THE "HOLY WAR" AT TONGA.

rtl9 subject Mr Edwin C. Wilson writes 0 tfiualofa nnJer date October 21st : ' e r correspondents, nswoll as others, keep in view the old aphorism ,>L esseico of a Ho is the intention to "*'•. "and at the outset I acknowledge deceit' .^ trut ),_ Allow me to submit "^""rewtera the outlines of what I con fciyour gt .j t utoan independent view of the "H 6'00 difficu "y wmou ' ias for somo t' mo ""frtUd in TonEß> °nd t0 la9tify mj to candour let it be at onco admitted '""".^jny parts of this group, a long ■ • difference of opinion on tho subject •"r livanChurch f/onnimeiil is still moro «|ff t.Yelv nursed, and that, in conse orl a very unsettled state of things pro- < nCo'rf the harmony which once existed fIU thn representatives of tho \Y csloyan >> jWeS°.»nt hero by tho Conference had 011 • jI undisturbed, there would to liavo ariien n 0 two th». 'consideration of tho original P* of tho split in tho Wcsloyan c"" 0.. bes ido the question under review, O"P.,' w l.o can road botweon Uio linos kaL able to connect cause and effect, as *'? jAhp and possibly arrive at tho same I»?ta? My impression h that tho «»*''°!es its origin and growth not to W»^°!fl but rothoi to on ancient feud *°l tho leaders and ox-loaders of tho Wf B MMon. Behold! It is well ffSew (and elsewhere for that mattor) Khn Rev. S. W. Baker, some ti years " .recited tho political post or Premier, *Mi ci to f«ce whatover opposition might ''•I om the keeping open of the old sore '?i !,<! to his severance from tho Mission. I'Smenced a kind of Kilkennycat Ible brtween tho head of the Minion jikbeadofthoGuvemmeiit. Forajong theffcsleyanConforenceandaU-nanner Tnrindpalitiea and powers wore moved Ch unsuccessfully) by each of those 1 »tlemen to get the othor deported from f Sy. Partisans from amongst tho „!« ranged thomselves on either side. Tto cms beUl thoncoforth ceased to with any other thing than Lnl likes and dislikes to llcv. J. E. fil and Rev. Shirley W. Baker. Slit this was ROing on, Mr Moulton was frmeniMike enough to create a porsonal Mketo himself in tho mind. of the King ' Micttrhich tho King has never attomptod < tate»W Wel!' the Xi" X an^ chioh ' I ~ large say in matters affecting the Sal welto of the poople, and whilst ' Sits a Constitution so framed as to < Ire to all freedom to enjoy their religions ' «iiict)oßß, they, in common with tho Zm oi all semi-civilised communities, ' aJiob to uphold their. acquired and ' Story rights, their station to regulate ' mtten 1 of which tho criminal or civil law ' Jtiibnocognijance. Tho people, too, J uto themsolves, cheerfully submit ' h the unwritten law, under which it is j gto true that sovoral, who have mado ' prominent in fomenting J {affection by inflammatory and libellous i ■wchesconsidered likely to raise sedition, l In come under tho displeasure of tho J Btlorities, and have been divested of l niiiew which they should never have s jstogered iv that way. That a very * tot number of natives of thia country * rtoha>"eadopted the Roman Catholic creed ' iaGovernmentprofessedly Wesloyan) ntiM in every privilege belonging to ' ild^arj subject, and that they '' sit under' c feiroKO vine and tig tree, none during to J nistem afraid," should, I think, bo a J slaent proof of the disposition of tho * EoTffnmSDt to recognise tho right of every c sijiet to worship according to his con- L I him, When it began to bo realised r (tiii Wedey-an matters tho elements of °. foldweiegetting very pronounced, tho *• liedeclared his wish that such a state of I fctssbonld be ended byall again becoming v iXdbody, taking into their own hands n is religions affairs. This stop would *■ iiplyiaTolve a change ofmanagemait, and " Sibtgged of tho people, "if thoy loved ° a," to support tho Church to which ho * Wlavour. Tho appeal, thus mado, re- " (Slliiitheestablishment, somofewmonths * $o! the Independent Wesloyan Froo v larehnfTonga. It is entirely misleading s to import into the question r s' aScri6Bas"Dewroligion, &c." ; tho only * Btlty about tho nowlyformod church [' S.ilJ:in ita members undertaking to " uaj's their own business (and providing irasary funds for that purpose) without itas to a parent body (tho Wesleyan Mmnce) very many hundreds of miles ], my. It now employs the eamo teachers lie, accredited by that body, have for il ■Klbeen preaching tho precepts of Wch- o Htpni, and uses precisely the same form |, Hliniegaeef old. Surely the causo is in p ■^maleliands]a3herotoforo. Itcannotbo ■faHthat during the struggle for supro- * ■Bt;teen the respective adherents of > Hi to Churches, many irregular ordors ~ Bisulapven and executed by eomo of , H&iU; but the moro serious of th_e?o [_ uvelempromptly repudiated by tho King Hwwiiniinient so soon as they becamo q Hhn, Charcheß havo been seized (and (-, ■?«iieiti)red), chiefs havo been degraded 0 ■biW» punished (but for purely 0 Hsialoffences), "banishment" to tho a H^t bI Snding numbers of peoplo who a ■S «o respect to the King's desire in o jfH.KjtiißMw Church has been resorted JJ H'iWtliß application of such a term to \ ( ■jAjimlcontetitsa fow miles out of one q into another in this small kingdom, g ■j™TKy like exiling an Aucklander to ,< ■fejo^ Tho air may be, as Mr Moulton with rumours of hanging, \ 4c," but the air hero is quite i. H*™jfollof rumours—chiefly of a lying t .^^••Koonohasbeenhungyct. "Mon.not ■^ra," and similar catch cries, have on -j the populace, no mutter in what r , be spoken ;if not ex- o the inchoat sentiment has equal f, H^opyenibg men'e actions in mattors j. IBS""1' I quote from your Vavau cor- o ■Wtit(inyour issue of tho 12th ulto.) „ B^Wicwhoopsas "turn to" "Mossra g ■R'wWatkin'B now faith," but thoy j, ■PW'rdigion," etc., are quite us com- g j^K™*Mre throughout the group, aro {, ■R^JMppted by the non-adherents of „ and aro apparently o '1 ™ as much importance as tho -^ X ,™Popny " once upon a timo was. :. ■Categorically with the different wKnf lowments1 owments in this so-called J l^ff! War" would involve space „ ■?• W qaite sure is not at your Kj; tat a plain unvarnished v H|T V™™ tried to give ought to c HIS'' 4? interesting to your readers as a HE ™«dly)tliedisingonuous correapon- j ■^™» Tonga published in the issue ■l,]?"above quoted. As St. Paul r Hl ■« m hear tho conclusion of the ~ • "™8 is> 1 think> most C ■hPi, B0SgMted by the ending of t Hu' *■ Crosby^ letter. I quoto t W-, v mono >' recontly collected for . «T"iKlßgGeorge) : "But who is r ■af' Has Mr Baker anything to „ ■SMiiy ? Who will vouch for . W/l?1 wing epeat only wholly on tho f HRi W ffe are askod t0 contribute t fflfc.jtj 6 "6 quite ready to show our ( Hltjiji,. 8® if ho will atop porsecu- ~ H*rftV ome ono olso to nave con' ! ■nj.^iey." (In reading this one . ■all utbo cbink of " the awncJ7'") , ■i" w M presumed that with these [ |BiWP,Mticularly tljo ousting of : ■CSS" Wee%an Mission will be able , m^ '".it frame of mind when thoy , K;'wetothoir King, and to all B' Well • cllarity wllich tQink6tll n 0 ( ■P"»tt» ft D 0 morotnan we have a HHbi,! a Christian ministers Hwi er need' I think, bo said , ■HoW°?lS. feßt that tho mainspring ' B>% t. 0;. 6 tro«blQ can be traced j X, | , a struggle for supremacy ffl le"w 8 M d ex-leaders of tho ML/;* Mu» 81 on, and that at first tho ■(iCWoared no bigger than a §Hh J, ". a8 ultimately grown to a ■T^ on ? B' the importance of a Wfc'« C-° n ; "aild if th" bs st). it ■%;i lnie th«t in tho interest of WFI ihmu l ? Pro^Bß, all unworthy i at onco abandoned, and ■jiC? ad«c'eiir to the people. I K^t«, ~m a discourse of vary- Wb" & • aut>' of tho 'yp6 of Hf5!0l !Blnl In Sparing it, with the B^^Ck ffles' Let me commend '■PBilti b» k ymP'c woe in which the B'?^la il WlTied a lam P and the B^'win/ ■ mB firat t0 tho V ost B!LC'B llroolMnlSßionerls Vlsit- KSailav^ Writcß M 'follows :- R'^Cf fT U's Excellency »>«1 Z „ ' and are tha°kful. It ■I^^PMsecution, but I bslievo BK. *hi * will n of investigation, tho BiVß»»it mf- Pear hereafter. Moan ■B^*™^ rf v and confidently B^tol.^i'fr^e attempts havo B§ k'JSnt 6 Kl^iatW aii utter«l no un- Wn^'^or 0*^1'' buthaa "■;irra!y BS?li^LHsabai> wnsequently Bi^aVuS,^"' a"J:'!" thefol jM "> a very large gather

ing of tho people I say the Tongan Go vernment must have forwarded it him, for it is as inconceivable that it should havo coma from an irresponsible person as from ii -mS Comm>ssioner. It is as follows : — I bo Governor of Fiji has como in a small steamor, not in 'a man-of-war.'

