TOPICS OF THE DAY

A Gossip About Things in Oonoral,

(From Oub London Correspondent.)

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Lonpox, May 20. Bet for tho cast wind, which has returned at an inopportune moment, London would now bo brightor and livelier than it has been for several seasons past. Laat year nearly all the great houses were closed bo cause of the Duke of Albany's death. This cummer the leaders of society aro rovonging theniselws by extra brilliance and splen- TnHv Aboreanenny's ball tho othor ?Uhtwa" it *8 °" all hands allowed' tho D' S t rrnrir'eous affair sinco tho famous ffito 3*he & in 1353. The Prince and Princess of Wales came early and left late l tlio company was " remarkably select," Z e ct in fact, that about 800 or 800 per sons are burning with indignation bocauao flipv wero not asked. Invitations aro out for two State concerts Jh one State bull at Buckingham Palace rLo June. The last drawing room of ♦Sonw(iß held yestoulay- On tho'th ho presentations were very numerous. I m*A to see the names of the Olivers £Sfl3b on the list, but ondit that Lady Derby, who usually makes colonial presen tations, was unable at tho last moment to atThe d" marriage of the Princess Beatrice will be a very quiet affair. Great pressure wa brought to bear on the Queen in Get many with a view to persuading her to at "^ postpone the match. The Princess however, possesses a will of her own, and has told both the Crown Prince** of Ger- X and the Prince of Wales that even though she may have to forego evor sotting foot in Germany, she means to marry Prince Henry, and what's more, to havo him duly W^be recurrence of the east wind has killed two remarkable yet widely different; men— Lori Dudley and Sir Watkin Williams Wvnn The Earl had been insane for the last six yews, and will not in consequence-be I greatly missed by "society, but the death of the "King of Wales" (as Sir Watkin was called) removes the most popular and m- I auential landowner of tho principality '! Lord Dudley succeeded to his vast iron and coal properties when only nineteen, but did not ''come of age" till he was twenty-five. i: Before this his trustees paid £000,000 for Witloy Abbey, till then the family seat of the Foleyß. Lord Dudley spent a fortune beautifying and enlarging the place, and crammed it with priceless pictures and curios. During the "coal panic of about a dozen years ago, the income of tho Eari's I mining estates reached a fabulous total. He ■mentroyally.hon'ever.andforsomoyearspait it baa been common gossip that tlio family wore embarrassed. Lord Dudley didn't caro a straw about racing, but it was his fancy tostartlethe ring at Ascot or Epsomnowand a"am by appearing to wager a mammoth amount upon some presumed certainty. Thus at Epsom in 1875 he laid 7,000 to 4 000 on Lord Falmouth's pair for tho Oaks, and later on at Ascot 10,000 to 5 000 on Doncaster for the Gold Cup. Both bets re sulted in his favour, but he was less lucky when ho laid 9,000 to 4.000 on Macgregor E for tho Derby, and C.OOO to 1,000 on Petrarch for a biennial at A.=cot in 1S70". The last-named was a frightful " boil-over," fand, I fancy, eared His Lordship of " cer tainties." Anyhow, I never heard of him making a bet afterwards. Lady Dudley was for many years tho " queen of beauty "par excellence of London society. Even now there aro low who can approach her. The Earl idolised his wife, and she repaid him with tho most devoted selfsaciifice, nursing him through his declining years with unremitting care, and giving up "society" without a murmur. Twice a day, in fine weather, the Dudley landau, drawn by two splendid bays, might I be eeen turning out of Park Lane into ; I Piccadilly—Lady Dudley, pale and stately, j seated beside a mass of rugs and sables sur- 1 mounted by a well-known curly-brimmed ; I liat, which even to his dying day tho great j I iron lord insisted upon wearing when ] "taking the air." The death of an unfortunate little boy ifrom ill-treatment at King's College has awakened people to the fact that bullying ; in schoolß still exists; in my opinion nothing I •will evor completely stamp it out. The ; fault lies not so much with the boys as with I parents, who send weakly lads with delicate I constitution* to live amongst brawling, s lusty hobble-de-hoys, several years older I than themselves. A thump on the back ; will do an ordinary, healthy lad very little I harm when delivered by a fellow of his own j size; butif he be a small, soft-boned child, I and the blows are given by a youth of 17 or I 18, one can't wonder at disastrous results. I The newspapers are all crying out that the U love should be carefully watched by a master I during play-hours. I don't think so. 1 Systems of espionage in schools seldom 1 answer. The plain troth is, that certain ; boys are allowed to stay far too long at ;j school. Ignorance ought not be considered. Ine more backward, the more Btupid, and tho more loutish a lad is at 17 or 18, tho more imperative the necessity for clearing ™!out- Bright, clever boys hardly ever ■;■ wily. They have neither time nor inclina « tion to be cruel. S There aresome wonderful pictures in tho Koyal Academy this year. Leighion.Millais, Riviere, "adema, and Orchardson are all at i,f tea'- Orchardeon'shistoric "Salon of Mttae. Recamier" has so far attracted ™ biggest crowds. It is a deeply intqrest ::> »g painting, with but one fault-the X ™ws salon is not crowded enough, nor ■ sP™rag enough. The company may be | fctriouß, but they are, many of them," un %r ff) k<»°ly bored. Mdmo. Recamier her self lounges back upon a yellow sofa, her I Jar is golden red, her dress white, and her I : , Ma is projected against a crimson curtain. «<™y of the individual figures are excellent. • n 7™H with his massive forehead ; I, „ rnad°.«e, m uniform, leaning forward :: I '"' ".""mated gesture ; tho palo chiselled I j n ° °' "oßnke do Montmoroncy laying : S '-V M«ttenuch, sly and cunning, I waiting to interrupt. Sht H SyN mT< Lord Ro^bery's little f: hilrtr V,Nt)n9o{ the many delightful 1 : tft e he S fp'rm ™rP»^s I trihnt« Frederick Leighton con- I SibvlPri" ComPanion Portrait of Lady ZT^ an elder sister about nino bJLt - c seems a stiff prim child ! Bute V!Uaintlittle Peggy. nnimai r ,-, lviere' M osual, has several great andl"n c! g? W a lamb hot^n a wolf I alleem-i? 8PrinciP''l work is an elaborate I pWv^ "M»sio";T-ld ;S ' 3) a I SSS «t lm Ta^»'s. "a Riding M.P. to „ ' you"S Greek reading from ' f"i-',andai! r°Up ? f lada scantily clad in I g«Clf 'th Whlt nand W«e-Barmentß • Un^ overlook!^ if Blt ,"" a marbl° ti' So far til t & tho sapphire sea. ': in 'wfere ( ] 1 J nv: c! 1, tioili3 Exhibition lias not : «a,/i t d n^. te"a'y with tho tho.tre.,. It " fc»t?!l Bblv' but lew attractive ; a^° am r enM- The machines for I! Patera wem f LUlpo P3' mustard, and rerated i : last year Tk centre 3of popular interest v' in S pres'eeq are now replaced by print k newßPaper-foldor S , und tho i illustrations 71* lor Prof!«cing coloured f- el=Ctru a il Ch,ln^. Photograph., rtoreOß, ■ tfatcdK 0 ,. .' , engravin St<' The"lllus machino9 wi.i t Dd "GraPhic" exhibit tho pictures for tk?- are worb>ng off the big IK and tk« • comiu S Christmas num inW^^^mostperfoct of the kind l^'^So?!? 1 h^ entirely given 1 ***iO3£ £w, hicll «iere must be up "atWuSmclßxhiWtfed, The finest

