REVIEWS.

-Adlons for n History of *ffSr?"to «nd Migrations %l P#e Maori People."

nVFB ANCIs"DABT MNTON, ,\ TudKeof tho Nativo Lands Court

I ■ book of Mr Fenton's thoro is ox- P'J , ar g e amount of curious lore, and 1 ingenuity in the support of a theory. ¥ I tract of literature lias boon travorscd | )fl, ,„ niean facts and suggest ions boar 1' thei history of tho romarknblo pooplo ilanauago, customs, and traditions •;] *?,.„ has so intimate an acquaintance. ■■l^nhßVOa bettor right to discuss such • "sas is horo taken up ; and tho 1' i ability to composo an interesting ■•^roDortionato book is certainly not jjd pr J n ypgnrd to stylo thoro is no '!* for complaint, excopt, perhaps, tlmt I thor pilingo3 ftt onco mto tno 'niddln Ijffiiiect. »nd assumes rathor too much -:'ldi knowledge on tho part of his •/« For tno fact is patont that few ■■'';Sj in tnis colon >'' not to mon" ::'-. J] outsiders in Australia, England, X etowhero, havo any vory cloar feoanected ideas on tho early history i: ,i» Maoris, their racial affinities, '■•i» forth. An Egyptian darknoss pro- such matters, which MrFonton's K'liDSOt fail to do much to lesson and Itocomoto Mr Fonton's theory, which it IS of his writing to sot forth and ■i'trtg It can bo stated with suflicient in ■Sbility in a few words. Tho author ;<!jflj at tho beginning: with Uonesis X, ?jj in fact—"And tho sons of Ham ; J and Mizraim; and Phut, and Eg, And the sons of Cush.: Soba, sfflsrilah, and Sabtah, and Raarnah, B Sabtechah ; and tho sons of ijßiah; Shoba, and Dodan." Of all l^jjtv psraonagos, Cush is tho prosent la for from him Mr Fonton belioves tho I! Jjj are doscendod. Tho immediate. i!;of tho house of Cush inhabited tho , s of Shinar, where, long afterwards, ronderful civilisations of Glialdca and iia had their locale. Hero, then, tho ite empire was dominant for many tries,'and was at length, say 1700 years , destroyed by a still stronger power. Cuahites movod, or rather woro drivon, Arabia, not an unmixed raco, but •i a considerable commingling of !e blood, with slighter traces of ~.,ijnian and even Arian consanguinity." '■^jnthern Arabia the Cushites, now called '"ins, again rose to greatness. Thoy :,<the traders and carriers of tho ago. X opulence became proverbial, At I^Sfl, alter the lapso of a thousand yoars, (two broken up, and again started off itir travel?, this time across tho ocean n easterly direction. Now took placo lapid decline in the civilisation racial and mental culture of tho sans." As thoy Bed eastward in lied communities, striking those islands t which wind and tide threw them, it ibat natural that degradation ensuod. iypplod Sumatra and Java, then tho idly portion of tho Sunda and Molucca jps, and tho Philippines. Thoy mot Imany adventures, and woro forcod to nmtor numerous enemies, of whom tho ijs were no doubt tho chief, ataally tho Pacific Islands woro SW, and lastly Now Zoaland, for ifrifon li.'ioves tho Maoris to bo tho

lit. i!t-j Sabuians to mako their appoar pin the Pacific. They camo, not from mil of tho Sandwich Islands, as has Is erroneously supposed, but from a paly or' north-westerly direction, say lathe Philippines (p. 103). ThoMorioris pto the Chatham Islands by a separate ration, and not from New Zealand.

Hi, in brief, is Mr Fenton'a theory ; and U evidence which he adduces in sup >iof it will be found in tho book, sot ibwlth considerable "detail. It is not [intention, even wore we competent to % to criticise the evidenco ; but wo jbo allowed to raise three questions, nag their passage from Arabia to New indtheMaoriahaveloattheknowledgoof * oliei)of three things—(l) the uso i,(2}tlie art of writing, and (3) that of fag ships of a large carrying capacity. ] not only so; they have lost even traditions of thuso things. This is !; the important point. Tenacious nbarbarian memory is (aoe pp. 50 and it had no record whatever of oithor urthe art of writing. And there is at lone Hawaiian legend which, aecord itoMr Tenton, reaches the whole dis »teck to Arabia, to Kahiki, tho land is Cushites (p. 03); whilo the famous jofMaui contains allusions to "tho itqnatOTial rogions" whero tho ancestors fe Maoris used to dwell. But thoso atlegends breathe not a word of tho itMngs to which we refer. They toll jwriona tale as if these things were i The remarkable part of tho business ntthat tho Maoris lost the two arts in <ks, hub that their copious and cir- Jantial traditions are utterly silent on ■object, !i take this opportunity of mentioning sttet arising incidentally from the book nte. ■••' It has long been known that & laws regulate the intorchango of aunts in tho vocabularies of tho various

Mi of Polynesia. Thus Maori has lost ftm% f, 1, and s ; other Polynesian ;akve lost r, and retained 1; have illiiid let w go, It is, perhaps, im- A to account for, to explain these iMvariations ; but it may bo possible tever tne rules which thoy follow— iitoeajr, the service which Grimm rcn sitophilology in enunciating tho im- Satlaw.ompnglndo-Europoanlanguages ilfflfß, his name may bo done for the (Aof the Pacific. Indeed, it may have "ijteen dono; and if so, we should bo itobe" informed of the fact. But if it *i been done, if the Grimm's Law (so jjskj of Polynesia has not yet been •hsally set down, it is a work which pUokeperformed without delay, before •tent dialects have further disinte-

aMadasion, it is only necessary to say Wanton's book is well printed, and I*" embellished with an admirably ex «POrtrait; of the Maori chief Tetoro, |*iisHed at tho Bay of Islands about, ''^tnry ago.

»s,iHEHiißooi-KiUßTOi;si.—Acolo *«, Mr James Izett, of Christchurch, •b colonial readers with a life of at the popular price of half-: *■• The book, both in point of typo •Wand literary finish, bears traces of 'JWpatatifin; but considering that it "™ » record of events down to the end flastj and Bums up a great career so Mter ite closo, it must bo conceded HWork ia well and faithfully dono. ' preface, Mr Izett acknowledges Wlaof the book, but urgos the valid »«lt may give the colonial public, in Tom form and with timeous appro >«b, rpjiable particulars of the brave 'raoße fate all were so deeply in ■™' Though necessarily a compila \«w life o f Gordon ia admirably «t and the history of his part in the «,rebellion and his missions to the [■« told in moat attractive style. The JJ™<l command a large sale, as it 2J™ vast amount of information within rjgga. It is, besides, embellished 1,7W«t8 of General Gordon, tho J*MhrPasha, Osman Digna, Lord JliS? w-th Beveral views of Khar- I^Wi'and other towns of the g the work is a credit in every way J"J¥ enterprise, and most useful to K 1511? 11^ obtain the fuller biogra- departed hero. linlrSJ, or New Zealavd avd Hmu excellent educational work eighth thousand, and a new Ifcn!"iJSea ,and revised, has just J3"J-«w local press. The author is Cstl 11 Mason, 8.A., of Newton andthe book is so well »j- *° require no recommendation, L|rs al we in the public and other »leiui ■ :^ortll Island. Two woll fi^Jorm part of tho book, and itdki? ■ S'^onnation ismostcare k tij ? tately compiled,and stated in C"><*t style. The claim made tf it may almost bo (JFV"> abridged history of Nev/ itj^rX no weans a preposterous !*'»ffiVL vat' ety o£ facts are inter- M»'?, 9 dry geographical details, i s | F. ™c work a valuable hand- V^JO0* Among the im- B "Wo-duced in this edition