1. He is vory angry with Mr Moulton and the iiiuropoans for talking about a man-of war. Ho says a man-of-war will cortainly not come to inquire into theso things. 2. Ho is vory grioved with the Consul for continually finding fault with thoCovorn mont, and ho is tired of telling him not to (io it, for England does not approve of it. In fact, tho Consul has fallon into a hole, and the Governor strongly supports Mr Baker.

3. Mr Moulton must go. Tho Ciovernor Tl S lv 'V'S'it «o should go, and ho will tell tho Sydney Conference co ; and Mr Moulton has shullled about his lotter to Fiji asking for a grant of land, and the twisting of language has bcon something oxtraordin nry.

•t. Tho Govornor assembled all tho Wes leyans, and told them ho had come in a miserable littlo stoamor to show that tho matter ho had como about was not im portant enough for a man-of-war. There would bo no man-of-war, thero would bo no inquiry, for the Wosleyans woro themselves tho cause of tho trouble. Mr Moulton would bo taken away, tho Wosleyaus would bo in a hole, and it was for Tubon to nloaso himself in his own land."

I have arranged tho speech under tho above four topics, and now J ask your readers, do not thoy carry tho word " Lin " written on thoir face ? J do not mean 1.0 say tho King has knowingly uttered false hoods, an■! 1 ask Mr Baker to particularly notico this ; should ho do mo the honour M translating my lettor to Jlis Majesty. Tho King had to rely upon reports and letters, mid those aro responsible for (ho inis-strttements, tho An of which does not lie nt His Majesty's door. Mr Crosby goes on to remark on other topic-!, bui; our spaco will not allow of further quotation.

The Persecuted Wesleyans.

Another correspondent -writes from Y avail:—Sinco the return of tho cMurches to tho Wesloyan Jlission, persecution in church mattors has entered upon a now phase. The buildings were given up, as is generally understood, in obodienco to com mands from high quarters through tho Consul. No doubt tho leaders of tho mis sion thought thoy had scored a point, and oxpected that their congregations would again assemble in them, but our groat Tongan Bismarck is n. man of many resources. It was soon determined that tho churches should bo without worshippers. Orders woro given to bring in all the Wesleyans in Tonga to ono town, thoy had to leave house?, plantations and evcrything,and herd togethor in, miser able huts on a low place near tho beach, In Haabai they wero brought in from tho various small islands to Lifuka, and thero they run a very good chance of being starved unless tho Mission or sympathising foreigners sent food to thorn, in Vavau tho adherents or known sympathisers with tho Mission Church wero few in number, the suspected ones were brought up and mado to swear on oath that they did not belong to tho Wesloyan Church, those who were known to bolong to that church Here sent, to Lifuka, there to livo or starve with their co-religionists. Threo or four men, including a native minister, had just been sent on here from Tonga to look after tho Mission property, and to bold or organise services in tho newly-restored churches Ordors were publicly givon not to lay violent hands upon theeo men, but they woro to bo strictly " boy cotted"—no one was to hold com munication with them, givo thorn food, rcceivo thorn into their houses, or in any othor way have anything to do with them. Special ollicors wore appointed to ■watch people suspected of having any sympathy with them or thoir cause in order that tho above ordors might bo strictly enforced. One unfortmiato being was bold enough to make " kava " and give bread to tho " boy cotted " Native Minister. The noxt day tho special ollicers appointed for this work brought him in preparatory to sending him to Lifuka. .In v few days f» hotter means was found of getting rid of him. lie hod said that k; his opinion tho King had done wrong in turning from tho old Church. That was called speaking ill of the King, for which ho was sentenced to two years' imprisonment'!

Steam in 1838 and 1885.

I'iAUt.Y iv the year \&\\>, the London papers advertised " that the long-talked of project of communicating with America by steam boats was at length to bo carried into effect. It was supposed that the Great Western would havo bcon tho first steamer to run to Now York ; but wo find that the Sirius, a powerful and well built steamer of TOO tons, and 320 horse power, eommandod by Lieutenant It. Kobertii, Ii N., 18 " to leavo tho London Docks on 28th March next, and Cork on 2nd April, for New York." True to tho time notified, the Sirius hauled out of dock, and sailed from off Eastlano stairs on 28th March, 183S; touched at Cork ; and atter a tompestuous passage, arrived at New York at 9 p.m., Sunday, April 22nd. The following correct extracts aro taken from printed copies of tho logs of both the Sirius and the Great Western, and rofcroncothoreto clearly shows the winner of tho " Raco Across the Atlantic' "Tho Sirius loft Cork at 10 a.m., April 4th, ISSB, and arrived at New- York on tho 22nd samo month, at ',) p m." "The Great Western left Bristol on tho Sth April, IS3S, and arrived at New- York on tiio 23rd same month, at 3 p.m." Tho arrivals woro the signal for great rejoicing and numerous entertainments on the part of our hospitable cousins. The following is taken from the " Ur eckly Herald," New York, Saturday, April 2Sth, 183S: — " The first steamor across the Atlantic. Tho Sirius ! Tho Sirius ! Tho Sirius! Triumph of steam. Nothing is talked of but tho Sirius. She ia tho f'rst steamer that arrived from England," &c. It is pleasant to romark that ot all tho entertainments givon on this occasion by tho good citizons of New York, tho health of our gracious Queon was invariably proposed, and received with groat enthusiasm. On tho departure o_f the Sirius, homeward bound, a salute of 17 guns wa* given from the Battery Show, a mark (the "Herald" states) of respect novor before shown to tho commander of a mer chant vessel. Lieutenant R. Roberts was afterwards lost while in command of the ill fated steamer the President, in 1841. InSeptember, 18S4,Messrs John Elder and Co. hunched from their yard at Go van a large steel ecrew-steamer for the Cunard Company,; c, tho Etruria, to supplement their eorvice of oxprosa steamers between Liverpool and Now York. The dimensions of tho vessel aro: Length over all, 520 ft ; breadth, 57ft. 3in; depth to upper dock 41ft. and to promenade-dock 49ft ; with a gross tonnage of b.UOU tons. She has five decks in all, including tbo promenade deck, which extends over tho breadth of the voseel for nearly 300 ft. amidships ; she has accommodation for /U) first-class paseongew. Tho engines aro made to indicato upwards of 14,000 horse powor. They are cempound, having three inverted cylinders-ono high pressure 71m. in diameter, and two low-pressures each lOSin. in diameter. Thehigh-pressure cylin der ia placed between tho two lovv-prossuro cylinder?, and is adapted to a stroke of 6ft. Built under tho supervision of tno Admiralty, all the groat Atlantic liners are well adapted for the run across the Atlantic, known as tho ocean greyhounds, i.e., tho America, Etruria, Alaska, and Oregon Tho last-named is considered ono of tho swiftest steamersowned by thoOunard Com pany, having run across tho Atlantic in l> days 10 hours, with 9-minutes to spare.

Ancient Customs in the City of London. beln maintained foi a penoa w b at Allhallow.s Chnrcli. peter where, in accordance with U"^ tl soboola.

EPIGRAMS.

(By J. Mubkay Mooiik, M.D.)

