VELLA VERNELL; OR, AN AMAZING MARRIAGE.

By Mrs SnMNr.it Hayden,

of "Lit"o Goldio'" " Tho Midni Rhl jjur-iago," "Geraldine," etc, oio.

CHAPTER XLIV,

<<_ou don't mean ?"

.. vnialnysomowherol Whoso >. One says we are Kotbe.hton"ncst fame should nt least by mo Bl itbW<lufa-. Cnowlord ot tho broad estate __,__,_ .sowed from a scheme that left us P^accM drained." Maud.

~_ya o did? Why, it couldn't be, deai What motive-"

ii The motive was a vory strong ono. ffait-don't say a word till I get through. Aj I havo said, whilo lying asleep on the |q.mgo I was drugged, the money secreted about me, and then an urgent decoy letter Dili in my hand. Of course, I snapped at the bait, cleared off post-haste, and was n abbod at my very entrance to the place of rendezvous. That was tho rosult of tho icheme, Thin is the motivo: Claflin wanted to marry Vella. Ho possessed a certain power over undo which mado the latter anxious to please him. But this is

the nineteenth contury, and ono does not use force nowadays. No plot for her cap-

tare would havo succeeded wore I about with open eyes and free arms. Ergo, I must be put out of the way for tho time bang. To effect my release she would bo induced to consent to marry him—at least, jo ran surmises. It all worked very prettily, all cave her visit to mo at tho station. The leniency which allowed that was a bad move, the only poor ono in a most excel lently planned and executed game. It was unpardonable stupidity. Now, don't you understand, Aunt Dolly 2" Every bit of florid colour had died out of for round checks. "Great patience ! You mean—you don't mean —" "Yes," ho avowed, "that, just exactly what I do. My uncle wan the prime mover |n the whole affair. Ho was the spring and IQurce of the infernal plot—every bit of it." .Not a syllable did Mi_3 Dorothy speak. Hat that moment a word would havo saved let neck from the gallows, sho couldn't live spoken it. Voyle pushed back his chair and stood

% "That is what I wanted to tell you

You see how impossible it would bo for mo logo to the houso, to meet him at all at present. This is also why lam lying dark. f want to work up my case, traco clues, find proof, before I can act boldly." "Voyle, you would not go to law with your uncle?" "1 haven't said I would, but I'm not so nrol wouldn't."

Miss Vernoll groaned helplessly. "Dear, dear! Just when things got so lad one thinks thoy can't be any — any Mder," desperately, " along como. worry worse than any. You must bo mistaken, my boy, You're guessing. Folks don't always guess right. Your not at all sure. Your uncle could not be in Claflin's power. He is too well off to owe any man money."

:"_she?" grimly |» owed-Wis money."

" Well, I didn't say

A sudden resolution to leave no point in Mt came to her.

She, too, stood up. Sho laid her hand on lis'arm,

"You haven't told me all you know, Yoyle. Out with it." ."You would not credit it."

"Let me hear it, anyhow."

"My father died a wealthy man. Vella tndlwerehis only heirs. Our inheritance UmsleJames robbed us of— there."

Vaguely she had dreaded something like ftii. She sank to her seat again, still look ing m athim. "(Mittwas the only one who knew about it. leta-dout about it on that Australian tripdtt.." "todytra-—" "'Bowitl know ?" he laughed out at tho ncofe&n. "Well, that stormy midnight !/_■ (Mil came to the house in search of a bridt is deposited his sudden and oppres -Vb weight on the Turkish divan under iMci I lay, and there and then taunted Bde with the whole contemptible tMerery."; "And James?" anxiously. "timed up." And then there was silence in tho ugly Bile room.

.■H was broken at length by Voyle. "By the way," ho said, " I deserve a ttnihingfor not asking you sooner about Villa, But of course she is safe with Evelyn."

"Of coarse! that is," stammering, "she tort be,"

the lad turned quickly. 'You've heard from her ?" 'So."

'Hot since she left."

" _o." An exclamation or foar broke from his %*;

"She-probably doesn't think it necessary « write. You remember when she was way at school how seldom she wrote. She M-not want James to know whero she is, Wis most likely afraid of a letter foiling -tohis hands. lam sure she is all right." The worda relieved him. "Yes, I daresay you are right. But I Wl frightened for a moment. I shall ™egmph Evelyn to-morrow, howover, to mke Bare." j,

■ Miss Dorothy rose. She was still white "paper. "Imußtbe going. Hilaria will be tired Wiling. You are growing thin, my boy." "Am II lam doing enough thinking to jjjke me thin—l can assure you of that. J_*~olvedto make no move, though, till I mevery solid ground under my feet. I've Wii„otried about something else a good fe-lately," B ."What's that?"

|p cairt get sign or tidings of Marc jwy. You know how anxious I was to see p after that wretched meeting of ours in -.Palmar. Well, the day after I spoke to P searched high and low for him. I. ly. At tbe hotel they said ho had left "•previous night. I questioned oveiy one j-3 across who might possibly be aware of Westioation. They left me in as dense Prance as that in which I had addressed ™*n. I weut to the Sylvios. They had * (or Cuba to spend the winter. They S attended going, but not so soon, when W Sylvio's sudden indisposition hastened •Wdepatture. Where I wob left then am "Wj-Btaring at a stone wall." ..All may be right between them "wpl" volunteered Miss Dorothy. "Inope it is ! I would go to New York "wtoake sure from Vella's own lip j wero «*}verse to spending tho littlo money I

v*« Dorothy was moving towards the j"™- She hesitated, stood still, turned 81 There were tears in tho blue eyes T»«ne lifted to hor nephew. Blii what aro you going to do—about fl Upon my honour, Aunt Dolly, I don't r**yet. Revenge I may forego. Justice 1 j«l have!" ' «uad.spoken sternly. jtwuear, consider " § »i y ,3rain ls 'n a "■■"'"ri with con •™K. I have always suspected there »a locked closet somewhere. I remember , Jog ao to Vella one morning when she j»gom K ou t riding-last June or July. | iaever dreamed direct confession of g»toma would drop into my hands liko m «rthe theft! caro little. But his lament of Vella, her sale, for it was no , mm, such he meant it to be, and such M i to" d-*y ifc wa8 ' that and the ,"""»« ia which, in order to accomplish his if ?_-* rd t0 her'be lied m? hands and I*,. ~_ ndec- me with a crime of which •*'guiltless—call for payment." cottlfl_f n _w *-" Sho turned away. She gf Plead no more. »___ -»?** y'" hißliand on the knob of ''tate T 8 _ a^ want some of m 7 ""'i"*6l' _M__ *-an' taff°l 'd new ones just now, fc^__S. -* c. old' Vm not K°ii- *o LC™»atrouble of sending them to ftem V.UCo|neup somo evening and get P _ai l_- C. n l6t m-- -n- Tlle entranoe is feffi "™}y to prove as dangerous as inote P n+_.o__ ned t,,c 'loor. and was for the "-'■_?_, ■_R 'tinrautiously ajar. K&p will you come, Voyle?" *_____**".• 1 Ci-n't very »<*on. I have itff_-"l: _ r the "ext few evenings -'er oE _.town for a while- mg° 18 night two weeks-about 'ttS! .7* timo enough. If there ' W.J t ° ,_,e ooaßt b«ng clear, let me r-'MXi^^a^extevening." .:■■ •.*■**. * write youhere;".

"For n week, yes. I shall get any mail __?__.- ° "V"--"-^ I may not be here steadily. He took hor in his arms and kissed her gratefully. " Good-night, Aunt Do y. _ou were n daisy to come. I wish \ ella wore to tell you so, too. Sho could tio it oyer so much bettor than I. You ..°m, t olth*n' of ua misa o«r mother." There, now ! Voyle, don't! poor Will's babies-why wouldn't I love you ! Such a bad cold in my head. Yes, almost as bad as though I wero peeling onions-isn't it? Ihero now-good-by ! No, don't como down stair*. Go right to bed. iou look fagged. Good-night again, laddie!" And then she found the banisters, and clickerty-chcked down stairs. V oyle stood at the top till sho was safely down and turned hor head for a partin glance. 'I hen ho went into his room and Ilung inmsolf down in tho chair sho had I just vacated.

thoro was a fond, sad smile on his hand some face. For otdy two people in the wi. o work! did ho care, and theso ho loved in tensely—Volla and Miss Dorothy. Through the sharp, clear, cold October night the latter jogged along by Hilaria Jackson s side, moro " Hurried " than ever Good-night, Aunt Polly, you blessod ittlo soul you ! Of such is tho kingdom of heaven. Bound sleep—sweet dreams !