Iwo may mention tho explanations of Maori namos of placos, which havo boon supplied by tho woll-known Maori scholar,Mr C. O. Davis. Wo would suggest that in fnturoeditious Mr Mason should "ivo fuller particulars of tho Fiji Islands, nmftho Satnoan, Tongan, Now Hobrides, and Solomon Groups. Thoso, which aro all of vast importance in their relation to Now Zealand, aro dismissed with vory brief notico, while tho Sandwich Islands and tho islands of tho Malaysian Archrpolago aro described at length. This defect, if it can bo so called, in no way detracts from tho usoful and thoroughly roliablo character of Mr Mason's goography. Tho book, in deed, dosoi'VOH much wider recognition than it has yot received. It is, wo may add, printod at tho Star otlioo, and published by Mossrs Upton and Co., Quoon-streot. The Thermal Strings ok Rotorua.— Following in tho footsteps of his predecessor in office, Dr. (.tinders, tho prosont ectivo and ablo residont medical ollicor nt Rotorua has publishod a treatiso on tho thermal springs of tnis colcbratod locality, with hints on tho cases likely to bonotit by treat ■ mont thereat. This is a moro strictly medi cal work than that of Dr. Lowis, and Dr. Gindors goos direct to tho point and says all ho has to say in ten pagos. With tho ordinary tourist ho has nothing to do, and ho thoroforo does not expatiato on tho beau tiful scenery or on tho dolights of tho luxurious baths to tho robust visitor. Written profossodly for modical men, this littlo pamphlet should bo of considorablo use, especially in instructing doctors and Cationts as to what disoasos will., not o cured by tho Kotorua wators. Dr. Cin ders is painfully straightforward, and along side of wonderful cures records cases of death boing acccloratod by patients boing sont improperly to tho thormal springs. Tho book, which issues from tho Govern ment Printing Ollico at Wellington, should bo consulted by all modical men.

SteadmaX and Co.'s li,lvstkati;i> Skkd and Plant Catalooih:.—This book is olaborato onough to rank above tho ordin ary run of advertising publications. Its illustrations alono would make it oxtrojnoly usofid to tho amateur gardonor, but when to thoso aro addod a mass of woll chosen lottor pross directions referring to tho varieties of flowors, kitchon-gardon, and orchard pro ducts, and thoir modes of cultivation, it will bo understood that tho work is ono that will sorvo as a vory handy gardoner's text- book, and will bo much sought aftoi. Tho book comprises 04 pagos, and is supplemented arranged, and tho contonts aro eminently practical and judiciously solcctcd. Tho firm by an oxcollont index : it is admirably havo carefully studied tho roquiroraonts of tho trade, and their packets of seeds mo mado up to moot evory voquiromont. Tho trade lists of trees and plarits also all'ord an unlimited soloction, Tho catalogue is got up in a stylo that would reflect credit upon any English or American linn of seedsmen. It was oxocutod at the Stak Stoarn Printing Works, Shortland and Fort streets.

Mak'hall's Homusiu-atmo Guide. —This handy littlo book, issued in Dunedin by Mr M. Marshall, manufacturing chemist, is a very excellent radt mecitiu of honiuopathic modical practice for domestic use. Tho matter has boon arrangod alphabetically, and tho directions are simple and explicit. Among tho multitudoof useful homoeopathic guides, tho Now Zoaland ono will u'nd a titting and usoful placo.

An Ancient Sermon

[Tin; following odd sermon is said to liavo been actually preached many yoai's einco in the parish church of Barston, Norfolk. It was printed in tho " British Magiziuo" for November, 1750. Most of tho names men tioned now stand in tho parish registers, and tho family names still exist in tho neighbourhood.]

'■ Fight the good light."—l Tim., vi., 1:

Belovkd . Wo aro met together to sol omnUo tho funeral of Mr Procter. His father's name was Thomas Proctor. Ho lived some time at Burston Hall, in Norfolk, and was High Constable of Diss hundred. This man's name was Robert Procter, and his wife's name was Mrs Buxton, late wifo of Matthew Buxton. She came from Helsdon Hall, beyond Norwich. He was a good hus band and sho a good housewife, and they two made money ; she brought a thousand ponnds with her for hor portion. But now, beloved, I shall mako it uloar by demonstrative arguments: First—He was a good man, and that in several respects. Ho was a loving man to his neighbours, a charitable man to thopoor, a favourable man in .his tithes, and a good landlord to his tenants; there sits one, Mr Spurgen, can tell how great a sum,ho forgavo him on his deathbed :it wns fourscoro pounds. Now, beloved, was not this a good man, and a man of God, think you ? and hia wife a good woman ? and aho camo from Holadon Hull, beyond Norwich, This is the first argument.

Second—To prove this man to bo a good man ; in.the timo of his sickness, which was long an<!Pl tedious, ho sent for Mr Cole to pray for him. He was not a self-ended man, to bo prayed for himself only; no, beloved, ho dosirod Mr Cole to pray for oil his noighbours and acquaintances ; for Mr Buxton's worship, and Mrs Buxton, and for all Mr Buxton's children, against it should it ploase God to send him any ; and to Mr Colo's prayers ho devoutly said "Amen." Now, boloved, was not this a good man, and a man of God, think you 't and his wife a good woman ? and she camo from Holedon Hall, beyond Norwich. This is tho second wgumont.

Third—l como to a clear, demonstrative argumont to prove this to bo a good man. Thero was ono Thomas Proctor, a very poor beggar boy; he came into this country on tho back of a!dun cow, it was not a black cow, nor a brindled cow, nor a white cow— it was a dun cow. Well, this poor boy came a-begging to this good man's door. Ho did not do as some would have dono, give him a small alms and sond him away, or cbido him, and mako him a pass and sond him into his own country ; no, bolovod, ho took him into his own house, and afterwards bound him an apprentice to a gunsmith. After his timo was out ho took him homo again, and married him to a kinswoman of his wife's—Mrsi Christian Robertson—thero sho sits, and to her this good man gavo a considerable joint ure. By her ho had three daughters, and this good man took homo the oldest, brought her up to woman's estate, and married her to a very honourable gentleman, Mr Buxton-there he sits. Now, beloved, was not this a good man, and a man of God; think you '.' and his wife a good woman 1 and she came from Helsdon Hall, beyond Norwich.

Beloved, you may. remember some time since I preached at tho funeral of Mrs Procter, at which timo I troubled you with many of her trantscendant virtues; hut your momorios may fail you, and, there fore, I shall now remind you of ono or two of them.

The first is, sho was as good a knittor aa any in the county of Norfolk. Whon hor husband and family woro in bod, iind asleep, sho would get : a cushion, clop horsolf down by tho firo, and sit and knit; but, boloved, be assured that sho was no prodi gal woman, but a sparing woman ; for to sparo candle, sho would stir up the fire with her knitting pins, and by that light would sit and knit, and make as good work as many othor women by daylight. Beloved, I have a pair of stockings on my logs that woro knit in the same mannor, and they are the beat stockings that ovor I wore in my life. Second—She was the best maker of toast in drink that' over I ato in my life; and thoy wore brown toasts, too. When I used to go in a morning, she would ask mo to eat a toast, which I was always very will ing to do, for sho had such an artificial way of toasting it, by no meana slack, nor burn | ing—besidos she had such a pretty way of grating nutmeg, and dipping it in the i beer, and such a piece of rare cheese, that 1 must needs say they wero the best toasts that ever I ate in my life. Well, beloved, the days are short, and many of you have a long way to go ; I must, therefore, conclude.