Tin; word epigram is a Greek ono — epigrmnma, and indicates its classical origin, namely, from the Greeks, tho quickest wittcii nation of antiquity. It originally meant morcly an inscription, whether on al tar, statuo, tomb or tablet, in memory of some deceased friend, or in honour of tho god to whom success in the public games or in war was attri buted, Tho small space available for such inscriptions led to tho brevity ■ of tho epiijmmma, and tho desire to cay as | much truth in as few words as possiblo con duced to its point, in fact .to the "Attic ; salt " which soon came to be characteristic of tho epigram. Nobly torso was tlio " epi gram " composed by tho poofc Simonidcs (v.c. 535) for tho moinunont to tho.threo hundred heroes who fell at Thormopyke : Go, toll tht: Spartans, tliou that passoat by, That here, obedient to choir laws, we lie. Tho earliest Cheek opigrams do not aim at wit, or to starllo ono with somo surprising play upon words, or double entendre, but aro moral, or didactic, or pathetic, and eomo timos contain just a fpico of humour. In this one — Swift kindnesses aro host, a lons delay In kindness cakes '.lie kindness all a way —wo soo whence tho Latin proverb origin ated, " liin da/, tjnieilo rfat." A thoroughly pessimist epigram was com posed by Poseidippus (dato uncertain, pro bably 100 b.0.), and ia thus rondored by Sir J. Beaumont: Show mo Bonic patu ofiife! Tin: marketplace Breo.ls only quarrrl imd hard Imrwinliiss, St..yiiiK nl liomi: iiiec-nanr, worry brinf,':!; OC norklnß In ho Held oik; tiros upaci; ; WIIO I,'OIW 10 1 IVI tl COUMt.:l.!il lll'tl'ilt Illl.S face. Ami If oiiu tri'.v. 1. fuiirn for pri'dulia things Torment,—if ono h.tt. none, Uui liickiiiK slings, ;-o, rteli or pi.or. hard i) i.ho tr.-ivolloi'sense. Jiiirri'Kl, wli.iloarc! sun^N.', wrwit Inn, Hneaa! Children lirlnwc Borrow, blank I ho cliilillii-s lie. Foolish in jouth, aivl old k><- lisiktH i|iiito. Here lies the only choice, I imi-t. onfosa Not to bo ho n into this world of strif■> Or utraitjlit to die, bavins but just seen li^ht. Out of a number of Greek opitapha beforo mo, which aro " epigrammatic," I select the following two : — I. On i in-: Tomb of tiik Sailor Nicktas. Oh, why. my brother mariners, so near tho boisterous wave Of ocean, liavo ye hollowed out my solitary grave ( 'Twero hotter much that farther oil' a sailor's tomb should W. For I dread my rude destroyer—l dread tho roaring sea: But m-iy the smiles of fortuno, and may I'jvfl and peace await AH ye who shed a pitying tear tvr poor Nleotas'1 fa:e. ' 11. Ok a Youth Named Aster Hn English, •■Star'] Aster, in life our morciDß itar, a lovoly light you shod. Atd now you thine as Hesperus, a star among the dead. There is not only humour, but a pointed moral in tho following antiques: — Fathor of flatterers, gold! Of pain and care bogot— A care it is to have thee, and a pain to have thco not. Beany on which no gntcos wait May plenso. hill not retain, Juit as, without tlu> barb, the bait Floats useless on the main. Ox A IIAKU-MIKHOII. Venus, tuko ihis votive glass Sinoo lira not. ivhutl was. Wluitlshnllhi! matter bo, Verm i. let mo never see! Theeo extract?, from Lord Neave's spirtte 1 and graceful translations in iiin "Greek Anthology," may llnfeh with two amusing bits :— A blockhead, bis by (lea*, nut out 'ho liAt. And, ehui-kiiiii,', cried. " Now you can't si?e to bite " A v per bit a Cfti)p:ulooian's hide. Hut'(«! ih ! rilicr, not tho man tin', dial. Gradually tho epigram assumed a purely satirical form, anil was often very stinging in its personal application. Towards tho period of tho Augustine ago ol Human litera ture, it conformed to the neat definition of some modern writer — The (lualitie* r.uc in a boo that w<> moet In an ii'i'-'i'aui never should f*il; Tho body chmild ill.va>Hb.i HUM im.lMvict. And a sting should bo left in its tall. Amon;4 the Komau poots, Catullu sand Martial' were tho chief cpigramnirttistß, though it would bo easy to pick out of Horace's Letters, Satires, and Odes many clioieo epigrams also. Martial's neatest opigram was, straiiL'O to say, com posed npo'.i tho miracle performed at Cana in Galilee. VUUI .7 n-übuil lympha ptidlcn /Jut in-- The molest water haw in l/ird an 1 lilualiod, But nourly all his upigrams are (uiutodly iiotdonal, such as theso throu : I. TO I'AL'I.A. l'atila. thnu wonld'at lo Prisoua weddo I be. Thou'rt wist>, and he's wise 100, he won't wed thco. It. To Ij.kma. Thine hair and teeth thou'rt not ashamed to buy. Whut would'st tho i do didst loiio tho other cyo! [11. T ■ A FlUKxn. In all thy humours, whothor grovo or inollow, Thou'rl such a lively, tcsiy. plcnsini fellow. Hast so much wit, a d mirth, ami aplcon about thef, There la no living with theo or without thoo. Wo can hero and clsowhero through out tho classical literature of tho lighter kind lind tho quips and punning allusions of many modern epigrams. As a part of tho Renaissance of everything Greek and Roman in tho 15th contury, those composi tions were revived. Even tho grave and pious Philip Mclancthon, the close- filond of Luther, wroto epigrams, and Clemont Marot, tho Huguenot, tirst translator of tho Psalms of David into motrical Fronch, was a notable epigrammatist. Tho title of " epigram " was now oxtonded so widely that it becamo ono of tho most catholic of literary forms. An epigram, from tho 10th contury down to our times, liuh taken any of those shapes - a futiro, an elogy, a oulogy, a love-poem, an embodi ment of proverbial' philosophy, a torso do scription of a fact, place, or person, or a witticism sot off with a couple of rhymes. Tho genius of tho Fronch and tho forms of their highly lloxiblo language rojoiced in epigrammaticoxprossion. Boilcau, Lebrun, Marmontel, Kousacau, and Voltaire wroto many good ones, while all the 18th and 19th contury dramatists -- take for instance Moliure and Victor Uugo—aro full of thoao pleasantries. Hugo's romances abound in them also. Tho maxims of La Rochefoucauld are, many of them, real opigrams, some of which have received the greatost tributo of appreciation—that of becoming an interna tional proverb. Two quotations will illus trate this author: 1, Hypocrisy is the homago that vice pays to virtue. . 2. There aro two kinds of curiosity. Ono arises from interest, which makes us desirous to learn what may bo useful to us ; thoothor from pride, which mnkeßus desirous to know what othors are ignorant of. Tho power of tho epigram over the French mind was singularly illustrated during tho reign of Lo Grand Monatque, which was desoribad an a Uospatuun tem pered by opigrama ! This recalls G. A. Sala'- (not original) description of Russian Government m a despotism tempered by aseaßsiuation ! Napoleon's epigram, Grattez k JtiisM, d run.: Irouveres In laitare; was founded on his own experience and has bo comc a ptovorb much quoted by Russopho bists 1" Eirgland our heavier Anglo-Saxon himour does not run into opigrams so rittdily. Our abundant loyalty since the restoration of Charles 11. has restrained our humourists from attacking tho occupant of the throne in this particular way._ Many a time must tho Jolly Monarch have laughed at tho witty Rochester's impromptu opi gram, to be used as an epitaph : Here lies our sovereign lord the King, Whose word no man rejies on, Wlio never Slid a foolish thing, And never did a wine one.

Among our poets lope, and among prose writers Porson, Vincent Bourne, and Lauder have indulged in this kind of writing, and here and there wo come across, an epigram among less known writers. Treason doth never prosner; what's treason» Why. if it pio^pcr, none daru call it tieason. is by Harrington. The satirical Samuel Rogers evolved a neat ono— • Ward has no nearr.' th-y say, but I deny it! Uo has a hearr.-and prcta his Bpeechcs by it. The learned professions afforded a favourita subject for epigram in tho 18th century, as, for instance, in those verses :- How D.U. ewagKera, M.I), roll?., . I dub them both a brace ot noddies i Old D.U takes tbo " cure of Boule. And at I) tske^ thn care of bodies. Between thorn both what treatment rare niir souls and bodios most, cnauiv.! too takes tho cum without'ho care. T'other the care without the cura.

And even a fashionable physician, Dr. Isaac Lettsom, pxpresses his sceptisim in his own treatment thus humorously : Whatever pallesUepme to me T nlirßioß, biee.i^ ",.1 sweats 'em : H after that. th. y choose to die

J Tho most witty oxpression of the posses sion of a wholly unmusical ear came out in a well-known epigram by the famous Dean Switfc at, a period when Handel was strugg ling with a cortnin Italian Binging-mas ter, whoeo namo has been rescued from oblivion solely by this rhyme, for tho musical supremacy in London.

Somesiy that. Sign or liuoncini Compared to Handel is a ninuy j While others say that to him Handel h hardly lie to hold a candle. Strange that such difference there should b.i Twist 'Iwccilledum EndTwccdlolcc i

Epigrammaticdofiiutions aro often useful, as well as witty, in fixing ono characteris tic at least of tho thing defined in our memories.

" Etymology," soys Voltaire, "isascionce in which tho vowols count for nothing and tho consonant.s for vory littlo."

Clitics are tho men who havo failed in litcra tureand in art. Diskabli, Qonius 'a au in liniteciipftcity for taking pains. Carlyle. Clcnins is lino observation etretwthened by fixity of purpoau. Dl'Lwek liYTI'ON.

