WATCHING THE PEARL DIVERS.

. _ routs and Dangerous Enemies I Wt-W^tn{GuU of California.

_. _»»__. March I.—A celobratod _.„ ■ _id that what we most desire j,pr na^ _«" '<« Mlcome to us in timo, if wo only have i ■ „_, to wait for it. After long waiting, ■?" d I have attained tho acme of our J B*!9'. a" h .vinir at last beon permitted to ■ 'fflb,tl or'fiS JO. weeks the itisur t -.bio obstacle in tho way ol our I W . ° q , wfl , that bugbenr propriety : for in : J,C' nno nmount of Mother Evo's curiosity . -**',„ .7 lady for tho smallest broach ' s'_£ n?ioni?n,lc.. But fm.dly tho wifo I*. ir hot obligingl.. consented, though •jpßtlV with dmibts and misgivings, to t the part of chaperono to tho venture *tl Aniericanas, who insisted on joining "Sari-hunting expedition, and so tho pro ffis were duly observed, "(tat boat was a seven-ton allair, manned four oarsmen, three divers, the cook, n Sffirtph rope man and the ladies aforo 'd though the chaporono can scarcely iocludod- in tho count, as at tho first . -*«•„„ billow sho plunged into tho darkest met of the little cabin and remained . , yjden, in tears of terror, during tho j fflnaindor of the day. Our divers woro I Ld-ome mahogany-luted young follows, ■ _ bat when onco inside their grotcsquo M Ljur, with its bulging eyes, thoy became I Ihiects of torror, tho moro uncanny whon li Sn through twenty fathoms of wator, H .3-vn among the denizens of tho doop. No 9 JJ nl j er that tho sharks avoid thorn, and || ffn tho black maneaters fleo in dismay 1 l_foro thoso glassy optics. Imagine a stout H A-.footcr, carrying 200 pounds of his own II j e j„|,t, covored with -10 pounds of armour g 3 chest, -0 on his back, plates of iron enclosing his arms and legs, a massive jelmot with great, gaping lanterns for eyes, sloes of load on his feet—ut least 120 Munds of metsl clothes on him—and you on readily understand why any spocios of jilishould desire a moro digestive meal. _t the spot to be searched, anchor was H [jit, and one of the divers sent out as a jdjiil, to reconnoitre and report whether lie locality was rich enough to pay tor niking. Over tho edge of tho boat ho ■crambled; and through tho clear, greenish crystal wo could watch his downward jourse, till a darkening of tlie waters an nounced that his leaden shoes had dis- Inrbedthe soft 6aud of the ocean tloor. Tho j telegraph man held his wire with a hand as •teaSy as though his sinews were of steel, j ) D |l several moments of breathless anxiety I passed before a jerking of tho rope an- I jounced a message from the under world. ' A delicate pull, succeeded by two stronger onus, was the preconcerted signal, if our j gcout found the fiold worth working. So I overboard tho other two divers were tossed, me climbing hand over hand down our anchor chain, tho other shooting head foremost to the bottom liko a lump of

lead. For three long hours wo waited under a tropic sun that sent its fiercest rays upon our blistering noses, consumed with fears for the fate of our late companions who, twenty fathoms below, were treading the toral paved avenues of a sunless city, which imagination peopled with mermaid* and other mysterious creatures. Sharks were continually prowling about in more or less dangerous proximity. Occasionally tho luge black back of a maneater shone in tbe sun like polished ebony, whilo hundreds of Spanish navigators spread thoir tiny sails iod wiry sea gars darted liko serpents iround us.

At length tho unseen operators telo grapned to bo brought to tho surface, und, being speedily haulod up, appeared but little exhausted by their long submarine isperience. Each had his basket full of tlells, but whether they contained two or twenty pearls, a fortune or a failure, could sot be determined till they should bo opened on land in the presence of the boat owner. A coming tempest, which was towards declared by that übiquitous individual, the oldest inhabitant, to bo the iercest :hat had lashed tho California Gulf ityears, sent us shoreward with all pos t_e speed, for we had no desire to become iow-citi/.enesses with the mermaids afore sicl, however rich in the coveted gems teir habitations might be.

Unlike our professional experts, the Mian divers, who are uniformly most tcessful, plunged naked into the waters, lithout any apparatus whatever except a -MB slung around the waist. They are ipparently as much at homo in the seas as tie finny tribes, and are mo.t astonishing swimmers. They can propel themselves equally well with one hand and one foot, or with both feet, without hands, while thoy rapidly knock the shells off the rocks and coral reefs to which they so tenaciously tling, and cram them into the sack of woven maguey fibre suspended by a rope around the neck. The short, stout stick, which is the only thing the divor carries, nrves both for weapon and implemont. While tearing up the shells he con tinually runs to and fro on tho ocean floor, in order to render the water turbid by stirring up the .sand, and thus elude the vigilance of his marine foes. If a shark insist-* upon making a meal of him, the wily Indian plays around him till tho terrible jaws, with their lance-like teoth, areabout to closo over him, when, grasping the stick firmly in the middle, ho forces it upright into tho shark's mouth, and thus spikes him as effectually as our Gen. Taylor did the Mexican cannon at Monterey. (Sometimes, alas ! the operation is not suc wsfully performed, und tho bravo fellow rises no more to the surfaco, a only niotuen _y reddening of the wators telling of this horrible fate.

These divers generally remain submerged about two minutes ala time, but instances _ye occurred in which four or live minutes of submergence have been endured without theuseofany artificialmethodof respiration : _d we are told that a native diver from Anjanga actually remained naked undor Kater for six minutes.

The owner of somo pearl beds near M ulogo snds out twenty surf boats daily during tie fishing Benson. Each boat is manned by tweutyone men, ten of whom are divers, ten employed in rowing or assisting the -hers, and a chief, who acts both as pilot ud captain. Five divers go down at a time horn each of tho twenty boats, thus keeping the work going on whilo half the fishers aro recovering from their exhaustion. Every boat is furnished with five largo perforated stones, pyramidal shape, and minded at top and bottom. These are at tached to separate ropes, and each divor, "hen about to plunge, seizes one of them Kith the toes of his right foot, while Kith tho other foot he suspends his jet work bag. With his right hand M takes hold of another rope, and Kith his left he keeps the water out of Is nostrils, fights his deep-sea enemies, and tills his rack with shells. On no account joust his right hand let go of tho ropo, for »y it only can ho signal thoso abovo to pull °im up when tho unnatural clement can no ta-jer be endured. A similar process is °™c uso of in tho pearl fisheries of Ceylon, sad so dexterous do tho divors bocomo in jaeuse of their feet that they employ thorn «* tho most common purposes, as others do their hands. It is said that they can pick up the smallest straws und pebbles with their "*. and thread needles with thorn, and Pay cards, or beat the dium with their ieet. California Mexicans, who have been Mcustoaied to the water from infancy, like wen- lathers before them, appeared to have 'cquired an amphibious nature akiu to that oi the South Sea islanders, who aro such J .Wt divers that if a nail or any piece of Will is thrown overboard thoy -n ill instantly Plunge into tho sea and recover it.

Albert Victor Probably Engaged.

*& knowing people—it is astonishing |™»t a lot of them are about just now— ■jw not lost much time in seoking out a *>w for the eldest son of the heir apparent. P* only came of age a few days ago, and p * they aay he is going to marry the "todess Clementine, daughter of the King ™we Belgians. As the young lady in Ration is, however, only 12 years of ago, **crt Victor will havo to " bide a wee " if ™seeks an alliance in that nuartei. Thero ™>y be some slight foundation for this ""Mar, but nothing yet can possibly have J» definitely settled, although tho sisters "toe princess wero betrothed at an early *s»-l . I think. The marriage would bo I*7 Popular in Belgium, and scarcely less joaere, for the English people arc rather WW of seeing their royal family invariably W themselves with portionless German WMWIs. If p r i nce Albert Motor were "«ntually t 0 marry tho Princess Clemen .«» the lady would probably have to ™g« her religion; but small difficulty J? 3 be anticipated about that, as royal ™ceses have seldom allowed theological to stand in tho way of their |R£« advancement. What Franco and Z™. Oy *-v_nld say about such an alliance j^rnsto be seen. Both Bowers cast long til^ c .upon Belgium and Holland, and __U_-iaS-- ot a lut-ur« King of England J"! the daughter of the King of Belgiuui ___,l- tobabIy bo relished neither by *m -wards nor M, Ferry.