" l rou say there's no hope for me* doctor V "None at all." "No possible chance?" " None;'and I would advise you to Bottle up your business and relieve your mind." " On, my mind is all right, doctor. I owe about three times as much as I am worth," DON'T DIE IN THE HOUSE-" R«wli on n.t« ■• •v*« cut »<•, xaict, I.Mtlu, ro4Clo«, taPju««, Bins, uU, IniMtt.

M. LESSAR

Tho Man Who Stakes Russian Claims in Asia.

I Tin; London correspondent of tho Now York "Tribune" writos as follows: "M. Lessar has boon horo for soiho wooks. If thero had boon no dispute about tho Afghan frontior, hia prosoncomight havo passod un noticed. But as soon as it was known that M. Lossar was tho accredited exponent of Russian pretensions, his company was covotod, not, I think, bocauso socioty was oagor to know all about the contested boun dary lino, but bocauso M. Lessar was a colobrity and a novelty. The moro sorious houaoa do not compote for him as tiio moro sensational do, but noithor do thoy close thoir portals to him. So various aro tho sections of society whore M. Lossar has boon on viow, that a man must bo vory much a rocluso not to havo mot him somo whoro.

"Ho is very well worth mooting. Like most Russians, ho has a flexibility of character which insures his gotting on com fortably with the most dissimilar pooplo. Ho will talk to you with tho utmost fluency, not to say volubility, on tho Central Asian question. Ho has absolutely nothing of that affectation of reserve which tho professional diplomatist so often displays. Ono reason for this may bo that ho is not a professional diplomatist. M. Lossar is by profession an engineer—a military engineer, I understood him, or rather inferred from his account of himself. Tho lirst impression ho makes is ono of surprise. Ho-is so young. Whon you hoar of an envoy from Russia on a grave quostion liko that now at issue, you expect to moot a man of iniddlo ago, or past middle ago. M. Lessar looks, and 1 boliovo is, under thirty. Slight in build, medium in stature, ho has tho well-bred manner which Russians out of Russia all havo ; as if tho paternal Czar allowed only tho bost of his subjects to travel abroad.

" Tho features aro good ; tho oyes keen, restless, changeable—very soft in expression while ho is talking frivolitios, piorning when ho looks suddenly at his intorlocutor to ctis cover tho effect of somo moro than usually couragoous romark which thoir owner has just hazarded. If ho has tho Slav mouth, it is hiddon by tho full moustacho and oloso cut board, dark-brown ■md black. Unliko any Russian I over heard of in tho west of Europe, M. Lc?sar speaks not tho languago ot tho country to which lie is on a mission. Ho understands, I fancy, moroKnglish than ho is supposod to understand ; but tho only languago I have heard him uso in the Kngligh capital is French, which ho spoaks with ox tremo rapidity and an accent ditliciilt to do lino. Thoy say ho is by birth or by descent a French ,low."

Lord Wolseley Under Fire

The Ninetieth was one of tho rogimonls destined for China which Lord Canning'fl swift steamors contrived lo catch on route and divert to India to aid in tho quelling of tho great mutiny that had broken out with so foil an unexpectedness. Tlio gall ant "Perthshire (Sroybreeks" wore included in tlio column which Sir Colin Campbolllod from Cawnporo to the second relief of Luck now. From the Dilkoosha Sir Colin had sent tho "Black Watch down the slopo on tho Martinioro. Tho Ninety-thin! imd the Sikhs hud made a ghastly shumhlos of tho onco beautiful Secundoiabagh garden. Tool's mon, of tho Shannon, were slogj;mjJ with their ship's guns into tlio maesivonlr na ture of tlio Shall Nujeof, preparatory to carrying it by oscalado out of tho branches of a treo which grow against tho wall.- of tho shrine. Wolsoley, with his two Min panioa of tho Ninotioth, was sent to the lofl to curry the Moss House. Tho way to its compound wall was across tho open. Wolsoloy's follows took with thorn acouplo of light gun;. So (iorco was tho Sepoy liro tint, to uso Wolsoloy'a own quaint colloquialism, " tho bullots dropped oil' tho tires of tho wheels like pe:i« oil' a drum." Tho Moss House was carried with a rush, Wolseloy with his own hand, in tho midst of a hail storm of bullots, pulling down tho Hag Of tho mutinoors from tho statf in its roof, and planting in its placo tho British banner which he carried. Boyond tho Mess Houso lay tho Palace known as tho Moteo Mahal, tho last robol post separating tho relieving forco from their environed fellow-country men. AVolsoley led his detachment forward to tho assault of tho Moteo Mahal, which, iv its turn, was taken and clearod after hard fighting and sovore loss. This opera tion consummated tho roliof. Botwoon tho Moteo Mahal and thostoamengino post, lay only Mr Martin's house, which tho rebels had evacuated. Young Moorsoin ran tho gauntlet, and the connection was ostab lished. It was Wolsoloy who greeted tho (leant couroj' of tho bosieged. Wolseloy took pnrt in tho hard fighting which brought about tho linal reduction of Lucknow, and in the oncrgotic marching and fighting all over Oudo, whereby tho latoSir Hope Grant contributed so greatly to tho stamping out of tho great revolt, on tho final extinguish ment of which Wolsoloy found himself a brovet LioiitonantColoncl at tho ego of twenty-six. Quick promotion cortainly, from Ensign to Lieutenant-Colonel in oight yoars ; but ovory stop in rank had boon honostly won at tho point of tho sword.— Archibald I'orbos, in tho " English Illus trated Magazine " for May.

The English Volunteers

Evisuy corp.u, of whatever arm, ih inspected onco a your by on oiliccr of thorogular army duly.appointed. Arrangomonta aroinado for tho inspection by the General of the district, and time and placo aro mado to suit tho gonoral convonionco o£ tho corps. Two-thirds of itHnumbors must bo proßcut, or tho inspection is postponed. YVhon a corps is in its regimental camp of oxorciso it is to bo inspoctcd in tho camp ; but whon it joins a enmp of oxorciso of tho rogular. militia forces, it is not to bo inapoctod thoro (tho numbor boing too small for tho pur pose), but at its own hoadquartors. Tho Voluntoers are not left altogethor without assistance from the public to dofray thoir necessary oxponsos. An annual allowanco of £110s is granted for every oilieiont Volun teer .officer (who has attended a prescribed numbor of diills) and man, with a special additional allowanco of £2 19s on account of each Volunteer officor or sorgoant who holds a certificate of proficiency, and » special allowance of 10s for every officer who has passed in tho year the examination in tactics is granted for that yoar only. Those sums go to tho general fund. Travel ing expenses on a fixod scale are grantod where companies attend drill at stations more than five miles from the headquarters of the corps, and artillery corps receive extra allowance for conveyance of guns or other oxponses incidental to gun praotico. Officers recoivo travelling allowanco whon on military duty. Evory company or bat tery recoivos £4 a yoar for postage and sta tionery. Army forms and books aro sup plied at the public exponso, and also regula tions and manuals of instruction and oxer ciso. Tho artillery corps from thoir own funds provide tho sites of batteries, obtain loasoa of thorn, throw up tho earth-works, provide accommodation for a rosidont guii nor to take chargo of each and pay for keep ing them in ropair. The Government pro vides side-arm Bhods and oxpenso magazines. Every corps is expoctod to provido a socure place for tho custody of tho small-arm ammunition, unloss it can bo placed in chargo of orduanco storo officers in Govern lnont buildings. Evory Voluntoer rocoives a riflo, a belt and pouch. Thoso they for tho most part take with them to their homes. The Snider, hitherto their weapon, is being exchanged for the Martini-Henry.—"The, Nineteenth Century."

The Tests of Ironclads.