In our H)th century literature it is not easy to distinguish botweon an aphorism, a paradox, a maxim, and an epigram, What shall wo stylo tho following pithy but cynical description of lifu '!— Youth Is a iiiisUlco, manhood a strug^lo, and old as;o a regret. I consider it a genuine epigram. So also is tho wise apophthegm of Bacon : — Reading niukcili a full man ; convorafttion a ready man ; and writing an uxaot man. Tho works of Byron, Fuller, Zimmerman, Lytton, Disraoli, and especially George Eliot, aro full of what I term epigrams in tho widest and deopost, moa'iingof the word. Shakespeare's plays, of course, afl'ord an in exhaustible mine of them. Lot us take Bonw examples from theso writers: — Ox Fame. ' J'i.i like a snowball, which ilorivoa nadielunco l'Yom ovory llako aiulsUU rolls on the same, K'oii till tin iceberg it nny clinnco to grow j Jitu iifcer all 'tis nothing but cold snow. Uyiion, Fame may lie romvnired to s. ecoM ;tho best way to bilunoo her is to let her alone, und Bho will nt last do out of brcalh iv blowing her own trumput I'Ylush. In lfamn's temple thpro I* always a nieho to bo found for lich dunces, huportunaio scoun drels, and successful butchers oC the human idCO. ZIMMIBMIX. Tho poet Cowper's epigram on Knowledge and Wisdom is oxcollont: — Knowledge anil Wiadom, far fro.n being ono, Havo oft-times no connection. Knowledge dwells In heads ruplct i with tbouelitH ol other men ; VV'isdjui in niimla ntionlivu to thcii- own. Knowledge, n rude, unprolltiiblo niaßS-- Tho more materials wi h which Wisdom

buiids— Till smoothed, nud squared, and lilted into

place. Does but uucumbor what, it seems to enrich ; Knowledge i 3 prowl that ho has learned so

much— Wisdom ia humble that ho knows no moro,

Among tho epigrammatic sontencos in tho writings of Buhver Lytton, thoso havo caught my eyo from timo to timo : —

" Destiny - it is destiny ! Phraso of tho weak human heart ! It is destiny ! Dark apology for every orror ! Tho strong and tho virtuous admit no destiny. On earth guides conscience—in heaven watches God. Ami destiny is but the phantom wo awake t«i s-ilonce the one, and to dothrono tho other."

" SellUhno9». —The greatest happiness of tho greatest number is best secured by a prudent consideration for uumbor ono." ' Odd Numbers.— Thero is safety in num bers, especially in odd numbers. Tho Threo Graces never married, nor did tho Nine Musts."

" In the old times it was through tho Temple of Honour that ono passed to tho Tomplo of Fortune. In this wise ago tho process is reversed." " Middlo lifo is never with today ; ita home is in tomorrow Anxious

and scheming, desiring and wishing this plot ripened and that hopo fulfilled, while every wavo of the forgotten time brings it nearer and nearer to the end of till thing*. Half our lifo is consumed in longing to bo nearer death."

■ In Disraeli's novel "Lothair " occur a few clever epigrams, which go to redeem tho whole work from entire dulnoss. Tho first I shall quote co exactly fitted its sub ject, l'rofcssor Goldwin Smith, as to mako him attack tho author in a public utter-

"Tho O.vford Professor was quito a young man, of advanced opinion on all sub jects-religious, social, ami political. Jlo was clover, extremely well-intoracd so far as books can mako a man knowing, but un able to profit ovon by that limited oxport onco of lifo from a restless vanity and over flowing conceit, which prevented him from over observing or thinking of anything but himself. He was gifted with great com mand of words, which took tho form of end less exposition varied by sarcasm and passages of ornato jargon." This is less torso, but quito aa slinging as the author's description ot Gladstone (I think in "Endymion")as " a sophistical rhe torician, intoxicated with thoexuborancoof his own verbosity."

"Lady St. Aldegondo had a roception in hor room. Thoro tho silent observation of tho evening found avonglng expression in sparkling criticism, and the summer light ning, though it generally blazed with harm loss brilliancy, occasionally assumed a moro arrowy character. Then is tho timo when characters aro never moro finely drawn or difficult questions moro accurately solved : knowlcdgo without reasoning, and truth without logic-the triumph of intuition I" Tho admirable gonius-so essentially a complex product of this contury—of George Eliot has furnishod us with a host of epi grams. Every saying of the witty Mrs l'oyser in "Adam Bode" is a proverb, a maxim, or an epigram Those throo are fair examples of Mrs I'.'s homely wits :— ---"Thoro's folks would stand on their head, and thon say the fault was in their boots." " I'vo nothing to say against Craig,' only it's a pity he conldna' bo hatched o'er again, and hatched different." It's poor work allays sottin' the dead above Uio livin'. We shall all on us bo dead some time, J rockon ; it 'ud bo bottor if folks 'ud mako much on us beforehand, iatod 0' bogin ning whon wo'ro gone. It's but littlo good you'd do a watering last yoar's crop." Among numerous opigrama on human motives, actions, and character, tho follow ing aro good excerpts: — " In the love of a brave and faithful man thero ie always a strain of maternal tender ness : ho gives out again those beams of pro tecting fondness which wore shed on him as he lay on his mother's knee." " They who truet us oducate us." " But ploasureloss yielding to tho small solicitations of circumstances is a com moner history of perdition than any single momontous bargain." "An ingoniouß web of probabilities is tho surest screen a wise man can place between himself and tho truth "

" Tho tsroublosomo ones in a family are usually either the wits or tho idiots." " In poor ttoKimond's mind thero was not room enough for luxuries to look small in." 11 Errors look so very ugly in persons of email means ; ono feels they are taking quite a liberty in going astray ; wherons, pooplo of fortune may naturally indulge in a few delinquencies. 'They've got tho money for it,' as tho girl said of her mis tress who had mado herself ill with picklod salmon."

"It is only that freshnoss of our timo (youth) that the choico is possiblo which gives unity to lifo, and makes the memory a temple vhero all rolics and all votive offerings, all worship and all grateful joy are unbroken history, sanctified by one religion." From tho plays of the great world-poet, Shaltcspearo, spaco can only bo given for two or threo epigrams. A thoroughly cyni cal one is to bo found in " Timon of Athens," Act 1., Scene 2. • p

Ai'ira niub'm GRACE Before Meat. Immortal gods, I or:ve no pelf, T pi ay for no man but myf-olf. Orant thpt I may nover prove ao fond To trust man nn his 011 th or bond. Or almrlot Sir her wreping, iv a i'or thi'.t seems a-sl(-"ping, Or a kpeper for my freedom, Or my friends, if I should np.eii 'cm.

Kven iv many a single line, or line and a half, or couplot, lurks an epigram. Such lines as

love is not love Which alters when it alteration finds.

My poverty, hut not try will, consents. I pay thy poverty, and not thy will. •

Tho finest epigrams ever written upon " Sleep " aro to be found in the second part of Henry IV., Act 3, Scono I, and in Mac beth, Act 2, Scene 2. Tho lattor sums up, with exquisite felicity, the properties of "Gentle sleep, Nature's soft nurse ": -

Macbeth doth murder sleep—tti3 innocent

Sleap that knits up tho ravelin;] sleeve ot cure, 'I'hodca'h of each day's life, so c labour's bith. Balm of hurt minds, greit Naturt's second

course, ChicC nouriahorin life's feast.

Tho tempting subject of " Love," which has been tpipirammatised in all ages and iv every language,must be for the present dis missed with the lovely passage from a too

little-known poem by Southey, called " Tho Curse of Kehama,"

Thoy sin who toll us lovo can die. With lifo all other passions lly, All others aro but vanity. In Heaven ambition ounnot dwell. Nor avarice in the vaults ot Hell. Kurthly these paesions of tho earth, Thoy norißh where-th=y had their birth, But lovo Is indestructiblo, Ita holy flams for ovoi" burneth, l'"roni Heaven it came, to Heaven roturneth, Too oft on Ciirth ti troublod guest., At times received, at times opprest. It hero iH tried und purinVd, Then hath in Heaven its perfect rrnt. If sowoth h ri wilh toil and ciro, Hut tho harv st- ime uf love U tucre,

The Finest Profession in the World.

That is a pretty good profes.-ion in those hard times which a man cat! ontor.fresh from college, at a yearly salary of i'l,'2oo or C 2.000 or .IM,OOO. An hour's work a day (with v rett on Saturdays and Sundays), or even two houra' work, is not too much to ask of its members, especially when they have a six montliH1 annual holiday (not counting tho fortnight at Christina.?) in which to get tho hotter of the ovor-prcssu re. Scotch university professors constitutotho membership of this enviable profession. Thoir salaries vary according to tho subject on which thoy locturo and the attendance at thoir classes. Professor Turner, of Edin burgh, for instanco, tho distinguished anatomist, has an annual income from his lectures of sonio .C-1,000 a year, his, ch'iir being at present tho most valuable in tho world. Sovoral of his brother-professors in tho medical school make from £^',000 to £3,000 a year, and similar salaries aro ob tained in Glasgow. The Arts professors, who have, on tlio whole, lass to do, aro not worse oil". In tbo classes of ! " Humanity " and Greek, which, unless ho parses a preliminary examination, tlio stu dont mu»t attend fnr two sessions, there aro two divisions with about two hundred students on an average in each. If this is an ovor-ostiniate for Edinburgh, it is much the roverso for Glasgow, whoro tho Arts classes arocrammod. As each student pays a feo of thrco guineas a year, the professors in those classes cloar about .Cl.L'dO oil' fees alone, and thus havo tlio double advantage over all other professional men of being paid tho great part of thoir salaries in advance Tho mothod of collecting the students' fees is eminently to tho point. Fur tho first fow days of the sossion tho profoseor lec ture? for twenty minutes, and thon retires to his ante-room, lloro the umlergraduatos follow him in droves, clutching each his threo pound notes and his threo shilling pieces, and thosa aro handed him across a table that positively groans under its weight of money. Scotch students do not find it convenient to pay in cheques ; ,'.nd a story wont round tho quadrangle onco at the boginning of a sossion, to tho effect that Professor Sollar was off to tho bank with GOO one pound notes sticking out of his pockets: This may easily havo been tho ca-o. Thero aro two Arts professors in Edinburgh at present—tho ono in tho Greek and the other in tho Mathematical chair-whoso united ago ia not much moro than sixty, and who both entered the most satisfactory of professions fresh from Oxford and Cambridge, As each chair is endowed to tho amount of a few hunJrsd pounds a your, and tho professor.-! havo all the fees, thoso gentlemen aro doing pretty well. Mr .lainos Payii, tho novelist, animadverts, in his "Library KemiuitCi nces," on tl.o revoronco with which the Scotch mind regards professors; but then Mr l'ayn never saw a Scotch professor in his auto room raking in his monoy at the rate of £5 a minute. Any ono would rovero him who hud witnessed that.