A NIGHT TO RE REMEMBERED.

A-?__-*_? ♦__fforty _ on Her Nteetv First Birthday. Recalls a Terrible incident.

Salamanca, March 10. - The ninoty-first anniversary of tho birth of Mrs Catherine Latl'orty, known throughout Crawford County us Aunt Kilty Lall'crty, Mas cole" brated on Monday at tho residenco of hor daughter, Mrs Yaegor, in Corry, whore sho makes her homo. In ISIU sho was married fo Hugh Fit/patrick, a young farmer. Thoy lived in a log houso noar whero Spartans burg now stands. Thero woro no othor houses within two miles. In tho woods that surrounded them wero boars, wolves, and panthers in plonty. On tho night of Feb. 10. 1SI", a atrango man called at tho Fit-pal rick cabin unci asked sholtor for tho night. Ho was a rough-looking character, but as ho said he was so nearly frozon that lie could go no fin-thor, ho received per misson to stay. They had but one bod. Tho stranger strotchod out on tho floor in front of tho tireplaco. Mr nnd Mrs Fit/. patrick and their six-weeks-old baby slept in ono cornor of the cabin. Both husband and wifo tried to koep awake all night for fear the stranger meant thorn harm, but they fell asloop.

Somo timo in tho night Mrs Fitzpatrick awoke to find the man standing by the bod sido with an axe in hia hand. Ho had killed her husband, whoso body lay in the bod as he had gone to sleep. Tho murderer ordered Mrs Fitzpatrick to got up and fetch him all tho money thore was in tho house. Thoy had a small sum of monoy, and she got it for tho man. He then ordored her to go out and put tho bridle on the liorsos and get ready to go with him, Tho baby did not wako up. Mrs Fitz patrick went out, and, instead of catching the horses, let thorn out of the enclosure whoro they were kopt and frightened thorn away. She thon returned to the houso and told the man sho could not catch tho hoi-es. lie swore at hor and wont out to got thorn himsolf. While he was gono Mrs Fitzpatrick hastily wrapped up hor sleep ing baby and hurried out of tho house, with tho intontion of going through tho woods to a neighbour's and giving tho alarm.

She noticed that her husband's body had b_eu removed from tho bed during her ab sence from tho house. _he ran alon<_; a path loading to a creok near tho houso. On hor way she saw her husband's body lying in her path. Sho was compelled to stop over it. Thoro had been a now fall of snow, and she know that the murderer could easily follow- her if ho chose, so when sho reached tho creek she stepped in it and waded in tho icy water a long way up, and thon crawled in a hollow place sho discovered in the bank. She had not been there long before she heard tho man running on hor track bohind her. Whon he lost her trail at tho brook he started up along tho shore. He stopped near whero sho was hidden, and she could hear him muttering savagely to himself. Fortunately her child was a sound sleeper, and did not wako up. Presently the man went up the crock, and after a whilo came back again, stopping onco more at Mrs Fitzpatrick- hiding place. Ho seemed to think that sho had secroted herself somewhere. He stepped upon a fallen tree not throe feet away from the hollow in the bank, nnd stood there a long time. He finally went away, and a half hour later Mrs Fitzpatrick, nearly dead with cold and fright, crawled out of tho holo and hurried away through the woods. Sho travelled two miles in snow two feot deep, and reached tho neigh hour's cabin in safety. Sho gave the alarm, and next day half a dozen men started to find the murderer. Two days lacor they came upon him in the woods. Ho proved to bo a des perate charaetomamed Van Holland. 11. was convicted of tho murder, and waa sentenced in August following to bo hangod atMeadville. While the Sheriff was adjust ing the ropo around his neck Van Holland shoved him off tho scaffold and jumped down upon him. The desporate murderer was secured with difficulty and hanged. The Sheriff died from tho injuries he re ceived by the fall and the murderer jump ing on him. The widow of the murdered man after wards married Hugh Lafforly. She related tho above and many, other thrilling ex periences of her pioneor life lo the friends assembled to congratulate her on Monday. Sho is as activo and healthy as the sixty year-eight-year-old daughter with whom she lives, and who was tho six-weeks-old baby hor mother carried on that terrible night in February, ISI7-

Woman's Freaks in Love's Do main.

What is love_ is a question wiiicb bus been asked a thousand times, and which, in spite of monotony, Grenville Murray repeats with a freshness of emphasis in his now book, "Under the Lens." He treats the subject with a decided dash of cynicism like most fashionable writers of the present day. Love, he says, on tho nart of woman is an inclination felt for a man who has made himself more agreeable than other men. Ho may not bo a pleasant follow at all, but some physical or social superiority ho pos sesses lifts him temporarily on a pedestal, whore he lords it till his vory arrogance helps to complete the fascination of tho sim ple creature grovelling at his feet. I have seen girls full in lovo with the veriest cubs for luck of other malo society. Don't tell mo there was any deep sentiment in those attachments. Tho girls wanted husbands : that is all. They wero obeying tho natural law which attracts sex to sex, and the social law which bids a girl got married us fast as she can, lest she glide into old spinsterhood. If a girl, after dociding to accopt a gen teol pauper, chances to allure a man who has it in his power to mako hor a bod of rose leaves, sco how quickly her eyes get opened to tho beauties of indolenco and luxury. Self-esteem tells her that she was not merely for the study of that parsimonious arith metic which consists in paring down bakor's bills. Sho wants to walk in silk attire, and feels grateful to the man who, by his court ship, acknowledges her right to do so. Who can deny the magic of fine linen, jewels, softly cushioned broughams, cham pagne, and obedient menials upon a woman's mind? And who can dispute tho still greater magic afforded by the prospect of eclips ing sisters and school friends who have married poorly '! Sometimes if a girl has got hopelessly en gaged to a fellow with a shrunken purse—if she be so near her wedding day that it is impossible to break oil'the match without making a scandal—pride and vanity will induce her to keep her pledge, and this will be simply because the plutocrat came too late into the field. If the two had started to the post togotbor, or it tho paupor had had but a half-distance start, the plutocrat would havo run him down and come in first with tlyingcolours. Moreover, a woman foels sore all hor lifo at having missed the chance of a rich marriage. Tho thought of it turns her sour the first timo matrimonial difficulties begin, and hor wretched hus band has uxorial peevishness and Contempt poured upon him by the bucketful. That may be, but wo havo also instances of rich mon's wives who deplored not having married their first loves, poor though they were. , , , . t " Which all comes of tho contrariness ot human nature in not being satisfied with tho presont lot," responded tho misogynist, emphatically. Tho man who wrote the " Praxes of _ overty "—Souoeu, wusn t it .' — indited his .remarks upon a golden table and had a couplo oi slaves behind him to fun the Hies away. A woman who situ by her boudoir fire, with her foot well warmed, a novel on her lap, and a _ o'clock tea and cream and crjimpets at her elbow, is very apt to dream that she was cut out for tlie part of a heroine. She gilds poverty with her imaginative touches till it looks all rosy. Her husband bores her, and she thiuks of the other man, who used to make her laugh and whose muscles were like whip cord. Sho attributes to him tal ents which ho never had, charms which she novor discovered in him while she bad the opportunity of observing him every day, uXi-dream, of herself as fighting life', battles by his side and always winning. It never occurs to her to reSect that the lot she renounced was that of being a peren nial wet-nurse, of living upon mutton hash, and growing up into a dowdy slattern, wor ried, and perhaps bullied, by a man rendered cantankerous by failures in his profession. H is easy to bo'bappy in fancy with a man whose id-ai perfections one may depict at ■ _/__ leisure. A woman is often found whimpering oV er a novel which portrays tho fife of a heroine such as she think.-, herself to b. - but just let her rich husband die leaving her penniless, and you'll see whether she nor peini> , widow's cap at S richCn _ooner than betakeherself ?o that life of struggling whichi she deemed so exciting when viewed from a dis tance. -"Chicag Tribune,

WILLIAM NEAL HANGED.