Tnouwr the English Navy is vastly superior J in every way to the Russian, a war be tween those nations would be watched with eager interest by naval authorities all over the world, because it would fix the value ot the modern ironcladin warfare. Therehave been many revolutions in ship-building in tho prosont contury, and ovon in the present generation. The English voxels, like the Minotaur, Achilles, and Black Prince, whose four and one-half inches ot plate made them the terrors of the soa early in our Civil Wav, are but thin Bhells to the tremendous floating fortresses that now de fend Europe upon the oceau. Someof these, like the Inflexible, which did such dreadful work at Alexandria, have armour from one and oae-half to two feet thick, wtijk<J e'Jual tW<&neVs, and carry eighty-tine ton

guns. Most of tho Europoan nations have built thoso monstors in the last fifteen years, and aro still adding to thorn. Yot though somo of those voesols cost 84,000,000, the modern navy is built upon a theory ; it is only experimental, and its tost is yet to como. Thero has novor, with ono excop tion, been an important battle between iron clads in Europoan watern, and that was won by skill in manujuvring ; while tho engage ment betwoen tho Chilean and I'oruvian ironclads, a few years ago, also failed to throw light upon various doubtful points. To this uncertainty, no doubt, is duo a good sharo of tho possimistic talk which has been indulged in by English naval mon and politicians. Tho samo criticisms have been mado in Franco and Germany of their own i veseols. Each nation has cold fits of fear ing that its navy will bo found inefficient in time of war, beeauso nopo of them know just what constitutes strength. Wo hoar much about horizontal and vortical plates, about bolted shipaand unarmourod ends, but scarcely any two authorities agroo. Ono roprosontativo of tho Admiralty declares that a vessol liko tho Admiral Duporro, bolted with armour, would incitably cap size in a modorato soa, if tho woodwork above tho armour was shot away : another says tho same thing would happon to a citadol ship if hor unarmourod ends wore shot away ; while a third declares that noithor would capsize, and others dony that the unarmoured portions could bo wholly doetroyod under any circumstances. Mixed up in thcsoprobloms arethoriuostionsof guns and projectiles It is boliovetlthat no armour has yot boon mado which tho Krupp and Armstrong guns will not ponotrato. Cer tainly all that was tostod in tho romarka bio trials at Spozzia, Italy, last autumn, was shattered by tho Krupp steel projectile. Most of tho navios aro, therefore, adopting stool projectilos, but thoro aro oxporimentors who still contend for tho siiporior penetrat ing powor of chilled iron, while others favour a combination of tho two—a stool shot, with chilled iron point,—"St. Louis GlObo-Democrat."

General Gordon's Eyes

Gordon was nut ono of tho onooyed heroes of history. Hero is what Mr Stannard says of tho extraordinary fascination of hie oyes : " What oyes thoy wore ! keen and clear, filled with tho beauty of holiness; bright with an unnatural brightness; their ex pression ono of fettled fevorfehncss; thoir colour bluo-grey, as is tho sky on a bitter March morning. 1 know not what effect thoso oyes hud on all lie camo in contact with, though, from tho unfailing and will ing obedience with which his orders woro carried out, 1 fancy that to somo oxtont ho unconsciously mosmorisod nino out of ten to do his will, but I know that upon mo thoir oilect was to raiso a wild longing, a desporato dosiro to do something, anything, at his bidding. It was not an unploasant or uncanny sonsation ; it was not that any ovil thought or suspicion lurked within tho windows of hU bravo and puro soul. His power was tho power of rosoluto goodnoss, and it Was strong—so strong that lam sure had ho told mo to stand on my head, or to perform somo impossible feat, I should cor tainly liavo tried my utmost to accomplish it, without, giving v moment to rctloction an to whether the order was reasonable or not."-." Pall Mall Ga/.cttc."

Gambling in New Orleans

o\t: evening, in company with some friends who thoroughly umlorclood tho snl»ject, I took a tour among1 the [rumbling saloons in tho French ([Uiu'toi'. in New Orleans gambling is legalised by liconso, and tho in cDmo from this source iH nu inconsidorablo sum ovory your. Wo wont upstairs into 0110 place, which 1 think was oallod "Tho Royal.'' lloro ovory form of known gambling was in full blast. Thoro wero two largo halls, in which wura seated fully live hundred peoplo playing " Uono." Some of them woro boys not lifteon years of ago, and others were old men roady to step into tho grave. Eacl\ had a card, on which woro certain sots of liynroa. At tho ond of tho hall was a largo electrical contrivanco for registering the numbers which woro called oil, and which I was told by tho pro priotor coat SIO,OOO. Nothing was heard savo tho loud, shrill call of tho man on tho platform, as ho road oil' tho numbers which woro boing diawn from a curious con trivance, which was supposed to mix up tho balln having tho numbers in scribed on thorn. Ono call aftor another was drawled out in a monotonous way until one man in tho crowd suddenly yollcd " Kouo "at tho top of his voice. The rest of tho playors lookod at him with disgust, for many of them wero only waiting for.tho number that novor came. Thon tho agont.s i of tho houso colloctcd 10 cents from each playor, ami tho gamo started again. In othor parts of tho hall was faro, roulotto, Gorman hazard, pokor—in fact, ovory kind Of a gambling gamo that is known. Lator wo wont down in tho nogro quarter, and caw a still moro demoralising sight, i Stopping to got v polico escort, wo wont into a negro gambling placo. On tho level of tho stroot, and within plain sight of podostrians, with windows and doors wido open, wo saw fully two hundrod ' darkioa playing faro, roulotto, " swoat-cloth," and a curious sort of a gamo similar to " thrco-cord monto." In this gaino tho donlor hold a boan in ono hand, and in tho othor sovoral sholls. Thon ho would tosa tho boan and givo oddH that tho playors could not toll which shell it was under. They lost, ns a matter of course In tho rear of tho gambling pnloon wnfl n largo hull. A band was stationed at ono ond, and playod whilo tho negro mon and women danced. I novor paw a moro villainous sot of colourod pooplo. Tho polico told us that tho most of thorn woro mon who worked on tho rivor boats, and camo to town about ouco a month to spond thoir on tiro earnings in a debauch. Tho remainder woro thioves and disroputablo characters generally, who woro in attondanco to flooco and rob thoso who camo to visit tho placo. This den is owned by a whito man. Jt'okor ia tho croat gamo at tho clubs and among tho higher classes. Not a groat tirao njjo sevoral gontlomon eat down to play, and in ono hand overybody dropped out savo" two. Thoy bot against each othor until thoro woro on tho table. Tho stakes woro won by a man with a pair of quoons against a pair of tons.—N. O. Corr, " Boston Travellor," April 20.

Spiritual Kissing in Philadelphia.

A LADY and gontloman wot'e invitod into the dark cabinet, and soon camo out again, tolling startling storioK of spirit forms und kissing. Another couplo entered, when tho noises inside wcro of an altogether difl'oroht charactor. A tablo waa ovorturnod and tho lady omorgod, looking as if she had had a atrugglo. Aftor telling startling storioa about tho spirit forms and tho kisses, tho medium came out, followed by tho gontlo man who had boon in thoro with him. 110 immodiatoly addressed tho audienco, saying that ho was no longer a spiritualist, for this wac; an infornal fraud. Thon ho divoil into tho cabinot, from which, in spito of tho medium's efforts to load him off, ho brought back a long handlod paddlo covored with' Canton flannel. "This is tho kissor," he said, amid yells and laughtor. i At onco thoro was groat confusion and shouts from all ovor tho house. Ho wont on to say that on ontoring tho cabinot ho was told to place ono of his hands on tho medium's head. Ho felt tho medium move his knees and reloaso the loops about his wrists. Then he thrummed the guitar; then took tho paddle and touched the gentleman on the cheek and lips with it, making a kissing sound as he did so. Tho gentleman soized him, but being a powerful man and the lady interfering, the medium succeeded in replacing his hands in the loops. The wholo affair was a cheat, he said; there-was no Bertha King. Whon he had stopped speaking the polico officers came forward and arrested the me. diumandhis partners on a warrant previ ously taken out against them for obtaining money under falßO protences. The money at tho box office was aecured and the ap paratus seized. The only voice raised in defence was by a tall woman, who had been first in tho cab inet, and %vho stood upaud shouted: "I know enough about kißßing to know the difference between a bathing-swab and a genuine salute. I tell you, ladies and gen tlemen, I was kissed if I die for it." Shouts of laughter Bilenced her further testimony. —" DeWofi Ffee FVei-fs."

