EXPERIENCE OF A DETECTIVE.

BY JAMBS filedoVAN,

AUTHOR OK "BROUGHT TO BAY;" HIWTJSD Dowx;" and '■ Stbahob Clues,"

THE SUBSTITUTED HAT

X,,e hero or tho haf was a singular compound of vanity and daring of the typo o f « Fourtcon," noticed in " A Threatening Advertisement." His real name was Edward Birnie, but ho was generally known as ■•Sweet Sammy." Ho lmd a pleasing manner and a good face, about which ho had the misfortuno to bo exceedingly vain. He could run, and dodge, and mako tho most desperate efforts at escape when pursued, but tho moment it camo to a hand-to-hand struggle and a baton was drawn Sammy Bflve in unconditionally—afraid that his bounty miRM bo spoilt, oven for .1 time, by Bomeswingingblow from thostaff. Sammy's beauty had been his ruin. Ho wa.s a fair oiith, tfit.li mild bluo cyoa and a pretty fnoiistiicbc, and, but for an occasional slip in his language, would have passed for a gentleman in many n company. His first crime had been embezzling from his master, tnd, Retting off with a simplo dismissal, ho had been told in wrongdoing cvor aftor. If ho had been well whipped when young, or if Bomo troublo had overtaken him and spoiled his beauty, his life might havo been very ditforont. q ftmmY always woro a dross hat, made or altered to the latest fashion. Thero was Sine peculiar about tho hat to my oyes, ™dineed scarcely add thatSanmy never wrote his name and address inside, as is cus tomary with some who expect to have a good Severing misappropriated. Sammy Z , quite able to look after his hat, and Wdes tho articlo was not now, and so was tea sense its own protector. So much for the man and his peculiarities; MC°l& no mean sUill, Sammy called himself an actor, and affected much tie society of players and supers so far Thß could eot it in thoir favourite public- Lses lam not aware whether he preyed X them as he did on all the world-most probably he did-but it was in the company of some of these that he managed one night t) pick up the key of one.of his feats. There is a charm, or glamour, or romance about the conversation and company of actors attractive to more than sharpers like Sntnmv Gentlemen have, over since the Btaeenad an existence, found pleasure in conservation with these happy-go-lucky mortals. Ono of theso-the son of a wealthy Midlothian bird—met Sammy with the players, mistook him for one of them, and was greatly pleased with h s1 talk, and his cleverness with cards and billiard balls. The two were often together, Mr Stewart Armstrong of course supplying all the money, whilo Sammy supplied the brain. In the course of conversation Mr Armstrong happened to mention that ho had an invi tation to a grand party to bo given in a big house at the South Side. Tho giver of the party, however, chanced to be a man who had risen irom a very humble position, and made moat of his money by a share in a brewery, and so tho aristocratic Mr Arm strong announced to Sweet Sammy that it would never do for him to be seen in such vuhrar company, and that therefore he would prefer to spend that evening with Sammy, if that gentleman had no engage ment to prevent the meeting. Sammy considered a little before anawer ine gravely asking the date of the party, and appearing to rack his memory to dis cover if he was not hampered by any pre vious appointment. ... ~ , ~ In reality Sammy was thinking of another matter altogether. An idea had just struck him wbereby it might be possible to tarn tho circumstance to his own advantage, but there were so many difficulties that he could not sea his way at a moment's notice to overcoming them. Mr Armstrong took out his pocket-book, and, after turning over a number of papers, at length found tho invitation, which he read aloud to Sammy, principally for the sake of giving him the date. It was a bulky pocket-book, and Simmy's greedy elance took in its contents like lightning. There were bank notes there as well as papera, and these have always a charm for tho needy and un scrupulous. . The result of Sammy's cogitations was tint he deemed his scheme feasible, and in formed his friend that he was happy to say that he was disengaged on the evening in question, and would be pleased to spend it ia Mr Armstrong's society. They even arranged a little programme of the amuse ments of tho evening, including, of course, a match of billiards, Sammy to give his oppo nent long odds. About half an hour after this agreement had been made Sammy managed to unbutton his friend's coat, and a minute or two later possessed himself of his pocket-book. With that he left the foom for a minute or two, and hastily turned eat its contents, Tt was hard indeed to pass over the bank note 3, but Sammy's instincts and oxperienco all prompted him to be wary, and he contented himself with a one/pound noto, returning all the othora. He carefully took possession of tho inyita tionand one or two of Air Armstrong's cards. This done, he returnoil to tho room in which ho had loft his friend. Undor certain con ditions it would havo been quite in Sammy's power to replftco the pocket-book, but in a brightly-lighted room, and many eyes upon him, he hesitated, find at length contented himself with dropping iJje book on the floor close to Mr Armstrong's fee£. Sammy was careful to get to the other side of the table immediately afterwards, lest suspicion Bhould for a moment he directed to him. It happened, however, that an honest man seated near Mr Arm strong trod on the pocket-book, and wonder angry stooped to look at tho object. Mr Armstrong, who had been drinking some vhtt freely, recognised the article picked up as hU property, and replaced it in his pocket, after a brief glance at the contents, with the simplo remark— "I must have put it inside my coat only, not into the pocket, and it has slipped down without me noticing. IFow lucky that you saw it. I mi(?ht have gono away, levying it, and never have seen it again." Although thus far successful, Sammy h.yl! not nearly overcome all tho difficulties in the way of bU scheme. What ho aimed at was a big haul of plunder without any ehanee of after identification, and this ho mighteasily havo Managed had Mr Arm strong borne .the slightest reafcwbjonco to him in complexion or features. He had al ready learned that the party was expected' to be rather promiscuous 5 that the giver, Mr Mangletort. was not. personally ac quained with the half of the K.ersous in wed, but was merely anxious 10 get into their society ; and that many of the guests ' would be quite unknown to each other. Bat he nevertheless deemed it prudent to take some simple precautions. He, there fore, on the following day got the loan of a wig of darfc curly hair from one of the actors, touched up his attire a little, bought *> pair of white kid gloves, and b. little Indian ink to darken his moustache, and then deemed himself ready for tho task. ;The afternoon following ho meb Mr Arm- Stung, according to his agreement, and manage;! to get "him pratfcy well primed with "drink before six o'clock. He tien fastened his excited friend on to a needy _ billiard marker not likely to release him wily, and slippod out of tlio hotel unseen. Athismeanloaging ho did himself up dark-complexioned i^an, and then drove in atabtothehousoatiueguiith Sido. Tiio dinner -wag appointed for sc,vc<> o'clock, and ho managed to aerivo a few miaow* after that hour, when tbs gentlemen*) room wao crowded to tho door, ti'id himself and his -card scarcely looked at 'by tl;»^prvant who «Wwed him in. A brief iil>!.cce ground tho MB»t and at tho guests convinced bin? that very tittle was to bs picked up tiiore. There wye valuable watches in abundance 'Amon« fie gua=ts, with jewellery ftP.d diamond rings .enough to make hi-* greedy «o<d almost jump cvtof its shell, but there were jione of these ;iof£ in the dressing ' Mom. Mr Mangleton's o»& ;'oom chanced to be dsws to thia, and Sammy) wfc.'-te con ■versing affably with the brewer in i»ia ■assumed chnraetar of Stowarfc Armstrong, Esq., noticed the ewery-day attire of that "Smitleman littering tfc^ room as if it had *f«n thrown off in favoui- ni tho full-dress saitfoj wore. Sammy resolyea Jo visit the Toom at a more favourable rnowej)& and. the drawing-room and intro. 'fiuced to theihoetess and several of her lady "Swende. Only ,ono little cloud for a mameat.darkened hjis fright horizon, and that waa wkgn j, e new j w-^ Mangleton irospar to her iiußband— '