A Tragedy that has Resulted in tho Death of Moro Than Twonty Persona.

Ukavsok, Ky„ March '.'7.—William Ncal, tho last of the Ashland murderers, ascended the seall'old with great composure. He said:

"I say to ono and all, you all know this is no place to toll a lio. I stand hero today to sudor for a heinous crime I did not commit, and ono day my innocence will bo established beyond a doubt. I bid you ono and all good-byo. Oh, Lord, Thou knowest lam innocent. Into Thy hands 1 commit my soul. lam innocent."

i Tho last words wore said just as tho drop foil. Ho was pronounced doad in ton minutes. Nono of his relatives was present. On tho morning of Dee. 24th, IS7I, the cottago of Mrs Gibbons in Ashland was dis covered to bo in flames. The neighbours whoturnod out to subduo tho tire were horrified to find amid the ruins tho bodies of Fannio and Robert Gibbons and Emma Carrico. Tho girls wero about 15 years of ago, and the boy, who was a cripplo, was not moro than 12. Mrs Gibbons had gono away on a visit the provious day, and -tnma Carrico wont to stay with hor family during her absonco. A close inspection showed that the children had boon murdered, and that the girls had been out raged. Tho most intense excitement then prevailed, and vigilanco committees were orcaniscd to ferret out the murderers, and detectives wero employed for tho same purposo. Soveral weeks afterward Goorgo Ellis confessed, in the prosonco of United States Deputy Marshal Goorgo Heplin and sovoral citizens of Ashland, that he and Ellis Craft and William Ncal had committed tho crime. He said that on tho night of the tragedy Ellis Craft and William Neil camo to his house and told him thoy wanted him to go with them to the Gibbons' houso to accomplish tho purposo thoy had agreed upon, and whon ho objected thoy threatened to murdor him, and thus forced him to go. When thoy reached the houso thoy forced the window with a crowbar. Tho children becamo alarmed, and Moal struck and killed tho crippled boy with the crowbar. Noal then assaulted Fannio Gibbons and Craft assaulted Emma Carrico. Fannio Gibbons criod and said sho intended to toll her mothor, and Ncal killed her : and Craft, fetching an axo from tho yard, killed Emma Carrico. Craft then got tho coal-oil can, and saturated tho bodies of tho girls and the bed clothing, and sot tiro to thorn, aftor which the murderers departed. Neal, Craft, and Ellis all turned out to the (ire, and were as loud in their denunciations of tlio crime ns anybody.

Ellis's confession raised such a storm of indignation in Ashland that the Court ordered all throe of the murderers (who had been arrested before tho confession was mado public) to be sont to tho gaol in Lex ington for safo keeping. They wero ac cordingly placed upon a steamboat and started down the river, but tho mob got wind of it and started in pursuit in another boat. After an oxciting claso the officers eluded the mob, and arrived safely in Lex ington with tho prisoners. I_ the Lexing ton gaol George Ellis mado nnd swore to another statement, in which he alleged that his ff shtor confession was untrue, and had befciofortixxf from him by George lleplin ac tho ""point of a pistol. Ho afterward ro tractod this statement, and reaffirmed it again. Ellis was generally behoved by tho people of Lexington to bo insane. In tho spring of 1 SS- Ellis was tried in Catlotts burg and sonttuced to tho ponitontiary for lifo. That night the mob broke opou tho gaol and took Ellis to Ashland, five miles away, and hangod him. Boforo his death, and whilo tho rope was around his nock, he reiterated his first confession about the murder.

Neal and Craft woro Iried in I'utloltsburg several timos, and wore oach timesontonced to death, but succeeded in getting now trials. Tho spirit of tho poople of Boyd county was so strong againßt tho prisoners that Gov. Blackburn sent a large con tingent of State troops to protect thorn from the mob each time thoy were sont thero for trial. In tho fall of ISS-' tho prisonors wero sent to G'atlettsburg for trial, and the trial was posponed. Tho mob, then iv strong forco, demanded of Major Allen, commanding tho State forces, that he deliver Neal and Graft to them. This he, of courae, refused. Ho then churtored a steamboat, upon which ho embarked the troops and prisonors to return to Lexing ton. The mob boarded a train of flat cars on a railroad running along tbe river bank from Gatlettsburg to Ashland, aud kept up a dosultory tire upon tho troops in tho steamboat all the way to Ashland. Tho tire was not returned. At Ashland tho mob seized a ferryboat and swung out into tho rivor to intercept the steam boat, and when nearly up to it, opened fire upon tho troops, who woro rangod in lino along tho decks. Tho troops then re turned tho fire with disastrous ,efl'ect. A number of persons on the ferryboat woro killed and wounded, and about twonty of the hundred of spectators who had con gregated on tho river bank to sec tho mob whip tho soldiers wore killed and wounded. The boat then steamed on to Maysvillo without furthor molostution, und Noal and Craft were again landed in Lexington gaol. The noxt trial was hold undor a change of venue in (Irayson, and Craft was again sentouccd to death, Noal's trial not boing reached. A new hearing was refused

Craft, and ho was hanged in Grayson in August, 1653. Neal was tried later on, and ho was again soutonced to death. His application to tho Court of Appoals for a rehoaring boing doniod, ho was hangod to day at Grayson.

The Defeat of Barrios.—He Loses 1,500 Men.

Ni_v Yokk, April -. —A cablo spocial from La Libertad, Control America, says :— Authentic advices regarding the first en gagement botweon tho forces of Guatemala and San Salvador on the .'loth March havo just been received horo, and indicate that the result will decisively affect tho arbitrary position assumed by Barrios. It seems that tho Salvadorean commander had massed a force of about 11,000 men ou tho plains of Santa Ana lor tho protection of tho frontier. His advantage of position was gained only by the utmo«t determination and activity, the troops evincing creditablo spirit and ondurance in the forced marches up tho difficult mountain roads from all parts of the republic. About noon on Sun day information was received from dis affected Guatemalans at Guajauinyilapa, a town about throo miles from Sanla Ana, on the Guatemalan side, of the approach of Barrios at the hoad of 15,000 men. Tho first conflict occurred about sunsot, when tbo parly of Guatemalans that had forded tho river !_i- attacked a party of Salvadoreans which was roconnoitering iv the neighbourhood. Tho fight was very fierce, lasting until nightfall, when tbe Guatemalans were forced back across the river. In recio.sin;; the Ran, which runs dowu the mountain with a strong and rapid current, a large number of Barrios's men were drowned. Barrios began the battle about 9 o'clock by opening fire on tho San Salvadoreans' posi tion, thus initiating hostilities without a declaration of war, and breaking his promise to tho United States Govornmont, through Minister Hall, not toinvadeSan Salvador. As Barrios approached El Coco, keeping up a heavy fusillade of musketry, tho Salvadoreaus replied to his fire hotly. Tho firing ou both sides wus mild and ineffectual, save that it rendered the advance of the Guatemalans slow and difficult. Hostilities were virtually suspended dur ing the night, but at daylight the Guate malans made a desperate rush in attempting to carry the San Salvadorean position by storm. Only tho superior position of the Salvadorean force saved them from annihilation by the almost overwhelming numbers of Guatema lans. Toward the middle of the day firearms to a great extent were thrown aside, and a terrific hand-to-hand fight began, in which the troops on both sides did terrible execution with the sanguinary and favourite weapon of the Indians—tho machete. This is a long and heavy knife, or sword, which serves the Central Ameri can alike in peace and war, being an im plement constantly used in agriculture here, and as great a favourite in lighting. Aftor nearly leu hours of fighting, in which, us is usual in Central America, quarter was neither given nor taken, the Gautemalan_ were completely routed, leaving about 1,500 of their number on thp field dead or wounded. They retreated across the frontier in haste and disorder. Although greatly exhausted by the engage ment, the Salvadorean troops, who showed a determiued spirit throughout, in great contrast to Iho frequent instances of half heartedues- among the Uualtmalaus, were anxious to pursue tbo enooty across the boJdffi but were reefrainwl.