CHAPTER XLV

THE PARTIS..

Ho said good-bye, and the spell was over oo warm for a friend and too cold for a lover 1 hero was nothing else to say." Ella Whkglkii.

An, me, " tho wooing o' it!" Such a courtship ! But who that starves will not snatch at a crust ? The morning following tho evening he had dined at Gage's Marc called. It was rather early for the visit of even ono privi leged.

Ho paced the library into which the servant had shown him — nervously, im patiently. Ho was looking wretchedly ill and haggard, far moro so than he had the provious evening in tho uncritical gaslight. He did not look like a lover who had hastened hither his feet by desire-lent wings. In truth ho had passed a miserable night.

Try to sleep as ho would, resolutely shut his eyes, or open them wide and stare defiantly into darkness, always ono face roso before him, came, and would not be denied—and it was not that of Evelyn Gngo. More a child's faco than hers, fresher, fairer, if less proud more tender, if lacking in dignity gaining in sunshine—tho pure, shy, rose-sweet faco of Vella Vernell. A bitter battle he had fought in thoso dragging hours. He was to marry another than sho he loved ! Well, why not ? Had sho not proven worse than faithless — treacherous ? What consideration, loyalty, did he owe her? None. And yet—ho loved her ! Ah, there was tho rub ! There every argument, resolution, burst of indig nation, ended—right there ! He loved her still as deeply,'?dovotedly, passionately as evor—he would lovo her so every hour and second of his life. And ho was going to marry Evolyn Gage.

Ho .turned at the sound of tho opening door. His gaze rested upon hor as does that of a critic on a clever picture, oxpres sivo of approval and approval merely. Hor gown of some soft, white stuff was of palest pink. In front, from throat to hem, it was cascaded with ivory laco. Tho texture and hue of tho sweeping draperies set off her milk-white skin, blue eyes, and braided raven bair with delicious effect. On her lids neither, the provious night, had tho little god of sleep shaken his golden sand. But her wakefulness had only brought her happy thoughts and bright visions. Of how little More cared—could possibly care for her. Yet she never for a momont lot herself think. She was to be his wife, and she leved him dearly. That was tho refrain to which the long night sang, and its repetition had been sweet. The sleeplessness to which joy gives birth never blights beauty. So she looked well this morning—handsomer, indeed, than Marc had ever remembered seeing her. Ho went to meet her—bent and kissed hor.

For just a moment it chilled her, that con ventional grave salute. Then she told her self one does not betray one's emotions lightly nowadays—that self-repression in all things is the natural outgrowth of good breeding. " You were good to come so early. I did not dream of seeing you before the after noon."

If sho expected him to say that the hour seemed late to him, that the morning had seemed interminable, or any such sweet and foolish lover's protest, sho was disap pointed. "It is you who are good," he declared, with formal courtesy, "to forgive my in trusion at this unreasonable hour, but I havo just received information which will make it necessary for me to leave town to day, and of course I coold not leave with out running up to say auf wiedersehen." Sho started. " You are going away ?" " I must. There is some trouble about thoso minos in which lam interested. The affair is too delicate to intrust to hired skill."

He had placed a chair for hor, but re mained standing himsolf by an Elizabethan desk.

" I should hardly have been so glad to see you," forcing a smile, "had I known tho meaning of your visit." Ho laughed. "It is pleasant to know one will be missed I" he said. " it is not pleasant for the one who does the missing, though I" she rejoined, with a pretty, positive littlo nod. "When will you return ?"' " That I cannot tell positively. Perhaps in three weeks—it may be five I" The homage and regret in tho limpid lifted oyes were enough to warm any man's heart. But they stirred not to more rapid throbbing one pulse of Mark Tracy's. "I will write," he avowed, "and you will lot mo hear from you often, will you

He drew out his watch and consulted

I must be off. I have a good deal of business to attend to before I start. Good by, Evelyn!" "Good-by?" reprovingly. " No, not that!' ..laughingly. " That was a slip. It's a detestable word, isn't it ? Auf wiedcrsc/ieii !" She roze.

That sounds bet. r!"

How confiding was tho hand she laid in his-how fond the face uplifted! Why couldn't he care a little for tho royal gift she gave—make her think ho cared ? A dis agreeable, cold-blooded brute _ was tbe rather unflattering manner in which at that moment Mr _ Marc Tracy mentally apostrophised himsolf. Thus conscience-smitten, he embraced her and made his adieu with a shade more warmth than he had yet exhibited. She steod at the hall door as he walked swiftly away down Walnut - street, but not onco did he turn his head. She was still standing so when a liveried lad, coming tip tho square, attracted hor atten tion. A telegraph messenger. Ho scanned the numbers as ho camo, stopped before bor houso, ascended tho stops, do touched his cap, and extended his receipt book and a yellow envelope Of course, some des patch for her father. Mechanically she icribblcd her name on the line indicated in tho receipt-book, then turning, re-entored tho house. As she went toward the dining room, where hor father sat at a late break fast, sho abstractedly glanced at the en velope she held. She stood still. For her? It was addressed to hor— "Miss Evelyn Gage." Who on earth could bo telegraphing to hor? She held it between her and the light, tore off the end, drew forth the inclosure, and read:

"To Miss Evely-* Gage: Is Vella with you? If not. please answer at once. Sifenco will imply assent.- Voyl_ Ver- NELL." ; _ -- .. The sheet dropped to the floor. Vella with her ! What would bring Vella \ erne 1 to her ? Had she started to visit her J Well of all the astonishing despatches ! If it had only come a few minutes sooner she could have shown it to Marc, and he would have answered it for her on his way up town.

CHAPTER XLVI,

" GIVE HER REST IN HER GRAVE !"

•'Life, struck sharp on death, Makesawfullightmn^l bkowning

Any answer yet?"

"No, sir." Yoylo turned away from the telegrapher s desk with a relieved air. Perhaps there would bo none. Heaven grant so. Silence would give him the assurance he craved that Vella was ?afe -with her friend.

He would wait half an hour longer, though, and make sure. So he walked briskly down several blocks and back. The collar of his light overcoat was turned up to his ears, his soft felt hat was drawn low over his brows.

He was thinking of Aunt Dolly's dismay of the provious night. Ho smiled at the recollection. Though pathetic, it had been irresistibly comical, too. And she had not proffered a single quotation—sho had been too dazed for even that.

Ho ro-ontered tho telegraph office. The smile in his oyes and on his lips died a sudden death as the operator oxtendod to him an envelope lying near. ' Como at last, sir !" cheerily. He opened it unheeding, An undefined fear mmlo his hands shake as do those of the palsied:

" To .Alit Voyi.b Vehxeli. : ■' Your despatch is Greek to mc. Have nol seen Vella sincn last Christmas, nor heard oi her Shu:,: March, but read of her wedding.— Kvklyx GaciK."

He crushed tho message into his pocket and turned away. What did it mean? — what in Heaven's name could it mean ? She had not gone to Philadelphia at all, Whore then had she gone ? Nor had she written. What was the cause of her silence win rn-cr sho was ?

A wave of sickening fear swept over him. What accident had there been —what wrong —or could it bo death V Ho grew actually

faint. Ho mustn't stand idle—that would never help her, find her, bring hor back to him again.

Tho first he certainly was not doing. Ho was walking at a rate which mado the poople on tho sidewalk turn and look aftor him, and those on tho cars nudge each other and refer to tho approaching speed contest at tho Exposition Building and presont

pedestrian craze. Fears too terrible for even momentary credence surged through his brain, Or

might it not bo possible she had missed her train that night, had docided not to leave town at all, and was still in that city ? But, no ; that was n,ot probable. She would

never have remained, no matter with whom, and left Aunt Dolly ignorant of her prox imity. Was thoro any accident about tho time of hor departure? Ho could recollect

lono, but he had not road tho papers ahou

that time, and very often such affairs wero barely slurred over, occasionally success fully suppressed. Tho only way to mako sure was to go to the oflioo of that par ticular road, stato his case, and ask for in formation.