It is qtiitT impossible for a Scjtch pro foPFor, attendance at whoso classos is necessary for tho degree, to help making a largo income. Uo may bo about eighty years of ago (as ho .s.nnotimus is), or his room may bo a boar-garden (as it some times i.»); but intending graduates roust tike the class ami pay tho fees. At Uio same timo it depend;' on tho professor him solf whether ho in to havo n vory largo salary or only a largo salary. If ho bo an outstanding man with his heart in his work, many outsiders will take, a session with him though they have no intention of completing tiio full curriculum; and tho rtudont who can afford it will take out big class a second or oven.a third timo. It is because of tho lino reputation ho has mado for himself that L'rofcssor Tumor's classes aro so crowded ; and mon of nil »s:o.-<, besides tho regular studonts, arc drawn to tho English Lttornture leeturos in Edin burgh, which L'rofoeHor Mnsson has mado an ovont in tho lives of many of Ilia eountrymou. There are a num ber of Scotch professors attendance at whoso lecturos is optional- that ia to say, it. if not necessary for tlio degree. I lore tbo lc furor must bo a special attraction in him.=el. if his foes aro to amount to anything considi. ■ ablo; and, on thu whole, thoso c'asses .-.ro thinly attended. Ot one a cruol joko i-> i ild at tho professor's expense It is said that, on ontoring his room ono day ho found this notico on his dotk : —"Thoro will bo no lecture to-day, as tho student is mi wall." Though the attendance in such cases hardly teems to justify the existence of tho chair, it should not bo rashly con cluded that theso professors at least aro poorly paid. Thoir chairs aro all richly endowed, mid they saunter throuch life vory comfortably on as littlo ns .CfiOO or £700 a year.

Somo Scotch professors seem bettor off than thuy are, and others add largely to thoir professional income. Professor Tumor, for instanco, has to conliuo himself to uni versity work, not being expected to engage in privato practice. There aro thusinodical mon in Scotland making larger incomes thin hi-j; and a iow of tbo successful Edin burgh advocates make mnnh more than an v law professor. Tho Arts professors, how ever, have ladies' classes iv addition to their university lecturos, and theso yiold incomes in themsolves.

Whon there is a vacancy in tiii< delight ful profession it doss not require many advortisotr.onts to bring forward candid il.es. The appointments may bo in tho hands of tho Sonatus, of tbo Town Council, or of a fow choson men from ench of those bodies. It may bolong to tho Crown ; or .■■omo out side organisation interested in tho subject may have a vote. Tho Scottish Acadomy, for instance, baa a say in the appointment of the Fine Arts Professor in Edinburgh. The Corporation has now-a-days much lees to do with the control of university matters than it had formerly, when Town Council and Senatus woro in a state of perpetual war; but in tho cases where it still has a voice in the appointment of professors its obstinacy occasionally irritates tho Sonatus or tho representatives of tho Senatus. On the other hand, the buainess'iuen have more than once got tho best man into a chair when there was a "set" against him in the Senatits. Seldom is an appointment made at which thero is not somo uplifting of hands, When Profossor Blackio rotirod recently, a.prominent Scotch news-paper moved "heaven and earth " to got bis chair for a -well-known Edinburgh schoolmaster. Probably it loctured tho curators on their obivous duty a little too much, for thoy retaliated by giving Ilia appointment to a brilliant young .English ccholar of no ex porionco. Professor Butcher's opponents mado much capital out of his nationality, declaring it would be disgraceful to confer th 3 post on an Englishman, who could havo no sympathy with Scotch students, when there were co many distinguished Scotch candidates. This ridiculous argu ment,, which if taken up in England would bo so dieastrous to tho thousand-andone Scotchmen holding appointments in this country, waß not allowed to have weight; and already thoro are fow professors in the north country so popular as Professor Blackie's successor.

Professor Ray Lankestcr and others have of late been demanding endowment for research ; but for what oiso aro the mass of tho Scotch chairs endowed ? Year after year the Scotch professor delivers the same or much tho same lectures ; so that after ho has got into tho swing of the thing ho has nothing to prepare for them His assistant, whoso profession is very far from being tho linest in the world, does the weary work of correcting the examination-papers. With so littie to do in the winter and nothing to do in the summor, a Scotch professor should take to research if only to keep himself from languor. In many cases he does so. and produces result?, literary and scientific, that reflect glory on himself and on his chair. Sometimes he only tries to look as if he had been living hours of labour, and when his brother-professors see his writings they ask him as a personal favour to writa no moro. Thero is ono who " edits " cla?pjcal works by simply putting bis name on title-pages ; and there is another whoso profound treatises on philosophy should bs issued by the Tract Society. The remainder smoke. Their appointments arc practically 'or life, and the retiring allowances aro as generous as the salaries. Carlyle, in hi« "Reminis cences," says that at one time ho wu.3 an applicant for a Scotch university chair, but did not get it, •'thank God!" We havo often wondored what Carlyle mount.—"'St. James's Gazette."

Lost in a Cave.

In tho southern pait of central Kentucky there is a cave which, like many in that region, local tradition haß made one of the many hiding-places of tho celebrated Daniel Boono during his years of fierce fighting with the Indians,

The waters cf Mooro's Valley find an out let through this cavo. In the season of heavy rains, tho inrushing waters fill the entrance to the cavo from side to side, and there have been times when, owing to the inadequacy of the outlet, tho valley haß boon Hooded. In the dry neason there is ample spaco on either bank for people to enter, and at such times Boono's Cavo is a popular resort for picnic parties. Once past tho cramped, irregular entrance, tho cave opens into vast halls, draped with glittering stalactic curtains, branching out of whic'i aro great chambers that in grandour and beauty of ornamentation dwarf the proudest efforts of the human architect.

In tho oarly spring of 1564 a wounded soldior—it mattors not tho side on which ho fought-rodo over tho Cumberland Range with his loft arm in a sling and a bandage about his head. He ontorod Moore's Valley, first surveying it from in elevation, and dismounted in a grovo bo fore tbo comfortable homo of Widow Mason, Throwing tho bridle over the horso-rack, Mark Brant walked up to tho houso. Bo foro he had gone half tho distance tbo door opened, and a beautiful, brown-oyed girl (lew out to moot him. Thoir greeting was that of lovers, and as Nellio Mason led him to tho bouse, sho

"I board you woro wounded, and I am glad you eainc, fo- now I can nureo you back to strength." '■turn afraid I shall prove a double trouble to you." he paid, with a aad smile.

" Why so, Mark?" she asked, engorly. " My old enomy and rival, Honry Troop, hm been chasing me with his nun for three days. My only chance for oscapo lay in this direction," replied Mark Brant,

Tlio beautiful girl's cheeks becamo paler and hor lips firmer on hoaring this, but sho spoke no moro till thoy reached the houee. Mrs Mason, a kindly-facad, matronly lady, mot them at the door, and gave the young f oldier as hearty a wolcomo as if ho.had been hor eon.

Thoro wero but few men in Moore's Valley at this timo. All thoso »ble to bear arms had taken sides and gone in about equal numbers to both armies. The Widow Mason's two sons lighting on opposite sidos.

Mark Brant's wounds wore dressed, and ho was sitting by tho fire that night talking to M is Mason and Nellie, when a black man, who had been keeping watch, ran into tho room in a state of great alarm. •■Sojorß ! Do sojors !" ho gasped. "In tho valley?" askod Mark, leaping to his feet.

" Yes, sah ! Troop an' his mon !" re plied tho black man. Mark and Nellio ran to tho door, and thoy heard tho ring of iron hoofs coming up the road. Tho horsemen were galloping towards tho houso, and there could bo no doubt of thoir mission.