PHOTOGRAPHIC MARVELS.

Judicial Evidonco on the Tip of

Sensitised Nose,

AstonlsuiNi; feats of instantaneous pho tography are frequently chronicled by the press, and certainly no ono could bo more astonished on reading of these foats than aro photographers themselves.

For example, it was montioned tho other day in a Chicago paper that a photographer, whilo he had his head under the focusiug cloth, with his lens directed at a lady whose portrait he was about to tuke, saw a strange man rush at hor and aeize'hor purse. The photographer instantly touched a spring and caught the robber's likeness, and al though tho latter had disappeared whon the photographer issued from beneath the focusing cloth, the malefactor was identi fied by his photograph and was afterwards arrested.

What astonishes a photographer who reads this interesting anecdote is the ap parent fact that a Chicago photographer can tako portraits without a plate, whether wet or dry. Othor photographors havo to use a sensitised plate, but us this can bo placed in the camera only after tho photographer has finished the task of focusing and has with drawn his head from the focusing cloth, it is evident that tho Chicago photographer used no plate. Tho reader of tho story in question who knows nothing of photography may see nothing incrediblo in it, sineo the general public hns tho impression that pho tographs can be takon with a lens und camera alono. We neod not, however, wonder that photographers aro astonished at tho Chicago story anddeclino to believe it

Careful inquiry reveals tho fact that tho story was truo, and that an unexpected robber was really photographed instan taneously without tho aid of a sensitised plate. It happonod in this way: The photographer in question was in tho habit of making bin own dry plates, and while engaged in this process ho accidentally transferred somo sonsitisod golatino film to tho inside of his focusing cloth. When ho placod his hoad undor tho cloth, this film was again accidentally transferred to his noso, and whon the image ol tho robbor was projected by tho lens upon tho pho tographer's noso an impression was mado, A few momonts later, whilo developing a plate, an irritation of tho tip of tho nose compelled tho phoro^rapher to rub that organ with fingers wot with the dovoloping agent. Tho result was that a picture ap peared, and when tho photographer looked at himself in the glass he saw a fairly good portrait oxtending from the tip of his noso upward lor tho distance of three-quarters of an inch. Ho instantly " fixod "it with hyposulphite of soda, and it was upon the ovidenco of this no.o that tho robber was identified and arrested. Thus we soo that tho story in its true form is simplo and credible, whereas in tho form in which it was originally published it was absolutely impossible,—" New York Times."

The War Preparations at Home.

Tin; London correspondent of the " Argus" (not a supporter of Mr Gladstono by any means) bears testimony to tho vigour with which Government prepared for tho ex poctod strugglo with Russia, Writing on April ;>, ho says ; — Thoro can bo no question that tho Cabinet has spared noither trouble nor e.xponse to put the ompiro in a position, in case of necessity, to maintain tho intogrity of tho territories of our Afghan ally. Tbo suecoss of thoso preparations and tho rapidity with which the wholo country is making ready for a possiblo war aro matters of hearty eon gratulation among ull patriotic Englishmen. Within a fortnight 00,000 mon woro ready to tuko tho field in ludin ; within throe weoks the first lino of our nnval defence al Homo will bo prepared to go to sea. It is re markable, aftor the criticisms wo have heard on tho navy, to notico what a really formidable mustor this is. That Plymouth and Portsmouth could so promptly turn out such a fleet is a pleasant revolution. Apart from this, tho Admiralty have takon ovor a cortain number of the finest and fastest merchantmen leaving British ports. Selection has boen made of ships which have been built according to Admirality requirements for merchant cruisors, and among tho vessels taken over aro tho Etruria, Oregon, America, Alaska, and Arizonu, whoso reputation is possibly world wide, Othor vessels uro in courso of transfer, and tho Hussion agonts who havo been negotiating for tho purchnso of some of our finest steel-built ships will now find tho work one of some difficulty. The ships aro all to bo armed with light guna, and as they aro each eapablo of sailing twonty miles an hour at a pinch, it is pretty obvious that in cortain conceivable lines their capacity for sorvico will be enormous, whilst tho risk of soi/.uro will bo almoßl nil. Again, it is understood that tho torpedo arrangements in connection with tho navy and tho homo ports aro in an advanced state of preparation. If wo con tinue the onumoration, it may bo pointod out that the army has been strengthened by tho calling out of tho reserves, and that Me have offers on nil Bidos from tho Voluntoors and others willing to undertako activo sor vico or to till tho gaps at Homo, us tho authorities may determine. It is perfectly surprising to notice tho strong military spirit which has beon arousod by tho pros poet of a collision with Kussiu. From 11 small section of the Radical party alono come signs of dissent. It is interesting to observe how Conti nental opinion has changod with an increased knowledge ol what is passing huro and in India. It is still the cue of Continental journalists to protond that thero will be no war, and that England will again '|oat dirt " to avoid crossing swords. But it is ousy enough to see that this is moro pro tonco, and that the preparations of tho Imperial Government havo carried convic tion of our oarnostnoss und determination. Tho Germans, indeed, cannot conceal thoir surprise at the alacrity with which tho rountry, in spite of its onlanglomonts else where, had risen to moot its responsibilities in tho East, and the impression moated in Berlin is spreading in other quarters. It may be that it has been experienced at St. Petersburg, with the result that there is now somewhat of v disposition to "climb down." At any rate, it is pretty certain that Russia ia not vary well prepared to fight an Anglo-Indian force in the neigh bourhood of Herat—ut present.

A New Kind of Cruiser for the British Navy.

Thk new bolted cruisers, or, es they have been called in Parliament, the " Now Mor soys," for which cortain shipbuilders have just been invited to tender, differ from thoir moro recent predecessors in having 10 feet more beam, being 1100 by 50 feet, and in bavin- an increase of 1,300 tons in the dis placomont, making them up to 5,000 tons. Tho proteetivo deck has been replaced by an armour belt -00 feet long, formed of 10 inch ateel-facod armour of 0 inch of back ing. The ends are protected by an under water belt similar to the Mersey's. As tho ends of the belted cruisers aro very fine, the part of the water-lino not actually pro teeted by armour is proportionately very small. The engines of these vossclb are to be 5,700 horse power, to be obtained by the uso of forced draught in a closed stokehole. Thero aro four boilers, doublo-ended, hav ing a total grato surface of about 500 square feet, and working ataproasureof 120 pounds. Their total weight is not to oxeeed 7-0 tons. They aro of a similar type to those supplied to tho Leandor class by Messrs Kobert Napier & Sons, ha\ ing cast steel framing and hollow steel shafting throughout.

