secretary to the Citizens' ' Ball Committee and prominent stewards could not, one would suppose, have been overlooked by accident The pertinent question is asked, " Who advises the aide de-camp in his selection t" for, no doubt, as a stranger to our city, he must take counsel with some local leader of the km ton. Everyone acquits Major Eccles from blame, and as to the Governor, if there is one thing above another which the reputation aud demeanour of the present wearer of the Mew Zealand purple assures us he is guiltless of, it is snobbery, acd the character of these omissions smack of the influence of a snobbish standard of colonial aristocracy, though I hove been assured that where they occurred it woe entirely through tbe callers at Government House neglecting to enter their names and addresses in the book. The selection of gue-ts for the vice regal hoepitaliti is is, perhaps, the most delicate and disagreubie office a governor has to perform, aud not all those who chew the bitter cud of disappointment had fair reason for their hopes; but there are instances where an omission moans the "cat direct," and when this indignity is made the more conspicuous by prominent •Section in honouring the Governor, some better cause than the snobbery of an un known tuft-hunter, or the malignity of a concealed enemy, ought to be forthcoming. Looking down a list of one of these very mixed assemblies, one is puzzled equally , to discover tbe wherefore of these notable omissions, and by virtue of what claims to rank, ability, or station, some of the guests found their place among the chosen ones,

What's in a name ? A good deal, lay our City Councillors, by their action in regard to the naming of streets and roads. It is curious to note the poverty of the ideas of onr City Fathers, or otherwise it is amusing to contemplate the gentle egotism which ruled their choice of names. They contrived to do honour to a tew of the illustrious dead—such as shakspere, Carlyle, Cobdcn, and Macaulay ; they re cognised local munificence in the naming of Costley aud Mackelvie-streets; aud tuey contrived to lug in a little vice-regal lustre by unnecessarily changing Harbour Terrace Into Gordon Terrace, and making the easy transmogrification of Jervis street to Jervois rioad. A few iiamos were dis tributed among local nobodies on no apparent principle, and then the municipal godfathers, thoroughly exhausted, fall back upon their "noble selves." Each making a feeble protest against tho honour, but sub mitting with smiling countenance to the united votes of the others, nearly all the Council succeeded in immortalising them selves on the street corners, ou the principle of "Claw thou dip, and I'll claw thee'." ~.__., some cases., the | names will not Sound so very incongruous. Burns street might reasonably be suppoeed to be named after the " bard of, Doou," instead of the New Zealand Major; thete is a cer tain suggestion ot apostolic unction about Philip-Street; and JUell-etroot brings inven tive genius to tho front, by recalling the first steamship of, Henry Bell or toe tele phonic triumphs, of the modern Professor. But the future geneiation may, well be pictured asking in puzzled astonishment the origin, of such names us M'lckechnie street, Boardman-street, Masefieid-street, Dacre-street, Devore-strcet, and tJarratt* street;while etymologists will be making desperate but vain endeavours to elucidate I the mystery ot such nomenclature, I don't 'blame our local magnates for giving way to the human weakness, of desiring to rescue '.their names from swift Oblivion. I only half regret their actton should have the effect ot dispelling a lingering illu-iou that was currently entertained, tbat men occupying exalted stations were proof against the common frailties of vulgar folks ; and I altogether deplore the mixin_ up of the names of the "mighty dead" with those of the far.from mighty living, in a way which is calculated to confuse the youthful conceptlops of greatness, and at the same time give discerning people a somewhat harsh opinjou of municipal egotism, as developed in the Auckland Borough Council,

-The Governor's exploration of the Uni versity Building, ex-District-Court-house, arm-in-arm with Speaker of the House

of Commons, and their discovery of the philosophical Dr. Kidd, and the learned Thomas, Professor of the science which has produced so many doubters, would form a subject for it Maclise Glancing round the bsre walla, which have echoed with tbe maiden eloquence of Auckland's legal guns, and within which trembliug culprits have heard the dread sentence that laid an embargo on their liberty or their pockats, the represen tatives of the Crown and People penetrate the cloister once sacred to the crusty Lorlgo, and the purchase of five shilling sum mooses, where they come upon the Uni versity doctors laying the foundations of Auckland's chief seat of learning. The vice-regal sympathies, interested alike on behalf of the savants and the causo of higher education, acted under the circum stances as might have been expected of so practical a man, and his personal intevcea sion on behalf of the ill-treated institution and its Professors will doubtless prove a potent factor in determining tho further action of the Government in this matter.