THE "VIRGIN'S KISS."

An Ancient Instrument of Torturo,

Thk following description of the " Virgin's Kies," an ancient mode of punishment, is taken from tho Newcastle, Eng., "Chron icle." The "Baiser do la Viorge" was a modo of execution practised in olden days at Baden-Badon, during a time that a Vehmgericht held its ghastly court in the vaults benoath the (so-called) Nene Schloss. I oxtract tho following account from "Murray's Handßook of Northern Ger many." Aftor describing tho dungeons, tho writor says: "In ono chamber, loftier than the rest, called the rack chamber (Foltor Katnmor) the instruments of torture stood ; a row of iron rings, forming part of tho apparatus, still remains in the wall. In a passago adjoining thoro is a well or pit in tho floor, now boarded over, originally covered with a trapdoor. Tho prisoner, upon whom doom had boon passed, was led ! into this paesoge, and desired to kiss an image of the Virgin, placed at tho opposite end ; but no sooner did his feet rest on tho trap-door than it gavo bonoath his weight and precipitated to a groat depth bolow, upon a machine composed of wheels, armed with lancets, by which ho wan torn to pieces. This dreadful punishmont was called tho 'Baiser do la Yiorgo,' and tho fatal pit with its trap-door and oublietto—bocause thoso who were precipitated down it were oublios —never heard of any moro. The Bocret of this terrible dungeon romainod unknown until, as the story goos, an attempt to roscuo a littlo dog which had fallen through tho planking abovo tho pit led to the discovory, at a depth of many yards, of fragments of pondorous whools sot) round witli rusty knives, with a portion of bones, rags, and torn garments adhoring to thorn."

STORY OF A BOTTLE

A Lottor from Mid-Ocean Roachos its

Intended Destination,

A auk captain recently furnishod tho " Her aid " with tho following interesting account of tho drift of a soalod bottlo thrown over board in mid-Atlantic : " On June -I, 1884, tho (choonor 11. Bowers, Captain Thomp ton, bound to Gloucostor from Mossina, was pitching about in a. long ocoan swoll in latitude -l'2inin. 4(isec , longitude kiOmin. •17teo. Wo had made a good run thus far, butonthis particular day struck a dead calm. Thoro was littlo to do, oxcopt to watch tho vessel and whistlo for wind, and soveral Rchomos wero invented by tho officers to pass away tho timo. Tho second mate of tho schooner—Mr Cruikshank—had left a sweetheart at homo, and naturally his mind drifted across tho watory waste to her bright eyes. Noticing his preoccupied manner, tho Captain's wifo suggested that ho eond his lovo a message from tho soa. The idea seemed a good ono. Ho wroto a note, enclosed it in an onvolopo, addressed it to the young lady at Big Brook, Capo Breton, onclosed tho wliolo in a bottle, and throw it ovorboard. Thoro was groat speculation at tho time as to whore tho bottle would bring up ; but in a fow hours a broozo sprang up, and in working tho vessel all thoughts of tho bottlo and its contents wero forgotton. Tho schooner in duo timo arrivo.l at (lloucoutor, and Mr Cruikshank started for Capo Breton. His arrival was expected, but his astonishmont may bo imagined when his lady lovo brought forth tho identical bottlo which tho mat© had thrown into tho soa and produced tho noto contained theroin. Tho story of tho drift waa a singular ono. It had been picked up on tho shoros of Littlo Dovor bay, at tho cast end of Nova Scotia, aftor a drift of forty-ono days' duration and of sixty miles, and tho iindor eont. it to tho young lady. Anothor singular circumstance connected with tho finding of tho bottlo was tho fact that tho lindor turnod out to be a noar relative of Mr Cruikshank, although they had never seen oach other."—"Boston Herald."

A Diplomatist in Trouble

A MALK'lois story comos to us about a well known servant of tho Crown, whoso inches of stature aro in tho rovorao ratio to his diplomatic talonts. This exceedingly small but worthy gentleman is tho fortunato pos sessor off* spouso who tills tho Homeric des cription of a stately Juno, towering in the majesty of her massivo boauty abovo_ tho other goddesses of Olympus. Sho is _as strict a mother us she is a fond and dutiful wife. So whon sho heard an incipient riot tho othor ovoning in tho nursery aftor bod timo, sho soizod her slipper and hastoned to subdue tho ovor-hilarious youngsters. Tho latter, with tho guilo of childhood, extin guished tho light boforo tho correcting slippor could reach them, so tho maternal onforcomnut of discipline had to bo carried on in darkness. Two of tho ofl'ondors acknowledged tho uneasiness of thoir posi tions on tho maternal kneo by juvonilo shrieks. Tho third sufferer, instead of ap pealing for niorcy in tho weak troblo of childhood, yollcd his protestations in sucli a ponderous voico that tho astonishod lady dropped him and gasped, "Is that you, hubby •'. " It was. Tho reckless man had, with unthinking foolhardiness, followed tho irate lady into tho nursory and got mixed up with his family. He will not do bo again.

Snakes in the Penjdeh Valley.

Kkmittknt lover has of late yoars played cad havoc among tho Jainshidis of Kuehk. All tho neighbouring valleys, including Fonjdoh, nvo infoctcd, and aro only habitablo in spring and Hummer by tho acclimatised. Anothor drawback to this valloy is tho number of .shakos which infost it. In spring tho country must swarm with thorn. At prosont they aro to bo found, when thoro is occasion to dig nomo oightoon inchos or two fcot bolow tho Rurfftco, hibornating in sloopy torpor. Uoforo wintor closod in ono of tno Lancers—a strong healthy young follow— vory noarly foil a victim to ono of thoso rop tiles. When picking up a stone he was bit in tho back of tho hand, and ho o\vod his lifo to his own prompt prosonco of mind and Dr. Charles's caro and skill. Tearing off a strip of his turban, ho bound it tightly—so lightly that in tho hospital they could not tighten it—round tho arm above tho wrist. Jiothen madooll' to tho hospital, and half an hour ufter being bitton he was undor Dr. Charloe'B caro. But already thoro wore signs of paralysis in tho left leg, and this grad ually spread until both extremities wcro completely paralysed; Ho suffered from groat heat, followed by intonso cold, ting ling and numbness in the arms and legs, and much pain over the heart—his heart was "on firo," ho complained: Altogether his caso, aftor an hour or so, scorned hope i lees. Ho was plied with brandy and am monia, and made to wak till hia legs wore doadoned by paralysis, and then ho was put between hot blankets and hot bricks were I applied to his foot. Hypodermic injection of othor was found very utsoful, and at last, aftor threo hours of unremitting caro, ho slowly passed out of danger, and Dr, Lharlos has tho satisfaction of being ono of tho fow who havo successfully troated a Bnako bite. However, the man did not completely ro cover at once. Ho suffered from blood poisoning, and jfc was throe wooks boforo bo wus discharged from tho hospital.—" Lou don Timoa."