" There muff be'two brothers of thorn ; that is not tho ono I intended to invite. Never mind ; it can't be helped now." Sammy, who had boon watching tho stout lady's puzzled looks with tho greatest uneasiness, breathed more freely, and gallantly consented to conduct a very withered and antiquated lady to tho dinner table, managing before she was long seated to possess himself of her purse, containing five sovereigns and some silver. Sammy knew the value of a quiet tongue, and, by assuming a gravely attentive air to those about him and confining his attention strictly to his plate, succeeded in passing muster. As soon as the dinner was over the ladies retired, and the gentlemen sat down to drink. Fain would Sammy havo joined them, for tho wine was tho best that money could procure, but to miss that op portunity would have been to throw away all his labour and ingenuity. While everyone) was thus agreeably oc cupied—the ladies with gossip and tho gentlemen with drink—Sammy retired to tlio dressing-room, passed thence into Mr Mansrloton's room, and by rummaging tho pockets of tho discarded clothe?, got hold of tho brewer's keys. Going hastily over drawers and locked receptacles in tho room, ho at length came on a cash-box and cheque book. Tho box contained nearly lifty pounds in gold and notes, all of whicii Sammy convoyed to his own pocket. Tho cheque-book ho also took, thinking that ho might Hud means to turn some ot the valuable leaves into solid cash. lie was not altogether ungenerous ; ho put in their place tho purse he had takon from tlio old dowager in the dining-room— emptied of its contents. This dono ho ro locked tho drawer, replaced tho koys care fully in tho pocket from which ho had taken them, and slipped back to tho gentlemen's room. It was still deserted. Tho servants wero busy elsewhere, and tlio boisterous

shouts of laughter from the direction of the dining-room told him that no interruption was likoly to soon como from that quarter. Mo coolly hirnod tn tlio topcoats lying

hoapccl on ovory side of lain, and, by going over them all, discovered a solitary purse which contained about £'2, which the ownor

had hastily thrust into hia outer pockot after paying the cabman at the door. A pocket-book in tho insido pocket of one of tho coats contained railway scrip of the value of upwards of £100, which the ownor had forgotten to put away before leaving

his homo ; but this Sammy either did not see or was ignorant of its value, for it was found untouched when the discovery of tho robbory was made some hours later. Now came the finishing touch, tho grand stroke of genius which was to make Sammy's feat truly artistic. He had come to tho house in a cab, wearing only a thin borrowed dress suit. Ho was about to leave on foot, and pass from a warm atmosphere to the frosty air outside. Sammy picked out tho topcoat which fitted him and pleased him most with its style of cut; and then, altogether dospising hia own old and many times renovated dress hat, he went over tho hat rack till he found a glossy satin to fit his head. It appeared to be now from the maker, and had been brought by some innocent young man ignorant of the usages and customs of such festive gatherings. It will thus b& seen that though Sammy took with him a considerable sum Dot his own, tho only memento of his presence which he loft behind was that shabby old dress hat. Sammy passed out into the night and vanished, but six or sovon hours later there wa9 a dire commotion and con-

fusion in Mr Mangleton's brilliantly lighted home. Tho old lady missed her purse, and disturbed the whole company by insisting on looking everywhere for the treasure, poking about anxiously in every part of the house sho had passed through, and generally so disturbing th» company that at last they were glad, in sheer self-defence, to begin to help her. Many of tho guests had by that time left, and those remaining hastened their departure in order to get away from that querulous old maid and her suspicious remarks and complainings. " I had it in my pocket when I went into the drawing-room," sho kept saying, "and I could not have pulled it out with my handkerchief, as that was never out of my hand. I did not expect, Mr Mangleton," sho added severely, "that in accepting your invitation I was coming among thieves."

Of course, tho wealthy brewer promptly offered to make good tho loss, mentally writhing under'tho pointed insult, but not lady was both wealthy and influential; yet even that did not satisfy the loser. It was the purse sho valued most—a beaded one with a gilt clasp—and in high dudgeon tho lady took herself off to dress for leaving, flouncing away from every other lady as if sho were the thief, and generally contriving to make herself intensely disagreeable. The snubbed and insulted brewer took his way to tho gentlemen's room to see the last of them away, and there he found two of his guests searching anxiously in every corner of the room, and even making vain incursions to Mr Mangloton's own room ad. joining. " I can't find my topcoat, Mr Manglo ton," said ono, looking grave indeed. " And some ono has surely taken my hat by mistake," said the other, "for I can't see it."

"Oh, you'll find them lying about some where, I've no doubt," said tho distracted brewer absently, and he hunted about his own room, got his keys, and brought out his cash-box with tho intention of getting five sovereigns to hand to the incensed old lady as she retired. It was his oxcited shout as he did so which drew all the re maining gentlemen into the room. He was standing with his cash-box, empty, in ono hand, and in tho other hold tho missing beaded purse—also empty. "I've been robbed !" ho faintly gasped jn explanation. "Some smart thief has entered the house whi'o we were so busy, and robbed mo of about fifty pounds. My cheque-book is also gone." " And my overcoat," cried tho othor robber guost. " And my now hat," paid tho second. "And my purse," added a third. Thero was instantaneous rummaging of pockets by the other gentlemen, but no farther losses were discovered. When all had commented or advised on the matter, those having hats and coats retired, and then the old hat left by Sweet Sammy was seen and examined for the first time. It fiHed the hatloss guest perfectly, but he disdained to wear a hot so shabby, and con tented himself with a humble folt borrowed from his host. The last to leavo tho house was Mr ManMeton himself, whon he drove to the Central Oflico to report tho robbery and leavo the old dress hat which nobody owned. This hat had not beun noticed particularly till tho break-up of the party ; neither had the retirement of " Mr Stewart Armstrong " been ns yet connected with the mysterious affair, for it was believed that that geniloman would not have put such a hat on his heiuj. The c übstituted hat nw staring mo in the face when I-entered the office next morning. 1 examined ft inside and out, and made nothin" of it. The name of tho manufac turer, but not that of the seller, was printed or. tho lining ; and I gne?s>ed rightly that- it was hopslcss to try and trace the owner by that "1 went out to Mr Mangleton's house to getfutte.r particulars, and found him brimful of a new discovery. He and his wife hai laid their head? together and by degrees had brought their suspision t# concentrate upon Mr Stewart Armstrong. They were quito certain tjjat Jje was no thief, but he lmitho reputation of befng a Jittlg fast, and they-thought it just possible that he had perpetrated the whole as a practical ioko upon thorn. I took down tho descrip tion of his appearance, and thought I might look after him. Though I must have seen the hafrmany times before on Sammy s head, I did not recognise it; and if I had been inclined to think of him at all this descrip tion of the wearer would havo duelled iie suspicion. A dark moustache and curly Wick hair did not fit Sweet Sammy It all -Yet I may fay that I did not think thafc'tho suspicion of tho Mangletons was likely to turn out a spund one. lhe stylo of the robbovy was more like, that of a darino- professional thie* than a fast young gentleman ; and thore is no harm in me W confessing that I strongly suspected 4e tHef to be a fema'o. However, I had Wt&tov,.) address of the Armstrongs, and went to the place to ask for tho son. JJe ,i ",n no by lhe M»n E l«ton.. 1 "■ «« • Di »h Good eracious, was I V *>c «c3ai*ie.d that I was sent home la a cab I I haven s the slightest recollection of anything. Vdo you not remember anything yon did when t&reV" I ooverely continued. "Nothing. I must Ky.f been far gone. What did Ido ? Made a fool of jppety of course; props insulted some one?

" You did worse, for you robbed Mr Mangleton and sevoral of his guests, and took away a hat and topcoat which did not belong to you." "Is that possible ?" he returned, laugh ing heartily, "li's just liko mo, 1 de clare." "There isn't much to laugh at," I re marded gravely. The fact is," I've comehore to nrrost you for the crime." " Oh, como now, you're joking, he banter ingly replied, looking a little frightened. " If I've taken anything, you'll find it about the room here somewhere, and I'm sure I'll only be too happy to restore it and apologise to the owner. I really should never taste drink, it makos such a fool of me." I looked round the room and found a hat and topcoat, but noithor of thoso answered tho descriptions I had received from tho owners of thoso stolen. I found no trace of tho monoy and chequo-book stolon from Mr Mangleton, or of that taken from his guests, though there was money in no scarcity in some of the pockets we turned out, which Armstrong declared most posi tively wan his own. After some further conversation, and with many remonstrances and pleadings on his part, I was compellod to take him with mo to tho Fiscal, after which ho was lockod up, charged with tho curious robbery. Jli.s

first he; was to send for an ablo lawyer, hut that gentleman's services wero never re quired. As soon as I had soon Armstrong locked up, I sent for tho Manglotons to como and idontifytho prisoner, and to ask if ho had really been as drunk at their party

as ho now pretonded, Their roply was, that so far as thoy could judge ho had boon porfoctly sobor during tho whole evening, and I felt quite olatod till thoy woro brought faco to face with the prisoner, when a queer look camo to Mrs Mangleton'a face, and she exclaimed—

" That's Mr Armstrong, I think, but it'u not tho ono who attended our party last night." "Not a bit liko him," assented Mr Man gloton : " tho invitation must "have gone to some other Armstrong by mistake." " No, it didn't," interposed tho prisoner, looking as puzzled as they, " I got tho invitation all right, but I can't find it now. Yot 1 don't roinombor being near your house last night, and I certainly did not intend to be there."