Nollio turned to tho alarmed negro and said :

"Tom, put the oars into tho boat. Quick —for your Hfo !" Tom started off, and Nollio spod into tho kitchen. Sho returned in a mitiuto with a cloak about hor shoulders, and, kissing hor mother, she said :

" 1 will get him away on thorivor."

"But tho river is up, and the cave! tho cave !" cried Mrs Mason, frantically.

Tho clatter of hoofs, the jingling of arms, tho panting of horses, and tho hoarse shouts of tho riders could bo heard near by.

With his pistol in his unwounded hand, Mark Brant followed Ncllio Mason through tho back door, and down to tho foot of the gardou, where tho swollen stream ran. By tho dim starlight, ho could see tho boat, into which ono servant was throwing blan kets and baskets, while Tom tat amidship, balancing I ho oars. "Got in, Mark ! Hark! Troop and his men aro iv the houso !"

Nollio forced him into tho stern of the boat and sprang in after him. As they floated oil', tho shouts of tho pursuers could be hoard on the bank, and they gu.// tlio Hash of rifles discharged wildly into tho darkness. Tlio current was very swift, and the en trance to tho cavo was only two miles below tbe p.iint from which tlfeyhadstartod. About half-way down, tho banks woro covorod with a dense forest growth, and the margins of tho stream woro masses of cauo reeds. Horo Xcllio hoped thoy would find a shcl lor until tho pursuit was over. Thoy suc ceeded in keeping tho boat in tho roods till daylight. Mark wanted to loave then, assuring hor that he could savo himself by flight across the mountains; but tbo bravo girl would not hoar of it.

"It would kill mo," sho said, " if I hud to remain homo thinking of poor wounded you flying boforo llonry Troop and his bloodhounds."

Whon it was sufficiently light Mark Brant went ashoro and ascondod a hill near by. A glance up the stream showed him Troop'B mon not a hundred yards away. That Troop's men saw him tho rattle of a dozen carbines proved conclusively. He ran back and sprang into tho boat. " Lie on tho bottom, Mark !" cried Nellie.

Ho obeyed hor ; and taking the cloak from her shoulders, sho threw it over him, so that ho could not bo seen from tho shoro. Then seizing 0110 of tho oars, sho called out to the servant:

"Pull, Tom ! Pull for your life !" Oboying hor startling order, and follow ing hor oxample, Tom bent to his oar, and, aidod by the swift current, tho boat fairly flow down the river.

At a bond four hundrod yards above the entrance to tho cavo, Nellie saw a group of mountod mon ; butunheoding thoir frantic gestures for hor to land, sho still urged the boat on.

"Gome back! Como back!" shouted a man, whom her rapid glanco recognised as Captain Troop. "Comeback, or you'll be awopt into tho cavo !" Sho hoard, but did not hood him. Mark Brant throw oft tho cloak, and bogged hor to head tho boat for shore before it was too lato.

" And place you in his power!" she replied. '' Bettor wo should die togethor." "But, see! wo are near the cave!" he urged. Nellie turned and looked at the hill, at right angles to which the swift current ran. She saw the black segment that marked tho elevation of tho cave entrance above the roaring flood. " Wo can- pass though," she said as if speaking her judgment aloud. With ashy faces tho soldiers watched the boat Hying to what they doernod certain des truction, its opood increasing as it neared tho entrance to the cave.

A moment of breathloss susponso ; thon darkness. The boat had disappeared in the sido of the mountain.

"Head tho boat against the curront! We must not loso sight of the entrance to the cave !" shouted Murk Brant, helping to carry out his own ordor, Thoy turned tho boat, and saw —like a far-off window in an interminable dungeon —tho arc of light that markod tho place by which they had entered the cave. Nellie and the black man pulled till the ashen oars cracked in tho rowlocks ; but all in vain ; they woro being swept further and further in The arc of light dwindled into a star, a speck, thon was swallowed up in tlio awful blackness.

Impenetrable darkness enveloped them, and tho vast subterranean halls rang with tho thundering echoes of the maddened waters.

"Takeboth oars, Tom. I have candles, and will raako a light." Nellie Mason gave the black man her oar, and taking a candle from a basket at her feet, she succeeded in lighting it and fastening it in the bow of the boat. "Wo must make for the bank!" cried Mark, horrified at the danger to the woman ho loved and bin own utter helplessness.

They succeeded in reaching tho " bank." but it mocked at hope of escape in that direction. The candle revealed the white, precipitous wall that hemmed in the sub terranean river, rising sheer up, and lost among tho overhanging shadows. The shores of this wonderful river came closer together, adding to the force of the confined current, and deepening the hoarse reverberations that went up from every side. To add to* tho terrors of their situation, tho roof above the river sank lower and lowor, until Mark could raise his unwounded arm and touch its surface.

Thoy well knew that if this compression continued tho boat must soon be forced under tho water, and all would be over. They had to etoop to avoid tho stalactites that, like petrified icicles, hung from the roof, and at times scraped the side of the boat.

Mark Brant took Nellio's hand, certain that the end had come, and Tom began praying at the bottom of the boat, when suddenly the cramped walls expanded into an immense chamber, and the ceiling shot,

up so far that the dim light from the candle in the bow failed to reveal it. The river widened into a Stygian lake, and the cur rent, as if exhausted by its tremendous efforts, settled down for a rest.

They succeeded in urging the boat to the shore, if shore the irregular rocks rising at a sharp angle from the water could hecilled. They made the boat fast, and as Nellie sprang out she exclaimed: "Thank heaven, we have escaped them !"

" I would rather fall pierced by their bullets than subject you to the dangers of such another escape !" said Mark.

" 'Peers to me like," said Tom, as he took out tho oars_, basket and blankets, "ezif wo was a hollerin' afore we get out obde woods. Fore de Lor' I thought we was all gono up shunh. An' heah's I, riz nigh dia cave, an' nebber dreamt it went on an' on, clar down to paradition." " The water will soon subside, Tom," said Nellie, encouragingly, "and then wo can got back." " I hope yeh's making no mistakes, Miss," replied Tom, and there was that in his voice that told very plainly that ho did not share in her hopes, and that ho never again ex pected to ccc the sun, nor his wife and little ones under the green trees. When tho cargo was all landed, Nellie set out a very comfortablo breakfast; and Mark asked her how she happoned to bring food with her.

She responded

"I can hardly explain ; but the moment I heardyourpursuers coming, I thought of the river as tho only avonuo of escape. Then it llashod through my mind, ' What if we are carried into tho cavo ? I ran to the kitchon, and gathering all the cooked food I could fined, with candles and matches and blankets, I hurried them down to the boat. Wo have enough food to last for a week, and candles onough to light us. By that time, let us pray that the flood may sub side"

" You are the bravest girl that ever lived," sa:d Mark.

Then, after a pause : " Were you ever in tho cavo as far as this before ?

" Never half the distance. As Tom says, I did not dream that it ran back so far."

" And you think the flood will subside in a week ?"

"Yes," she answered; "if there is not more rain in the outer world in the mean time."

Brave as Mark Brant was, he shuddered at the thought of spending ono hundred and sixty-eight hours in these gloomy, water-washed, lightless, lifeless depths. But his dread was for tho beautiful girl by his side, not for himself.

Tom, who had not tho ghost of a hope that he would ever get out, became philo sophically cheerful, and hummed a camp meeting song, while he held the light by which Nellie Mason dressed her lover's wounds.

As all wero very much exhausted, the blankets wore divided and they lay down to sleep, Nellie having the burning candle near her, and the other candles and matches within reach.

Tho air of the cave was bracing and comparatively warm, while the mono tonous roar of the waters in the distance had so soothing an effoct that all weto soon asleep.

When Nellie woko up tho candle was dying out, and from this she reasoned that sho had bcon asleep about six hours. She lit another candlo, and sat watchinc Mark for fully, two hours, ho rostiug as peacefully as if he wore i>i the bed prepared for him in tho Widow Mason's house.

When all wore again awake, and feeling much refreshed, Mark went up the bank to search for a better camping-plaeo. By a rugged path he ascended what seemed to be a subterranean mountain. After much climbing he reached the summit, and found it to bo the portico of a chamber of such vast dimensions that the hill by which it was reached was but a stepping-stone. Fearing to go far from tho water, which was the only moane by which they could hope to find their way out, Mark went back to wait for the subsidence of the flood.

Ono by ono tho candles wore consumed, until only ono was loft. Little by little tho food disappeared, until the remnant was not sufficient to appease tho hunger of a child And still there was no apparent fall in tho waters of the lnke.

They had o»ton and slopt, and clambered up and down tbe inky rocka, talking in low tones ; and these wore tho only breaks in the lone, monotonous hours. Was it night ? AVas it day ? What day was h V Would a search bo made, or mu=t they ponah on this black, lifeless Bhore? The?c questions wero over running through their minds, though each tried to cheer tho othor.