This, with the promptitude of terror, he did.

The gentleman to whom ho applied was all that was courteous and obliging.

The day and date given, memory and records wore examined.

Yes, thoro was au accident to that par ticular train that particular night—a 'collision. Loss of life? Not as numerous as tho nature of tho accident might lead ono to suppose, Brakoman killed, train boy injured, engineer scalded, old lady in jured. Name ? Mrs Costello. Young man, back hurt; child killed; throe or four others injured, taken in and cared for by families living noar scene of calamity. Yes, that was all tho information ho possessed. If tbe gentleman would leavo his addresß, anything else he could learn ho would im mediately inform him of. Ho hoped he would discover his tears wero without foundation, and he was, in fact, prophetic that Jho should. His timo, unfortunately, was limited—and—aw—what a delightful day, and—aw— joot/-afternoon.

if ow Voylo got out of that comfortablo ofllco and into the street ho nevor after wards had the slightest remembrance. The fruit of his fear was conviction of tho worst. She was dead !—that was what he told himself. She had beon fatally injured, carried to a house near by, thero died ; and tho peoplo, knowing neither her name nor home, had quiotly thero buried her. This was what his passion of gloom and fore boding forced on bim. Sho was dead !

{To be Continued.)

POLITICS IN ENGLAND.

A Scheme of tho Liberals to Capture a

Tory Mooting.

At tho Stafford Assizes rocontly, bctoro Mr Justice Hawkins, Walter Kirton, nephow of llichard Tangye, of tho firm of Tangye Brothers (limited), was charged with incit ing William Kirton to forgo tickots of ad mission to Aston Lower grounds on October Oth, with intent to defraud.

Mr Darling prosecuted, and Alfred Young dofended.

Mr Darling, in opening tho case, stated that on October 13th tho Conservative party at Birmingham had arranged to havo a demonstration in tho Lowor grounds at Aston in favour of tho policy they wore then advocating. Owing to adverse cir cumstances, the Conservative party did not succeed in making a very successful demon stration. (Laughter.) Thoy had, how ever, completed every preparation for a happy and useful political meeting. The advertisement announcing the demonstra tion stated that the grounds would be illuminated with " coloured lamps and lanterns, and grand political aids"— (laughter)—and that thoro would be a fire portrait of Sir Stafford Northeote—in itsolf not an unimportant matter, but not vory important to this particular caso. Thoro wore special reserved-seat tickots, costing 2s 6d; reserved-seat tickots costing Is, and white tickots of admission to tho grounds, signod by and to bo obtained from William Barton, Secretary of tho Conservative As sociation. Prisonor was a young man em ployed in the works of his relative, Mr Tangye, and had a cousin, William Kirton, employed ... a printer at Nottingham. On October _ir.ii tho prisonor wrote to his cousin from Murdock Road, Hnndsworth :

Dear Willie : I am deucedly ashamed to ask you for any moro favours, but hore is a ticket for tho Tory demonstration on Monday, and I want you to reply por re turn whether you can print a few and send them up by Friday. 1 pay costs of cards and carriage. It is rather an intricate ono, and I am afraid it, is "no go," as you would not be ablo to do tho signature, I suppose. Howover, writo and lot mo know by return. How is tho spanner going on ? Yours faithfully, in a deuced hurry.— Walter Kirton.

His Lordship—How is deuced spelled there ?

Mr Darling—lt is spoiled correctly, my Lord.

His Lordship—ln my copy it is spoiled "dewced." (Laughter.) Alfred Young—lt is a Conservative way, my Lord. His Lordship—lt is a Liberal one, I think.

Mr Darling urged that the letter plainly solicited William kirton to have the tickets printed, obviously for the purpose of en abling people to get into tho demonstration without going to Mr Barton and asking for tickets. Mr Barton would have given a ticket to any person who ho thought would bohavo himself, and defendant himsolf must have obtained tho spocimon ticket from Mr Barton, but in Birmingham and othor large towns there existed what Mr Bright called tho " residuum," and at a political mooting, if one wished to be heard, it was just as well that that residuum should bo outside. (Laughter.) If a resid uum wanted to get into tho demonstration, and could have gotany ono to give them six pence, thero was nothing to prevent them from going, but it did not suit defendant to get tho residuum in by such expensive means. -

.\'illiam Barton, Secretary to the Bir mingham Conservative Association, was called to depose to tho facts stated. In cross-examination by Alfred Young, he ad mitted that in advertisements prior to October 10th or 11th, admission was an nounced by ticket, and no statement made as to the entrance of the general public by payment. A\'illiam Kirton was called to identify the letter received by him as the defendant's handwriting. Mr Young addresged the jury for the defence.

The jury found the prisoner guilty, with a strong recommendation to mercy. Mr Darling denied that the Conservative party prosecuted vindictively, and now that justice had been done, they desired to ask his lordship to deal as leniently with tho de fendant as possible. They attributed the whole affair to the political association con nected with the Messrs Tangye's works.

His Lordship said the case was a proper one for prosecution. Ho imposed a fine of £25 anoVosts, and sentenced the prisoner to threo daysUmprisonraent. —"London Tele graph."

The Tidy I-_SlEWlfk.—The careful, tidy housewife, when gNtog her house its Bpring cleaning, should bear in mind that the dear in mates are more precious than houses; their sys tems need cleansing by purifying the blood, re"-ulating tlie stomach and bowels, and she should know that there nothing that will do it so surely as Hop Bitters, the purest and best of all medieisjf-" Look for. .. »^..,.-'.u'£^j»J.

A LONDON ADVENTURE

Three years since 1 had occasion to pass a few weeks in London. lam about to relate an adventure which befell me at this time, which came very near having a very serioas termination. I cannot even now think of it without a shuddor. I was wending my way in tho early part of the evening towards Drury- Lane Theatre —a famous temple of the drama, known the world over— when my attention was sud denly drawn to an appeal for charity made by a figure crouching on the doorsteps of a house, I looked at the applicant. He appeared to be an elderly man, attired in a manner which bespoke the extreme of destitution. His coat was soiled and ragged. From be neath a shocking hat I could see grey locks stealing out. His form was bowed, and I judged from his general bearing that he must at least be sixty years of ago. " A few pence, sir, for a poor old man," ho whispered. I am cold and hungry, I have had nothing to oat sinoo yosterday." My compassion was stirred. Had he been in tho prime of life, I could havo passed by his petition unheeding. But ago und.; infirmity make poverty a pitiful spectacle. "Aro you, indeed, so poor?" I asked,

stopping boforo him,

"I am too feeble to work," ho said. " I depend on what gentlemen give mo. Yet I should not caro so much for myself, but my poor child—l am obliged to leave hor at home sick while I como out to bog." I was on tho point of giving him a shilling whou an instinct of caution stepped in.

" After all," I thought, " he might be an impostor." In that case I Bhould grudge tho shilling, small as it was, which I in tended to givo him. But if things wero really as ho said, I should be willing to bestow on him a larger amount. "How am I to know whether your story is true?" I said, stopping in tho act of drawing a shilling from my pocket. " How am I to know whether you have a sick child as you represent ?" "If you will como homo with me," ho said, in a teno of subdued eagerness (I remembered this afterwards), " 1 will con vince you." " Perhaps he makos this offer," I thought, " feeling contidont that I will not accopt it. Ho shall find himself mistakon this timo. I am resolved for ouco to satisfy myself, and if it is as he say., he shall havo a crown instead of a ehillinu" "Where do you live?" I asked, aftor a moment's pause. "About a quarttr of a milo from hero," was tho roply.

" Lead on, then," said I. " I will accom pany you home and satisfy mysolf whether your story is correct. If you aro as neody as you appear to bo, I will do what I can to help you."

The old man was profuse in his protesta tions of gratitude. In fact, ho Boomed so willing to comply with my request that again thoro was a revulsion of feoling, and I felt nshamod that I had questioned his honesty. I inwurdly resolved to inako it up to him.