Moody's Evangelism Pays

J akickjj a clorgyman of my acquaintance, tho llov. Mr Sarslield, how such men us Moody thrive. "There are no such men as Moody." ho replied. "Ho has imitators, but no equals, and will have no successors. Moody's cvangeliam pays him well, althoughho has neither salary nor collections. Ho refuses no private donation, howevor, and has been generously treated in that respect. Evangelism is a remunerative calling, and Moody stands at tho head of evangelists. He has a fine house and, in come, although only a few years ago ho did not have a dollar, and was without education or learning. No other church services aro heldatthehour'when ho holds forth. Ho has the united support of all the pastors, and the effect of advertising him from all their pulpits. I am not a believer in the lasting qualities of his work. After tho delirium of revivals thero is a relaxation that leaves churches demoralised and weak ened. Karoly are they permanently bene fited."—" New York Tribune.",

Aii English medical paper sarcastically observes that "thecaroof babies has be come quite a fashionable amv.ssm'ent among mtttteW."

Waists and Corsets.

A lady correspondent writes:—Pinched waists, far from becoming rarer by reason of the Btricturea recently bestowed on]tight lacing by lectures in connection with " Tho National Health Society " and othor persons, interested in the wellbeing of our sex, seem to me to be more fashionable., than over. Regent-street will any afternoon furnish countless illustrations of the prevalanco of the folly which alarmists tell women must result in a breakdown of health, and, worse still, carry its consequences into future as affecting the health and lives of unborn generations. All in vain are the warnings uttered to many, for one half the sex turns a deal ear to the charmer, charm he or she never bo wisely. I made somo notes the othor day from an authentic source concern ing tho standard number of inches that girth the respective waist of certain ac knowledged models of feminine loveliness, beginning with tho " Venus of Milo." Com pared with more than ono model of correct masculine development, tho waist of tho woman was found to be larger than that of tho man by ono or more inches. I suppose my lady readers will hardly, credit this, but it is an authenticated fact nevertheless. Inexcusable as pinching is in tho case of women, and deplorable for the reasons I havo assigned, one condemns and pities tho foolish creatures who resort to it at one and the Bame time ; but we have nothing but well-morited contompt for the dandy who trios to reduce tho natural size of his waist by encasing it in " lasting," ' satin, silk, onclosing steels and whalebones.

I am told that more men wear Btays in these degenerate days than tho public is awaro of, and tho information carao from a Gorman, who is a wholesale manufacturer of corsets. Going to Rive an ordor for a pair of corsets. for myself, I noticed somo vory handsomo black satin cor sots, beautifully embroidered, which woro lying on tho work tablo. "They aro rather a largo eizo," I remarked, and then was told the 3tayn woro intondod for a gentleman, who ordored a now pair about overy two, months or co, —pink, blue, red, and ovon white satiu corsots in turn, tho woarer being exceedingly oxigont as to (it and condition, und casting his corsets' asido so soon as tho gloss wore off the satin. Two and' three guinnas por pair was tho price charged for thorn. Tho German I refer to as a maker of corsets is aided by severul female assistants. Tho dexterity of tho man in working tho sowing machine and putting in whalebones, cord, and stool was really astonishing; and he explained that ho always used whalebone in tho construction of the corsots ho manufactured. Few of us are, I think, at all awara of tho value of this article of commerce. Tho German corset-maker said he had whalebono in his warehouao at this timo representing £3,000.

Tho groat value of suitablo corsots as a support to tho physically woalc, and to im provo thoso who aro unfortunately mis shapen, is not disputed. Deformed persons moro women, aro always morbidly sensitive in respect to thoir defects, and tho skill of anatomical corsot-makors is ofton requisitonod, and wisely, to romedy these malformations ao far as may bo. I havo known sovoral deformed womon of my acquaintance and somo childr"n who dcrivod tho greatest possiblo advantage both in appearance and health from tho adoption of corsets made specially to suit individual cases. Opposite a certain ana tomical corsotmakor's linos of carriages stand ovory afternoon. This linn soncb accomplished assistants to attond ladies in thoir own horacn, but tho principal tolln me sho never doe.-; «o e.xcopt when her services aro rcquirod by a morabor of tho Royal Family.

How to Become Attractive

A Pakisia.v newspaper has boon toadiing ita lady readers "how to bo attractive." Suroly the rcadors of the " Vio l'arisionno " ought to bo ia no need of advice such as tho following :—" Look confident and ind'ffer out; express yourself simply and with a voice as swoot as possible. Bo keenly alivo to ovorything that passes, yot appoarabsont minded ; know as much as possible, yet ploaso by asking questions. Having road everything, quote nothing; seenevorything, appear ignorant; heard all, always oxpross Hurpriso; desiring everything, ask for noth ing. Bo light-hoartod to prosorve your boauty ; bo indulgont to attract sympathy " and so on. Thoso laws —somo evi dently anti-bluo-stocking laws—are laid down as absolute, with ono oxooption, "Blush noithor for shuino nor for pleasure," to which is addod, "if you can holp it." Vorily, the good old saying holds good still: "fl /(tut soitj/'rir pf/tir ctre hclla" Thoro aro, howover, somo clauses which might with oqual advantage bo appliod to both soxos, For instanes : "Do not force wit; always liston attentively ; bo charit able for your own satisfaction ; bo frank, and you need novor bo afraid of tho truth ; soo things at a glance, judgo quickly and think moro qniekly still, in ordor to keep a cool head." But wiso as thososaws aro, and however much tho world might bo benefited by a moro gonoral application of them, they belong docidodly to tho category of precepts moro easily preached than practised.—" Pall Mall Gazottc."

Divorced, Re-Married, and Again Separated.

At tho Thames l'olico Coiirt, Charlos Buck-1 ingbam, of 40, Trinity Squaro,.a gontlomnn of indopondont means, was summoned for assaulting his wifo, Sopliio Buckingham. Complainant said she was iir.st married to tho defendant eomo twonty yeara ago. About fivo yoara afterwards eho obtained a divorco from him on account of his cruolty and adultory. Somo timo nftorwards they again camo togothcr, and again went through tho form of marriage. That was eight years aftor tlioy woro divorced. On Friday, tho 13th inst., sho got homo shortly aftor oight o'clock in tho evening. When she got there eho found tho defendant waiting for hor on the stops. Ho struck her on tho sido of tho faco, and tho forco of tho blow knocked hor down tho steps. When complainant got inside tho passago hor husband again struck her. Afterwards hor sonant was bathing hor faco in tho bedroom, when the defendant struck her two violont blows in tho eyos. The force of tho blows closed her eyes compotlely up, and she becamo insonßJblo. Complainant had to keep her bod for five days. She had summoned defendant on two previous ocoa sions, but did not appear against him. On a former occasion dofendant had broken threo of hor ribs, and ho had since threat ened to "do " for her. She was afraid to live with him. By the defendant: They had not quarrelled through her staying out lato at night, and it was not of frequont occurrenco. She went to his houso on tho previous night, but she did not think ho was thoro. Complainant went into his houso so that he should not think sho was afraid of him. Ho took her railway ticket from hor. She stayed alono with him for an hour and a half. By the magis trate: She was aoveroly injured by dofendant, and since hor second marriago ho had aseaultod hor about ovory six weeks. Dofondant was of a very jealous disposition. Defondant never emptied his pockets almost every day into her lap. Ann Wiggins, '25, Alaria-stroet, Millwall, said on tho day of tho aseault sho was a servant in tho employ of tho complainant. She saw hor mistross standing in the passago with hor faco bleeding, and sho eaid defendant, who was there, did it, Defondant aftorwards struck hor in the eyes. Defendant, when ho had struck his wifo, said, " That is only an instalment for you. I mean to swing for you." Other evidence having been called, Mr Saundors made an order granting the complainant a separation, and ordering defendant to pay her £1 a week. Defendant would also have to pay a fine of £5, or four teen days' imprisonment.