" The man who came gave tho servant his card," said Mrs Mangleton, more puzzled than over. " I have it with mo. Will you soo if it is like yours ?" The comparison wa3made, with the result, of course, that tho cards wero found to bo identical. "That is my card," said the prisoner, decidedly; " but how did it get to your house if I did not deliver it t" This question was unanswerable, but con firmatory evidence waa soon found that Mr Armstrong could not have been near Mangleton's houso, having spent nearly tho whole night in an hotel, and thonce been ssnt home in a cab at an early hour in the morning. He was accordingly eot at liberty, and wo were left as much in the dark as before, with only the substituted hat to show for our pains. Yot that shabby article was to do its work as effectually as the cleverest detective in tho land.

The same evening, in passing through a quiet street at the South Side, 1 saw a slim, genteel fellow loitering on tho darkest side of the street. The moment ho saw me ho quickened his pace, and would spoadily have bean out of sight had 1 not thought

him worth questioning and mado up to him vory swiftly. He was known to mo as a smart Newcastle thief, who, on account of hailing from that quartor, was named " Geordie." I had no particular charge to make against him, and it was a mere passing whim that caused me to insist on him going with me to tho office. Now, observe. Let tho substituted hat stand forward and pose as a successful de tective. In entering the recoption room the first object which mot Geordie's eyo was this hat, which still stood on one of tho desks. What peculiarity there was about it which was recognisable to Geordie I know not, but the momont he saw the hat ho exclaimed—

'' What! have you got him too?" Not much in these words, certainly, for no name was mentioned, nnd Geordie seamed to regret the hasty speech the moment it was made, and was unusually silent and stubborn till takon away and lockod up, but'to mo thoy wero full of interest. Sweet Sammy and ho wero chums, inasmuch as they had ccme to tho city together, though latterly they Imd separated md worked singly. Tlio moment Geordio said " him " I thought instinctively of Sammy. The more I thought, however, the less I hoped from tho unguarded exclamation. Sweot Sammy was fair; tho thief was dark ; how were these discrepancies to bo reconciled ? I could not even guess, and gavo up tho task, while I simply w:ent to look for Sammy.

With some dilliculty I found his lodging, but it was empty, for Sammy had givon it up two days before, saying that he had to leave town. Had he been in town or at home on the afternoon before tho party ? No, be had left town in the morning. A lie—paid for, doubtless. I took a note of tho answer, and mentally resolved to pay tho people for it, when I should havo Sammy in my hands. I searched tho house carefully, and found nothing but a pair of soiled white kid glovos. I took them with mo, and continued my hunt for Sammy. At length I discovered an ostlor or "boots" connected with an hotel which Sammy at times favoured with his patron age, who had seen him depart by one of the trains going west on tho morning after the robbory. By describing him to the book ing clerk, I found that Sammy had taken ticket for Sterling—his native place. I went to Sterling and searched out his father's house, whore I found Sammy sitting at supper with his sisters and tho old man. Strange that I should havo to record it of such a scamp — Sammy owed his capture on this occasibn ontiroly to his good hoart. When on tho very point of taking ticket for England, ho had got a letter stat ing that his father and sisters woro jn great distress and want. He dooided to go and see them, and when there generously divided the spoil, and gave one half to hia unsuspecting relatives. They believed him to bo an honest and struggling actor, and woro nearly frenzied with grief when I explained my businoss. Of course, they voluntarily handed over the money to me, and the remainder I found —with the exception of a pound or two vfach be had spent—upon my clover prisoner. The black wig which ho had used I found in his travelling bag, nnd it was afterwards included in tho list of things which ho was charged with stealing. Sammy's soft, fair moustache still showed traces of tho Indian ink which ho had used to darken that appendage ; and tho crown ing noiiit in tho evidence came when the Mangletons wore shown Sammy dressed in the wig and substituted hat. They picked him out in a moment, and gave him a bit of their mind at tho same time, Sammy heard all in pationce. The arrest before his father and sistore had quite subdued him, and, when his trial came on, I was not surprised to hear him plead guilty. When his sentence expired I heard of him no more, and have thought it possible that, seeing he had one spar* of good in him, ho may Tiave taken " tent to his ways and mended them."

A Remarkable Women.

TfIjSRE has Jat.oly died at Benares an old lady who was in many respects one of tho most remarkablo personages in Northern India. This was Anna, widow of General James Kennedy, of the Bengal Cavalry, She was in her ninetysaventh year, having been born in 1787, amd rhe lived to see no fewer than 17G lineal descendants, of whom 128 survive her. She had eighteen children, eighty grandchildren, seventy-three great grandchildren, and fi/e great-great-grand children. Her father, husband, two sons, one son-in-law, and four grandsons have been gendrals in the army, and her d.. ---cendunts include many military officers of lower rank. As a notice of her which has appeared in a leading Indian paper puts it, her life has set at defiance all well-establish ed medical theories. She' was married at fifteen, had eighteen children, wa3 never out of India for a single day, spent all her days in the plains, except once, when she paid a brief visit to the hilh, the climato of which disagreed with her. Her husband died a quart'rof a century ago, at the ripe age of eighty-two, after fifty-five years of married life. For nearly forty years"'she Jias\beenthe centre of society at Benares, friieiVsJielrfße'efi aspopular amongst tho natives 'as 'amoiigßj jitrropenns. She was proud of her activity of mind cnjl jjody, whibh remained unimpaired almost up t6 the list; and it is said of her that whenever £hs Maharajah of Benares, who was one of J^ejr intimate friends, paid her a visit she jjeveV 'failed fa' qtjpr hiii?, fjn fearing, $he assistance of her arm, thqugl) be was "thirty | yeare ber Junior. Truly a' • mother of men.''

A BRIDE'S JOURNEY.

Sirour.ii you wish to know to what height artistic gardening can bo brought, let me advise you to pay a visit to Haarlem (in Holland), where, near tho beautiful park lilled with deer, which makes such a beautiful walk, you will find tho famous horticulturist, Claereboeta. After he has shown you his astonishing collection of tulips, hyacinths, carnations, anemones, crowsfeet, camellias, primroses, cowslips,

cacti, and pelargoniums, you will be de

lighted. Try and persuado him to allow you to see his six remain ing daughters, and you will be dazzled.

It is tho story of tlio seventh, or rather the first, which I am about to tell you, just as this worthy man, who has remained poor, although his conservatories are full of treasuros, told it mo last year. At tho end of tho year 1882 ho had seven daughters on his hands. However, tho Misses Claeruboets wore as virtuous as they were lovely ; as sensible as they wore poor; alas ! and their appetites wore only equalled by thoir virtue. Ono winter's ovoning, at tho end of one of those-moals which absorbed all tho pro fits of tlio business, Claeroboets lighted iiis pipe, and with a mysterious air drew from his pocket a lottor with a foreign post-

mark. "Guess who has written to tno? he said. Sovon pairs of wolldoveloped sliouldors shrugged simultaneously, expressivo of ignorance, " Why, Micheels Maasaon, the son of our formor neighbour, tlio contractor. He is tho casher of Planter Van Meoruyt, in Java. l[o wishes to sottlo down, and seeks ono of your hands in marriage"

"Which one, papa?'' oxclaimod live somowhat tremulous voices.

" It's tlio eamo to him, Ho was eleven years old wlion ho left, he is now twenty oight, so you may understand that lie has nochoico. It is tor you to decide, and I am going to take your opinion, beginning at tno oldest, Well, Mina, will you marry Micheels ?"

"Yes, papa," replied the eldest AHes Claereboets, without hesitation. Sho was a magnificent blonde, twenty-four years old.

Around tho silent room six diacrootly subdued sighs were hoard. ".Right, my child," said tho father, as quietly as if it had boon tho mattor of deliveringahundredhyacinths. " Michoels is a good fellow with oxcollent references. Ho sends his deeds, all in order, to tho lawyer for tho marriage. Wo will avail ourselves of its being fall to consummate the affair, so that you shall not arrive there in tho hot weather."

Throe wcoks later Mina had become Mrs Maasson. When I say had, it requiros somo explanation.

The Dutch, tho bost colonists in the world and tho most practical people

I know of, havo devised an easy means by which thoir singlo friends settled in the antipodes can easily bo married in the metropolis. To make the bridegroom pass two months at soa, thereby to attend tho registry for ton minute* and the church for perhaps double tho time, was barbarity. To send out tho intended was dangorous, Sho might find tho suitor oaton up by a tiger.