instruments are, in my humblo opinion, those shown by Brinsmcad, Steinway, of New York, and a German firm, the namo of which has slipped my memory. Stoinway's •200-guinea "grand" will, it is anticipated, take tho gold medal. " Watchmaking by machinery," tho ex hibit of the Wolthnm Watch Company (who have a score of persons at work) is ono of tho most ambitious stalls. You cant really see much that is going on, but, as the " 'cute Yankee," who runs tho display for the Com pany says, "it looks a lot." Tho railway, mining, nnd engineering patents tako up a lot of room, but aro naturally of little interest to tho community at largo. Men's dress changes every season slightly, and not always for tho bettor. Last year, par exemph, "masher" collars with white made-up ties of muslin or linou were all the rage. This summer it is no longer chic to wear a stand-up collar unless dogs-eared, and a made-up tie would be considered tho height of philistinism. Scarves of white or very pale cream ribbed silk now replace the muslin and linen. They aro tied in a sailor's knot and pierced below the loop with tho tiniost of single poarl pins. It is most important, plcaso note, to put tho pin in below the loop and to take care it is a very small piece of jowollory, i.e., about a quarter tho s-ize of an ordinary broast-pin. if you wcro to pierce tho knot or to use a common rold breast - pin, you would show an jnoranco of "form" from which oven the most good-natured "old chappie" of your acquaintance would recoil aghast. Sack coats, never possible in London, are now going out of fashion even in the pro vinces. The tendency is towards darker mitings than havo been worn for some years. Men aro beginning to realise that they never 'ook so comely as when decently clothed in a well-cut black morning coat.

Stripes once more reign supremo in trouser ings. A few stalwart people liko Sir John Ashley and tho Duke of Portland stick to tho largo checks temporarily popular last i-eason; but they are gonerally voted ugly. If you sco a man (under 50) in a frock cout you may bo suro he is either an American or Australian—tho former for choice. Americans, too, have a penchant for that shiny black cloth which is so abominable, save in evening clothes or on tho back of a pawon. no London tailor would dare to make a layman a coat of such a material. His reputation would bo damned otornally. Tho sudden doath of poor Fargua (Hugh Con way), just at tho moment when long years of hard work and disappointment were crowned with succoss, is terribly sad. He caught typhoid fever whilst enjoying a brief holiday on the Riviera, and had not constitution enough to rally from the after ertVcts. Tho finished work left behind indudea " A Family Affair" and a story for Anowsmith's next annual. Personally, Fargus appeared a most prosaic personngo —a t-iristol merchant from tho crown of his semi-bald head to the tip of his well-brushed boot. Only those who knew him most intimately suspected his penchant for literature. Even they were electrified when it leaked out that he was the author of "Called Back."

Tho Revised Biblo was published at noon yesterday, when the scene in Paternoster Row and around St. Paul's Churchyard waa something to remember. Imagine about 200 immense vans, from 40 to 50 carts, and 1,000 booksellers' touts, squeezing and pushing, and cursing, and swearing, in the attempt to got an advantage one over the other. Whilst tho uproar was at its height, and two or thrco froo rights going on, an obese and elderly Bishop appeared on tho scene. He gazed around for a moment in blank horror, and then becoming aware that coarse remarks were being passed on his personal appearance, fled up the stairs into the warehouse. Shortly afterwards some police turned up, and tranquilised, or rather partially tran quilled, matters. The circulation of tho Hovised Biblo will, however, long bo re membered amongst booksellors as the oc casion of a horse-play riot a3 unexpected as it was inappropriate.

Books about "society" aro all the rage just now, so thero is nothing very strango in an ! enterprising firm of publishers unearthing and reprinting Grenvillo Murray's "High Life in Franco under tho Republic." Tho work did not attract much attention when it first appeared, but sells well now as a companion volume to the successful "Society in London." By tho way, Count Paul Vusili (otherwise Madame Adam),with whom tho mysterious author of tho last mentioned work was so unkindly before hand, has commenced his (or her) series of letters on London in tho "Nouvello Revue." Those who anticipated revelations similar to some in tho author's notorious series of letters on Berlin society will be much dis appointed. Tho first epistle, which deals with our Royal Family, might, but for some rather plain-spoken home truths about the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, have been written by any Englishwoman. " London Life," as the series will be called when complete, is to be published simul taneously in London and Paris. Before that, though, I'm afraid tho newspapers will have translated all the " plums."

All who read Mrßoboit Louis Stevenson's "New Arabian Nights" will, I should imagine, gladly pay a shilling for the sequel to that remarkable book, a series of equally riotously imaginative tales called "The Dynamiter." There is nothing perhaps in this lot of stories, qnito equal to tho famous "Suicide Club," but "The Fair Cuban" and "The Explosivo Bomb will be found in different ways almost equally original. Huge piles of "Tho Dynamiter " ornament all tho London book stalls just now. It is desorvedly the literary " gin-and-bitters " of the moment, and sell ing by tens of thousands. Anstey, of " Vico Versa" fame, has, I hear, a shilling brochure in hand, called "A Painted Venus," for which the pub lishers anticipate a big success, and Mac luren Cobban, -whose " Curo of Souls " sold fairly well some years ago, announces a novelette entitled " Tinted Vapours." Several other shilling reprints are either out or announced, but 1 shouldn't like to advise anyone to invest in them. They mostly represent trashy novels which failed in three volumes.

"From Post to Finish," tho best racing novel that Hatnley Smart has written since "Bound to Win," is just published in tho six-shilling form. "Judith Shakespeare," Black's last and worst novel, can also be had now for this sum. Amongst the new two shilling re-issues I can recommend "Val Strange," by D. C. Murray; " Valerie's Fato," by Mrs Alexander; and " Uut of Eden," by Dora Russell.

The Bursting of the Monsoon

Lire in India would be impossible without its monsoons, and tho periodical approach of one of these great rainstorms is always hailed thero with delight. The south-west monsoon sets in generally toward tho end of April, the steady wind sweeping up from the Indian ocean and carrying with it dense volumeH of vapour, which slowly collect in dark masses of cloud as they ap proach the continent. From Adam p Peak, in the Me of Spices, right along the Eastern and Western Ghauts and the Milgris, every hilltop ia gradually shrouded in mist, in stead of standing out clear and sharp against the sky. Darker and denser become the cloud masses ; the horizon assumes a heavy load appearance, sometimes kina ling into a lurid glaro-answenng to tho sense of oppression, both mental and physical, which accompanies it. Iho at mosphere becomes " close " and oppressive alike to man and beast; but the heat is borne with patience, for relief is at hand. Flashesof lightning play f™^l^ *° ™ and heavy thunder roverberates through the heavens f tho wind suddenly springs up into a tempest, and along the shore the white waves are tossed in foam against the rocks or over the burning sand. Then a few great drops of rain fall, like balls of bad from the apparently leaden sky; the forked light nine is changed to sheets of light, and sud denly the floodgates of heaven are opened, and not rain, but sheets of water, aro poured forth refreshing tho parched earth, carrying fortility over the surface of the country, flllinc the wells and natural reservoirs with a fr2h store, and replenishing the dwind lin" rivers and stream?. The whole earth seem, suddenly recalled to life. Vegetation may almost be seen to g_row, and from tho baked mud of the river banks emerge countless fishoa which for weeks or month's before havo lain thero in torpor.