Believing in thoroughness iv all things, it grieves me to observe that some of tbe local purveyors of "liquid datunatiou" havo been before tho Court for not making it hot enough. Tne over-watering of our grog is not such a trivial matter as it ap pears on the first blush to be. It is a practice striking not only at the root of social morality, but threatening to sap the very foundations of our greatness as v. nation. As " freedom and whisky gang thegither," bo will our liberties decline in the exact proportion in which tho pump is made to supersede or supplement the still, until we have sunk to the levul of French consumers of villainous wti ordinaire. The " doctoring1' of drink ia even a wors« evil than the watering of it; but the latter is bad enough to warrant me in demanding that it be severely punished. A commer cial friend informs me that in Duucdin and Christchurch the degenerate habit has been carried to such an extent that aU the prin cipal hotels sport placards proclaiming, " All spirits sold here are diluted with water." This is the old "chicory and coffee" dodge to escape prosecution, and it leaves each grog-seller free to determine the proportions of water and spirits which he sells at the full price of spirits. It may be a safe thing to do, but it is a very low code of commercial morality, and if the law allows it, it is timo tho law was altered. I half suspect it is a ifluc Kibbon dodge to make people water-drinkers in spite of themselves, and I protest against such an interference with the liberty of the sub ject. If we are ta have water foisted on us for brandy, I call upon the Government to put in its claim for the " unearned incre ment" which now goes to the publican. A water tax might not be popular, but it would be conspicuously equitable. I would prefer, however, to have publicans compelled to supply a standard quality of liquor by standard measnrc. I rather like a little water in my brandy, but, Mr Boniface, if you please, serve me them ia separate glosses, and allow me to do my own mix ing.

Better than a Breach of Promise Case.

The other day a muscular young fellow entered_a well-known photographer's es tablishment, and explained that he " would like to have one photograph taken," Ou hearing the price, he concluded that a tintype, large size, would answer the pur pose. After taking a seat in the chair, he tied his handkerchief around his neck, to make a sling for bis arm, and then twisting some bits of court plaster over his face, and twisting bis mouth to one side, he patiently awaited for the operator, " Gracious," exclaimed the latter on seeing the subject on which he was to operate, " you don't want to look tbat way to get a picture. Do you wont mo to take such a phiz as that?" "I do," replied the customer. The artist took it. It was highly satisfactory to the sitter, who paid for it and said : " I gueas that'll fix her. I'll write her that I've boen blewed up and disfigured for life. When she gets this, snd sees how tbat explosion wrecked me, she'll hunt up another feller quicker'n a week. Do you catch on. It 11 do the business, I guess. I'll juit add to the letter that I hope that, notwithstanding I shall always be a horrible sight even to gaze on, she'll love me just the same, Never see that game worked before, did 'you? Good-day.

The Dramatic Death of Flotow's Brother.

The long and prosperous career of, Flotow, the composer, who died last month, was temporarily clouded iv 1864 by tho death of his younger brother, which took place under painfully dramatic circumstances, lie was rather what is euphemistically tailed a "wild" follow; and a practical joke which he perpetrated in a half-drunken freak was taken as an insult by the whole body of the Mecklenburg Depu ties, of whom he himself was one. A dozen challenges ensued, and youug De Flotow agreed to meet any single an t agonist selected by lot. This, as it happened, turned out to be a certain Count Z., one of the Deputies who resented the ofleoco most keenly. ' ' :m On De Flotow's asking him it he thought a stupia joke worth fighting about, and re oeiving an emphatic answer in the affirma tive, " Be it so," ho said :." and if yon at tach as little value to life as I do, we will fight in the American fashion—l staking my life against yours in a game of ccarto of five points, the loser to blow out his brains in twenty-four hours." The propo sition was agreed to, cards were brought, and the two men commenced their terrible game. The score stood at four points oh each side, when Connt Z. turned the king. " You have woe, sir," said young Do Flo tow, rising ; " I will pay before noon to morrow."

Next day ho slept till 11. After break fast he took a turn in the park, and was observed by his valet gazing for some minutes at the fagade of tho ancestral mansion, after which ho hid bis face in his hands for a moment, as if weeping. He then pulled out his watch ; .it wanted but five minutes of noon. M. de Flotow entered his study. At 12 precisely the re. port of a pistol shook the window panes. Ho had punctually killed himself.--''' St. James's uazette," '7 ,

THE WEIRD SISTERS.

I FOB the benefit of those readers who neglected to read the openiug chapters of this interesting story, which commenced in last week's .Supplement, we append a brief resume of the plot bo far as it has gone. Caaptere I. and 11, introduce the reader to Mr Walter Grey, an exceedingly popular and reputedly wealthy banker of Dane ford. He is Hitting in his dining-room at fight, when a rough-looking customer is introduced, who confesses that a few even ings oeforo he had burglariously entered a room in the tower of Mr Grey's residence, lie p'Otlucos a guard-ring, formerly the property of Mr Grey's deceased wife, and asks £1,000 for it. Mr Grey draws a re volver from his desk with a view of shew ing how easily he could dispose of the visitor aud take possesion of the ring. The burglar, however, by it shrill whistle shews the banker that his wife is iv attendance. After further couversation, the banker agrees to the terms, the burglar promising to leave the country. No elite is given suggesting the motive of tho singular trans action, This will be revealed iv the plot, which is developed in subsequent chapters. '1 he reader may now go ou with chapters ill. and IV, printed to-day on our second page, The story ia a clever one and well Mirth rending.