The armament consists of two 18-ton guns, arranged—one forward, to fire all round the bow to about fifty degrees abaft the beam, and one aft, to tiro through a similar sweep round tho stern. In addition to these, there are twelve 4-ton guns, and six machine guns. A torpedo armament will also be provided both above and under water. The construction of the hulls does not materially differ from that of the smaller and earlier iionclads of her Majesty's navy, such as the Hydra, Nelson, and! Couquerer, but they are of steel throughout. These belted cruisers will each be manned by a crew of from 330 to 350 officers and men, for whom very good accommodation is found on the second deck above the water line, All the usual refinements of a cruiser have to be provided in their most modern form. When completed these vessels will be works of modern engineering skill second to nope. As vessels of war they cannot fail to be formidable. Their weak point appears to be their speed, which ia not to be more than eighteen knots.—From the "Glasgow- Herald."

Appreciative employer—"Mr Wiggins, I have been very much pleased with your assiduity and attention to business during the past year, and I have determined to ro wurd your fidelity by making you my junior partuer.'' Horrified eniployi —" Junior partner—ma—no, Eir 1 Don't do it-—-ju s t reduce Bty salary and lot it go at that."

Daily Life of Emperor William.

The Emperor of Germany was lately in dulging in a ten minutes' nap aftor an un usually protracted recoption of military officer*- about to depart to their various des tinations in different parts of tho Empire, and his good-humoured annoyance at being " caught napping" furnished subject of merriment to his family for somo time after wards. His Majesty is very fond of dining in company, but always breakfasts alone, in order to avoid the objootien of talking. His diet is of the most simple kind. There is only one dish forbidden in vain by tho doctorß, but from which he obstinately re f üboß to abstain, in spite of all remonstrance. He must have lobstera, in some shape or other, at least twice a week ; and, although his digestion is in general good, yot those who witness the lobster feasts in which he indulges sometimes tromblo at the sight, and sometimes turn faint with dismay on beholding him start forth immediately after the repaut to drive in his victoria through the park to the Thiergarten. No matter what the weather is.His Majesty may always bo seen enveloped in his warm grey military cloak with its fur collar, with no other escort than tho attendant who caught him in his arms whon ho fainted after tho at tempted assassination by Nobiling. Tho solitary drive is always followed by a solitary promonade on foot under tho big trees of the park Thore he sometimes falls in with General Yon Moltko, and they con verse together familiarly for some time: but tho Emporor always returns to the Palace alono.

His evenings ore generally devoted to family intercourse, which ho pleasantly calls the " ladies' hour," and his gallant at tentions to tho female portion of his house hold have always formed one groat motive of his popularity. Tho Empress has always tho right of disposing of tho time after dinner. Hor Majesty being a Princess of Woimar, und having passed her youth amid tho literary circles of that exceedingly blue little town in tho day of Gootho and tho minor luminaries of his day, prefers tho i|uict of her own salon and the society of her literary friends to tho theatre. Tho Emporor, hav ing obtained permission to absent himsolf from tho a'sthotic discussions under tho guidanco of Hor Majesty, repairs to the thoatre, whoro he occupies a box, almost always alone, -whilo the Court oflicials in state uniform fill tho Imperial box, standing bohind the I'mperor's empty chair with all due otiquotto. The Emporor then returns homo, takes a cup of woak toa, kissos tho hand of tho Empress, and retires to bed like a simplo bounjeoin of Borlin,

Osman Digna a Horn French man.

It may not bo genorally known that Osman Digna is a Frenchman by birth, and was born in the yoar 1532 in a small hotel in Rouen, His father dying a year or two after, his mother married an Alexandrian merchant in IS'.il, half French and half Egyptian, of the name of Osman Digna, who, tuking a groat fancy to young Osman (ut thnt time named Alphonso Vinot), in sisted on having his name changed to his own, and, dying in 18-12, loft him übout 500,000 francs, After tho death of his stop father ho was loft to the guardianship of Ali Khanu, a kind of half partnor of tho cldor Osman, a Mussulman, who, at tho death of Mine, Digna, in 18_-f took young Osman into his houso. His religion at that timo, being vory much of tho Christian un attachod type, was soon convortod into Mohammodanism. Ali Khana was v very wealthy man, and livod in groat Oriental pomp und splendour, Though intending to bo vory kind to young Osman, his kindnoss was of a vory Spartan ordor indood. He had numerous profossors for various branchos of looming, and would often be examined by Ali himsolf, who, if he did not consider that ho hud mado progress, would havo him severely bastinadood.

At the ugo of 15 ho wus sont lo Cairo to an ox-Fronchoflicor to bo taught tho various methods of European warfare. Capt. Moraio had somo fifty boys residing iv his hous. studying war in all its brunches, two or throo of whom had sinco becomo famous, not least among thorn being Arnbi Pashu, It is strange, ns illustrating tho old saying that "tbo boy is father to tho man," thut both Osman and Arabi distinguished them selves as leaders in the mimic battles fought in the grounds of Capt. Moraio, tho former in a dashing, swooping kind of way, carry ing everything before nun, and the latter us a tactican. Tho conscquonco was that a rivalry existed botween the two, both having about an equal number of school fellows siding with thorn, Osmau re mained hero until his ninoteonth yoar, whon ho wan sont by his guardian to Franco on matters roluting to Ali's businoss. In IS6U ho obtained tho command of his rogimont, but shortly afterward, offending tho Khedive, ho had to leavo Egypt, and had hiß proporty confiscated. Ho then wont to Suakim, and entered business us a ship chandler and coal agont undor an assumed name; but, while on a hunting expedition, ho was captured by a roving bund of Arabs, aud was sold as a slave to tho mon who at presont calls himsolf the Mahdi. The Mahdi wits charmed with his now slave as a man of unbounded learning, and who would bo ablo to train his numerous supporters in tho urt of war. He gavo Osman his daughter in marriage, and has ovor since treated him like a son.—From the "Citizen."

Coals of Mail Worn by Arabs in the Soudan.

Coats ot mail aro still in uso among somo of the Soudanoso Arab tribes. Whether ori ginal or v copy, says Col. Colbourne, in speaking of ono of theso coats of armour, it was undoubtedly tho dress of tho Crusaders. Tho hauberk of mail was fastened round the body by a balt.m, and formed a complete covering from head to foot. The long two handed doubloedged sword was borne be tween the leg and tho saddle. The wearer of this media-vat garb was Sheik Mohammed, Sheik of the Hnlawin tribo of Bagarra Arabs. His armour had been in his family 310 years The horse's head was encased in steel, and its body covered with a gilt thick enough to turn a spear. It was shaped like tho armour ono reads of in Froissart.

It has been assorted in connection with this curious subject that the practice survives in tho Soudan ulono. It may, therefore, bo well to state that it is also found among the Khevsur people of the Central Caucasus, who still habitually wear chain armour, shields and helmets, like mediaeval knights. In fact, it was formerly general among all tho Caucasian tribes, and tbe Chechen/.es of Dugheßtan still woro coats of mail down to tho boginning to the present contury.

Tho armour dobs not appear to have been forged by theso people themselve, but was handed down, among the Soudanose Arabs, as an heirloom Horn generation to generation in tho families of chiefs, Hence the inference thut this armour dutes every where from the times of tho Crusales, of which it may be regarded as a remarkable reminiscence.—From tho "Athena-uni."'

An American Tragedy.

Ne_3 has reached a family resident in London of tho murder of a rolativo in the Far West which reads more like a trans pontine melodrama than a mere recital of facts. The gentleman in question left Eng land some years ago for the States. Ho had a considerable amount of money, a large portion of which he, after a fashion very prevalent with Englishmen just now, in vested in land. When in Kansas he made the acquaintance of the wifo of a local banker. Sho was twenty years old, very handsome, highly educated, and connected with a good family in New York. The Englishman and the banker's wife struck up an acquaintance which quickly ripened into close intimacy. A short time after this stage was reached the banker died— very suddenly, it is said. His affairs being wound up aud the widow coming into his property, she and the Englishman started together fpr Texas, Before they set out the Englishman had made a will leaving to his companion some valuable land in Kan sas. After straying beyond the district of railways tho two rode together. When they reached a lonely portion of the Indian territory tho gay and handsomo young widow suddenly turned upon her companion and shot him dead. This accomplished, she leisurely stripped him of all his money and jewels, amounting, it is said, to the value of f1,20p, and with her own hands buried the" body. This was not done with the neatness and completeness of the shoot iug. Some men riding over the same truck camo upou tho body. It vas identi fied, and the coi_puuiou_hip of the Kansas widow being known, sho was arrested, and proofs oi tbe crime found upon ber.