It was a dismal night. The air was misty and damp, and tho occasional streot lights revealed a disagreoablo neighbour hood. On either sido I saw wretched tene ment houses. At the doors wero gaunt faces, sometimes wearing a fiorco, almost desporate look. I felt that I should not liko to pass through these streets at a late hour of the night. Yet it is only fair to say London is tolorably woll governed. Tho polico aro numorous, and, so far as my ex perience extends, aro polito and attentive to strangers, Considering how groat an amount of poverty and utter destitution there is in the groat city, it furnishes a matter of surprise that tho harvest of crime, great os it is, should not bo even greater. Yot doubtless, as tho incidont I am re lating serves to show, thoro is many a secret crims committed that never sees th» light, and never bocomos known to the authori ties. My glnnco fell thoughtfully upon my guide. He was toiling along, apparently with difficulty, a little in advanco of me, and from timo to timo looked back to sco if I wore following him. Onco when ho looked back I had my watch out—a valuablo gold chronometer—from which I was ondeavou ring to ascortain tho time by tho light of n neighbouring streot lamp. Porhaps I was imprudent in making a dis play in so suspicious a neighbourhood. My guide looked at tho watch greedily. "Poor fellow!" I thought. "Evory evidence of wealth and comfort must, no doubt, fill him with envy." I don't know why it was that no suspicions of tho man's good faith had thus far entered my mind, if there had, the sight of hia fooblonoss would have led mo to smile with contempt at tho thought that ho could possibly do mo any harm. Still he hobbled on. Wo had by dogroosgot a considerable dis tance from tho place whero I first en countered him. I folt that I aheuld be late for tho play, and thought of pausing nnd dismissing him with a gratuity of half-a crown. "Aro you far from your room—from whero you livo?" I asked. "Wo must havo gono half-n-milo instead of a quarter." " That is tho houso," said ho, pointing to a wretched building only a fow stops distant.

"In for aponny in for a pound," thought I. " I will soo this adventure through, oven if I am late at tho thoatro."

My guide ontorod tho houso, nnd I fol lowed him up a rickctty stairca'o—rathor up throo—until wo reached tho fourth story. It was pitch dark all tho way. When wo had mounted to tho third landing ho fumbled at tho door and oponcd it. I followed him in.

" Stop a momont, kind gontloman, and I will light a candle," said tho old man.

I stopped, and in a momont tho dim light of a farthing dip illuminated tho apart ment.

I hod scarcely timo to tako a hasty glance at the room and its appurtonancos, than the old man stepped bohind mo ond closed tho door. There was a click audible. It fastened as it closed. What did I soo ? Of course I had expected to sco a miserable don with broken-down furniture, nnd ovory evidence of tho direst destitution and wretchedness. Instead of this my gaze rested on a room comfortably furnished; a Kidderminster carpet, not much worn, covered tho floor. There wore a lew noat chairs, a mahogany table, and a comfortable bod.

" You havo deceived me," said I sternly, turning upon the old man. 1 turned as I said this ; but what was my bewilderment at perceiving that the old man had disappeared, and in his place there stood before me quite a different personage. Tho grey hair, the bowed form, the marks of ago had vanished. My guide was no longer old and decrepit, but a man in the prime of life, strong and vigorous. His grey wig, for it was a wig, lay on the carpet, whither he had carolossly tossed it. "You seem a littlo surprisod," he said in a_ mocking voice, "Strange miracles some times happen nowadays." " What does this moan ?" I asked, in bo wildormcnt.

" What does it mean ?" ropoated tho man, coolly. "It moans that I will trouble you for that watch of yours. It appears to bo a valuable one," he continued with bold im pudence. "I will take tho liberty to borrow it of you for an indefinite period. Just now, unfortunately, my watch happens to bo at the jeweller., so that I am unable to be on time in my fashionable engage ments. I shall be compelled to trouble you for the loan of yours."

"Is there anything else you would like 1" 1 asked hotly, indignant at having been so cleverly outwitted, and that, too, by a man whom I had been intending to succour. It seemed tho worst kind of an imposition, playing upon my feelings only to work me injury.

"Yes," ho replied carelessly, "I am out of money just at present. Slightly over drawn at my banker's. Awkward, isn't it ? I will take the additional liberty of borrow ing your purse. Though I don't generally do such things, I will, if it will bo any satis faction, give you my noto of hand for the amount, due say in ninety years." Again he laughed mockingly. " You are an atrocious villain !" said I indignantly. " Oh, no doubt. You're quite welcome to call me so. We're all Binners, you know !"

The man's insufferable coolness and impu dence quite took away my breath. I felt that a discussion could do no possible good. He had me in his power, and, of course, that gave him the entire advan tage.

" Let me out!" I exclaimed, advancing towards the door.

" Notyet,"saidhe, resolutely, displayinga pistol. "Not till you havo complied with my very reasonable demands. Do that, and you shall go freely, and not a hair of your head shall be harmed. Come, what do you say?"

What could I say? How was I, single handed and without weapon, to contend with this man, my equal in strength, and armed with a pistol ? This makes the weak equal with the strong. If I only had that pistol—if I could only snatch it' from him. But that seemed impossible He was watchful and wary. Should I make the attempt and fail, he would probably kill me without mercy. Yot that attempt I meant to make

A lucky thought came to my assistance. I was something of a ventriloquist, and had been from my youth that is, I could throw my voice to another part of the room, so that someono else might seem to be speaking. No sooner did I think of this than I resolved upon my plan. " Well," said ho impatiently, " have you decided ?"

"Wretch!" said a voice just behind

He turned suddenly, and at that moment I snatched the pistol from his grasp. "Now is my turn," said I exultingly. " Open that door or I fire."

He looked at mo in stupid surprise, I repeated my command.

Ho advanced a step towards mo,

"Make tho slightest attempt to retake this weapon, and I fire,"

Ho glared at mo with a look of baflled ferocity, and looked undecided.

I repeated my order, und ho sullenly opened the door.

I passed through, backing out warily, ready to firo at tho slightest movement showing intent to assault me. I should have felt no hesitation in doing so. The man was a desperate villain, very likely a murderer, and I felt that I should bo justi fied. $ But he scorned to have given up his enterprise as bootless. Ho went back into his room and slammed tho door. I made my way out into tho street, and hurried to the theatre, first removing tho charge from my weapon. It proved to bo a valuable one, and I decided to retain it as " contra band of war."—Prize Tit-Bit.

SAVED BY A JACKAL

A Story of India in tho Time of the Great

Rebellion of the Sopoys.

"Jackals aro at onco tho bano and tho blessing of India," said a gentleman whoso face, oither through a disorgani-ed liver or from a quarter of a century of steady curry eating under an Eastern sun, or in conso qttenco of both, hud acquired a rich yellow huo. " They banish sleep with thoir nightly

howling, and sometimes thoy carry off a

child, but they aro the scavongors of tho plains, which, I think, would hardly be habitable without thorn. Let mo tell you a curious story about ono of tho brutes saving a child:

" I had bettor state at once, to check un due sympathy, that the jackal, when ho rescued Lai Chokru-, acted purely as an in voluntary agont, for he certainly intondod

to oat her. Tho little girl's real name, givon to her in England a year previously, was Mabel Stern. Her father, Col. Stern, whoso regiment was in India, was on leavo of absonco in his native land when littlo Mabol was born, and throe months later rumours of tho coming mutiny in India began to bo heard. Col. Stern was ordored to rejoin his command, and with his wife, who insisted on accompanying him, his infant daughter, nnd an ayah, or native nurso, obtained with somo difficulty in London, ho turned his faco eastward.

When ho stopped ashore in Calcutta tho country was in a llamo of insurrection, and tho Colonel loomed that of his own regi ment, composed of sepoys, recruited chielly in tho northwest, had been among the first to turn the arms they had obtained and tho arts thoy had learned from their English masters against their teachers

Ho was ordered to do general duty with tho forces besieging Delhi, md, still accom panied by his wifo and child, though tho ayah refused to go any further, ho went up tho country.