Razors Made for Fighting Purposes.

Ths: Sheffield razor trade has been very brisk for nearly two years, and the razor forgers aro agitating, though in a very friendly way, tor an advance of 10 per cent in wages. A "spurt" was given to the razor trade in a singular way jußt before the Egyptian war. Uu the soldiers' kits being examined, it was found that thoy were dclicicot in razon, knives, and forks. A large firm iv Sheffield were asked by Government to make several thousand razors in a certain time. The firm replied that they could supply from stock if tho Government would take the ordinary pattern; but tho authorities in sisted on having their own army razor. The order was then divided, and the numerous forgers, who work at little wheels in the picturesque Kivclin valley and other suburban parts, were offered 3d per dozen more to get the work out in time. The offer was accepted, and the soldiers had their razors in time,

In the days of the late Mr Roebuck, a Sheffield manufacturer made the remark in his presence that the British soldier shaved himself with a razor which was de livered, in case, at 4_d to s_d. Mr Roebuck expressed some incredulity, but the manu facturer whipped ono out of hia pocket and showed it to the right honourable gentleman who took possession>f it. The chief cause of the present activity in the razor trade is the sudden change in the American demand, which is now all for lnllow-bncked razors.

Another kind is made, cot for shaving, but for razor ii^htc It is very loose in the blade, which can be suddenly thrown backhand held j,bctwe?n the fingers for a dash at the face. This razor is said to be almost entirely used by tho negroes, and large numbers arc sent to tho United States. The Sheffield water is said to

essential to the making of good razors,, Several yenrs ago a company ol razor grinders who went to America took a barrel of Sheffield water with them, but the bar ic', of course, cnuld not last for-over. What ever the cause, the making ot razors re mains a specialty of the Sheffield manu facturers, and almost a monopoly.—"Lon don Times."

Women's Waists.

WOMSN, especially those of the upper classes, who ato not obliged to keep them selves in condition by work, lose after middle age (sometimes earlier) a consider, able aniouut ot their height, not by'stoop ing, aa men do, but by actual collapse, sinking down, mainly to be attributetlto the perishim; of the muscles tbat support the frame, in consequence of habitual and constant pressure of stays and dependence upon the artificial support by them afforded, Every girl who wears stays that preßS upon these muscles, and restrict the free development of the fibres that form them, relieving them from their natural duties of supporting the spine, indeed, incapacitating them from so doing, may feel sure she is preparing herself to be a dumpy woman. A great pity I Failure of health among women when the vigour of youth pa-^sesjaway is but too patent, and but too commonly caused by this practice. JLet the man who admires the piece, of pipe that does duty for a human body picture to himself the wasted form and seamed skin. Most women from long custom of wearing these stays, are really unaware how much they aro hampered and restricted. A girl of twenty, intended by Nature to be one ot her finest specimens, gravely assures ono that her stays are not tight, being exactly the same size as those she was first put into, not perceiving her condemnation in the fact that she had since grown fivt) Inches in htight and two ia shoulder-breadth. Her stays are not* tbo, tight, because the constant pressure has. prevented the natural development of heart and lung space. The dainty . waist of the poets is preosoly that flex, ib'e elimuess that is destroyed by stays, The form resulting from them is not slim, but apiece ot pipe, and as inflexible. But while endeavouring to make clean the out race upon orauticil good sense and sense of beauty, it is necessary to understand and admit the whole slate of the case. A reason, ii not a necessity, for some sort of' corset, may be found when the form is very redundant. This, however, canaot be with the very youug and slight; butalli that necessity could demand, and that prac tical good sense aud fitness, would concede, could be found in a strong, elastic kind of jersey, sufficiently strong, and ovan stiff,. un<let tho buat to support it, aad suffi- oiently elastic at the sides and back to injure no organs and impede no functions. Even in the cas'i of the young and slight, an elastic band under the false, ribs would not be injurious,, but po-hapi the contrary, serv ing as a constant hint to keep the chest well forward and the shoulders bacK ; but every stiff unyielding nucbioe, cjushing tho ribs and destroying the fibre of muscle, will bo fatal t) beait'n, to freedom of m&ve ment, and to beauty. It is scarcely too much to fay that, the wearing of such amounts to stupidity in those who do not know tho con-equotices (for over and over again warning hue been given), end to wickedness iv tho*. who d\—" Tha Nine* teenth. Century,"