To get ovor this tho Dutch instituted marriage by proxy. Forinstanco, you may be at Sumatra and you wish a fine-looking

helpmate. You have nothing to do but to send to a friend at Rotterdam of Utrocht a power of attorney to act in your behalf. Ho marries her without charging any commis sion whatsoever; sho carries her titlo deeds away with her. Ho registers her in tho first steamor; and four or live months after tho order is issued the commission is executed and delivered.

Thus the boautiful Mina, who had seen many of her friends married in tho same way, did not consider the process anything unusual.

Sho cried a little, however, as she em barked on a superb steamer belonging ta tho " Koninkylke NoderlandpchoStonmboot Maartsohnppyi" and saw her native land disappearing. Presently tho Batavia pot out to sea, and thon sho was too muoh othenviso Ollgagod to bo able to find timo to cry, jxjkJ smo tiuvcr camo out of her state-room till they ronclinl Suez. Thon awful RtorniH arose, the slmft broke, and they reached Colmnbo by sailing, arriving just in time to catch the boat tor Singapore. Minn was so ill as to bo unconscious. Sho was carried from one ship to another, again they were at Fea, the only ditfbrence sho realised being that tho basin close to hor was of china instead of copper. Sho arrived at Singapore in a prostrate condition, imagining her last hour had come. Again she was transferred like a bit of baggage to another steamer, and in two days later they arrived in Batavia. At last a fourth boat landed her at Samarang almost lifolos \ Jloro sho found herself in tho abode of tho Dutch Consul, lying on a couch which Heomed to botossing up and dawn, although on dry land, till sho thought sho -would bo thrown out on the floor.

She was lamenting the inattention of everyono to her, when a young man with fair moustache and straightforward-looking blue eyes entered tho oltico of tho Consul, who was busily writing to catch tho mail.

"lam oxpecting a young woman from Europe, whom I havo married by proxy," said the visitor, " and I havo come to mako inquiries." " She has just boon brought lioro," said the official, without stopping his writing. "She is in a very bad state, and you would do me a favour by taking hor off my couch as soon as possible. Leave your address, and tho baggage will bo forwarded." Tho meeting of tho pair may be imnginod. He, timid; she, a weakened prostrato ghost of her formor self.

Tho young colonist wag, however, pleased with the acquisition.and hailing two coolies, had his wifo taken to tho Saramang dopOt. The train took them half way to Djokjok arta, where two natives lifted the well-nigh insensible Mina out.

An hour later she was seated noxt to her legal husband on tho rough cushions of a two-wheeled cart, drawn by two jogging oxen, which shook her terribly. However, Mina felt hotter. Sho looked up at her husband, and was pleased with his appear ance. Uun in hand, ho seemed to watch furtively ovory nook and cranny as they passed, but paid her no attention. This seemed strange to her. "You are very fond of aport, it seems ? " eho ssiid, in a somi-roproachful tono. Theso were tho first words fiho had utterod to her companion. "1 never was so frightened of meeting game as lam at this moment. This is a lovely climate, and I hops you will like the country, but it has one disadvantage. After six o'clock in tho evening it is infested with tigers, who prowl about in search of what they may dovour, so that it is best to remain at homo after that hour. Howovor, we have passed tho most dangerous part, and we are getting near home." Poor Mina ! She no longer wished to talk. Sho trembled from head to foot.

At last they arrived at n fino bungalow raised off the ground to avoid the snakes and adders, with yornndnh all round. On the steps stood a pale,' thin old lady, who came for.war.d, attracted by the noise of the wheels. Sho was Mina's mother-in-law.

"What, my child, you here already?" cried the old" lady, much surprised. "We did not expect you till next week." "Wo had an accident on tho way, madame."

" That would delay rather than accele rate your arrival. However, hero you are; that is the main thing. Be welcome, my child. You must be hungry."

" Oh, madamo, I only want sleep. If you only knew what a journey I havo had."

" Don't make any excuses, my child I will got your room ready at once, and take you there myself." An hour later Mina slept beneath the waving punkah, wrapped in sweet sleep and pleasant dreams. "Do you know you will havo a protty wife?" said the mother, on rejoining her son under the verandah.

"It h astonishing how little she resem bles the photograph your uncle sent of her."

" Yes," said the young man, "she id very lovely. I would lileo to go early to'the church, mother ; because, after all, wo have not been regularly married."

On the mori-ow, Miua'cainedown all pink and white. ■••.'■■•■-•

" Did you sleep well, dear Anna ?" said her husband, for the fir&t time kissing his wife's forehead.

'" But,;.' sajd theypnng woman, smiling, "my name is not Aniiaj; my uauie is llij^j —Mina Claereboets. Had you already'for gotten its?" fWhat!." cried £he colonist, pale as death', ' 'faro ' ygg. 'n$ Aij'na Anna Tanes.en3 i'! "No, no ! and you—" "1 am called Hans Van Hasselt. Don't you come from Edam t Isn't your father a cheese merchant ?"

"Ho is a gardoner near Haarlem, .t have married Micheels Maweu, cashier of the ber.se uf Van Muorsuyt, Here is my certificate of marriage."

Hans seized the papers with trembling hand, and glanced over them hurriedly.

" Mother," said he to old Mrs Van Has sclt, who at that moment entered, nrrayec in hor iincst robes, "a misfortuno lias oc currod. I made a mistake at Samarang, The young lady belongs to another."

The matron was a sensible woman. In a moment she understood all. It was cer tainly hard on her son, already three parts in love with a woman who wag not for him, and whose husband would have to be found in an island 1,500 miles away, and he would havo to bo found before tho real Mrs Hans would appear on tho scene, olso sho would have two daughters-in-law on her hands.

Withoutlosinga day, they started oil'with Mina, who thought rest would never come to her, Tho only plan was to go to the Consuls of tho various islands till they heard news of the happy Maasson, to whom ho would havo to give up Mina, to be re placed by tho homely original of his photo graph. To loss resigned natures the position would havo boen insull'erablo, but these two contented themselves in tho happiness of seoing each other daily. Mans was more in love ovory day with Mina, and she, alas ! often shed a tear when she looked up at tho false Micheels. Ten days had already elapsed in visiting tho ports most inhabited by Europeans— Bntavia, Cheribon, Tagot, Pokalougon. Tho trio often bocame a duo, for Mina still

suffered at sea. Every placo had been triod, oven to Sourabaya, but alas ! it was chanco which first gave them a clue. In tho hotel where thoy alighted, and woro

telling the tale for tho ninety-ninth time, they wero stopped at tho first word.

" Micheels Maasson ! He was hero four days ago. A strange advonturo happened him. He was expecting a young woman by tho eteamor whom ho had marriod by proxy, on tho othor aido, and tho agout had given him another ono. Maassen was not pleased, for the oxehango was not for tho bettor."

"I bcliovo yon," said Hans, with a con fident air. "But what did ho do with my wife?"

"Oh! she's yours? Well, he took hor away, feeling sure that tho real husband would follow to claim her and bring him his own. Ho oven left his address. Ho lives on tho other side of the island, between Pourworedjo and Patyan,"

" Well," said Hans, " here's v cool kind of a customer! Ono would imagine with him that it was rather a matter of a change of umbrella 3in a cafe, than of a human being. Here wo are again for an eight days' journoy."

Aftor somo days at sea a furious tornado arose, Bweoping everything away ; lightning flashed, thunder rolled, and the monster waves rose like huge mountains on every sido. By a miracle tho ship was saved". In tho morning all were astonished to find

themselvos alivo, tho captain moro than any. Everything was gone ; tho compasses were un9et; but no knew these seas bo well

hat it made no difference, " I ought to havo an island in front of me, Ist hero," ho remarked; " but I sco

nothing." After seeking for tho island half a day, it was found to havo disappeared entirely, with nil its inhabitants.

So thoy madq for a neighbouring town, bnt in this over-famous night the neighbour ing town and tho authorities to whom tho enptnin had intended making his report had also disappeared. It was no longer a ques tion of the plantation of Van Meorsuyt, or tho cashier of tho bank, or tho poor Anna. Hans and Mina woro widowor and widow—

that is to say, 7roo. 1 don't think thoy wept much over thoir rospoctivo and un known spouses. Thoy will not bo able to marry for somo weeks. Tho Dutch law enacts that widows may not marry within a certain poriod of tho death of thoir husbands ; so that Hans must submit to wait.

A SHOCKING TRAGEDY.

A Jealous Husband Shoots His V.'ifo and Commits Suicide.