" Tho last scenes of tho mutiny wero being played. Their horrors, and thoso that precodod thorn, aro too well known to need description. Colonel Stern and his

littlo family, with nnothor ayah, wore living in a bungalow, or Indian house, a few miles from Delhi, and keeping a careful watch at night timo, for parties of disbanded mutineers wore still prowling about, actuated by ono prevailing purpose, to murdor white mon, womon, nnd children whonevor thoy could do so with a fair chance of oseapiug with thoir lives. Tho Colonol was an old Indian campaigner, and was apprehensive of an attack. It came at last in broad daylight, and whon tho master and wifo wore absent in tho city for an

hour, and nobody was in the bungalow ex cept thonyah and child. Whon tho Colonel and Mrs Stern returned, Mabel was gone, and tho ayah, who seemed half distracted, told tho story in her nativo tonguo :

" ' Thoy came, Mom-Sahib,' sho said, ex citedly addressing Mrs Stern, ' so quickly that I henrd no noiso until they wero in the room. 'Where is tho Sahib Loguo?' said ono of thorn. I told them tho Colonol had gone out, and would not bo back boforo night. Thoy wanted to know whoro tho Mom-Sahib was. I told them you wero with him. 'Great Allah !' said tho Icndor,

' nobody loft to kill I' Thon a dirty littlo follow, who livos by robbery, and mutinied, but never fought, said : " Thoro is still tho choknr." " Oh, Mom-Sahib ! I put my forehead to tho ground to thorn. 1 said : ' Kill mo, but spare tho chokmi.' At last thoy said I should not soo tho baby die. Tho loador asked what hor namo was, and I said Mabel Stern.

" That will not do," said tho man. " Sho must not moot Allah with such a name as that. The country is still rod with blood. Lot us call hor La Chokiw (Rod Girl). Thon thoy took her away. Mrs Stern shrieked and rushed towards tho door. Tho Colonel stopped hor. " What will they do with our baby ?" ho asked the ayah. Tho woman bowed hor head sorrowfully. " Sahib," sho said. " I know them woll. Tho loador will tako hor home and lot her

lio an hour with his own littlo girl. I havo seen her—a child a year old with a groat scar on her forehoad. This child will thus get nil the good fortune that might have come to yours had sho lived. Then he will take her to tho rivor, and leavo her lying on a pillow on tho shore until tho tido rises. It will bo full at nine o'clock."

"'There may bo timo yet,' said tho Colonel, looking at his watch. ' Mabel, you must stay hero. Ayah, do you know whoro tho leader's bungalow is ?'

"' Yes, Sahib,' sho said. I will show you. It is only half-a-milo away, and, perhaps, many men will not be there. Tako your pistol, and como.' •'The Colonel followed hor, pistol in hand. But thoy had not gone a quarter of a mile before both stopped as they heard

the noise made by some animal approach ing them. Thon, under the bright moon light, and only a fow yards away, a great gaunt jackal passed thorn, going at a labourod trot, and carrying something heavy in his mouth- Both saw plainly what it was—a native child, with a gre&. scar on its forehead.

" Tho Colonol raised his pistol, and was about to fire at the brute, when the ayah stopped him with a hasty grasp on his arm.

"'Stay, Sahib,' she whispered, 'That is the leader's child. The jackal may have taken yours first, and then gone back for the other. Let us follow him. He is not going fast.'

"Acting on her advice, thoy followed until they saw the jackal stop and drop his burden under a tree. The next moment he fled, snarling like a hunted cur, into the jungle, and the Colonel lifted his daughter, fast asleep and quite unharmed, from the side of the Hindoo baby just laid down ! While Mabel had been transferring her fortunes to the leader's child, and the family wero waiting patiently at the rear of the bungalow for the completion of the opera tion, the jackal, coward and sneak thief of the wilderness, had carried off the white baby, and deferred his supper until he had returned for the black one.

"A year afterward Col. Stern and his wife stood at the window of their home in England, smilingly watching two children on the grass below. One was Mabel Stern, and the other was a dusky little girl with a scar on her forehead, and a faithful and re markably intelligent ayah was taking care of them both."

Stockings first became fashionable in Queen Elizabeth's time. The " Viigin Queen " is also responsible for the first sug gestion of a " dress improver."

A Chinaman, on being saved from drown ing by being pulled out by his pigtail, re marked, " I thank queue."

"ROUGH ON RATS."-Cl__ mt rata, mice, roarhw, U_ tuts.bsd-t__s. bettki, mse,-1. sk'j__,lack-__.b-i.t__, jo-hsrs At Ot__ is—• ___{_^ _-.jr._.»B,__-^ Puma _t Co., ____«__.____, J_ik_J_j__

THE RUSSIA OF TO-DAY

Moral nnd Intellectual Condition of the

Peasantry.

Russia has too lately been the stage of the activity of the anarchists not to be strongly interested in tho events now taking place in London. Hero there is only one opinion concerning these acts of oven among the extreme revolutionary party, and it were difficult to meet with persons who approve of these cowardly manifesta tions and useless and wanton sacrifices of human life. Except the Russian terrorists, such as Hartmann, Lavroff, Prince Krapot kine and others, the so-called nihilists can not bo considered as solitary with the heroes of dynamite now filling the world witli tho noise of their exploits, that frac tion of tho party called the "Terrorists" being small in number and having lost all credit. The murder of Emperor Alexandor 11. did not bring forth tlie expected results, but only tended to tighten the knots of ab solutism, Russia at prosent offers no favourable arena for tho development of anarchism, every man being a proprietor on a small scale, for every ono of the 00,000,000 of tnoujiks has his bit of ground, or can have it if he earo to. Tho misery of the Russian rural population comes from its utter want of intellectual development and its moral darkness ; in great part also it is duo to the vice of drinking, which has taken possession of tho poasants during the last thirty years. But it is a fact worthy of noto in these times that in Russia and Si beria no man need die of hunger, whereas abroad eircumstancos and conditions have rendered the strugglo for mere existence terriblo, and the anarchists havo some rea son in Germany, Franco, or England to hope

for support among tho population. The

discontent in Russia is not among the poople, but among tho intelligent classes,

who thirst for a more liberal form of Govern ment and a wider scope for the develop ment of their intellectual capacities, now cruelly cramped and paralysed. Tho real revolutionists aro the " intellectual proleta riat," growing alarmingly in size and strength.

In January of the present yoar Russia camo to an agreement with Prussia con cerning the propriety of treating political criminals as ordinary criminals, and of giving them up to tho country to which thoy belong. Tho recent scandalous events in London will no doubt hurry on the.rnti-

ieution of this treaty, which from the last

uews ia to extend its action over all Ger many. The Russian papers are uniform in the expression of tho hope that England nnd the United States will not rofuso to

join in this coalition, which was long ago

attempted, but was always broken by the resistance of tho British and American

iovernments, which, refusing to enter into

this league of defence, thereby paralysed all the attempts made to organise a system of resistance to a party which employs such

iioans as dynainito to attain its purpose,

Though the Russian secret police and ngentj aro infinitely suporior to the English,

having passed through so much experience during the last few yoars, the anarchists succeed in eluding thorn, and tho stories some of them could toll would surpass in interest the most fantastic romance ever invented. An example is that of tho agent Soudeikiu, whose murderer was tho anar chist Degay, who introduced himself as a secretary and perseveringly served his onomy during more than a year, worming

himself every day further into his confid ence until tho favourable moment came to strike his victim down.

A few days after the London explosions tho anarchists thought well to give a reminder of their existence to the Russian Govornmont by blowing up a littlo wooden orthodox church in tho town of Jacobstadt,,

near Riga. Who tho author of this action was, no ono knows, as the accident was at first attributed to fire and tho criminal had plenty of time to escape. Thero are mal contents enough in tho Baltic provinces

though those provinces are in a much more nourishing state than all tho rest of Northern Russia, and onjoy all sorts of liberties and privileges. Still, it is truo that all tho reforms of tho last reign have not beon applied thoro. For example, tho now juridical reforms havo not yot been

introduced, and the peasants continuo to live as thoy did before, boing tenants of the barons, for, not having been serfs, thoy required no emancipation, Tho barons often transgress the laws and not infre quently tyrannise ovor their tenants, but it

'uliicient to traverse tho Baltic provinces

ami compare thoir flourishing state to tho miserable, dreary, deserted, unpopulated

interior Russian Governments, that of Smolensk for instaneo, to understand that no comparison can be drawn between them. The poor, benighted, suporstitious, over-

taxed and cvorlastingly neglected mojiks, or Russian peasants, can never bear com parison with .1 sober, industrious, thrifty

Protestant population such as that of tho Baltic provinces, or Finland, and Russia would bo tho most mighty empire in tho world if sho could bo on a great scalo what Finland ie on a littlo scale. But as this essential differeneo has its sourco in tho character of tho races, than which nothing can bo more directly in opposition, no amalgamation can over tako placo. Russian

Russia will remain Russian, and German Russia U orman. No efforts to Russianiso thoso provinces havo over had any effect, or ovor will havo, tho Gorman culture boing far too superior to tho Russian. As to Poland, that is another question. Russia has always beon as much disposod to crush tho inspirations of this nation and to make hor feel all tho weight of the yoke as she has boongonorous, liberal, andindulgont to ward Finland and the Baltic provinces.— St. Petersburg Correspondence "Now York Tribune."