The Mission of the Mahdi.

Caiko, March s.—The term "Mahdi" is approximately translated " Messiah." Tho Mahdi's heaven-imposed mission iB neither national nor political, but religiouß. The territory which he claims, and the poople whoso allegiance he demands, are limited solely by his .geographical ignorance. Either he is the looked-for spiritual bead of , the whole world, who is to unite all nations under an Islam purified of its existing abuses, or he is nothing. He is either the Messiah which was to come or an impostor. Avoiding a more exact parallel, which might seem irreverent, an attempt to negotiate with such a loader might be com pared to an offer made by the Moham medan leader to 1 _ter the Hermit of the crown of the -"ranks if he would refrain from prosecuting the Crusades, The Mahdi's aims, repeated in innu merable proclamations, are to drive those who refuse to rocogniso his divine mission into the sea, to be proclaimed in the holy city of Mecca, and to destroy the false Caliphate ot Stamboul, He is equally hostile to tho Scnoussi, tho Sultan, Arabi, and Mr Blunt. His only adherents aro those who will take tho sword and kill all who rofuso his faith throughout tho world. Ho is the successor of numerous impostors who, not having tho fortune to be opposed by British statesmen, have failed to achieve equal prestige. Defeat alone can destroy that prestigo.—From tho " London Times."

The Duty of Benevolence En forced.

A wi'iTJ'H in a London newspaper says : — I Among stories of gonorosity repaid, ono ' which is nowgoing the rounds is by no moans a bad ono. It is said that somo timo ago a lady noticed a crossing-sweopor near the Mansion House looked very ill, and good naturedly asked him if he were not so. His reply was that he was vory ill indeod. The lady asked ugain if she could do anything for him. Tho answer was, " Yes, call a cab and tako mo homo." Sho did so, and on arrival at tho crossing-sweeper's homo sho found one room, this being scrupulously clean and everything tidy and in ordor. The lady askod him whether ho wished to soo a doctor. Tho reply being in the affirma tive, sho askod him if he could pay tho doctor's foo. He could, but asked her to pay it, and said that he would refund it. Sho did so. Tho doctors came, prescribed, and told the lady the old man was vory ill. From this timo sho took quite an interest in her protei/r, aud frequently called in her carriage und pair) to sco how he got on, One day sho observed a great chunge come over him, and saw that ho was dying, and told him so. His reply was that ho know it. She asked him had he no frionds to communicate with, or was thoro anything further she could do for him. His answer was that ho had no friends in tho world, and his last wish would be that ho might be buried plainly in Word Ceme tery. This tho lady promised should be dono. The old man then beeamo tho ques tioner, and asked in succession the lady's namo, her ago, her place of residence, and lastly the names of her solicitors, and thoir placos of businoss. Those queries were, wondoringly on the part of tho lady, fully answorod. Tho oud camo rapidly. The old man died, and under his pillow was found a will, probably authenticated and signod, by which he left tho lady tho whole of his froohold proporty, consisting of two houses in the City, ono being in Moorgato strcot and tho othor in Birchin Lano, and estimated to bring in £1,500 a year. This ia tho kind of crossing-swecpor whose atfoc tions I hopo myself to gain one of theso fine days.

Impressions of New York

Tin. most forcible impression on my mind was to tho effect that that most frugal and ingonious poople, tho Dutch, hud boen forced by the machinations of Prince Bis mark tocvaculntoHolland, and hadsuddenly colonised tho purlieus of Paradisc-streot, Liverpool, which by somo preternatural means or othor had boon transported across tho Atlantic. Tho little red-brick houses, the high " stoops " or flights of woodon steps iv front, tho green "jealousio" shutters, tho handicrafts und shop business carried on in collars, tho amount of mopping und scrubbing nnd scouring going on, the endloss procession of open drays full of corpulent littlo kegs presumably full of Schiedam, all at first bespoke tho neigh bourhood of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, or Tho llaguo. Hut no ; I was not in Holland. Locomotives and passenger cars arc not uccu-tomod, so fur as my romembranco sorvos me, to whiz through the ambient air on a level with tho sccond-lloor windows in the towns of tho Low Countrios ; and it is only when crossing ono of the avenues that I bogan|torealisothofactthatlhad reached tho only country which as yot possesses that not artistic looking but still distinctly beneficial institution, an "Elevated Railway"— America, . . . I had scarcely, however, made up my mind that I was in tho United States whon a change came ovor tho spirit of my dream, and I found myself murmuring that surely I must bo in Germany, Thoso unmistakably Toulonie names over the shop fronts, those bakeries, barbers, billiard rooms,shops for tho salo of "underwear," oating and drinking houses, lagor-beer saloons, bowling alleys, and corner grocers —tho whole redolont with a mild ■ per fumo of suuoikraut, sausages, and Bremen tobacco, bolongod obviously lo tho Father land—not perhaps so much to austere Ber lin, or vivacious Vienna, or a-sthotic Munich, or docorous Dresdon, as to ono of

tho Hanso towns,

Vos, lam in

Germany : and I waited in fonr and trem bling to hoar tho strains of tho " Wacht am Rhoin," to soo tho warriors of Gormania with thoir invincible •' picklohaubo " hel mets and their irresistible necdlo-guns march by "in squadrons and platoons, with their music playin' chunes," and to fcol that I was a " Philister." Not a bit of it. We jolted round a corner. We passed by a Mount Testaccio of potatoes, of evidently Irish extraction, I saw Mike from Connemara smoking his dhudoon. Biddy M'Flinn was brushing up some blooming Newton pippins with tho corner of her woollen shawl, to make the fruit look spruco and tidy for market; and Father O'Quigly, the priest, passed by slock and smiling, with a broadbrimmed hat and a black broadcloth coat reaching down to his heels.—"America Revisited."

The Beggar and His Host

" Where I sups, I sleops," once said a mendicant to a gontleman who had called him in from tho streots in tho ovoning, with a viow to loam his no doubt pathetic his tory. Whisky and bread and cheese had been supplied to the guest in liberal quanti ties, and he naturally folt disinclined to ex change such comfortable quarters for his own dismal home. A noar relation of that sensible beggar, if not the vory man him self, may be found at Sheffield. While ex ercising his profession ono night, properly clad in ragged raiment, ho attracted the attention of a benovolent gentleman. The poor wretch looked very miserable; tho philanthropist remembered his own comfort able houso ; why not try tho experiment of making Lazarus acquainted, for a brief while, with the pleasures of Dives '! The happy thought was at ouce carried out, and tho aged tatterdemalion found himself living in what for him was unimagined luxury. Thislasted fortwodaysand nights, and then the genial philanthropist proposed to terminate the visit, expecting, no doubt, a shower of thanks for his kindness. What he received was a shower of abuse, ac companied by a positive refusal to turn out. Forcible ejection had, therefore, to be re sorted to, and this had the effect of produc ing such exasperation iv the guest's mind that he proceeded to demolish the windows of his late hospitable refuge. When brought before tho magistrates for that unlawful act ho justified it on the ground that his enter tainer had no right to treat him so well unless he meant the treatment to continue. Although a somewhat ungrateful line of defence, there is a kernel of truth in it which deserves the consideration of impulsive philanthropists.

Are the Jews a Distinct Race?