New York, Novombcr24.—A special to tho

" World " from Erio, Pa., of tho 23rd, says : Tho littlo market town of Edinboro, in this country, was the Kceno of a terrible tragedy this morning, a jealous husband having shot his young wife and blown out his own brains, after a futile attempt to murder his stepfather. Tho tragedy occurred at an early hour in the Exchange Hotel, where the husband found his wife after looking for hor nearly a week. Tho murderer and his victim are Mr and Mrs Charles Wil liams of Cambridge. They wero married a year ago, but livod unhappily, owing to tho morbid and unwarranted jealously of Williams. His wife was Maggio Parshal, daughter of William Parshal, a fanner of Edinboro- Sho was a girl of considerable personal at tractions, of which sho was quito conscious. Sho had many admirers, ono being a clergy man. Sho preferred Williams, who was an idle dissolute follow, with no visible moans of support, and who during courtship fre ?[uontly showed nn insane jealousy. Her riends. foreseeing a miserable life if sho marriod him, earnestly desired hor to break off tho connection and accept another lovor.- Tho lovesick girl turned n deaf ear to nil entreaties, but in less than a month after marrying sho became entirely disenchanted and realised the full forco of tho warnings sho had disregarded.

Tho slightest attentions of ordinary politonoss shown her by gentloman friends were regarded as fraught with concealod moaning by lior husband, and tholifo led by her at length bocamo ho unboarablo that last week sho packed a valiso and left homo, going to Edinboro. Thithor hor husband tracked hor, and ho and his step fathor, George Redmond, visited her, tho latter acting in the capacity of media tor. An affocting interview took placo, resulting in the wife consenting to try tho husband once moro, ho promising to trust her implicitly. With a fond embrace the reconciliation was sealed, and husband and wife passed out into tho street arm in arm. They entered the store of F. L. Poudfit, and Williams purchased for his wife a pair of kid shoes. To tho storekeeper thoy ap peared most affectionate, the man lavishing upon hor a whole v.-.cabulary of endoaring terms. Williams announce1! his intention of occupying a room in tho hotel, which he paid for, and retired to rest at midnight. An hour lator Redmond, tho Buccosful peacemaker, was amused by hoaring Mrs Williams exclaim, "My God, Charlie, I am innocont!" "Falsa devil, you lio," he heard Williams reply. Then camo a shot, fol lowed by a terrible shriek and a heavy fall. Redmond rnshod upstairs, and was met on the landing by Williams, who stood with a revolver in his hand. Ho fired twice at Reclinond, but missed him, thon putting tho muzzle to his own head, ho fired and put a bullet through his brain, falling doad on the landing. Tho wife is still alive, but cannot survive.

Ready, Aye, Ready.

Thk practice of carrying revolvers, which was growing so common in England q shor£ timeago as to excite indignatipnapd alarm, is no\y even morefiqnly established in Paris, and, as it seoms, with rather better reason. A judge of the assize courts h^s lately been strongly pr otosting against it in a case which may be quoted ns one of the examples that daily illustrate this growing fashion. It was the case of a man who, having been deserted by his wife, and not having been able to find her for a long series of weeks, had apparently given up the pursuit, and waswandering in a rather purposeless way about tho town, when lie accidentally per ceived her in a restaurant in tho Kuo dcs Martyrs with her new friend. Upon this he at onco accosted tho pair, and pulling out a revolver, proceeded to attack them. Which of the guilty couplo lie would have -fired at if lie had Leon left alono may perhap3 be doubtful. If he had followed the advice of that eminent hero, Alexandra Dumas, he would have clio?en tho woman; but as it happened —and this is the noticettblo part of the story —her companion followed suit by also drawing a revolver. Tho latter had the worst of it, and was only saved by an accident from being killed. The husband was tried by a jury, and, of course, escaped with honour. Another e.ise was that of a man living in the Bois da Boulogne, who w.i? returning home, and had just got out of his cab. when he was attacked by a man who sprang out from behind a tree and aungd a blow^ at I its fhrwjj \yjth, a knife. The intended victim was, however, 'quite eqUal to the ctec'asiQrf; and promptly laid his foe' on the ground with a' shot from his pocket pistol. T;he aseailanfc turned put to, }jg a'dismisaed servant hent upon vengeance, but t)Q attack qn hia part seems to have been anticipated, and the master probably owes hia life to having been habitually armed.—"Globe,"

THE WHALLEY WILL FRAUDS.

Conviction of true Forgers.—Story of tlio Caso.

(Fiuoi Our Own Coukesi-osujsst.)

London, Dec. 4,

One of the most extraordinary cases of will forgery which have ever been investigated in a court of justice terminated on Tuesday afternoon last, after occupying Mr Justice Stephen and a special jury for seven con tinuous days. About a year ago, when the forgery of Mr Whalley's will was first sus pected and the civil case to inspect the spurious document tried, I sent you a resume of the story as at that time accepted. Since^ that time, howovor, many additional particulars have come to light so that it will now be necessary to retell the talo in tho shape it was laid before the jury.—The threo men who were on trial for the crime of forging or uttering the will of the late Mr Jamos Whalley, of Leominster, were respectively named Thomas, Nash, and Gunnell, tho last of whomhasbeen acquitted. As regards Thomas, his career has been a somewhat chequored one. Before tho year 1880 wo find him acting in the capacity

of a railway porter; but after that date he was promoted to tlio municipal ollice of .sub-inspector of nuisances at Leominster. lie owed this appointment, it was stated, to the influence of Mr Gunnell. The prisoner Thomas, ex-railway portor and nuisance inspector, was tho person at whoso humble home old Mr Whalloy chose to pass the end of his days, living a decidedly frugal, not to say miserly, existence. Mr Whalloy had two natural children living, callod Emma and Honry Wlialley Priost man, whom he seems to havo educated and lived with until about tho year 1877, whon ho quarrollod with his daughter, and loft her and hor brothor at Hereford, whilo ho

himsolf wont off to live at Lcpminster, at Thomas's cottago. In May, 1881, tho ec centric old gentleman died, leaving a for tune of fifty or sixty thousand pounds. It has now been proved to tho satisfaction of the jury that Mr Whalley's will, in which he left almost the whole of his property to

his son, was done away with, and that Thomas and Nash between them concocted a forged will, in which the bulk of the fortuno was bequeathed to Thomas himself, whilo tho son was cut off with the compara tively small sum of five thousand pounds. Sir Farror Herschell, tho Solicitor- Genoral, who prosecuted in the case, argued that forgot y of will was worso than any othor kind of forgery, because the person whosesignaturo wa3 simulated was incapable of coming back to life in order to explain what his intentions really were. Nobody will bo inclined to differ from this opinion ; but tho forging of Mr Whalley's final in structions was oven more hoinous than such a crime must necessarily be. The trickery practised made Mr Whalley himself partici pate in tho forgery without knowing it. Thomas, tho leading rogue in tho business, must have prepared his plans carefully, and adopted whatmust be described as a very in gonious stratagem indeed in order to pass the money into hi? own poekot, and out of that of young Honry Whalley l'riestman. Some timo in March, 1881, Mr Whalley being ill, Thomas wrote a. letter at his dictation ad dressed to his son. The eccentric old miser was unable to do moro than sign his name at the foot, and this ho did in ink, while the body of tho letter, written by Thomas, was in pencil. The letter contained a com plaint to his son that tho latter did not come over and see his father; but young Whal loy Priestinan never received such a com munication, and told his father 30 when the old man wrote again to the same effect. It was supposed that tho letter had been "lost in transmission ;" but it seems now perfectly [ovidont that it was never de spatched at all. The artful trick devised by tho Ingenious brain of Thomas was as follows. If he could only get a blank sheot of paper with Mr Whalloy's signature at tho bottom, ho would havo the main ingredionts of a concocted will. It was for this reason that he must havo written the dictated letter in pencil. When Mr Whal loy's signature was appended, all that re mained to do was to erase the pencilled lottor, and insert such provisions as com mended thomsolvesto tho mind of the forgor. But yet another formality, happily, de manded by the law had to bo attended to. Witnesses to tlio signing of Mr Whalloy's namo had to be pro cured, Tho two signatories to tho will which tho jnry have declared to bo forged woro Nash —the man now sentenced with Thomas to fifteen years'penal servitude —and Rcece, who has escaped punishment by turning Queen's evidenco against the other two. It is quito obvious that both these persons must have signed the docu ment, well knowing at tho timo that they were doing something which was illegal; and the subsequent history of the caso shows that bribed them to act as his ac complices by lavish promises of the share which they would obtain out of Mr Whalley's fortune. The proceedings after the death of the testator are of rather a complicated nature, and it is not in tho least degreo necessary to enter into tho dotails of how the crime was first suspected and finally brought home to the prisoners. What is romakable is that so long a time should have elapsed bofore tho will, written on tho sheot of blue papor, was discovered to be a forgery. It was not until a year or two attorwardß that anybody subjected that will to any searching examination ;_ but when" tho document lying in the Registry Wills* at Hereford was critically investi gated, thero woro found obvious traces of tho orased poncilled lottor written by old Mr Whalloy to his Bon, which lottery until that time, was supposed to bo lost in tho Post-office. Nothing, probably, could have oxeceded tho astonishment of tho son whon Thomas coolly road out to him the contents of tho forged will. A month bofore, Mr Whalley had called him to the bedside and told him how ho intended to leave him nil his property, with the exception of trifling amounts to bo paid to his executors, and a gum of four hundred pounds to be devoted to rebuilding Leominster Parish Church. Tho true will was on blue paper; therefore the surprise was all tho greater whon Thomas's will appeared written on white paper. Tho only way in which the phenomenon could be explained was by supposing that Mr Whalley had seen reason to alter his intentions. That lie had really, howovor, done nothing of tho kind was shown in a very curious way at the trial. The forged will was datod at the end of March. By this will the testator was made to bequeath nearly everything to Thomas, and hardly anything to Whalloy Priestman. Yet just thirteen days before that date he had written a letter to somo Yorkshire bankers asking them to look out for a Stock Exchange partnership for his son, adding that ho would be willing to giro ton thousand pounds to help him into a good position. This certainly doss not seem consistent on tho part of a man who intended to loave his son only five thousand pounds. A fortnight after the date of the Forged document he wrote to his stock brokers, suggesting to them thai certain securities, to the value of ten thousand pounds, should be registered in the name of the same son. Nevertheless, this was tho youth whom he was supposed and alleged to have virtually disinherited a fortnight before. It is certainly, a matter for some nstonishmont that, wjth these proofs to show the unreality of the forged will, and with young Whalley Priestman's own evi donceasto what was in his father's will which hehadseen.theprisonerThomaswasallowed so long to enjoy the status of the man legally In possession. An action which was brought by the next-of-kin to set aside the, will was compromised on the terms th»* Thomas, instead of obtaining jj, c w hole fortune, should have only seventeen thousand pounds. It was then that Thomas appears to have considered his position so safe that ho could act with ira prudenco. Ho threw Nasli and Recce over, and refused to keep hia 'promises to them. Moreover, he seems to have been insane enough to wave a piece of blue paper in the air as the son was passing his window, which paper is imagined to be the true and lost will. However this may be, it is satis factory that the question between the w,hite and the blue wills is now set at rest.