Wages in England and America.

A rAi'ER was read at a rocont meeting in London of tho Statistical Society on " Tho Comparative Efficiency and Earnings of Labour at Homo and Abroad." Tho writer, Mr Jeans, of tho Iron and Stool Institute, claimed that in almost all the leading in-

-itrics of tho world England held a po

sition superior to that hold by any other important industrial nation, both in regard to tho extent of its manufactures and in re gard lo tho individual efficiency of tho workers ongaged therein. Taking the cot-

n trade, it was shown that in the number

of spindles to oach operative Great Britian was ... por cent hotter than the average of the seven othor leading countries of the world. Tho product of labour aB regards tho number of spindles employed was 27 por cent bettor in thoUnited Kingdom than in the United States, and as regards the working of looms the superiority was equal to fully 80 per cent. Referring to the wool and worsted trade, it was shown that the number of spindles to each worker was greater in France than in either the United Kingdom or the United States. Statistics wore also given showing that in work mainly dependent upon strength and energy English labour was considerably superior to any other country with regard to quan tity, although the cost por unit of an Englishman's work was rather moro than that of tho labour of other countries, on account of the higher wages paid to Eng-

lish workmen. Statistics given with re gard to wages proved that in tho United States wages were higher than in Great Britain by 84 por cent, while they ranged 205 per cent above Franco and 162 per cent above Germany. Great Britain was 42 per cent better than Germany, and SO per cent better than France The th-rd section of the paper dealt with the increase of wages in differant countries within recent years, and showed that in ten of tho leading in dustries of the world the average increase between 1850 and ISB3 was in England 40

per cent, a figure which, somewhat curi ously, was almost identical with that as certained to have been the percentage of increase in the wages of the working classes of the United States between 1860 and ISS3, while in France statistics col lected by tho Government showed that between ISSO and ISSO the average increaso of wages in 23 leading industries was 53 per C3nt. in Paris, and 65 per cent, in the pro vinces. The comparative cost of living in different countri... was also dealt with at somo length, the conclusion being that there wero grounds for believing that it was not loss tolerable in England than in other countriesfor those who laboured for their daily bread. B. Whitworth, M.P., fol lowed with a statement that he " did not believe that the wages of the labourer in America would buy the same amount of comforts and necessaries that the labourer could get in this country (England) on tho wages paid here." Ho furthermore ex pressed the opinion that " unless thero waH an improvement shortly, wages in England would have to be reduced, as all the losses in trado fell upon the employed." Figures skilfully manipulated can be made to tell almost any story, but those who from actual experience know the condition of the work ing men in England and this country must smile at tha absurd conclusions drawn by Mr Whitworth,

INHUMANITY TO A BABY.

An Infuriated Etepiro.her £eta It on

Red_2ot __<-.*-.

The name of Rose Dreyer, aged 26, of 210, Madison-street, was on the returns from the Seventh precinct at police headquarters yesterday charged with assault in the

socond degree. She had beon arrestsd on

Saturday night by Word, Detectives Cofneliits Leary and Creed. Tho woman is the wife of Louis Dreyer, a pawnbroker, who has for some time been doing business at 85, Division-street, and they have been married for two For the greater portion of that timo, the husband allegos the conduct of Rose has been anything but that of an exemplary wife, and on more than one occasion he has been forced to remonstrate with her. Several times she has left home, but a reconciliation has always been effected. At the timo of the last separation, Dreyer came homo and found that his wife had had all the furniture taken away from the house, and with his six children by a former wife had gone to Brooklyn to live. Droyer succeeded in tracing her out, and had her arrested for talcing tho furniture and leaving him. They became reconciled, however, the charge was withdrawn, and the family re turned to New York to live. The woman's promises of reformation were not fulfilled, however. She neglected her family, fre quently stayed away frOifl home all night, and when she was at home made the lives of her hunband and stepchildren miserable by her violent outbursts of temper nnd a system of petty persecutions that were almost unbearable.

About three weeks ago sho came home after having been out all the previous night, and wont into the room where the sorvant girl, Lena Cohen, was washing and dressing Rose's little stepdaughter, aged 3 years and 6 months. For some trifling misdeed of the child, Mrs Dreyfcr snatched ii from the arms of the servant girl, and taking it to the stove, whioh was almost red hot, deliberately set tho baby on it, The heart rending screams of the tortured baby did not move tho inhuman woman, and the child was hold on tho stove till its body was burned in a horrible manner. The chances aro that its injurios will make it doformod for life, even if it does not die. Tho servant girl and two little sons of Mr Dreyer were present when the atrocious act was committed, but their screams and efforts were unavailing for a time to turn tlie woman from hor infernal pleasure. They havo all threo made affidavits to the facts as stated abovo. At the time of the outrage Mr Dreyer was down in bed with rheumatism, and has been confined ever since. For this reason no action was taken at tho time.

The conduct of the woman continued even worse than ever. On last Friday night sho was away from home all night. When sho returnedonSaturdaymorning her husband remonstrated with her. She be came enraged, and after pouring out her wrath in a torrent of abusive language, she wont to a shelf filled with crockery, and commenced throwing some heavy teacups at him. He was helpless, and though he dodged tho flying missiles as we.ll as he could, he was considerably cut around the head. After the crockery had been ex hausted she continued her work of destruc tion by breaking two plate-glass mirrors, and destroying nearly all the rest of the furniture that could easily be destroyed. After she had done all the damage she could the woman left the house. In tho meantime the husband had sent ono of his sons to the Seventh precinct station-house for help. Detectives Leary and Creed were sent in answer to tho call, but arrived too late to secure the woman. Dreyer told the whole sad story of his troubles, and tho detectives began an active search for the woman. On Saturday night they succeeded in finding her in the house of a cousin at 86, Norfolk-street. When the officers told her she was under arrest she at first mado a show of resistance, but then concluded to go peaceably to the police station where she was locked, up. The ollicors then began a search for the servant girl, Lena Cohen, who had left Dreyer's employ aftor the burning of the baby. Sbo was* found yesterday afternoon, and

signified her willingness to testify against Mrs Droycr. It was resolved to make a charge of assault in the second degree against the woman for her brutal treatment of the child, making no mention in the com plaint of tho assault on hor husband.

Dreyer has tho reputation of being a respectable, hard-working man, and in his troubles with his second wife has tho warm sympathy of his neighbours. When he married Rose he was a widower with six childron. Erom tho first the woman seemed to tako a dislike to tho children, and was constantly beating them. Tho case has beon reported to tho Socioty for tho Pre vention of Cruelty to Children, which will aid in tho prosecution of the inhuman mother. Tho woman will be examined in tho Essox Market Police Court, before

Polico Justico Gorman, on Thursday, by which time tho case against her will be thoroughly prepared.—"NowYorkHerald," March 3.

They Were Horses

A sensation has been caused in medical circles by tho exposure of the methods employed by a Dr. Townsend, who has been giving illustrations of his mesmeric powers in Chicago city. Tho subjects acted as mesmerised people generally do, and a number of physicians applied tests to them. Tho insensibility to pain displayed by the subjects was remarkable, and tho doctors wore puzzled. On Friday night one Robinson, actuated by an alleged failure on the part of the management to pay his salary, walked out in front of the audience and shouted : "This thing is a fraud, and I can prove it. I've beon a subject here, and can stand any kind of test." The exhi bitions were given by Robinson, who was prodded with needles, burned with lighted cigars, had cayenne pepper thrown in his oyos, swallowed the bitterest drugs, and submitted to all sorts of torture without the slightest perceptible tremor.

Robinson explained that tho ability to endure pain was cultivated, and that thero were mon who made it a business, and who wero known among professionals as

"horses." Five or six "horses" were dis covered who said they were performing with Dr. Townsend. Some of their feats were al most incredible. For instance, they allowed needles to be inserted under tho finger nails or through the tongue without wineingj All of these men with whom the doctors talked said thoy were in the employ of Dr. Townsend, receiving so much per night.