When Ncllio told Mark Brant that they had only ono candlo and no food, he said : " Wo must try. to get back at once." The boat was bailed out, and again they ombmked on thoir adventurous voyage to, an unknown landing. They rowed along the wall shutting in the lake, and were surprised to rind a half dozen openings through which tho current flowed into the groat reservoir. They solectod the widest opening and rowed on again, and Mark, leaning over tho bow of the boat, saw tho candle growing shorter and shorter as tho curront against which they pulled became swifter.

" The candle iR nearly out; we mnst make for the rocks," cried out Mark. The boat was headec7 for the rocks, and after some trouble a landing was effected, but not a moment too soon, for tho light flared up and died out, leaving them in im penetrable gloom. Throwing himself on tho rocks, in piteous tones Tom bewailed his sad fato. Mark and Nellie sat side by side, his strong arms encircling her, but for hours neither uttered a word. It seemed like an age since they had made this second landing,' and Tom had sobbed himself to sleep, when Nellie, exclaimed:

" Did you hear that, Mark?" "What?"

" A shout: Hark !—there it is again." It was surely a shout.but it was impossible to tell the direction from which it camo. Mark leaped to his feet and answered back. Then he drew his revolver and began firing at intervals.

Nearer and nearer catno the shouting. At length it could be heard, apparently over their heads. They looked up, and afar of! they saw dim Hehts and recognised figures, like indistinct silhouetteß. The search party came down and proved to be Mark Brant's men, now, by' the fickle fortunes of war, in possession of the valley. With gladsome shouts Mark and Nellie were conducted back to the sunlight and friends.

To this day Mark Brant and his wife— accompanied by their children—often visit the cave with picnic parties, and never a timo that they do not have to relate thoir thrilling adventure therein.

The Dramatic Workshop

Mb W. S. (iauKUT has been telling the Amorioan public, through the medium of ono of its newspapers, how " The Mikado " came to be thought of, and, generally, how lie puts together hi* comic operas. It sooms that the subject of the latest of the aeries was suggested by a Japanese execu tioner's sword which hung on the wall of Mr Gilbert's library. Then arose the ques tion, Could genuine Japanese dresses bo secured? How would the ladies of chorus look in black wigs? and could they be_ taught to wear the costumes effectively?" These inquiries being satisfactorily an swercd, there came the task of fitting the Savoy company with part?, and, hder atia, the " three little maids from school sprang from the accidental fact that the Misses Braham, Bond, and Grey, are short in sta turo and all of a height. Next the two scene? wore decided on, and not till then wa.= the story of tho piece re duced to a narrative form, twelve versions being written beforeone was finally adopted. A sketch of the dialogue was then made; next camo the composition of the words of the sonjr?; and, last of all, the dialogue was elaborated to its present shape. It will appear from all this that Mr Gilbert does not disguise the fact that in the production of these operas considerations of costume and of scenery come first, and that, instead of finding actors for the parts he writes, he does vice verm. This certainly reduces tho art of dramatic construction to a rather low level; but who can quarrel with a plan which has such agreeable results? Mr Gil bert declares that dramatic composition "does not call for a very high order of merit," but ' requires a good deal of practi cal skill, nevertheless." Such modesty is becoming, but ought not to mislead. It is all very well to trace the origin of " The Mikado" to a Japaneso sword, but how about the quick, ingenious" fancy which could evolve the details of the opera out of a simple suggestion ? -

THE WISE MEN OF HOTHAM.

"Ordinary Business" of a Victorias

Borough Council,

Under the heading of " Ordinary Business" the " North Melbourne Advertiser " gives tho following report of the proceedings at a recent meeting of the Hotham Borough

Council:—

"Cr. Laurens drew attention to the state of Munster Terrace, which was still un metalled.

Cr. Henderson was proceeding to make some remarks concerning ths advisability of having tho metalling gone on with at once, when Cr. Green rose excitedly to his feet and called upon Cr, Henderson to ' sit down and shut up.1 Cr. Henderson said ho should not sit down. He was in order.

Cr. Green—Why, you don't know what order means.

Cr. Henderson said that in his opinion Cr. Green did not know what order was. He was always insulting someone. At this juncture Cr. Green got greatly excited, and shouted and stormod at every one at the top of his voice. The Mayor: Cr.Green,youtakeumbrageat once if any one says anything to you, and yet you expect to be permitted to insult everyone. I will not tolerate it, Cr. Gruen : I am a man, and a Councillor of the Western Ward, and I shall do as I like; no ono is going to dictate to me, I can tell you. Cr. Henderson is no gentle man.

Tho Mayor : I won't have this sort of thing. Cr. (keen, I must cally ou to order. Cr. Greon: I don't carotwoponce for you, or your order either. The Mayor: Cr. Green, this meeting is not a bear garden. Cr. Green : No, but we have got a bear at tho head of it. (Cries of ' order,' ' sit down,' ' chair '). You are not tit to occupy that chair. lam a man, I am, and not afraid of a d one of you.

Cr. Henderson: This is most improper, and should be stopped. Cr. Green (shaking his fist wildly ot Cr. Henderson): If you say another word I'll run you up the chimney. Cr. Henderson: You can't do it, Cr. Green; you can'tdo it. You are a blustering bully and a coward, and we are a lot of cowards to sit here and let you insult us. The Mayor again strove to call Cr. Green to order, but was fairly sbouteddown by that gentleman, who was now in a state of the wildest excitement. Cr. Laurens hoped that Cr. Green would moderate his language and keep cool. Cr. Pilkington urged upon the members present to support tho Mayor. Never be fore in the whole course of his experience had he seen any Mayor so grossly insulted. Cr. Green's conduct was a disgrace to the whole Council, and he thought the Mayor might leave the chair. Cr. Green : Let him leave it. I shall ait here all night if I like. He's not fit for the chair; he called me to order. Tho M*yor : What you say is false. I did not call you to order. Cr. Green (gesticulating violently): You call me a liar, then. Well, you're another. (Great uproar, aud cries of 'order,' ' chair,' &c.) Cr. Henderson expressed an opinion that Cr. Green should behave more respectfully to the chair.

Cr. Green (glaring at Cr. Henderson): I am not a meal-eating, unfortunate Scotch man, obliged to walk about with bare feet when a youngster. 1 could wear boots. I'm an Englishman. Cr. Henderson: Well, you're a very poor specimen of the civilised Londoner. Cr. Green : That's all you know about

it. At this juncture Cr. Cook rose, and managed in a judicious manner to introduce a fresh subject and get Cr. Green quieted down a little." If this be correctly entitled 'Ordinary Business,' tho average man may be excused a little curiosity as to what the ' Extra ordinary Business' of the fathers of Hotham city may be like.

Religious Gleanings.

No More Persecution,

But to-day the light is dawning. Men and women are becoming ashamed to persecute in the name of religion, and we see the Jew honoured on all sides for real worth and forvid patriotism There can be no beating behind tho bush. There is too much intel ligence and liberality among men in the world to admit of anything akin to applauee for injustices to their Israelitish brethren When accounts of the Roumanian and Russian atrocities saw the light of day there were bloeditighearts among Christiana as well as .Jews. They felt for the poor, iown-trodden Israelite, and view to-day with indignation that any civilised natiOD can be so degraded as to smite the subject that is only too willing to aid and evoa die for his nativo country.—"Jewish Pro gress."

Christian Conversation

The art, if wo may call it so, of Christian conversation, is littlo cultivated, and rarely practised. In fact, it seems to be an ac cepted caDon that religious conversation, even among Christians, is not at all the thing to bo practised, or, at most, at rare intervals, and only on special occasions. When the pastor makes a call, he, of course, is expected to "introduce the subject," and the parishioner is expected to respond in such manner as he or she may be able to. But the matter is quickly over, and other topics uro introduced. We have often no ticed that, when the subject of God and the soul, the Bible and religious life, is under discussion—especially if the matter is made personal—there is more or less re straint, even between pastor and people; whereas, if a new book, the last social item of news, tha work of the Church, or, indeed any outside and worldly thing, is taken up, the conversation becomes fluent again. Even the question of "tho difficulty in se curing good servants" can be made the lively theme of conversation. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule. There are households and individuals with whom and among whom it is a delight to hold re ligious conversation. The precious truths of God's Word, the personal experience of the soul, earth and heaven in God's sight, life and death, immortality and glory, are matters that are eagerly dwelt upon. This, however, is not the rule, only the excep tion,—"New York Independent."

Earning £70,000,000 a Year.