Visitors to the charming seaside resort of Teignmouth; South Devon (a correspondent of the "Pall Mall Gazette" writes), will perhaps remember a young fisherman "who used to work the ferry between that town and the neighbouring fishing village of Shaldon. It Was frequently remarked that this young man was endowed with mcro than the ordinary share of ooxneliness, and it has been whispered that many fair ones were in tb,e habit oi U3ing the ferry more times than was absolutely necessary. _ At any rate, the young man made anirresistible impression on one heart, and one that beat to tha tune of £SOO a year. This young lady was not to be dissuaded from her pur pose, and the couple have been made one, the bride settling £400 a year on her hus band.

LOST IN THE BUSH.

A Sad Narrative,

Blaukall, says a correspondent in that far Queensland town, has just been the

soono of a most tragical occurrence. George McKenzie, aged 20, nephew of Mr James McKenzie, a local storekeeper, arrived in Blackall a few months ago from Aberdeen, Scotland, intending to assist his uncle in the storekeeping business. On Sunday, December 7> Mr McKenzie sug gested, that as some mats of sugar, which had boen brought from towa across the river (or rather tho place where the river ought to be) were uncovered, and rain ap peared imminent, it would be advisable to cross over and cover them up. George started off, wearing merely a singlet and covering for his body, the day being ex ceedingly hot, and accompanied by a poodle-dog. At the latest George should have been back by 4 o'clock. Not arriving, Mr McKenzio walked across to the selec tion,and found tho sugar duly covered, and the tracks of his nephew apparently lead ing back from tho rivjr. Thinking his nep hew had gone to a neighbouring paddock to hunt kangaroo rats, he went home. George nob returning home that evening, the trackers wore got out and started early on Monday morning to find the lost youth. The tracks led along the river for a short distance, then went out toward tho plains, and were eventually lost on a sand-hill, which had been swept clean, and thetracks

obliterated bySunday'sduststorm. Besides

the police, several private parties were out scouring the river channels and neighbour ing scrubs. The trackersreturining to town unsuccessful, a large party was formed and started out on Monday night, circling the plains and carefully examining every clump of timber. Fires wore lighted at intorvals, at each of which was placed some food and a bottlo of water, Guns wore also fired to attract attention. The party returned to town at 4 o'clock on Tuesday morning, un successful. Hopes of finding the young man alive were fast diminishing; it was known that no water-holes were in that part of the country,nothing but dry, arid plains, clumps of shelterless timbe r^and-hill?, and empty gullies. The heao of Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, was something terrific.hot winds blowing all day with fierce dust stoim. Before daylight on Tuesday morning Constable Ryan and his trackers wero in the saddle again, and cast about to find tho trail. Later in the day Mr H. Fell

found them leading in the direction of the terrible. Malvern schrub, where many poor fellows have already lost their lives. The tracker " Alick " was then enabled to follow the trail tolerably easy, though in some places very indistinct footsteps ap peared in the sand, where the dust had been swept clean by the wind. The tracks were followed through several wire fences, then across Borce Greek until they came quite close to some sheep yards. The trail then wended in a zigzag fashion almost parellel with the Malvern road through some.scrub, just through which the place whore tho poor follow had lain down on Sunday night. Near this place was found a button, which had evi dently come off his clothes. It being then dark, tho track could be no longer followed. The party were about 14 miles from Blackall.and having no food or water, returned to town. After procuring fresh horses tho party started out again and followed the trail at daylight. They were joined by several people with necessities. They had not far to go. The tracks soon showed signs of one fatigued, and wended from side to side. At intervals the lad sat down, and evidently pulled his socks and shoes off and on. Presently the party came across three fires, lighted at distances of about half a mile apart, scad at the lost of these the party came across Monday night's camping place. On the party went; they came across poor George's hat, then a little further on the tracks came to an end, and the lad was found quite dead. The body was dressed wirh the exception of the hat. Tho dog, which had followed him through out up to now, had wandered off into a patch of gidya ecrub close handy, but was not found. The party carried the body threo miles to tho Malvern road,and a por tion went into town to convey the sad in telligence, and to procure a conveyance to brinj; tho remains in. Upon the arrival of Mr Kelly with the terrible news, the towns people with one accord put up their shutters, and mourning was general. Tho convey anco with the corpse arrived in town at 8.15 on Wednesday night. The poor fellow had a painful look of fear in his face, and had quite a dried appearance. His sufferings must have been intense before giving up his

struggle for life. The tracker says he probably died at 4 p.m. on Tuesday ; but experienced bushmen believe it must have occurred as early as 10 o'clock on that day. The funeral took place on Thursday, De cember 11, at 11 o'clock, and was the largest known in Blaekall. Tho cortege. comprised 68 persons on foot (including 25 Oddfellows, of which body deceasad was a member), besides a large number of vehicles and horsemen. The saddening event had cast such a gloom over the community that we could not rejoice at the splendid rains which had fallen. Would that they had yisitod us a couple of days earlier, and saved a life which gave so much promise of usefulness. George was interred in the comotory in the grave adjoining the last resting place of a young man named Wal lace, who died the other day from the effects of bathing in a waterhole whon heated, combined with sunstroke.

A BROWN STUDY.

Tho Salvation Army.

From The " LoNDpn Wkekly Echo,"]

"Titu Salvation Army " has developed out of a Christian Mission established by the Rev. William Booth. Mr Booth was born, in Nottingham in 182fJI. He became a. minister of the Methodist New Connexion, and, finding the life too quiet far him, took up with peripatetic evangelism. Out of

his labours in Ejast I<ondon the Christian Mission arose. To the Christian Mission

tho " Hallelujah Lassea " became a valua ble adjunct. These young women Bang lustily, and marched backward, waving umbrellas, and were capable of " holding forth " in marketplaces and at the corners of stroets. In process of time the organi sation ceased to^e n "Mission," and bo camoan ''Army." Mr Booth took the title of General; his more active supporters, male and female, became Captains; a " Commissioner " was appointed ; a Major was made out of a converted sweep ; and Mrs Booth distributed banners bearing the sanguinary motto, " Biood and Fire.' General Booth, a tall, hook-nosed, eager looking man, with hair and a beard like separate wisps of straw, not only controls the organisation, but is careful that all its affairs shall be associated with his name.