Ark the Jews a distinct raco? was the question asserted, deuied, and learnedly argued on Tuesday night, February 24th, by various eminent Jews, including the Chief Rabbi Delegate, before a crowded meeting of the Anthropological Institute. All the peculiarities of the Jews that are apparently racial were minutely discussed, with the result of leaving two very distinct impressions. One was that mixed marriage. between Jews and non-Jews are so infertile that the average number of their- progeny does ngt equal the number of the parents : consequently half-castes tend to die out. Tho other was that the question of the dis tinctness of tho rac-i was iv other respcrls au exceedingly difficult one to decide.—From the "London Telegraph."

CLIPTOMANIA.

(SrEciALLY Selected hy Ouk Lomju:-;

CoRRESI'ONDEN'T.)

It is said, I hope with truth, that Lord Tennyson is writing a poem on Goneral Gordon, But is it not about timo that tho poem waß written ? If our Poet Laureate does not mako haste he will bo anticipated in America. Lord Tennyson has a splendid subject, and everybody can understand his anxiety to do justice to it. But ho must not, like the Government, be too late.

Sir Edward Malet's wedding at West minster Abbey was a very swell affair—the biggest thing of the kind since the Duke of Albany's marriage, The brido, who is the Duke of Bedford's pet daughter, had a dot of £150,000 from papa and about £10,000 worth of tho Russell jewels. The ladies' dresses were of the most superb description, and there was a lloral display tho like of which has not been scon for many years. Someone has exorcised a kindly thought fulness for the soldiers who aro fighting for us in the parched and arid deserts of the Soudan, in a way that will open up a means of supplying tbem with creature comforts that would do much to make their lot moro pleasant. It is an anonymous gift of 11,000 cigars ; and as the Admiralty havo not thought fit to balk the generous intentions of the donor, they are to be forwarded this week. Here's a chance for the benevolent, and for a diversion of that energy so lavishly employed in supplying the niggers vvith flannel jackets.

A popular edition of the charming " Lot tors " of tho beloved and lamented Princess Alice will shortly be published. It will contain much fresh matter, including a detailed account of tho Princess's late ill ness, by Miss Maclean, who was thon in constant attendance on hor. Tho corres pondence will be prefixed by an entirely now memoir of tho Princess, written by Princess Christian, which was originally intended moroly for privato circulation, but tho Queen has decided to havo it published. There is also an account of tbo Princess's wedding, takon from tho Queen's Journal, and other interesting extracts from Her Majesty's privato records. Tho work has boon edited by J'rmcoss Christian, who has beon assisted throughout by Sir Theodore Martin.—" World."

Amongst the little knot of Wall-street millionaires there stands out the figure of a lady who is in her own fair person a most striking and practical argument in favour of w.omen's rights. Mrs Harriet Green com menced lifo with nino millions of dollars be queathed to hor by her father. The death of an aunt added four millions to her score, and hor own business capacity has done the rest. She has speculated, and never lost. What sho has gained she has accumulated. She has now a fortune of forty million dol lars, or about eight million pounds sterling, and her annual income is over a million dol lars, or about two hundredthousand pounds. As sho is only forty years of ago, and spends not more than five thousand dollars a year, thore is a bright prospect for her heirs. Mrs Green is the possessor of a husband, but he is a weak vessel in comparision with his better-half. His speculations havo landed him in debt to tho amount of eight hundred thousand dollars.

Tho Duke of Cambridge draw- annually as Colonel of the Regiment of Grenadier Foot Guards the sum of £2,132—a somewhat liberal scale of pay if, as is generally ad mitted, tho appointment may bo regarded merely as a comfortable sinecure. In addi tion to this amount, the yearly allowance of his Royal Highness by virtue of his post as Communder-in Chief of the urmy is £4,500, It cannot bo said that tho tuition shows a niggardly or grudging spirit in rewarding the military services—such as they are—of this royal soldier. He figures further in the official Army List as holding the Colonelcies of the 17th Lancers, Royal Artillery, Koyal Engineers, 00th Regiment Royal Rifles, and of the City of London Rifle Volunteer Brigade. How his Royal High ness manages to dovoto time to these multifarious offices must bo a marvel to anyone outside the Horso Guards.

Tho " British Medical Journal " says : — A curious but important caso in which small-pox infection wus convoyed in a letter is recorded by Mr Karkeok, in his recent roport on the sanitary condition of St. Marychurch. On March 1, last yoar, a caso of small-pox was reported to him in tho person of a domestic servant, who had soon no ono ill or recovering from small-pox, und who hud not been out of tho town for months. Moreover, no caso of the disease had occurred in St. Marychurch or Torquay for years, On inquiry, it was found that tho "infected person had received letters from her sister, an inmate of the West Bromwich Small-pox Hospital, " who had unfortunately sent the gorm of the disease in her letter." This case was at once re moved to tho Torquay Sanatorium, and tho only person in the household who becamo ill 'mus the recipient and reader of tho letters.

The prices of admission to Loudon theatres have rison cuusidorably of lato years. In the days of Footo and Carrick the critics frequented tho pit at a modest expenditure of a couple of shilling-, or at tbo most half -.-crown. Tho pit has now all but disappeared, to mako room for tho stalls, So long as the leading actors and actresses consider themselves ill-requited if their pro fessional incomo be boloiv the official salary of n Cabinet Minister, there will probably bo no abatement in tho scale of charges at the most popular theatres. Strangers from the provinces and foreigners on a short visit to the capital may not object once in a way to the entrance "prieos, but Londoners find high rutos of udmission a heavy tax on their pursos. Tho performances havo altered in as marked a degree as the charges, Tho time-honoured ono-act farce—so productive of merriment—is unknown to tho present genoration of playgoors. Yet how tho broad humour of " Lend Me Five Shillings or Did you ever send your Wifo to Cam berwell':" delighted tho frequenters of the old-fashioned theatres forty years ago.

Professor Simon Newoomb maintains in the new number of the " Illustrated Science Monthly " that Miss Lulu Hurst, tho famous " magnetic girl," whose marvellous lours de fitee have created such a sensation in America, is only a woman who possesses great muscular power. So far from the " rosy country girl" moving heavy objects by merely touching them with her finger tips, he declares that, though she began to touch the object on which she performed with her fingers only, she used the strong palms of her hands to bring about the de sired result. Of course, if this is true, the magnetic wondor ceases ; but tho muscular wonder is more marvellous still. A girl who can with one hand lift a chair on which one person sits while tour others hold it down may well draw full houses, if only as a supreme example of the strength that is sometimes possessed by the weakor sox.— " Pall Mall Gazette."

While recapitulating the incidents of the recent ascent of Ben Nevis, tho " Standard " describes the nature of the winter life in the observatory which is situate at the summit of tho mountain. It remarks that " tho mnn who takes by choice to a life above the clouds finds company enough in his own thoughts, and in tho beauties and wonders around him. Ho is an Arctic winterer within an hour or two of heme, an oxile, with the telegraph to put him in touch with the brother men whom for a time he has forsworn. To tho meteorologist in his mountain homo, the wind and the weather, the stars and the moon, the sunlight and aurora, tho tlowers anil the birds, the mist from tho valloy, and the wild scones round which it circles, are companions enough. And by-and-by, when the exilos return to the land of streets and linen shirts, they will, if their minds are cast in the usual mould, feel that there is no soiitudo so ap palling, no loneliness so unbearable, as tho solitude of a stranger in a great city." The " coat of mail" which Captain Garstin, of the Oth Bengal Cavalry, from a spear thrust which might have been fatal, makes, a pretty story. We read that he picked up a few strips of chainwork, by chance, in a native shop before leaving India, It occurred to him that they might be useful, and his wifo sewed them here and there in the lining of his jacket. We ima gine that tbe idea was not quite so c,,sual as is suggested by a guileless correspondent. Captain Garstin, it may safely be declared, has not gained his rank without hearing a thousand times the arguments and the iliu:.. tratious in favour of chain mail whir,1.-, tire discussed in every Indian barrack, and are heard often enough at an English mess. Pamphlets have been written to urge one application or another of the principal. If we are not mistaken, Colonel Luck, who now comraauda the 15th Hussars, is an en thusiast upon this subject, the more especially siuce he escaped a /earful wound ut Takt-i-pul by the protection of a strip of mail upon tho shoulder. Most officers in India heard of that practical demonstration, and all the wises who heard ponilerc-1 it. Wo would undertake to say that the ma- i joriry of married officers belonging to the I native cavalry are guarded more 0r..-., in vital parts by chainwork stitched in their ■ clothes by loving hands. Very many of the i sowar.-: arc thus defended also, and native -ilicors, commissioned or non-commissioticd, wear an epaulet which the keenest tulwar' will not dama v.'c.