THE REVISED OLD TESTAMENT.

The revision of the whole Biblo is now com plete. Tho translation of 1611, known as that of King James, and still used in churches, has assumed a now appearance. The New Testament occupied in revision ten years and a-half, and wae published in 18S1 ; while the Old Testament took fourteen years.and though finished a year ago has only now got into tho hands of tho general publio. The revision committeo presented the first printed copy to tho Archbishop of Canter bury and tho Upper House of Convocation at Westminster on April 30th ; and her Mnjosty tho Queen received hers about a week lator. Tho first copies arrived in Auckland by tho mail last Sunday, and wo now propose to give sotno doscriptivoaccount of tho long expected and welcome volume. To deal with general changes first. There aro no headings of chaptors, and the text is divided into paragraphs liko the revised Now Testament. Tho Psalms aro split up into five books, and Canticles is entitled The Song of Songs. Pootry is indicated by being printed in poetical form, as will bo scon on turning to the Psalms. This is a great improvement, which has been con sistently applied to tho fragmonts of vorso —such as the quotation wherein Joshua makes tho sun to stand still—introduced into historical narratives. Tho word trans lated "hell" in the old vorsion has boon treated with judgment. In tho poetical books the Hebrew " sheol " is loft untrans lated, with tho noto " gravo " in the margin. In tho historical parts " ehool " is rendered "gravo" or "pit" with a marginal note " sheol." It is to be remarked that the American Revisers havo loft "shcol" un translated wherever it occurs in the text. Some quotations will be interesting. " Tho cords of Sheol wore round about mo: 1 ho snares of doath cainc upon mo." " Her honao is tho way to Slicol, Going down to iho chambora of death." Prov. 7—27 " For thou wilt not leave my soul in Shool, Nciiher wilt thou sulFcr ibino .' oiy ono to sco corruption."

Pa. 18-10 The now roadinc of Prov. 27—20 should be noted : —" Shool and Abaddon aro nevoi satisfied," for " holl and destruction arc novcr full." Tho propei1 naino Abaddon is similarly used in two other places, Jol 26—(> and Prov. 15-11. Another familial word occurring in the historical books, viz., "groves," disappears, and is replaced by the Hobrew "Ashera," with its plurals " Ashorim " and " Asheroth," words whose meaning is uncertain, but which probably denote the wooden symbol of a goddess. It is likely that most renders of the revision will turn tiist of all to thoso familiar passages and phrases which havo been household words in most English families during tho kst thveo hundred yoars. And thoy will not bo dL-appointcd. They will find that tho Revisers huv« been vory conservative, and have adhered closely to rulo 1 of thoir instructions :—" To introduce as few altera tions as possible consistent with faithful ness." Our old friends then greet us as we turn over the pages :—"Balm of Gilead," " Valley of the Shadow of Death," " Kose of Sharon," "Grind the faces of tho poor," " Lamp unto my feet," " Lines in pleasant places," "Pen of a ready writer," "Coat of many colours," " Still small voice," " Heap coals of firo," " Love strong as Death," "Broken and contrite heart," " Vanity of vanities," " Land flowing with milk aiid honey," "Bruised reed and smok ing dux," together with scores of others. In Daniel 3—5 the ancient orchestra re appeara —" cornot, Hute, harp, sackbut, p?altery,dulcimer," though as an alternative rendering to tho last the margin has " bag pipe." Tho well-known "to him that ordereth his conversation aright," otc, is un touched, through tho explanatory "way" appears as a noto. Pharoah's "butler" and " baker" still dream their strange dreams, and meet their fatos according to Joseph's interpretation. Tho "horso leach " daughters also (Prov. 30—15) still cry "give," and "Aly darling " is still ro cued from tho lions, (Is. 35—17). "My heart" no longor "is inditing of a good matter" (Ps. 45—1); instead "My heart overfloweth with a goodly matter." " Vanity and vexation of spirit" becomes "vanity and a striving after wind," which is at least novel and not particularly smooth. " Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them," is altered into, " Happy is the man that hath filled his quiver with them," a change with so little difference as to bo hardly justifiable. Thero aro not many alterations like the last however, but those of necessity like tho following must be borne with. " 0 that I had tho indict ment which my adversary had written," takes tho place of tho familiar, " O that mino adversary had written a book " (Job 31—35). "For thou hast mado him a little lower than God," is tho rovised vorsion of " For thou hast made him a littlo lower than tho angels " (Ps. B—s). Tho new dress of "Fools mako a meek at sin," is "Tho foolish scorn tho guilt offering," which makes particular what before was general in its application. Many will turn with curious enquiry to that sublime passage in Ezekiel (chap. 37), the vision of the valley of dry bones, and they will bo glad to discovor that scurccly any changes havo been mado in it. Tho same remark applies to tho Decalogue, such familiar Psalms as the 23rd, 50th, 31th, 100 th, and 62th, the last chapter of Ecclo siastes.and the Christology of Isaiah ; verbal alterations havo boon mado, but they aro remarkably few It is the samo Bible which our mothers taught us, changed on!y where faithfulness to tho original absolutely required it. We will next take tho archaisms of tho 1611 version, and see in what manner they have been dealt with by the Revisers. On examination it will be soon seen that they havo been very cautious in their changes even hero, and that a number of ancient ■words have beon left alone which one might naturally expect to find modernised. Thus wo find the following retentions :— "crack nel " (i. c. cake) 1 Kings 14-3 ; " daysman " (i. c. umpire) Job 9—33 : " charger (dish) Num. 7—13 ; " eschew " Job I—l ; " goodman" (master of a house) Prov. 7—19; "quick" (alive), Lev. 13-10; "wax old," Is. 50—9; " scrabble," 1 Sam. 21-13; " cunning "(i.e. Bkilled), I Kings 7 -14; "carcases." Num. 14—29; "scrip' (wallet or bog), ISam. 17—40 ; "neesings " (i c. sneezings), Job 41-18; "chapiter,' I Kings 7—16, etc.; " ouches of gold," Ex. 28—11. The above are all instances where the Revisers have been influenced by their respect for the ancient version to tho reten tion of old-fashioned words, mont of which are quite absolpte in spoken English. For other archaisms they have been compelled to find equivalents. Thus"habergeon"appears once as a "coat of mail"( Ex. 28-32), and a second timo as "pointed shaft" (Job 41— 26)- " Dukes of Sihon " becomes "Princes of Sihon" (Joshua 13—21); "coats, hosen, and hats," " hosen. tunics, and mantles ' (Dan. 3—21); "ear," "plow" (Deut, 21-4); "leasing," "lies" (Ps. 5—6); "organ," "pipe" (Gen. 4—21); "artillery," "weapons" (I Sam. 20—40); "wench," "maidservant" (II Sam. 17 — 17). "Which "as a masculine disappears except in a fuw special cases, e.g., " 1 am the Lord thy God which brought thee," &c. In the same way the neuter "his" is replaced by "its," a word which was not found any where in the version of 1611. One is naturally curious to know what has become of the natural history of the old version, and is rofreched on finding that the familiar behemoth, leviathan, and dragon (Job 40-15; 41—1 ; Is. 27—1) have not been im proved off the face of the earth. Two matter-of-fact marginal notes, however, assure the reader that behomoth was the hippopotamus, and leviathan tho crocodile. The " unicorn " is gone, and his place is occupied bythe "wildox" (Job 39—10); tho "cockatrice" also vanishos to mako way for "basilisk," which would be puzzling did not tho margin alternate "adder." The feeble " conies " still find their homo among tho rocks (Ps. 104-18); but tho " badger" (Ex. 35-7) is ousted by tho " seal." Jonah's " gourd " remain*, but is explained (?) by the note " palma Chnrti, which aleo needs some explanation, for ordinary readers at least. The tender hand of the Revisers hns spared " the rose of Sharon," but thoy havo folt compelled to add that the rose is no rose at all, but the autumn crocus, and that Sharon means " the plain." The fretful "porcupine" can now assume a new dignity, since he is not only patronised by Shakepere, but introduced into the SWfptareß, whwe in Xsfoiak 14—23,