"Heathen England," a book written by " Commissioner Railton," carries tl\e najp^e of William Booth on its title page'; ".Thfl Salvation Army Song Book" proclaims it self to be "By William Bpoth,'1 though it only contains, the. ordinary revivalist hymns, frequently altered fpr the wflrse. A series' of'". Oilers and feegulatjans," published in red co/pers, and modelled on SirQaynet Wolseley's "Soldier's Pocket bpo,k," js probably the General's genuine production. It is shrewd to the. point of cunning and no less worldly-wise than " The Prince " of Machiavelii, The Salvation Army t^hen m itg prco3ssio-- s> As soo - n ag the hallelu j ah lasses were organised they took the streets, nourished tambourines and umbrellas, and compelled attention by means of extra vagance. Gradually, however, they fell into the shade created by the larger figure? of the male converts. There was tho "Hallelujah Giant," the "Salvation Fiddler," the " One-eyed Sailor," and the " Converted Sweep." It is now usually a male " captain" who leads the processions. He has arms like the sails of windmills, and a throat of brass. He wears a red guernsey, a dingy uniform,and a cap embroidered with the letter '.' S." After him come the brass instruments, and the hallelujah banner, and a motley crowd. The processions are seen and heard of all men. They have murdered quiet, as Macbeth murdered sleep. They increase the world's, tumult from "Worthing to Bombay.

Some, day the historian of th.Q movement may peculate on wha.t the Army might have been withpuij Mrs Booth. She is a plain, anxious-looking woman, not without a certain plumpness of feature, and with an earnest and rather pleading sty le of address. The General ia given to interjeation.il remarks, J,o sudden sallie? of wit, to spas modic jump 3, and similar antic diversions. Mrs Booth takes thing? quietly, and makes argumentative speeches. Her daughters sine in couples, or d.ejy- constituted authority in Switzerland,' Her' sons' play the fiddle, or conduct tho'music,' or assistin tba raanagiiSentl of'tho'Armv, which is rathera family affair, %^ 'under

takes most of the defence and explanation. When " the critics " r.ssail the Army, Mrs Booth retorts on "the critic? " with all the smartness of a woman's tongue. The Salvation Army scomii to have a sing ular attraction for large men. They usually officiate a? "chuckcrs-out." Their instructions are to be found in the " Orders and Regulations," where tho General ex plains how a stranger to the movement may be pleased to observe the firmness and de-

cision with which unruly persons are shown to the door. Those who have had occasion to come into contact with one of these pre servers of order will have noticed that he has a strong arm, and a head which is armour-proof against all argument. In the choioe language of the sporting world, lie always means " business and not bounce." The Army is sustained by means of col lections and "canaries." In the "Orders and Regulations " I read :—" The system of collecting at each Sunday service will be commenced from the first. In addition to any collections made, a plate or basket may be held at the door, so that anyone who may have been missed in collecting may have an opportunity to help. The total expenditure for hire of buildings, gas bills, &c., should be mentioned, if heavy— 'the fact of its being our universal cus tom, and the invariable generosity of working people, being pointed out. While the collection is being made a solo or song known to overybody should bo sung. It is a mistake to make any other announco ments, or sing anything requiring a book during the collecting, as it divides the at tention too much." Again:—"Pressure put upon people will frequently cause them to give food as well as money." And once more :—" It is well not to make known the amount of offerings at first; and, indeed, at no time is it wiso to publish them to the whole congregation. The mass of tho poo >le will never suspect real soldiers, and it is thereforo foolish to assume any possibility of suspicion, or to make any statements with a view to meeting it." When the General requires more money than can be got through ordinary gifts or collections, he resorts to "canaries." That is a playful designation which he has given to little slips of yellow paper which are given out at the meetings, to be returned as promises to pay. During one day's service at Clap ton, the "canaries" which flew back again to the General's hands were worth more than seven thousand pounds.

The Army has a valuable source of income in the " War Cry." It records the progress of the movement throughout the world, is cried through the streets by leather-lunged boys, and sold in the parks by young ladies in spoon bonnets. The General takes care that his nftwspaper, like his processions, shall penetrate everywhere. He believes in persistence, and in eccentricity. There are those who maintain that the leaping, the shouting, the groans, and the which are characteristic of Salvationist meetings,arepurely spontaneous movements of enthusiasm. Nothing of the kind. It is all explained in " Orders and Regulations." " Let everything about you show that you are peculiar religiously," says the General, " and that tho forces you represent will introduce some novelty when they come." Such is the instruction. Nobody will deny that it is acted upon in tho spirit and to the letter.—Sasciio, " Weekly Echo."

On The Back of an Envelope.

I was living in a boarding-house in Sydney, let us say Gower-street. I was one of seven, five males and two females. I was a bushman transplanted to town. How I came to bo there was simply from pure vanity. I had an idea that I was too good to be thrown away in the bush. Let it pass

—it was years ago, and I was younger then and more foolish. lam only writing as a witness of the events that happened then.

I was not an actor. There were five of us only when I first pitched my camp in Go wer street. Our hostess was oi the usual

" widowish" type. A portrait of the dear departed hung over the mantelpiece, and the regulation chairs.and tables graced the other rooms with their well-known presence, and the daily mess was of the quantity and quality known to every sojourner in lodg ings in Sydney. It was some six months after I had been domiciled in the lodgings that the strange things happened that lead me to write this narrative. As I said, I ing under the mistaken delusion that I only wanted a fair show amongst my fellow-men to come to the foro. It was a vain delusion. I had just come to that conclusion when two new boarders entered our select little assembly. I was then a clerk in a wool broker's office—l may as well state my social status. The new comers were man and wife, Mr and Mrs Tuckett. She was good-looking, and we—viz., the old boarders —all admired her. I need scarcely say we all disliked him. Now, lam not going to describe Mr and Mrs Tuckett. Let me abide by my former description, that he was the Beast and she the Beauty. Also that their room was underneath mine ; and, owing to the scandalous way in which cheap houses are run up in Sydney, I got the benefit of a good deal of conversation not meant for alien ears. I could not help it. I vow on my honour that I often stuffed the bedclothes in my ears until suffocation was imminent, but through it all I heard ! I heard ? The first thing I heard was about half-past ten one night, and then I heard, the Beast say in a gruff tone—

"Bring me the boot-jack," "Would not any o,thor Jack suit you, dear?" said a soft voice in persuasive accents.

"Ha I" I heard, ground through clenched teeth ; " you dare to play upon that bated name ! But no matter—my tim,e will come."

Then I heard a heavy sigh, and naught but whispered mutterings. What could it mean \ Bribson was not the mqn meant \ his Christian names were "Va.nejiarcou.rt," at least ho said so. Who was this hated Jack ? \ was soon. to. find out. It was a wee i. after tlijs that in mounting the stairs to, my roam \ saw a \ised envelope lying on the landing. I pioked it up. It was directed to "J. 0. Tuckett, Esq." But that was not all. On the back was pencilled tho following awful memo : " He dies at five." When X descended to dinner I looked to see some mark of. idling trouble on the features of the se*Wfcy W the Beast. There was nonp, \Sn ©ushrogly he glanced around and, in his usual, remarks, ynppnsijiously she looked at her plt\tc 4 and drove us all frantic with her distracting beauty. Perhaps it was five in the morning when the tragedy was to take place. I made up my mind to wake (Kis watch. I noted Bribson, our. great washer, that evening. He was calm Outwardly, but the evidence of a slu^ber-ing volcano was apparent bcnea^U that tight stiff collar, I dared not tako him into my confidence, for hs had often told me of the violence of his temper when rendered uncontrollable by stories of unredressed wroags. And I thought it would not ■be safe to let him know what wr^s &£,ou.t to happen. There might b,e tvijo victims instead of'one. Mean time who was " Jack " ? I ewwined the envelope, again and aga.^ but bsvofld seeing that; it was i,n a, i&a,n's handwriting could; get no, f^rthes clue,. 'lHe dies at fjve" rm,ttt|ered as I wont to bed. "I \yi\l see. that he does not " was the solemn oath I administered to myself. That night I heard voices again. The Brute said—

" Has Jack come yet ?" The Beauty said, "f.o, I have not s^en. him,"

"Tl'.Sn bring me my poison,"1 aaid tho tSeast, and I heard no njOi'e,

Poison then was the weapon to be resorted to, and how could 1 combat that ? 1 made up my mind finally that I would seek Kribson and get advice from him. I sought him —that is to say, I invaded the sanctity of bis bedchamber, lam sorry to have to relate that he was lying on his itack, snoring great guns, and looking as litHe like a masher" as anybody could. I felt rather nervous about awaking him, for fear he would on the impulse of tho moment fly at my throat and strangle me, Ho.wever, 1 touched him and slid—