Thjs enormous sum of £70,000,000 per annum represents the gross annual earnings of the railways of the United Kingdom. An amount considerably moro than half the governmental revenue; an amouut which, in a baker's dozen of years, equals the national debt. There are eighty-nine railways in tha British Isles, varying in length from three and a half milee (Groendraeth Valley Railways) to 2,286 (Great Western Railway). There are eighteen lines whose total length is less than ten vnile3 each, and there are six which own more than 1,000 miles each. Next to the Groat Western, in length, comoa the London and North-Western, with 1,751f j theNorth-Eastern,Vithl,s3sj:theMidland, with 1.270A ; the North British, with 1,0391; and the Great Eastern, with 1,035 miles, With thope " common carriers" nothing is' too insignificant to carry, and very few things aro too large. They convey lUh, flesh, and fowl—alive or dead—minerals and general goods produced in all parts of the world. Tho sprat and the whale, the elephant and the Colorada bug, the lion and the cholera bacillus, the Queen and the con vict — all go to swell the enormous Pftn earned yearly by tho great concern created by the genius of a Stophenon, If one could note, in a bird's eye view, tho working of this enormous system, one would see a network of lines, clustered moro thickly round the more populous towns than elsewhere ; a continual ebb and flow of trains to and from the Metropolis and great commercial centres, while along the 18.000 miles or so of metals are madly careering " Flying Scotchmen " and " Dutchmen," " Wild Irishmen," and other expresses, overtaking dower passenger trains, the latter, in their turn, passing fast merchandise trains; while the slow roadside or "pick-up" trains drag along their snail ways not faster than a man can walk,

How the Wheels Go Round.

The number of engines owned by the British railway is 14,300, which with a similar number of tenders, placed buffer to buffer, would strotch from London to Bath, and the passongor carriages would, in liko manner, extend from tho latter city to the Land's End. The merchandise waggons would occupy 1,300 miles, and the whole rolling stock would take more than twenty seven hours to run past a given point at the rate of sixty miles an hour. The actual train mileage run in a year is 270 millions, or about three times the distance between the earth and the sun ; while the total number of wheel revolutions amounts to more than 328,080,000,000.000,000.

Autumn Fashions in Paris.

Ant further exaggeration in the height of chapeaux or of their trimmings, as at present arranged in front of t!ho crown, boingapparently impossible, many modistes in searcfl of novelty now place the garni tures on the top of a moderately high crown or put them at the back where they attain to a greater height and fall ovjr the top of the crown towards the front. Nearly all the hata worn now are made of straw, the most fashionable being those of yellow straw veiled with yellow tulle to match, and trimmed with a quantity of bowa of moiri) ribbon, rising at the back of the hat to ,tho crown, with a few loops falling ovev in front.

A similar model in bronze straw, but witli a very high and narrow crown, has a scarf of beige crnpe or silk muslin folded round the crown, and onding at the back under a> long plume of feathers, the tips of which quite conceal the flat top of the crown, and fall over it a little in front. In these hats tho brim in front is wide and straight, but very short at the back and turned up a little.

Light coloured straws are those generally prefsrred, either in the natural colour, or in light biego, ivory, a red shade of beige, and Bimilar colours. The brim at the back is frequently turned up, like a curtain, and lined with bronze, brown, ot black velvet; the lining of the front part of the brim matches this, but the trimming of faille, crepe, gauze, &c, is in the samo colours ac the straw, and often arranged in bows or loops far baolt on tho top of the crown. Roses and other flowers are placed in the. same position. Many of the hats are very large, but more reasonable shapes are begin ning to make their appearance, and as tho immensely high or largo hate are only be coming-to a few types of face, the smaller niodels will be quickly appreciated and adopted. Theae n6\v hats of moderate dimensions are trimmed witli a band of faille or velvet round the crown, and a bouquet of flowers and grasses at tho side.

Capotes are still made of every variety of tissue, from gold network to plaited Btraw, which may or may not bo inter mingled with gold or silver. The prettiest and simplest models are trimmed with bows of ribbon, and small light bunches of flowers tied up with ribbon. Largo heavy masses of flowers are now rarely seen, either on hats or capotes. The skill of the tailor is more and more appealed to for the costumes that arc to follow the light toilettes of batiste and lace, rendered necessary by an almost tropical heat. Thero is an undeniable charm about these simple, correct, austere looking costumes, which are elegant io spite of their austerity, that will ensure a long continuance of favour to these produc tions of English tailors. The skirts of tailor-made costumes are round and full, and mounted on silk founda tion skirts. The tunic is an unpretending draped tablier, completed at the back by a pleatod breadth, raised a trifle on one side,, or on'both sides, but very full at the'waisfc and nearly covering the back of the skirt. As to the bodice, it moulds the bust with the most perfect accuracy; not a fold, not tho shadow of a crease, is to be found in its faultless fit, resembling that of a habit; bodice. It is sometimes fastened straight down the front with little round buttona put on close together, in other caseß it opona over a waistcoat of white pique", ot a pleated chomisotto, made of white crOpe, or els 9of silk in a colour that offers an agreeable con tra»t to tho dresa material

A new costume, the Papalin, ranks' with tailor-made dresses for general utility, and 13 a very practical model made in dark-hued woollen fabrics, mohair, and similar mate rials. The skirt is pleated in wido pleats, and falls straight from the waist. The shortwaisted corsage joins the Bkirt under a waistband of ottoman or moire ribbon tied in a large bow, with long ends at the back. The dress is completed by a Papalin mantelet in the Bame material as the dress, cut like a short pelerine, with a pointed hood falling from the Bhoulders. Both the mantelet and the hood aro linod with silk,, but the costume has no other ornaments or trimmings to detract from its absolute simplicity of style. Canvas and network fabrics will bo worn throughout the autumn ( in combination with faille Francaiso, faillo Chinoise, ond. other plain Bilken materials, and, although the majority of dresses are in two colours, many, and these not the least ladylike aud stylish, aro in one colour only. Horizontal stripes in the eaine colour as tho dress material, or in one or more con trasting hues, are decidedly fashionable. Thus an ontiroly new model has a plain full skirt of blue gros grain, with horri zontel baids in two shades of nastmtium colour, a, dark, rich brown in the centre, and dark gold colour on each side of it-. The tunic is of blue woollen network material full and draped, but short on tho loft side, and terminating in a long pointed end ; a similar but shorter end starts from the right fido of the tournure,. and the two are knotted together below the hip on the right side, tho pointed ends being tipped with yellow and brown tassels. At the back in a long full drapery of tho not. The tight-fitting jacket is of silk bordered with a coloured band resembling those on tho skkfc. Jt is cut equ.ve on the chest, and the right front crosses over and is fastened on the left side ; from thin point the jacket opens again, showing a full chemisette of woollen net cat with the tunic. Tho sleeves and neck aie trimmed with a coloured band in the two nasturtium shades.

Great- discretion will bo needed by the wearers of horizontal stripes : they are bo coming to very tall and slender figures, but when adopted by ladies of medium or of low stature, they are apt to give tho appearance of a barrel, an effect which can only be remedied by tho draperies of the tunic fall ing over and obliterating the lines in parts, so that they are nowhere seen in their full extent, from the waiet to the edge. Crossway stripes are also fashionable, and are often found in combinations of four or five different colours, all rather bright in tone but harmoniously blended. These ttriped fabrics are never employed alone, but are made up with plain silk or woollen materials; the striped fabric is used for the draperies, and is arranged in several ways, in horizonta', perpondicular, and bias lines,—From " My ra'a Journal."

Women on Wheels

Foua years ago a woman on whoola was a rare and conspicuous sight; but today there are few parts of England—perhaps I may say of the United Kingdom—where a tricycling maid or matron excites any wonder in ths mind of tho spoctator. Certainly no more delightful means of locomotion was over placed within my sex's reach. Women aro seldom good walkers; their duties and pur suits conSne them far moro within doora thandotloso of men, and even thoso who are mo3t ardent ovor tennis or ar.ohory think, as a rule, that they have rather achieved n deed of prowess whon they have taken a ten-mile waUi. But the tricyclo gives them at once a means of wandering far afield ; of exploring foroat glades and heathery moorlands ; of finding; close to their own familiar haunts beauties hitherto undreamed of, which, without such aid, they would never have been able to discover. We have slowly grown to realise that, in these daysof over brain-work and ovor-civiliriationnomedicino but fresh air can calm the restless pulse and ?oothe the fovered mind, and the tricyclo offers to women that pmacea for over-wrought nerves and tried tempers. " Why not ride instead';" asks eomo- one. Cer tainly almost all that can bo said 'in praiso of tho tricyolo applies equally to tho horse; but while thousands jnay enjoy the formur, tho latter is within the rouch of the rich alono And it is particularly to the women of the middle class that I wish to re commond tho use of the tricyclo ; that clasa which sutlers most from what wo have grown to call the "littlo health of women," the class whose lives are the busiest, and whose minds the most heavily taxed, and who, just in proportion to that taxation and that buuness, need some lelaxation which shall ofler them the most complete- eh v.go and rest from their ordinary occupations " A Lady Cyclist," in "Uussell's Family Maga zine" for September.

Ho had heen going to see her a longtime, but never stated the object of his visits, and she wis desrious of knowing something of the futute. The last night he called ho seemed to be quito sad, and after several well-developed sighs ho said : " Life is full, very full of bitterness, isn't it?" "Oh, ( I don't know," she responded, cheerily^ "I haven't much cause to complain." " Pos sibly not now, Mary, but the bitter cup haß not been placed to your lips." " los, Henry, my parents are dead. And is there no bitterness in that, Mary ? Is it not very sad to be an orphan ?" "Of course it is, Henry, but you see"—and she blushed vividly "it relieves you of the embarrass ment of having to aak father." Henry's heart was touched.

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1885

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