he takes the plaeo of tho "bittern." The familiar "scapogoat" has fallen a victim to the higher criticism, for the Hobrew word is untranslated, "Azazol" (Lov. 16-10). Noah's ark, howovor, continues to be con structed of "gopher wood;" though ths ark of tho covenant is now made of "acacia," instead of "shittim wood." For "sweet influences of Pleiades" (-lob 38-31) we now read "cluator of Pleiades," which recalls Tennyson's "swarm of fireflies." Such Hebraisms as " lo.f of oil," " hin of wine," " ephah of fiour ( "aroalloved tastand without any explanatory marginal noto. Othur Hebrew words find a placo, as in Gen. 31— 19, whero "imagos" (of Laban, stolon by Kachel) is represented by "teraphim;" and in Gen. G-4, whorowonow road, "Tho IMephelim wcro in the earth in thoso days," instoad of " Thoie were giants in the earth in thoso days." Turning to I Sam. 13—1, the reader finds an important change. The passage did road " Saul reigned ono year," but tho Rovisers have it, " Saul was [thirty] years old." Tho verso is not in tho Soptuugint which is here no help ; and asothor scholars conjecture " fifty " to bo the right reading, it is clear that tho paesago is very obscure. It is instructive to compare tho old and now versions of 1 Kings 10—28 ; what was a hopeless muddlo is now cloar enough, Tho version of 1611 runs, "And Solomon, had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn ; tho kings' merchants received the linen yarn at a prico." Now read the now ; "And tho horses which Solomon had were brought out of Egypt j and tho king's merchants roccived them in droves, oach drovo at a price." There aro many improvements in translation which will bo noted. "Plain of Mamro "(Gen. 18—1) is now "oaks of Mamro ;" "Taber nacle of the congregation," appears as plai" "Tent of meeting;" " flagons of wino" (tlosea 3—l) is softened into "cakes of raisins ;" whilo in Prov. 18—8, thoro in a curious amendment. Instoad of " The words of a talebearer aro as wounds," we now have, "The words of a whisoeror aro as dainty morsels," a radical change in deed. It is probable that somo good pooplo will be shocked to find that "Kahab tho harlot" (Josh. 2 1) has not been turned into a respcct/ibl' member of society, but they may bo somewhat comforted when tlioy ure told that the stumbling block, " And it camo to pass that God did lanj>l Abraham," is happily romoved, and we now read, "God did prove Abraham." Othor new read ings will bo conned with interest, " Thoy aro not his children, it is thoir blemish " (Deut. 32-5) a difficult passage which Mr Herbert Spencer thinks is n reference to tattooing. "Yea, yo havo borno Succith your king " (Amos, s—2fi), in placo of "But ye have borno tho tabernaclo of your Moloch ;" " Rebuke the wild beasts of tho reods" (Pa. GS-30) taking tho place of "Rebuke the companj of spearmen." "Cast up a highway for him that rideth through tho deserts" (PB. CB—4) is less poetical than "Extol him that rideth upon the heavens." " Beware lost thou bo led away with thy sufficiency " (Job .'ili—lS) is very different from " Bowaro lest he tako thee away with his stroke "

) I I i I There are other alternative readings mdi cated in the margin besides those above noted, and it may bo inferred that the Revisers had over this passage strong differences of opinion boforo arriving at n | decision. That they had not tho fear of j ilr Matthew Arnold boforo their eyes whan | they addressed themselves to tho following I trio of test passages, wo will make quite I evident. Wo will put tho three as they I stand in tho old version first, then Air !M. Arnold's proposed amendment, and ! third, tho roading of tho revision. The ! comparison will bo four*! instructive ( 1611. (1) "The sceptre shall not depart i from Judah, nor a lawgiver from botweun i his feofc, until Shiloii como ; and unto him i shall the gathoring of thepooplo be." Gen. 49-10. {2) " Tho Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine I enemios my footstool." Ps, 110—1. (3) "Behold, the days como, Faith the Lord, that 1 will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shail execute judgment and justice in tho earth. In his days I Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely ; and this 13 his name whereby he 1 shall be called, The Lord our Righteous- I ness." Jor. 23—5 and 6. Mr Matthow Arnold. (1) "The pre ! eminenco shall not depart from Judnh so j long as tho people resort to Bhiloh (tho national sanctuary before Jerusalom was won); and tho nations (tho heathen Canaanites) shall oboy him." (2) "Tho Eternal said unto ray lord tho king, sit thou, etc." (3) " I will raise to David a righteous blanch ; in his days Judah shall bo saved and Israel shall dwell safely ; and this is tho name whoreby thoy shall call them- S6lvoa : Tho Eternal is Our Righteous ness." j Tho Revised Version, ISBS. (1) "Tho scoptro shall not depart from Judah, nor thoruler'i staff from between his feot, until Shiloh como (marg. till he como to Shiloh) ; and unto him shall the obedienco of the peoples bo." (Thero aro other alternative readings, indicating differences of opinion among the Revisers,) (2) " Tho Lord saith unto my lord, etc." (3) " Behold,tho days come.saith tho Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch (marg. Shoot or Bud), and lie shall reign as king and deal (marg. prosper) •wisely, and shall execute judgement and justico in the land. In his days Judah shall bo saved, and Israel shall dwell safoly ; and this is his name whoroby ho shall bo called, , The Lord is Our Righteousness." , T»

Tho crucial passage, Job 19—25 to 27, we give in full: —

"But I know that my rodocnior (mart:;, vindi cator) livoth. And thin he shall stand up at tho last upon the earth (mare. duni): And after my skin hath been thus destroyod. Yet from (marg. without) my tlesh elmll I sec God: Wliom I i-hall see for myself. And mine eyes bhnll behold nnd not another (marg. as a straD(?or)."

The Reported Home Rule Measure for Ireland.

The report that the Government will shortly introduce a measure of local self-govern ment for Ireland which will abolish tho Lord Lieutenancy is (a Dublin corres pondent says) attracting much attention amongst tho Irish people, and the report was referred to by the newspapers of tho different parties yestorday. It is stated in the " Freoman's Journal" that whether tho scheme bo of such a cotnprohondvo character as that foreshadowod yosterday or not, there is a coup in contemplation by tho Cabinet should ovonts prove favourable to its execution. Tho irritation caused among Ministers by what has transpired of their intended surprise is sufficient evidence that tho information is accurate in tho main. It is added that tho statement made in tho " Standard " that a bill is to be introduced is Dot correct. The impending proposals will talco the form of a scheme of which the outline will be (sketched by the Promier as forming tho lines of legislation which tho Government will introduce if they are in office next session. Tho "Irish Times" points out that both Mr Gladstone and Sir Charles fiilko have announced at earlier periods of the session that the Government havo in preparation a measure of local government for Ireland. It would bo a shrewd political ptroke to spring euch a scheme on the evo of a eenoral election to appease tho I iufi voto, which is to return doubled ortrebledinParliamontarystrength. Ab to the abolition of the Vice-royalty, the " Irish Times " cays that it would groatly re concile Irishmen by n change in regard to tho office if it were to be replaced by a proper and sufficiently visible and personal repre sentation of royalty in Ireland. The Dublin "Express" saysthat everything points to tho oxistenco of some surroptitious agreoment between Mr Parnelland thoGovornmout.and it does not see the slightest improbability in the rumoured measure Of this, it continues, we may bo euro, that if English public opinion does not watch our Ministry with a jealous eye, if the Parliamentary Opposition aro not true to themsolvos and truo to tho real interests of the country the fruits of those eocret compacts between the Govern ment and the Parnellite party will not be long in coming to the light, or long in getting ttomselVfeß renlisfed in actual legislation.