JILTED.

looses blowing, waters flowing Under willows bending low. Branches drooping, sweethearts stooping Down the tangled pathway go. Ob. tho treasure of its I'lcuauio: Youth in bravo und lovo is swccl ; •■jho will borrow not a sorrow, . God has willed they thus should meet. In tho gloaming she Is roaming Through tho lano they loved co well; Trees above nor ace no loror Walking by her down tbo dell. Ah! tlie grloving for deceiving; Ah! the anguish aud tho tears; Sad tUoerectingo£ tbqnießtint,' In the lane in after yoara.

HUMOROUS CLIPPINGS

SnuiTs of Wink,—Phantom snakes,

Never look a gift rnulo in the hind foot. " Alonzo " asks tho New York " Journal" fora "cure for love." Marriage, Alonzo, marriage Tho ancient marinor was probably not much of an artist, yet he was one of the old mastors.

! "Was your speech extempore?" "Oh, yes; I wrote it all last night, and com mitted it to memory this morning." A diamond engagement ring makes tihe world seem brighter to the fair recipient. It also makes her swain's purse lighter. Is a Doctor of Music a fiddle D.D 1 The best laid schemes of Bnglishmon Af ghan agley. The craze for lady barbers is dying out, After a man has had his face cut bias, his throat shirred, and his hair pompadoured, and been talked to death, he naturally re turns to the male barber and takos chloro form or laughing-gas.

It is estimated that it coßte forty-two cents to stop a train; but tho clumsy young man who stopped a train at a ball by stepping upon it, says it cost him tho lady who wore it and a number of sleepless nights. He will probably not admit it, but it was money in his pocket. Not Contagious.—" Sakes 'livo, Missus Bumly, why didn't yo' tolo me AVillee bed de mumns ? Now I'vo donosposedde baby to urn, an' he'll hab shuub !" " I tink dais no danjah from urn, Missus Kotchum, kase Willoo's got urn on one side only, an tuthor side hain'ttooked urn 'tall, an' deyVe beon 'long togeddor aller time." "Well, Sandy," said a neighbour, "Hoo is your mithor the day ?" " ' Deed, I dinna kon vera weel hoo sho is, but the coo's ta'en ill—that is far waur than my mither."

Tho clophant can go. A very good ivory is now made from bones and scraps of sheep skin. Tho next improvement will be tho playing of tho gamo of billiards by machin ery. When this is done young men can stay at homo and improvo their minds.

Cuttings from the Comics.

(From " Punch.")

Artistic Exclusivkness.—She : And did you paint much whon you wero in Norway and Sweden ?—He : A—no ! There was anothah paintah there '! Quod (U)erat Demonstrandum ! Herat is hold to bo tho " Key of India," a key which tho foo at its gate must not be allowed to hold. Perhaps the best key for India is tho "gui vive!" At any rate, that particular gate cannot be kept secure by " bolting." Embarrassing.— Mrs Colonel Smythe (of the Poonah Hussars) explains in fluent Hindostanee to her sister, Mrs Major Browne (ditto), that tho same article can bo got at tho Army and Navy stores for two-thirds of tho money.—Draper: Ahem—l beg pardon, ladies, but I think it only fair to acquaint you that I understand tho French language ! (From "Moonshine.") Tho Mahdi lives, it is said, in dread of assassination—which is a clear proof that he knows his deserts, It usod once upon a time to be the British Lion and tho Kussian bear. Mais nous avons changi tout cela ; it is now the Russian lyin' and tho British (grin and) bear!

" Ah," said a soldier in the Soudan, feel ing tho cdife of his bayonot, "I can never got these Arabs to come straight to the Eoint; thoy'ro always boating about the übli."

(From "Funny Folks.")

,At Liverpool a young lady of wealthy family, who is described as "handsome and accomplished," has eloped with a grocer's assistant, who is said to be of a very " com mon-place type." We have not read of a grosser case for some time. At a conference of relieving officers, it was mentioned that out of 21,000 applications for parochial relief, only two wero from total abstainers. This certainly looks as if having too much drink resulted in having too little to oat. There is no doubt that "drains" too frequently load to the gutter. So Brutal.—[Dr. Anna Longshore Potts complains that ladies, from their want |of medical knowledge, aro unable to localise and describe accurately their ailments.] — Lady (aftor a course of Dr. Potts's lectures): You see, doctor, in falling, my head struck tho mantolpioco, and the next morning I obsorved considerable ochymosis and extra vasation of blood benoath the cuticle under tho loft orbit. —Doctor : Dm, You mean, madam, you found you had a black oye !

(From "Judy.") ' "Do you allow your wife to box your oars very often, Maudlethorpe ''." wo hsko'd, aftor his spouso had administered a couple of sharp slaps, and bouncod out of the room. "Law, yes! I don't mind," ro turned M. "Sometimes it's a regular boon ; sho'a inndo uio deaf for a month on sovoral occasions, my boy."

Parliamentary.—Hon.Lionolßraymoro: Yaas j I like this wodistwabulion aflair vewy much, and shortly intend gwoing in for some vaycant bowough.—Facetious Friend : And for such borough, dear boy, thero couldn't possibly bo found amoro BuiUble reproaenta tivo. [Hon. L. B. not sooing it, insists on him waiting for dinner.] Already l.loGfomalodoniostice, whohavo oach uninterruptedly served 10 yoara with ono family in tho Fatherland, without giving awiy more than eevon pounds of cold black puddings per weok to policemen, or introducing inoroUian ono military cousin per night into tho kitchen, havo received a gold cross, a diplomn, and a blessing from tho Empress, A contemporary accusos Mr Biggar of drinking; tho legal luminary is not goitig to bring an action of libel, howover, becauso tho newspaper in question only charges him with "drinking in the delights of debate." A YousoCkiuhton,— Young Lad y: "And how is Johnny getting on at tho new school, Mra Scattorpole '!"— Mrs Scatterpolo : "Oh, beautifully, my dear ! He's learning six languages—French, Gorman, Latin, Greek, Algebra, and Euclid 1"

Courting in the Dim Light

" Look hore, young man," said a parent to his daughter's lover when tho latter ontered the parlour to make hia iirst call of the in door soason the other night, " look here, you burned up a good deal of coal and lamp oil last winter coming round here and stay ing till ten and 10.30 two or three nights a woek. Now, I have no objection to your visits', as you are a respectable young man, but you've got to find your own fuel and lights this coming winter. I cannot afford to koep riree running and a lamp burning in this parlour all the winter." "All right, sir," responded the young man, cheerfully, " I'm willing to share the expense, but you Bhould hardly ask me to bear the whole of it. Suppose you furnish the coal and I furnish the He) t. flow would that do ?" " All right," said the parent, as he turned to leave tho room. "I'm willing to bear my share of the expense if you boar yours." " Let's ace," said the clear-headed youth, as ho sat down besido his lady-love, "how much oil did you burn last winter, Sadio f " Why, .John," she replied with a blush, " we didn't burn a lainpful during tho whole winter." "I know it," John said, with a laugh, "but you noodn't toll your pa how I fooled him."

An Austrian Mystery.

Last week wo gave some startling particu lars with regard to the recent death of the aged Princess Augusta Montlear, who is alleged to have committed suicide by cutting her throat with a carving knifo after having attempted to shoot a manservant who. had brought her some disagreeable news. The Austrian police authorities, it appears, have received this version of the tragedy with pronounced scepticism, and arc seeking another solution of the ill-fated lady's death. This seems likely to be shortly forthcoming, for tho servants, in their endeavours^ to stand by one another, and confirm an im probable story and so divert suspicion, are making absurdly contradictory statements, and everything- points to the conclusion that a hideout; crime has been committed. The Princess Augusta Montlear's eccentri cities were neither few nor always amiable, notwithstanding that her almsgiving was remarkable for its lavishnees; but she, was sufficiently harmless to have been permitted to end her days in as much peace aa Bho chose to allow herself. The thing is, Was it murder or suicide?—" London World, "■

SELECTED POETRY.