As a result of the investigations of the medical mon, a novel seance was held to night at the house of a prominent physician, in which the performers wore half-a-dozen professional subjects who had trained them selves to the business. They stood without moving a musclo while the needles were thrust through their ears and arms and under the nails of the fingers. Cayenne pepper was swallowed by the spoonful without a wink. All the "horses" said they had been employed as subjects by professional mesmerists, and declared that tho ability to endure pain is a simple mat ter of pluck and training, and that all public exhibitions of so-called mesmerists were conducted by the aid of hired sub jects.—"Boston Herald."

The Indigent Poor of Paris

The latest report of the Bureau de Bien faisanco shows a perceptible, though not vory large, diminution of people seeking relief as compared with the numbers of 1880. At that time Paris contained a population of 1,988,606, among whom were 123,735 indigents, or G'22 per cent, of the total. At the present time the population hos increased to 2,269,000, and the proportion of indigents is only 543 per cent. This diminution is not equally spread over all quarters of the capital, for in 13th arron dissement it has risen to 1237 per cent, and in the 20th to 12'2_ per cent, while in the eighth and ninth it has decreased to as low as 1 '65. In all the arrondissements the proportion of women seeking relief is con considerably greater than of men, there being 41 of the former to 24 of the latter— not a matter for much wonder considering how wretchedly Parisian workmen are paid for their labour. It is somewhat singular

that Paris and the Department of tho Seine should furnish soc omparatively few paupers, the proportion out of every 1,000 being only 227, while the provinces furnish 706 and foreigners 67. Of every 1,000 foreigners on the relief books Germans figure for 407, Belgians for 356, Dutch for

72, Italians for 51, and English for 20. Over ,a fourth of the indigent population either find gratuitous lodgings or occupy rooms at lesß than 100 francs per annum rent; about one-half live at a higher rental, varying from 100 t0'203 francs ; 61 per cent of the lodgings are "tenanted by ono bed, and the remainder by two, four, or even five. Every profession, every trade, is represen ted, literateurs and tha fine arts included,

CORRUPTION IN AMERICA.

Matthew Arnold Says the Stories About

it Are Exaggerated.

The Americans themselves use such strong language i_ describing the corruption pre valent among them that they cannot be surprised if strangers fcelfove them, For myself, 1 had heard and read so _rtch to the discredit of American political life, hot. wil the best men kept aloof from it, and those who gave themselves to it wero unworthy, that I ended by supposing that the thing must actually be so, and the good Ameri ; cans must be looked for elsewhere than in .. politics. Then I had the pleasure of din ing with Mr Bancroft in Washington, and however he may, in Sir Henry Maine's opinion, ovorlaud the pre-established har mony of American democracy, he had, at any rate, invited to meet me half a dozen politicians whom in England wo should pro nounce to be members of Parliament of the highest class, in bearing, manners, tone of feeling, intelligence, information. I dis covered that in truth the practico _so common in America of calling a politician a "thief" does not mean so voTy much moro than is meant in England wheil we havebeard Lord Beaconsfield called "aliar" and MrGladstono "amadman." It means that the speaker disagrees with the politi cian in question and dislikes him. Not that I assent, on the other band, to the thiek-and-thin American patriots, who will tell you that there is fio more corruption in the politics apd administration of the United States than In those of England. 1 believe there is more. ' •' ' But the corruption

is exaggerated ; it is no. the wide and deep disease it is often represented j it is such that the good elements in the natto* may, and I believe will, perfectly work it off: and even now the truth of what I have bee saying ns to the suitableness and successful working of American institutions is not really affected by it. American society is not in danger from revolution. Here, again, I do not mean that the United States are exempt from tho operation of every one of the causes—such a Cause as tho division between rich and poor, for inttance—which may lead to revolution. But I mean that comparatively with the old countries of Europe they are free from the danger of re volution ; and I believe that tho good ele ments ir. them will make a way for them to escape out of what they really have of this danger ; also to escape in the future as well as now, the future of which some observers announce this danger as so certain and formidable. Lord Macaulay predicted that the United States must como in time to just the same state of things which we witness in England ; that the cities would till up and the land become occupied, and then, he said, the division between rich and poor would establish itself on the samo scale as with us, and be just as embarrassing. He forgot that the United States are without what certainly fixes end accentuates the distinction between rich afld poor—the dis tinction of classes. Mot only have they not the distinction between noble and bourgeois, between aristocracy and middle class ; they have not even the distinction between the bourgeois and peasant or artisan, between the middle and lower class. They have nothing to create it and compel their re cognition of it. Their domestic service is done for them by Irish, Germans, Swedes, or negroes. Outside domestic service, within the range of conditions which an American may in fact be called upon to traverse, ho passes easily from one sort of occupation to another, from poverty to riches, and from riches to poverty. No one of _is possible occupations appears degrad ing to him or makes him lose cast; and poverty itself appears to him as inconvenient and disagreeable rather than as humiliating. When the immigrant from Europe strikes root in his new home he becomes as the Americin. —[From an Article in "Nine teenth Century."]

Riotous London Workmen.

Great excitement was caused in London on Feb. 16, by tho riotous conduct of a large number of unemployed workmen. Three thousand of them paraded tho streets with banners bearing mottoes of their griev ances. Several bands of music accompanied the procession, which marched to the build ing occupied by the Local Government Board. A committeefrom the ranksentered the office and demanded relief for the people

they represented. Thoy wanted immediate employmentonthe construction of municipal works, which thoy said were needed for the public good. Tho officials in charge of the Board rooms were somewhat dismayed by the demonstra tion, but politely informed the deputation that no official answers to the demand could at the time be given, because Sir Charles Dilke, the President of the Board, was away, and during his absence nothing could be dono. This reply was received in Bullen silence^ and the crowd, which by this time had beoome a mob, rushed In a body into Downihg-streot, despite all the efforts of tho police to prevent them. They stopped in front of the official residence of Mr Glad stone, and howled and hissed invectives against the Government. JA Cabinet Council was being held at the time, and the mob attempted to force their way into the room where the Council was sitting. Tho police at this point received reinforcements and ejected the intruders. The mob then at tempted to storm the Admiralty and Home Office, but wero driven off, and finally dis persed by the police.

A large meeting of unemployed workmen was held this afternoon on the Thames Em bankment. Resolutions were adopted de manding a reduction in the hours of labour of Government workmen, and the con struction of useful public works to give em ployment to the idle. Hyndman, Chairman of the Democratic Federation, presided at tho meeting. Cheers for social revolution were given and violent speeches were made. The speakers insisted that railway and other public companies should be forbidden to employ men over eight hours per day. One of them asserted that Jay Gould had recently defeated a simil&r measure in New York State, and that he had his prototypes in the _oschens, Rothschilds, and Brasseys in London.

Some of the policemen drew their staves when the crowd became noisy and demon strative. The mob when charged by the police fled precipitately. Somo stones were thrown at the police, and several of them were kicked during the disturbance. No arrests were made.

The police wereunprepared for tho demon stration, and the rain was more effectivethan the batons of the constables in dispersing the crowd. Several policemen were mal treated, but no serious casualties are re ported. Among the legends on the banners carried in theprocession were : "We demand the right to work." "The voice of the people is the voice of God." "If you do not hear us now, you will have to before long." —" Pall Mall Gazette,"

The Drain on Gladstone's Vitality.

Mr Gladstone's manner in last night's de bate was that of a very tired man, not to say a very feeble one. He sat opposite the Speaker's mace, with his hands folded in

his lap and his legs crossed. His body sank down in the cushions of the Treasury bench as far as it was possible, and it seemed as though ho were trying to get a little of the rest he stands so much in need of. The animation that characterised bim two months ago was entirely wanting, and his expression was almost piteous. He listened first to an arraignment of his ad ministration from the Conservatives, and next from men of his own party. In tho lobbies the feeling was that Mr Gladstone's reign could be but for a few weeks longer, whatever might be tbe result of the di vision. Mr Gladstone has been practi cally an invalid since the close of the last session, and now, when he ought to be under treatment as a convalescent, he is called to the sever est work that can fall to man's lot. His day is absorbed with the Cabinet councils and preparing for Parliamentary debate, and his nights are devoted to defending, in the face of opposition, the measures he has been maturing through the day. Is it strange that ho cunnot sleep when at last he gets home to see his bed, and is it likely that a man | whose vitality has been com pletely drained by a night of exciting debate will be possessed next morning with the requisite resolution and energy to carry into the Administration the line he mapped out the night previous ? The pre sent way in which Mr Gladstone has been borrowing for to day the strength of to morrow explains the wreck of his Parlia mentary hopes as well as of his health.— London Despatch to "New York Horald," March 3.