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SELECTED POETRY

our colon'iai. 110 v. . (Oki'EßingMilitahy" Assistance i.v iii_ Sol-dan Campaign.)

Hurrah fur the cry, o'er (lie war imgl. ..mul ing! It thunders along each Colonial shor.- The voice o£ true _rilo_. with sympathy bouiid ing To succour the old ling their forcfulhurs bon-. Their love for the homeland, when threaten ii with danger. Kcsoumls in their patriot cry from afar. And proudly we hail them—a trusty a\ .ingi-r. Our buckler and shield in the perils of war. Chorus— Hearts true as British oak. Brave us the parent stock, • Strong ns tho granite rock, o'oi- tho blue sc,i Linked iv thy oiler grand, Feci wo a brother's hand. Guarding our fatherland, fearless and free. They smiled when prosperity flourished around us, And Briton's old Lion reposed in his dcv: But, hark, when the storm of adversity found ns. " To arms'' was their cry for the old country then. Oh, sons of the sires thai gave Ui-iliuniiiii'glory ; Oh, daughters of mothers thai shared m their joys; Oh. souls patriotic, exult in the. story Thal seals to our hcurts our Colonial Bo> i. Chorus— Hearts, So., Jcc. Yon cohort of heroes from Sydney adxauciiiK- Yon phalanx replete with tho manhood ol man, Will soon send tlio False Prophet's dcrvishc* dancing, When shoulder la shoulder they pace the Soudan, Unrivalled alhard-hamled labour mid hunting. The broudaxo and rillo they handle like to;, s ; And woo to tho foenit-n that Unit tlieinscl. E.i front ing Our hard-listed, broad-chested Colony Jioy =. CftoHis-Hcarls, _..., &c. Old Mother l__tnnnia.inti'nsely"deliglilod. Tho Ausl rol-Candian loyalty sees: With confidence feels her wide empire miiti-il. And proudly unfurls her old lh.fr lo I he bri-czc. No glib-worded treaty, no phantom alliance. Bui liliul devotion her heart overjoys: The strong brothers' hand for defence—not dellancc— We grasp in our durling Colonial Boy.;. Chorus— Hearts, &c, &c. I't'hc above song by Bass Kennedy, ( __i=go\v. obtained a Di-ize ottered by the proprietors oi " The Peoples J-'riend " a popular S_it.li literary journal, for the best patriotic song.)

ON AN OLD SONG.

Little snatch of nncicnl son.-.'. What has made theo live so lon;,'.' Flying on thy wings of rhymo Lightly down the depths of time, Telling nothing strange or rare. Scarce a thought or image there, Nothing hut the old, old tale Of a hapless lover's wail: Offspring ot some idle nour, "Whence has come thy lasting power i By what turn ot rhythm or phrase, By what subtle, cnreless grace Can thy music charm our cars After full three hundred years I Littlo song, since thou wcrt horn In the Reformation morn, How much ot great has passed away, Shattered or by slow decay! Stately piles in ruins crumbled, Lordly houses lost or humbled. Thrones and realms in darkness hurled .Coble Hags for ever furled. Wisest schemes by statesmen spun, Timo has seen them, one by one, Liko the leaves of autumn/all— A little song outlives them all. There were mighty scholars then With a slow, laborious pen Piling up their wort, of learning, Men of solid, deep dißcerning, Widely famous as thoy taught Systems of connected thought. Destined for all future ages; Now the cobweb binds their pages, All unread their volumes lie Mouldering so peaceably Coffined thoughts of coffined men, Nover moro to stir again Tn the passion and the strife. In the fleeting forras of life: All their forco and meaning gone As the stream of thought Howson, Art thou weary, little son. . Flying through the world so long.' Canst thou on thy fairy pinii'iis Cleave the future's dark dominion!'. And with music soft and clear Charm ihc jet unfashioned ear. Mingling with the things unborn When perchance another mom Great as that which gave thee birlh Dawns upon the changing earth ; It may bo so, for all around. With a heavy crashing sound, Like the ice of polar _ea_ Melting in the summer breeze. Signs of change arc gathering fast, Nations breaking with their past, The impulse of thought isbeatingouieker, The lump of faith begins to llicker. The ancient reverence decays With forms and types of other days ; And old beliefs grow faint and few As know ledge moulds the world anew, And scattered far and wide the seeds Of other hopes anil other creeds: And all in vain we seek lo trace Tho fortunes of tho coming race. Some with fear and some with hope, None can can cast it horoscope. Vaporous lamp or rising star. Many a light is seen afar, And dim, shapeless Hgures loom All around us in the gloom — Forces that may rise and reign As tho old ideals wane.

Landmarks of the human mind One by one are left behind. And a subtle change is wrought, I n the mould and east of thought; Modes of reasoning pass away. Types of beauty loose their sway. Creeds and causes that have mado Many noble lives, must fade; And the words that thrilled of old Now seem hueless, dead, and cold; Fancy's rainbow tints are Hying. Thoughts, liko men, are slowly dying; All things perish, and the Strongest (iftcn do not last the longest; Tho stately ship is seen no more, The fragile skltfatl -ins the shore: And whilo the great and wise decay. And all their trophies pass away. Some sudden thought, Bomocarelcßsrhynie Still floats above the wrecks of lime.

W.E.U. L_K-Y

WHEN THE SEA GIVES UP HER DEAD.

I am looking back through tho days and weeks That lie in tho shadowy land of yore; An awaiting spirit stirs nnd spenks, The spirit of dead years gone before. Speaks with a murmur of mournful, sigh?, In a voice that carries tho sound of tears— And lighting the lamps in its passionate eyes, It opens the shroud of the buried years. The wind is blowing up from tho world, And stars aro shining down on tho sou. But the wind is bleak and the light ia cold. And 'tis only of pain they speak to me. For the wind once toyed with a silken tress. And the stars once shone on a saintly face; And how can a faithful lovo grow less. Or a new love take the old love's place.' The sea is swirling up to my foet Singing its monody, soft and low; But the song of the sea is deadly sweet, For I mind how it slew mc years ago. We had been parted. I and she. With many a hundred mile between ; And now B_e was coming across the sea (Oh: tho sky was blue and the waves were green I) Coming—and yet she never came! Meeting—and yet we met no more! She heard me not when I called her name, Though the tlead might havo heard mo on that shore. Oh. love, though my eves but dimly sec, There is hopu in my pathway whore 1 trcuil, That over the sea thou wilt sail io mc In tho day when the sea gives up her dead. --"The-Argosy."

MAIDEN AND BUTTERFLY.

A maiden idly wandered

Through wood and cool rotrcni And as Blie stooped to gather A nosegay from the heather, A huteiily passed by her. And kissed her lips so Bweot.

"O! pardon." said the rover: " O .' pardon, maiden fair, I sought among the flowers The honey thar, is ours, And took your red lips blooming For roses growing there.''

"For this time," said the maiden " Forgiveness—it is by ; But I must beg to mention, And press to your attention, Thoße roses are not blooming For every butterfly."

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, MAY 80, 1885,

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