" Wake up, old man, I have, something to say to you." Hewokeup, b.uthjsfirsfcwordswereincoher ent. Herautteredsomething about hiswatch being outside t!ic door and bis boots under the pillow; beyond that I oould make no souse of it. 1 uicußed him thoroughly in {act, I shook him, regardless of danger, mi j.i! he sat up and was able to converse with hiq rat ioimlly. Then the whole nature of the man awoke. I had always regarded him aa a humbug connected with the little love affaire, but I must cay that under present circumstances lie behaved like, a man. After I had told him all I dreaded and suspected, ho got_ cp, sought after an ancient foil he bed in liia out} which, K. ua said, his great grandfather hr.d iougut two duels with. With, this ip his. hand, and, to tell a true story, c. short and f canty night raimep.ti he solemnly assured irie that no harm, E&enld bo done under that roof that nigUt' whilst ho lived and wore a sword. H "remember his shitting his foil Jjirom his right hand to his loft, and shaking mo by tho hand aaying—

" Holy on me, old fellow. Just you go to sleep, and I'll see that no mischiof happens." Then I left. I was frightened that he might hurt himself with the foil; but he assured me that thoru was a button on iha end of it, and subsided into bed calmty em bracing it. I retired—not exactly com forted, but still hoping that nothing des perate would happen. I listened anxiously for several hours, but heard no sound of strife, and finally fell into a deep slumber until the birds awoke me in the early morn ing. Then the terrors of the day flashed upon me. Jack was to be poisoned at five. Was it now five or half-past ? I was un certain which. Providentially it was only ten minutes to five. I made up my mind to go down and see Bribson. Ho would probably be awake and on the watch with. his deadly foil. What were my feelings as I stole down the stairs ? Could Mrs Tuck ett have an old sweetheart of (he name of Jack ? Could the Brute or the Beast (for

by each name was he known) have got to feel a jealous hatred that nothing but blood would quench ? Should Ibe tho means of rescuing a fellow-creature from a violent death impending ? I stole softly down f-tairs; as softly I knocked at Bribson's door, and was rewarded by the appearance of that warrior, armed and ready. We waited. In fact, we waited hours. We heard the ."boots" come up and collect the boots. We heard him bring them back again. We listened and waited. No signs of bloodshed, no poison. At last the breakfast bell rang. Then we agreed to go and dross. We descended to the breakfast room, looking hurt and gloomy. Mr and Mrs Tuckett were in their usual places, looking —as always—Beauty and the Beast. Brib son was calmly silent—watching ; but I knew now what a foarful volcano lay smoul dering beneath. Jack apparently had not been killed—at least, if so, his death had been noiseless. We had no facts to go upon hitherto. Then a brilliant idea struck me. What if 1 confronted Tuckett with that letter which I felt cure was endorsed on the back in his own ■ hand-writing ? I deter mined to do so. In my blandost manner I addressed the man whoso life I felt was at my mercy. Bribson, like the man he was, edged up and stood ready for any emer-1 gency, with the foil of his grandfather in waiting. "Mr Tucker," I said, " is this your en velope, and do you know the meaning of this memo, thereon ?" N

He looked at it—this man of iron nerve. Then he laughed. "Of course, I do. I dropped this on the stairs the other day, and have been rather put out by missing it. I was wondering who could have found it." ,

"Sir," I said—and I trusted in that supreme moment I preserved the dignity of manhood—" can you dare to acknowledge the awful weight of crime conveyed by the notice on the back of that envelope ?" " Certainly," he replied. " What in the name of fortune do you mean ?" I stared at him in awful horror at his guilt. He glanced at the envelope. "Jack dines at five," he eaid. Then he turned to me again. "What is the meaning of this?" he asked. "My old friend Jack Milson asks me to dinner. I pencil a memo, on the back of the envelope, and you find it an.d calmly accuse me of some awful crime. What do you understand?"

I think I'll draw a veil over tho rest of ;his story, but I wish people would write a ittle plainer.—" Prize Tit-bits."

Extraordinary Nerve of a Rail way Brakesman.

The amount of nerve and endurance a person can show in a moment of intense suffering varies considerably, according to the individual temperament, and peoplo who flinch from or faint under great pain are often really as brave as others who under-, go an ordeal of the kind stoically. A remarkable instance of stoicism is reported by the American papers. Recently a brakesman was missed from a luggage train running on the Susquehanna division of the New York and Western Railway, It was conjectured that he had fallen from the train, and a couple of men, with a locomotive, were sent to look for him. After the search had been continued for a while they perceived the missing employ^ coming along towards them in a mutilated state that would have loft few men the power to walk. His clothing was nearly torn from his body ; he waa dripping with blood, and his right arm had been cut off from the shoulder when he fell' from tho train. Besides these injuries, he had tho collar-bone broken in two places, four ribs fractured, and terrible cuts about his head. He related that, as soon as lie could recover himself after the train had passed over his arm, he regained his feet, and found his severed limb, which he carried in. his remaining hand. He had walked in bis terrible condition upwards of a mile when he met the locomotive. Tho poor fellow's injuries resulted in death forty-eight houra after he had told his story.

The Duke of Brunswick.

By the death of the Duke of Bruaawiok a stir will be made in German circles. Tho. Duke has loft no. legitimate successors, *and the heir-apparent is properly tho Duke of Cumberland ; but unless, as we> Stated last week, he surrenders his' claims to the kingdom of Hanover and makes his peace with the German Government, there is little chanco of his entering into posses sion of the duphy, and Brunswick, as an in dependeat State, will probably soon cease to exist. England is but remotoly concer ned in the mattor, and happily so, for our already existing relations with petty penny-farthing Gorman States is leading to bad blood.

The death of the Duke revivesa. memory much more than it removes a figure from the scenes of human affairs. Tlie late Charles Frederick and his diaawnds, his friendships, and his little mock eourfc, all helped to give a little colour to London life not so long ago. The elevation of Louis \ Napolean to the throne of Francetransferrei Paris the Royalties and their dandy asso ciates. We were thus deprived of a fea ture in. I,ancbn life which it is impossible ovea for society journalism to replace. The ! Buke believed in himself and his own rights, , but 3io was not the less content to enjoy his place in the world away from Germany. The scattered Royalties of the world are becoming fewer svery year, and people; seem to things goal deal less about princes than they vised to do, except whea princes make itvemselves useful.

The Dentist and the Bishop.

A young country dentist of good family got reoojmmended to him as a patent no less a person than the Bishop of his diocese. He. made a set of teeth for him, and vise appointed for his lordship to call and fife them wi (or in). It was a moment of greafr Erofessional importance to the dentist, as o watohed his noble client examining himself and his new teeth in tho pier glass. Imagine his horror, therefore, when ho distinctly caught in expression of a con-1 demnatory character and ending in "ation,"' from his lordship's Bps. " I daresay tb»y are a little uncomfoj>lablo my lord,"- he murmured conciiiatingly, "but Jpats at first, and until you, « e t used to titem "

" Without doubt he shall parish evorlast togtyi" exclaimed his lordship with vehe mence.

"But indeed, my lord, if you will but have patience," pleaded the dentist: "in a week's timo "

"What do you meant" inquired hfe lcadship. turning round with an apostolic smile, " Why should I not have patience ? The teeth fit me beaulifully; it is the first time I have, found myself able to pronounce the Athannsian Creed with distinctness foe theso twenty years."

Thomas Carlyle's Religions Reliefs.

Earlier in his life while lib was young and confident, and the effects of his religious training were fresh in. him, he could fling off the whispers of tlw scientific spirit with angry disdain. The existence, tho omni p-esence, the omnipotence of God were then die strongest of hip. convictions. That faith ■ remained; unshaken in him to the end. He never- himself d6uht«d. Yet he was per plexed by the indifference with which the Supreme Powar was allowing its existence to be obscured. I once said to him not lods before his death that I could only believe in a Rod which did something. With a cry oE pain which I shall never forget, he saidi. "He does nothing ;" for himself, however* his faith stood firm. He did not believe in historical Christianity. Ho did not: believe that the factsalleged in the Apostles" Creed had ever really happened. Thei resurrection of Christ was to him only & symbol of a spiritual truth. Ab Christ roest, from tho dead, so were, we to rise from the- v death of sin to the lifo of righteousness.— I " Froudo's life of Carlyle." "^ '*

THE AIJCKJiAND EVENING SfAl, SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 1885.

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