" BUGHU PAIBA. "-Quick, compute cm., _U -__oj_a| Ci4&ey, Bladder __ I* rt__y D UeiMs. At Draggi-tt. " -" EunuUun- ___» * !_-'_«__, _«____,J

THE BAD BOY'S PA.

He Is Scra.e_.ed by a Blaok Cftt ttoß.

Genesis to Revelations.

" Hello !" said the grocery man to the bad boy, as he came in looking cross.

" Don't hollo to me," said the boy, as he tooh up the store cat and went to the sausage machine on the counter nnd began to turn the handle. "lam no telephone.'-' ! "Well, you are a transmitter all the saint?," eatdthe grocery man, laughing afc his attempt at a joke, " but drop that cat. What do you want to hurt a cat for, put ting her in a sausage-grinder ?" "Oh, I ain't a going to hurt your cat but I wish every cat w_-r dead. Our cat got mo into a nnwful scraps last night and I was no more to blame thai, the man m the moon," said the boy, as he sat down on a box, " Everything that goes' wrong is laid to me, 'cause 1 used to be a little tuii in my youth. That shows that a boy pnght never to bo tuff, 'cause it sticks to him as long as he lives." " Give us the cat story," said the grocery man, as he sat down by the boy and tried to raise his drooping spirits with a glass ot

rotten apple cider. " Oh, I wish I had never been born, or that I had been born twins, or triplets, so there would have been more of us to stand the racket. Last night I went to bed at nine o'clock, and left pa and ma up play ing youcur. I don't know how long I hat been asleep when I heard a rattling dowi. in pa and ma's room, and pa yelled murder, and ma yelled police, nnd n window was smashed, and I heard a cat squalling, and I opened my window and yelled fere, anci then I grabbed my pants and went down stairs to see what the row was, and help put out the fire. I rushed into the room, nod there was the offulest sme'l of burn hair _ ever smelled. Ma was up on a chair in her night clothes yelling, and pa was standing looking out of the broken window; the top was off tho coal stove, the stove door open, and the coal hod and the coal scattered all around the carpet, and pa was all mussed up, with blood on the front of his nightshirt, and a scratch on his leg. When I came in pa grabbed mo by tbe neck and said he would learn me to fill the coal hod With black cats, and I thought pa was crazy, Ma grabbed pa and told him I was not to blamo, and about that time a police man pounded at the door and wanted to know what the riot was about, and pa told him everything was all right, nnd the police man told the driver of the cb.i. ical fire ex tinguisher to go home, and then pa told me whatwnstherow. Itseemsthatour. Id blac_ cat didn't have no moro sense than to go to sleep in the coal-hod, on top of the coal, and just before pa got ready to get into bed he went to fill up the stove, and he poured tha cat right into tho fire. Well, I spose you would have died to see pa. As quick as the cat struck the fire she woke up, or may be she woke up going down the reservoir, but anyhow there was a m-e-o-u-w in the stove, and then the cat came right throu_h ono of the mica doors and struck pa with her toe nails, and bogan to walk on him and howl. Ba was so scared he dropped the coal hod, and grabbed the cot by one leg and throw her through the window, and then he began to dance around. I guess at first he didn't know whether it was a for sure cot, or only imagination, cause pa has got to taking n little Tom and Jorry during the holidays, and his nerves are a little un strung. I oxpresßed my sorrow that the cat should have been scorched, and that made pa mad, 'cause he said we all thought more of the injuries the cat received tha_ we did for his being scratched from Genesis to Revelations, and he said what I ought to have done was to go around the last thing before I went to bed and see that there was no cat in the coal scuttle. Pa is the un reasonablest man I ever saw. Who would ever think of looking for a cat in a coal scuttle ? After pa had given me fits about it, he began to jaw ma, and told her she ought to know better than to yell so." "Say," said the grocery man, stopping the boy, "I want you to tell me the truth. Did you have anything to do with putting that cat in the coal scuttle ? For if you did, that settles it with me."

" No, Eir, 1 hope to die if I did," said the boy. " Did I ever do anything to cause you to think I was a cold-blooded, heartless vil lain ? Have I ever harmed a dumb animal ? I have saved lots of dumb animals from harm, but I have never injured ono in the least. No, it was just an accident, such as might occur in any family, but I bet you pa never empties a coal scuttle again without analysing it for traces of cat," and the bad boy went out' feeling hurt that not only his pa, but his {old ;friond tho grocery man, should take him to be a boy who would scorch a cat. —" Peck's Sun."

PASTEUR'S GREAT RESEARCHES.

His Experiments In Seeking a Remedy for

Hydrophobia.

There is every reason to believe thatM. Pasteur has at length entered upon tbe final phase of an investigation which has claimed his undivided attention during a period ex tending over more than five years; and it is gratifying to learn from the lips of the great chemist himself that the practical outcomeof his experiments will be to provide an effec tual prophylactic against that terrible and deadly disease of hydrophobia.

Rabbits are inoculated with beef tea solu tion impregnated with the attenuated virus taken from the brain of a monkey. The effect is truly remarkable. In every case tbe rabbit is mortally stricken, but the symptoms differ so materially as almost to induce the belief that the disease is no longer true rabies. Death is slow of ap proach, and is always caused by paralysis, sometimes partial, sometimes complete. It is the brain of a rabbit which has died in this way that is employed for the prepara tion of a beef-tea lymph wherewith to perform the vaccination of does. Its in troduction is usually effected by a slight scratch upon the skin covering the intes tines. By operating upon the skin of tho dog, as indicated, no apparent alteration is caused in its normal condition, and I saw many vaccinated dogs in the capacious kennels erected by M. Pasteur in the court yard of the College Rollin which looked healthy and lively enough to warrant the belief that the inoculation to which they had been subjected had produced no ill effects upon tbe system. The virus must not pass through more than one rabbit before being communicated to tbo dog, since the effect upon the virus of such an operation is exactly the reverse of that occurring in monkeys. It is rendered more potent instead of be coming less dangerous.

At the present time M. Pasteur is experi menting upon over 100 dogs. Those dogs which areinjected with strong virus without previous vaccination sre separately confined in very strong cageß. Those which aro vaccinated are kept in a series of kennels. They are not, however, permitted to mix to gether. Each animal has its own kennel. They are all scrupulously clean, and have an abundance of good food. Dogs aro con stantly arriving from all directions, and it seems to be an understood thing that any animal which has been bitten by a mad dog is to be sent to M. Posteur for vaccination and experiment. I saw one beautiful hound, the property of a lady of means Residing in Paris, which had been bitten in this way, but which had not developed symotoms of rabies. It was inoculated no lessthan five times, ono month being allowed to elapse between each suc cessive operation, in order to sec if any illness would result. It is now believed to be incapable of taking tho disease. An injection of exceedingly strong virus was administered on Jan. 5. I saw the dog on the 11th of this month, and certainly by reference to the action of its tail, and the clearness of its eyes, no animal could have looked happier or in a moro healthy con dition. Whon tho investigation is com pleted it is certain that dogs will bo ren dered proof against radios by inoculation with a weakened virus, which will, without the development of dangerous symptoms, absorb certain ingredients which the strong vims now requires in order that it may flourish. It is probable that all veterinary surgeons will bo provided with the stock of the attenuated virus, and it is not unlikely that its employment will not be only sanc tioned but enforced by legislation. One great difficulty has, however, still to be dealt with. At present it is necessary to sacrifice life in order to obtain the attenu ated virus. Dogs have first to be made mad ; monkeys have next to suffer, and, finally, rabbits have to die by paralysis before tho vaccine can be prepared, once the microbe is isolated. This condition tf things need no longer exist, sinco wo are justified in assuming, on the strength of work which M. Pasteur has already pub lished, that the attenuation can bo produced by cultivation in sterilised media of a purely [ artificial character.—"Pall Mall Gazette,"

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 1885,

3