THE PUBLIC LIBRARY AND ART GALLERY.

I Thk Laying of the Stone.

I saw a crowd of people on the bills, In their thousands, true and f roe, ' L ; Co-workers in the commonweal Of our future majesty. When Auckland fair shall atand content A monarch in her pride, Enthroned in purity and love, ■ . And the graco of a fair young bfido. And the waving banners fluttered In tho gentle winter broezo, And a thoußund yoicos uttered Her peaceful victories; And a thousand manly bosoms Were beating in their pride, For the pioneors of yester-year And our youth stood side by Bide. ■ The Buildinc. 0 builder 1 bo thou wiso and sure, And rear this temple true, With lessons from the good old land And lovo-sones of the now, ■ Let tho graDito bo without a flaw, Kaoh bonldor firm and tight. For 'tis to bo tho palace homo Of a giant in its might! ' n ""'' This giant shall boar royal away O'er heart and soul and brain, Each robel and each despot . • • Shall 'neath its f eot lie slain ! Hear tho structure strong, 0 builder For in its courts Bhall be A monarch who shall rule the land In itSßtrongth of majesty.

The Temple.

Enter this temple of sweet delight, O man of the throbbing brain! Bo free in thought, for master minds Wrought only for thy gain. : O worshipper of the Holy, This palace is a fane, Thou may's* reap royal treasures Won in agony and pain. The teachers of love who are gone bdforo For thee left works divine— The treasures of a thousand years, Their noble deeds are thine 1

The Teachers.

Groat minds have written words of flame In tears of blood, 'mid want and shame, Till sinking on the parched sod, They've fall'n asleep in the arms of God. But little tears thus sown have sprung A living stream to boulb heart-wrung, And tiny rills have swoll'n betimes To mighty seas that break in chimes. Of human progress, like dawn of morn, That bursts o'er worlds of hato and scorn, And echoes of sweet silver Dells, That chant the dirge of phantom hells. Around them wavos of discord break. They still sing on for freedom's sake; Around them orror and bigotry, !' They still sing on their poesy; Around them desert waves of sand. Breakers and surf on every hand, Dirges of sorrow old Death may ring, Still the sweet spirits of God shall sing Pecans of love to humaD-kind, Songs that waifs of want may find Golden ohains, and loye-throbb'd verso ' That frlorifioth the universo.

The Treasures.

Lo I I see a doubting brother ■ Sland beside a picture fair, Wrought out by years of sorrow In workmanship so rare. 'Tia only a babe and mother On canvas dy tho wall, But you see the life ia gleaming ■ Where tno Bunbeams gently fall. What dost thou soe, 0 thinker? 'Tis only a wooden tree : The Buffering and the blood-dropa For the cause of liberty! Only a patriot and hia death-throbs For my cause and for thino,— A Reformer in his agony, Or God, the Christ divine ! The State-room of the Gods, We may listen to tho anthem Tho organ thunders by; We may catch tho whispered glory, Tho tone of an angel's sigh; . . We may kneel in attitudo of prayer. Or in love-bonds stand elate; Wo breathe 'mid works eternal— For gods lie here in 3tata! Ar! gods of the long-past ages, The master minds of yore— The glorious bards and sageß, Who have reached the golden shore, And loft behind their treasures, Won in agony and pain; Shall we deem it but a pleasure To reap Buch golden grain 1

Our Fotcue.

Ay! we feel tho sweet emotion, 'i'lie quivering bursts of joy— And wo know with fond devotion Our chariot sweepeth by; For wo march as monaroha in tho race, And our future rot shall bo A brotherhood of noblea Crowa'd with love and unity! W. R. Wills, Otahuhu, Juno Bth, 1853.

THE 27th JANUARY, 1885.

In Eastern eklos the dawn grows red, But yet the heaven itself muat know That its young morning's beams are shed Upon a poorer world below : He who for England, helped by nono, So long his crushing burdens bore, 'J As grand and lonoly us the sun. Sot yosterday to rico no more; And thus a mighty life iB marrod, Br babblors without heart or shame, Who played it as mon play a card, To win their worthless party game ; Lot them ropent: we may not pause In this dark hour to upte that crime. But trust it to the Eternal Laws, And to God's safe avenger, Time. There are two thoughts that fill the land, Leaving no room tor aught besido; Gordon's proud end—and. closo at hand, Our Mother in wuo3« name ho died; Palo England, sickening aa sho hears Of Blood that llko a river runs, And watching faint withdroad, through tears Tno Üboless slaughter of her sons. Mother, arise, and weep not yet. But arm our sou's, tbat we may strive; Thero is a light before us set, A spirit to be kept alive ; With Gordon's Btrength we must be strong, A strength, no doubt, no storm could shake; And work like him, through gloom and wrong, To duty truo for England's sake. Yes, wo must follow in his track. As thoso who, coming from afar, l Without a thought of looking tack. Followed to Christ that Guiding Star. Wo have to struggle toward our goal, Sustained by voices from the past, ■ ; Sustained by him, whose death words toll As groat as any, though the last. And when wo, too, our beßt have done, Thy tom and tattered flag to raise, And toiled so, that we should have won That man's acceptance, if not praiße, Then without weakness or remorse, Toars, long pent up, may well be shod, And sorrow take its natural coui'bo For him and them our noble dead. IfßANcrs Hastings Doyle. » —-— ..' ...

A DAY OF STORM.

'Twas a day of storm, for the giant Atlantic rolling in pride, Drawn by the full moon, driven by tho fierce wind, tide upon tide. Flooded our poor little Channel. A hundred anxious oyeo Were watching a broach new brokon—when suddenly f>ome one cries: : -'• "A boat coming in!"—and rounding the pior head that hid her before, There, Bure enough, was a stranger smack, head etraisht, for the shore, How will she land, whore each wave is a moun tain? Too late for how! Run up a flag there to show her tho right place! She must land now! • Sho is close; with a rush on the galloping wavo top, a stand, As tho water sinks from honoath her, her nose iust touohos the land. And then, as rudo hands, sacking a city, greedy of proy, Tobb, in somo littered chamber, a child's toy lightly away, A great wave rose from foohind, and lifting her, toworod, and broke, And flung nor headlong, down on the hard beach, close to tho folk. Crash! . . . But 'lia only her .bowsprit gone —Rho is saved somehow; ' ; And a cheer breaks out, for a hundred hands have hold of her now. ; * And thoy say 'twas hor bowsprit saved her, or she must have gone over then ; Hor bowsprit it waa that aavedhor; and little they think, those men, O£ one weak woman that prayed, aa sho watched them tempest driven! They say 'twas her bowsprit saved her! I say, 'twas that prayer, and Heaven! F.W.B.

NEWS FROM THE PUN-JOB.

Oh, tell us what new trouble hatches; Oh, print them as faßt as you can, < . AH those latest Cabul despatches From the borders of Afshanlßtan! Does Russia then wish to a Pcn.ideh 1 Whole country as far as Herat.' And will England really defend tho , Frontier ? and, oh, where is that at I . i Oh. toll us about Abdurrahman; i When IJulleriu mcolo tho Ameer •.. ■Will this be effective in calmln' :■■ ■ - Tlio oxoitement about the frontier 1 i Oh, no gentle reader, wo think not, s Reports from the ruling Murchab Tfavo iust beon received, and they shrink not j " From calling tho talk Ameer gab. 3 But no one can toll quite fqi: certain <;:'.; About things in Afghanistan, ' Where tho folks aro each hour concerto Soma totally different plan.,-,..- ~, .■ , "Boston CotrtieV."

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAB, SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 1885

5