CHILE THIRTY YEARS AGO.

Reminiscences of a Visit by Mr Burtt.

Ferdafs one of the greatest objects oi curioaity to a foreigner ia the mode of droes ing a bullock, which ia as follows:—The skin having been removed, it is stretched upon the ground, secured by wooden pegs. The next step is to divest tho carcase of every atom of fat. This is triod out, or melted, strained, and putintothe stomach of the boast in the same way as lard from a pig is preserved ia bladdors. The flesh is then cut up into thin strips, and hung upon linep f to bo dried in tho sun. It is afterwards made up into Binall bales, and ia called "charqui." Probubly the term "jerked beof "is a corruption of the word. When required for use, it is cut upas you would cut a plug of tobacco for the pipe. It is then pounded between two stones, and when cooktd with potatoes and tho appropriate condiments, it forms a mess not to be despised by a hungry man. You will quite understand that in tho interior of tho country a great doal of prejudico existed against any innovations by foreigners, and it was therefore a long time before the country pooplo could be induced to adopt the modern appliances for cultivation. They persisted in using their old plough, which was really nothing more than a pointed stick, and as th6ir forefathers had always throshed grain in a coral by the foot of maros, they would havo no new fangled thrashing machines, which, thoy said, were an invention of the devil. Their mode of yoking bullocks was by tho horns. They were bound with green hide, and they would adopt no other plan. A fellow passenger of mine hud gone out to Chile to manage a largo estate, and had taken with him a supply of yokes such as wo uso here. But no; the native overseers would have none of them ; till ono day, when my friend was muster ing cattle, he asked his stockman why ho dropped tho laeso on the horns; why ho didn't lot it go over the head and on tho nock. " Why," said the fellow, "if I did, he would drag me to the devil." " Well," said his master, " that's why I want you to yoke them by the shoulder." "Aye Maria," said tho man, " you aro right," and tho innovation was adopted. A lady friend, living somo distanco in the interior, had engaged a now servant, and requiring her attendance, had rung the boll several times for her. Finding thoro was no rosponee, sho went out of tho room to see the reason, and asked tho sorvant if sho did not hear tho bell. " Oh, yes," was tho reply, " but lam not a inulo," a boll being used by mule-drivers to keop their train to gethor. "Oh, but," said my friend, "bells uro used in churches. Don't you go to pruyers whon you hear the bell ?" "Ah ! yes," said tho girl, "you aro right. Whon 1 hoar tho boll again I will come." You will probably, especially tho young mon, like to near something about tho ladies. Well, thoy are very nico ; but thoy very soon fado. A (Jhilona of 30 or so, especially if sho is a mother, will look older than an English woman of 50 or 60. They arrive at maturity very early, and fade very soon. Tho pooplo gnnorally aro very hospitable, and the old Uuatillians aro very statoly and courteous. It used to aaiuse mo to see two of theso hidalgos meet. No. 1 would say : "How if your Excellency?'' No. 2: " A thousand thanks, Senor, Inm well, and ontirely at your service." No. 1 : "Senor, I kiss your hands." No. 2: "I throw myself at your feet." But all this doosn'tmean anything; mid if you trod upon their toes, especially thoir religious toes, you might get a lenifo into your ribs. Of the personal cleanliness of peoplo of the middle class I cannot speak very favourably. 1 romombor on ono occasion, whilo on a vieit i n tho country, I was asked to go and sec t.L 0 w ifo of tho Governor of tho town with- delay, as sho had broken hor log. Ih' .tatcd, as, although having somo knowk of medi cine, I did not liko incurrinp any responsi bility in a purely surgical ca«o ; but as thoro was no medical man within fifty miles, I did not liko to rofuse. On my arrival, upon examination I concluded that thoro was no fracture, and that my lady's hurt tvaa moroly a sovero sprain. I accordingly sent hor a liniment, which in a few days reduced tho swelling, and in a wools or so all pain had boon romoved. As, however, sho uomplninoil of woakness in tho joint, I recommended hor to havo a chair so placed as to allow a small stream which ran through tho garden to run over her ftnt every day. A week or so afterwards, on calling and asking how sho was, I found sho was no bottor, and upon inquiring if sho had acted upon my suggestion, she, with a cood doal of hesitancy, replied: " No, Sonor, I nover wet my feet. Tho linament you gavo mo did my foot a doal of good, but it gavo mo rheumatism in my shoulders. Hor explanation accounted for tho condition of her foot which I had observed at tho time of the accidont. I then found that, as a rule, tho natives have a great aversion to wetting their feot if it can bo avoided. This was confirmed by a medical friend, who told mo that a patient had asked his advico whon suffering from a .severe cold. Ho gavo him a powder to tako whon going to bed, telling him, at tho earao titno, to batho his feot in hot water tho last thing. Tho visitor, however, doclinod tho latter part of tho prescription. Ho would tako tho powdor, but ho novor wettod his feot. Apropos of tho ladies, 1 may observe that nil good housewives plumo thomcelvos upon tho quality of thoir jam, or " dulco,'' as it is called, and tho custom is to hand round to visitors who are calling a samplo of thoir own mako upon little glass plates. This is in lieu of wine, as with us, and as it would bo a breach of good manners to rofusothis hospitality, it becomes a sorious matter if you are making many calls ; in fact—well, when you come to the ond of it, yov don't need an omotic. At the tirao I speak of, tho uso of tea, except in tho metro polis and in Valparaiso, and perhaps ono or two townsonthocoast, was almost unknown, but in liou of it they have a vory pleasant bevorago made from a herb called inato, or ycrba. It is used in tho following manner :—A small quantity is put into a little gourd, upon which is poured boiling wator, a little sugar being added, and it ia then drawn up into the mouth by moans of a silver tubo having a perforated bulb at the lower ond. A lady, say the hostess, wishing to pay special attention to hor guest, first tests the temperatu-.-o by drawing up a small portion, and then handing it to him or hor; but if the visitor bo one of the uninitiated, ho not unfrequently finds himself the victim of misplaced confidence, for as peoplo of the country can drink it nonrly boiling hot, he finds, to his dismay, that his mouth has got a tenant he must not eject; but his discom fiture is most complete. Native gnmo 13 most abundunf—pigeinp, doves, parrots, partridges, ducks, and teal being found overywhero. I shall nevorforgetthomagnifi cent spectaclo afforded by a flock of flamingoes, as they puddonly altered their course and displayed the pink plumage on the under portions of thoir wings. The sight was ono of oxtreme beauty, and was worth a rido of many miles to seo. Earthquakos in Chile, especially in tho north, aro moro frequent than wel come. To those who have had no personal experience of thoir destructive efforts, the initiatory tremor is not so alarming, but a fow years' experience alters all this, and I know nothing so effective in making a man feol his own insignificance as the exorcise of these wonderful forces of our planot. I have peen tho busy haunts of men suddenly cleared as if by magic, while the terror strickon inhabitants, rushing hither and thither, somo upon their knees in prayer, women fainting, others scroaming, and all this accomp iniod by ringing of church bells and howling of doga, all go to mako as terrible a picturo as can well be imagined. Taking it altogether, although it is a magnificent country and a healthy climate, it is not at all to be compared witli the land of our adoption—New Zealand

Blind Asylums in Europe

In almost all European countries asylums havo been founded in which th 6 blind aro taught to work. Francois one of tho coun tries, however, in which euch institutions aro least numerous. Thero are 30,000 blind persons who are without! other means of support than begging. They wander about dragging after them children, whom this mode of life leads to vice.

REVELATIONS OF THE DYNA MITE CONSPIRACY.

How the Explosions were Managed.

An Authentic Story.

(By Oun London Correspondent.)

London, May 21. Considerable sensation has been created by tho publication of the following strange story, which was communicated to the Press Association by an Amorican (whose hona fides were considered satisfactory) on tht morning after the connection of Burton and Cunningham. Tho London police confirm many of tho details :—Tho roan Cunning ham, it is statod, is the son of a tenant farmer who formerly had a small holding near Cork When he was about two year* old his father was evicted from tho farm, and with his wife and children, including an infant of three months old, had to sleep under a hedge for three nights. In consc quenco of this exposure tho infant died. Some years after this Cunningham's father also died, and tho fumily afterward* cmi grated to tho United States. It was not until tho convict had reached the age of IS years that Cunningham had anything to do with the Fonian organisation. Ho had then been, in America about eight years, and worked at what is called freight handling, and while employed in this occupation at Boston he became acquainted with a young girl, whose brother was a leading member of one of the Irish Associations. Thia young girl and her brother afterwards went to Philadelphia, and Cunningham left his employment in Boston and followod them. By her persuasion he joined a Fenian organisation professedly existing for the propagation of Irish national principles bj means of the circulation of "patriotic literature," tho delivery of lectures, and the holding of public discussions ; but in reality an organisation for tho purpose ol planning outrages upnn life and property in England. 'I he members of this societj uro at first simply enrolled as members of tho debating society, but if a new membci is perceived to be one in whom the leaders think they can place roliunco, ho is re quested somo evening or auothor to have a quiet talk with two other members of the organisation. If ho accepts this invitation ho is sounded, and if found to be sufficiently extreme, he is invited to meet tho two members on anothor occasion. At this meet ing four masked men afsemblo to receive tin recruit, and an outh is then administered to him, which imposes absoluto secrecy. Aftei this ho undergoes six months' probation, and during that poriod a "brother" un known to him is detailed to keep a strict watch upon his movements and noto what persons communieuio with him, Thit porton then reports to tho centro, and ii the report bo favourable, tho noophyte, at tho oxpiration of a short timo, is sounded as to hia willingness to undertake dangerous work. II he bo willing to do so, anothci meeting is appointed, at which soveti persons are presont, all of these, with the exception of tho man introducing the recruit, being masked. An oath is then exacted from him in which he swears to implicitly obey his superior, the penalty for noncompliiincoin tho slightest particular being "death." His name is then on rolled in a book, which is kept by tho "centre," aud henceforth tho recruit is known only by means of a number. Ho does not know who his other bruthron arj in tho conspiracy. thu only person of whom ho has cog nisanco being his own " centre." Tht name by which which caodiduits at this stage aro known is " tho beery' and every sot of soven "bees" is responsible to a contro. Each sot of seven centres ir responsible to tho district centre, and each sot of seven district centres can communi cate only with tho head contre, and each set of sevon head centres communicates with a porson who ia known as " tho apex.' None of tho conspirators know more of the persons concerned in the conspiracy than their own centro. Therefore it would be perfectly possible that two porsons might bo residing in tho same houso, carrying out the same conspiracy, without knowing oach other. Eventually tho recruit is taught a sign and word by which ho can make him self known to porsons he bolieve3 to be follow-COnspirntore, but this sign and word aro only to bo used in cases where the per son s Hfo is in jeopardy. Tho modo of com munication between the "apex" and tin centres is by a written communication in Erse, and nono aro allowed to fill the posi tion of centres without thoy understand tho Irish language. Tho head of this organisation is not O'Donovan Rossa, as if popularly supposed, but another person residont in Philadelphia; and although working for the same object, theto is con siderable joalousy botween Rossa.and thb members of this organisation, which is called " The Robert Kmmot, or tho Sons of Freedom." Cunningham was initiated into theso mysteries, but had not risen to tho position of a contro when ho was solected to take part in tho winter campaign of this year, it being his first mission to this coun try. On tho same day that ho landed in Liverpool, the 23rd of December, another conspirator arrived by tho same vessel, and whilo Cunningham stayed at Stock's Hotel, tho other man wont to an hotol ir. tho neigh bourhood of tho Old Hayma ket, Liverpool, Thoy communicated with onch other in Liverpool,and also with somo othor members of the society staying there, from whom thov received the Atlas powder, and proceeded to London in tho same train, but by differont carriages. At tho time that Cunningham arrived at Broad stront he had between 301b and 401b of dynamito in his box, the othor conspirator havinc: nearly the same amount. Theso circumstances will account for tho cabman's etory that whon tho box was placed . on his cab at Broad-street Station it felt i very heavy The moans by which dynamito | has been brought into this country without tho Gognisance of tho authorities is in itself remarkable. It is sent from America either packed in barrels of apples, or enclosed in whatiscalled "rolledbacon,"and the articles containing the explosive are consigned to i friendly " merchants "in England, who dis tiibute it to tho go-betweens, and tho latter hand it over to the persons sent from America to fulfil thoir desperato mission. On his arrival in London Cunningham took up his residence in Groat Prescot street, and tho othor man went to reside in Nightingale street, VV. While Cunningham was lodging at Miss Cannon's ho day by day conveyed small portions of tho dynamite to a centre, whom ho had to meet at a given spot. Thi?porsons duty was to prepare tho infernal machines by means of which the oxplosions wore ciused. He had also to convoy the detonators ho had brought from Liverpool to another man, whose duty it waß to pro euro tho fusoa and slow matches. The ex act dato at which tho explosions woro to tako place or the place chosen as tho scene of the explosion was known only to tho centre, who in this case was Burton, so that no conspirator other than tho contre could possibly give information or warning to the authorities. With reference to the Gower street explosion, Cunningham had no hand or part in it, and the only intimation ho had of tho explosion being intended was tho warning by a centre to remain in the houso with a view to beintr able to prove an alibi in case of need. It is therefore probable that the evidence given by the girls O'Brien as to Cunningham's where abouts on the night of January 2nd was true. Immediately after tho Gowerstreot explosion the two miscreants who per petrated tho outrage went from Gower street stution to either St. Pancras or Eupton, and took the train to Liverpool, arriving there in tho early morning. Tho same day they left Liverpool for tho United States. Cunningham was then told off, as ono of two men, by Burton to commit tho outrago at tho Tower. Cunningham's assigned duty wits not to plnce the explosivo nor to ignite ifc, but simply to act as a " cover " to tho other man, whom ho was ordered to meet at Mark Lane Station at a given hour, and whom he was to recogniso by a man being dressed in a particular style. Tho other conspirator woro a tall hat, in which was secreted tho explosive mate rial which, as is now well known, he Buceasfully placed in the armoury. Cun ningham's part was to walk in rear of hw^accomplico and see that no one ap proached or interfered with tho depositing of the explosivo. The "machine" was ex ploded by a vosuvian, by which tho fuse was ignited. This fuse was timed to burn 15 minutes so as to allow both the conspirators to get out of the Tower. Itis nowprosamed that the reason Cunningham did not make his escape was that, knowing he had not prMtamfy tWpWitttl ntfr rgjnttifl tiro fa*,

nor brought the explosive into" the Tower, he thought he would not be suspected. The other man succeeded in getting away before the explosion occurred, and left London on the following day, and it is believed went to Bristol. He is now, however, in America. The ex plosions at Westminster Halland the House of Parliament were carried out by three other men, two of whom were dressed as women, and in these two cases the explosive sub stance was carried concealed under an imaginative crinolottooftheclassladiesof the present day very generally wear. All the three desperadoes succeeded in effecting their escape, and went, two from London to Hull and thence to Holland, while the third went to Rotterdam, via Harwich. Anothor explosion was contemplated, and, in fact, two men were detailed to carry it into effect. This was intended to destroy the Albert Memorial in Hyde Park, and •vould no doubt have been carried out, had not, through porno fortuitous circumstances, the small ontranco gates at the foot of tho steps at, the base of the monument on the day fixed been closed about half an hour

hetoro tho timo arranged for thn explosive to be deposited. If tlie Serpentine in Hyde Park is dragged, probably the police will be ■ bio to obtain another specimen of Atlas powder A. neatly packed in an apron ibout 10 inches by 12, which they can sub mit to Colonel Mujendie for his official ex amination. All tho aprons and bags used for the purpose of holding the explosive were made by another member of the gang, who was a shoemakor by trade. This man came over a fewdays after Cunningham, and for a portion of the time resided in the ■<ame house, either in London or Liverpool, with one of the other conspirators, but it is believed without knowing that ho was doing so. Hie sole part in the conspiracy was to manufacture the bags, &c, and to hand them when comploted to Burton, whom he used to meet ac the " Miko" restaurant, Aldgate, and whore, while they wero par raking of thoir respective meals, they could, by sitting next each other, slip from one to the other the prepared bags and pockets without being perceived. Tho last-named conspirator remained in London for weeks after tho explosions, and did not leave this country until about ten days or a fortnight before Easter last. The connection of Burton with tho con spiracy is much more conspicuous than that of Cunningham, and ho occupied a much Higher position in tho ranks of the society. Of him it can be stated that no explosion in London, with the exception of that at Lon don Bridge, has taken place without his knowledge, and generally under his direc tion. Burton was born in Liverpool, his father being a Scotchman and his mother an irishwoman. Burton and his brothor, a carriage builder, left Liverpool in 1872 for New York, and Burton proceeded to Phil idelphia, where in 1875 ho joined one of the liish secret societies. He soon became a prominont member, and waa ono of the delegates at tho Dynamite Conferences. For a considerable timo he was the bosom friend of O'Donovan Rosea and other promi nont Nationalists, and under tho assumed nnmo of "James Feeny" was ono of the most active propagators of sedition among 'ho Irish residents in Amorica. When in Baltimore it is said that ho was a regular visitor at thehouse of a handsome Quadroon lady, and that she was not oblivious to his attentions. Tho local " patriots" could not >)ndure this fraternising of tho Celt with the Negro, and complaints werosentto New York which resulted in the sudden recall of Bur ton to head-quarters, and within a fortnight ifter his departure from Baltimore, Mary Smith, the young Quadroon girl, was found shot doad in ono of the outskirts of the city, flic exact mode of her death remains a my s tory, but ugly rumours regarding it were circulated at tho time. In 1880 Burton quarrelled with Rosea, and since that date the two men have beon bitter enemies. Burton joined the society of " Sons of Free dom," and was soon promoted to one of the most important poEts in that organisation. In fact, at tho timo of his arrest thero were only two persons his superiors in tho organ isation. In addition to this society Burton formed an association of his own, of whichhe was tho supreme head, and which was known by tho name of tho" Avengers." Themembers of this society consist of the most desperate iif tho Irish factions, and aro bound under the most fearful oaths to kill any person whom they receivo orders to remove. The man O'Donnell who shot the informer Caroy was a member cf this socioty. Tho Brother hood is also sworn to avengo any brothor who may bo punished. Burton first came over to England in ISS2, and sincethat date has been no loss than six times in this country, each time returning safely to America to continuo hid diabolical plots. His was the mastermind which directed all the proceed ings in this country with regard to the iirrangoments for and the preparation of the explosions. Ho surveyed tho building, and selected tho spot whoro the explosive should bo laid, he superintended tho preparation of tho combustibles, ho told offtho men iorthe work, and, having donoall this, he calmly, and as he doubtless thought securely, remained quiescent whilo his miserable dupes planted the infernal machines. It is currently rumoured in Irish circles in America that Burton has been actuated in carrying out his schemes not so much by an intonso hatred of England as by greed for gold, and that at tho present time he is tho owner of a largo amount of lonl property in tho Stato of Massachusetts, the title deeds of which are in hio brother's name, but which have been acquired with monoy Hint has como from tho pockets of tho subscribers to tho associations beforo montioned.

British Bayonets.

Effects of Active Service Upon Different Vnriotios.

Thk special correspondent of tho London " Daily Telegraph " who accompanied the British troops in their advance toward Khartoum gives his impressions regarding tho British bayonet and the Martini-Henry rifle. As to tho former, ho writes :—

" It was at El Teb that I was first struck with tho inferior quality of tho English bayonet and sword-bayonet. I determined before writing about the matter to watch it in use once more. At Tamai, in the rush and scurry, it was put to a severer test than anywhero else in the Soudan. In that battle the Hadendowas, as they rushed out of their grasa cover with their short spearp, fairly pitched themselves upon tho weapons of our black Watch and Sixty-fifth. The triangular bayonet oftimos bent and twisted. On the whole, however, it Rtood the test better than the sword-bayonet, I think. Like the eword-bayonet, it often bent like hoop iron when a thrust was made if a bono interposed, and becamo cork screwed in tho struggle. It has two serious drawbacks, not so observable in the sword bayonet. The wound it makos is slight, so that a fanatical savage or infuriated man requires several thrusts before he is placed hors de combat, giving him a chance to run amuck among civilised troops. In the second placo, the triangular bayonet, when thrust violently, goes too far, and there is great difficulty in freeing it. At Tamai a stalwart soldior hooked his opponent in such a manner that he had to draw the body twenty yards, as we were retreating, before liberating his weapon. This was the mo?t conspicuous instance of the kind T saw, but it was by no means the only one. The sword-bayonet has weight without breadth, and, with the cutlass, frequently lacks temper. I have seen a blue-jacket's cutlaes sword-bayonet at Tamai, as well as some of the battles up the Nile, bend into a semicircle, and remain in that shape, unfit ting it for a second 'point. The use it was put to did not justify tho giving way of the weapon. Tho fact that it did not regain its form further proved the quality of tho blndo was of tho poorest. What I have said of tho bad quality of the cutlass applies equally to tho sword -bayonot. Many a soldier at I Abu Klea saw with dismay his bayonet rendered useless at the moment when there was no chnnce to load his riflo. and when ho most stool in need of its services. There also I saw aword-bayonets bond mid twist with the facility of soft iron rather than steel. Alter that light you might have noticed brawny foot-crucrdmon, lierci'lean life guardsmen, and tho deft fighters of tho mounted infantry, all oE whom had ptood fhonldor to shoulder in tho square, strairrhtohig thoir bayonets across their knee or uudor foot. Others thore wore who dis carded their distorted weapons and picked up some dead comrade's from the field."

CHINESE GAMBLERS IN ST. LOUIS.

Free and Easy Murderers.

I The good people of the East who are »o much in love with the Chinese will learn something that will be of service to them from the trial of Tung Sing and his confeder ates at St. Lnuis. The facts aro quite simple. A Chin'iman naniod Jo Gong waa arrested for keeping a gambline house. The principal witness against him was another Chinaman named Loj Johnson, To get him out of the way, Jo Gong ottered §1,200 to four Chinamen, ono of whom was Tung Sing, to kill him, and they . agreed to do so. All four secreted themselves in tho cellar of the house where John Eon slept, and as soon as tho other inmates of the house had left ran up to his bedroom, hacked him to death with kni-'es, stuck his head in a bucket, and left him there. As often happons in euch cases, after the deed was done the contrive of the murder cheated his tools. Tung Sing, instead of getting §300 for his share of the bloudy work, only got 815, where upon he determined to be revenged, and turned State's evidence against bis con federates. So now tho othor murderere stand a fair show of being convicted and hanged.

The case will not surprise any old time resident of San Francisco. It has long been known here that it was quite easy to hire a Chinaman to commit a murdor. They have no feeling which teaches them that murder is intrinsically wrong. With them it is a mere matter of calculation whether tho reward ia sufficient to make it worth their while to run the risk. They think it fair to get a man out of the way by killing him if they beliove that his con tinued existence imperils their safety or their money Jo Gong probably thinks he did nothing immoral in hiring accessories to kill the witness whose evidence would havo convicted him of breaking the law against gambling. He knows that ho will be hanged if the crime is brought homo to him. That is the risk he ran, and he reckoned that it was worth his while to run it in order to get the witness out of tho way. Chinese look upon these matters in a busi ness light, and do not allow their actions to be governed by abstract considerations of right and wrong. They have no conbeience, and are not troubled by scruples. When Tung Sing was making his confes sion in open court Jo Gong warned him of the danger of the course ho was pursuing. The warning was probably well-founded. If Jo Gong and his confederates are hanged, Tung Sing will find St. Louis too warm to hold him. That is the risk he runs, and he has probably reckoned that it was worth his while to run it in order to be revenged on the man who cheated him. It is all a matter of calculation. And in such matters Tung Sing and Jo Gong are types of their countrymen.—San Francisco " Chronicle."

An Innocent Man's Peril.

On the 17th day of November, 1883, a coloured desperado named Charles H. Rugg strangled two women named Maybee in a barn at Brookvillo, L, I ; then entered the house, where a blind and paralytic old man, alßo named Maybee, sat by tho fire. Rugg knocked him senseless, and then robbed the house. Early in the following January the fame negro, who had escaped arrest, went to the bouse of J. C. Townsend, at Oyster Bay, three miles from Brookville, where he made a murderous assault with a mason's stone hammer upon Townsend and his wife. He did not kill this couple, but Mrs Townsond has since died of her injuries. He also robbed their house. Soon after wards Sealoy Sprague, living about four miles distant from Oyster Bay, was assaulted by Rugg, robbed, and left for dead. Rugg afterward went into Sprague's house and robbed Mrs Sprague, but did not injure her. He was persued by tht country people and captured. He was duly tried, confessed his crimes, and was hanged at Woodsido last Friday. But two innocent men narrowly escaped beiug hanged for the crimes which he had committed.

The murder of the Maybee woman and the murderous assault on Mr and Mrs Town send created a reign of terror in that part of Long Island. Rugg was unsuspected and unknown at the time. Detectives were busily at work attempting to solve the bloody mystory, and the public excitement waß intense. Under these circumstances suspicion was directed towards a neighbour of the Maybeos' named Edmund Tappan, although none of the circumstances tended to implicate him in the crime. But he told some incoherent stories, and the detectives "worked him" with all the art of which they possess the mastery. Among other things it is alleged that they kept him half* druuk the most of the time, and he appears to have not had a strong mind at the best. At length Tappan made a confession, alleging that his brother, John Tappah, living three miles distant, had killed the Maybee women and had assaulted the Town sends, and that he had assisted in the crime and in the robbery. John Tappan was then arrested, and it was found that ho owned the hammer with which the Townsends had boen assaulted, and a pair of bloody overalls found in the vicinity. Thoro were also tracks leadingl from his house to the scene of the crime. The evidence against the Tappans, added to the confession of one of them, appeared overwhelming. It wa« about that time that the Sprague assault arid robbery led to Rugg's arrest; and pawn tickets found on his person showed whore he had disposed of the property, including two watches which no had stolen at May bee's and Townsend's. His subsequent confession, verified by every circumstance connected with the murder—including the fact that he had stolen John Tappan's hammer and overalls from the woodshed where they wore kept, and had gone from there directly to Townsend's house, where he committed that assault-settled the case, dissipated the suspicions that had been cast about the Tappans, and showed that Edmund Tappan's confession, wrung by the skill of the detectives, from the harassed and tortured man's unsettled imagination, was a fiction and a vision only. ;

The whole singular case is a warning to prosecuting officers in tho matter of em ploying detectives, and as to the weight of circumstantial testimony.—"Chicago Journal," May 19.

An Irish Bishop on "Mixed Marriages."

The Roman Catholic Bishop of Ossory has this week issued an extraordinary pastoral referring to the increasing number of mar riages between Catholics and Protestants. The Bishop speaks of these marriages as "unholy alliances," which the Catholic hates and detests, the contracting parties bringing on themselves the maledictions of heaven. In order to put a stop to this growing evil, the Bishop directs that certain regulations shall be enforced in his diocese. First, Catholics vbo go to a Protestant clergyman to bo ma lied shall be declared guilty of a grie\om sin, and both they and Catholics aisisting as witnesses shall not be absolved except by the Bishop. In order more effectually to deter people from entering into what the Bishop terms " those detestable marriages," the penalty of excommunication is attached to both contracting partie3 and witnesses. Finally, the Bishop directs that the parish priests shall read out from the altar the names of Catholics whoso intended mar riage with Protestants has been legally notified.

Slavery in Brazil.

Nkw York, May 29.—The steamer Ad vanco, which arrived hero to-day from lUo de Janeiro, brings advices to the effect that the new Ministry of Brazil has adopted a programme for the abolition of slavery, of which the following is a synopsis: There shall bo a general" registry of all slaves, with a declaration of the valuo of each slave registered, subject to a yoarly depreciation of 5 per cent, making the maximal]] value of slave? of sixty years ar 201 mih'eia each. Slaves over sixty yeara of ago will have no monetary value, but will be obliged to ,-ervo for a term of tbrcfc years. The cxis icg emancipation fund will be continued, and in addition a new fund will be created from a tax of 5 per cent, on all public revonuo«,except exports, and indomnificatiou will be made to slave owners in 5 per cent, policies to one-half the value of e<ch slave and eervic'C of fiv*d yttaVs in 'rfayrtrtsnt bt tiro rVmalrAJb'r,

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, JULY 4, 1885.

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