THE GARDEN.

■[By Houtus.]

CW.diirofOporMlonß.MwOU..

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

"rthich viiU''' . h , h0 hl .,u, h.»N . (er,nC?i witli »lnjcr ot <lry soil, so « s : den. A" rtm- ~, , X , !lU , col i ~ a heap reasonable ti'.'j, ~u rllins day should he and burned. »"'" nml i, m -ncd ulsii. Tim added to the f • 1 '~.,..,„» addition to the hornedc la * '» '^"li^ht or heavy ground, soil, wlicil'^ v , . houM H . 5111 . t ., u l over Thoaslics.; " l lv iuto the sud. t j,esurfaceati^'"' X.. Vark Hoad). Jlß*'-* ...".* one or the worsl Pests that -'rh? S * \7t January C. \V. Zanders attack thoy"; , n ., m ,,iy for kcenm.,- 11 wftUt <oln« iniiu'V '-o the vines while tUW aro B 0 t:lb ,es,„.o„ mil. of Tako cnelomict a ~ R ~.,„_,., d , f|]| , ( „ caustic potw 1. l>» t , vin , a witll , hjs water . heft l^ ccr; ,; on . The .■aiirtio .nviid '■'■>' ' '.',,,,,, ; :.,.., (i,„ n the tin at I he Jota* to*M »» '„ „„ w „,er on it. let. it »P.J?" '.Kyo- 'O.'""1 I:,k'' i!^ Ui T ith " ft ant! fora U5 v ,-epeatinit ll.c betlnij; (l»on win" 1S ' ' , , 0 dissolve move. Next Wth soft ! soul ' ' t .. nt lint . umo wash thowood t^ " t ,' :lll ,„,,., ~l lrk o,i; the va.os tho wills, r.l" - , ob , u -e(i-refiiKe water, ni»f«»»K t ~ x with soft so.m. and care nml. while hot. mi, mhh]n _. „,,,, mixture fully rt "Svicn" A few days after.n.ike in,° "wt,m of SeM.Ol t'.ishursl's <■oinnoiii.il «""' I 1 f *«"'■: toh:tcco-wat..r and a , 0 onu willoii ° ~ v .uh-liii-r ch.y or cow who tf» "'-Ek, , .oilenuelv ihi.-k ~air.l. dnnfisoastora k< a n Vattt< iSS I The wm.l,. sitrfsec soil partia ff 1 ,v, ';, IH , rotl ,oved it the roots lllll ohO nns « .-r.avi.i_; inside. It nol »' tho mI dr.n eh the Ho-"- willl llot so; "' IliorouttMy «r."'loiv.eeo-watrr. Don't out 811,13 Z\,?Ao 11 I™ 'I" "'-1 '"'^ J"" " ,Tt 0 los . m.l it'is surely worth a little ctoPM»«ml expense this antunin anil next Xt'ao a» Obtain a crop next year.

Success.

IS order to insure success In husbandry andcecuro profitable returns for horticul tural products in this day of prolific pro duction, sharp competition and struggle [ 0r market supremacy, it is necessary and operative that superiority of quality he ho sol" «,n of ftU ca:-T.° ll ln fining pursuits. To achieve this superiority of mialitv requires tho superior adaptation Sly of both climate and soil, the SUt adaptation of locality to product the Lttion of the best varieties of the product $. cultivated, whether tree cereal, fruit „™<»etable. tho employment of tho best „,tems of cultivation, tho adoption of tlio It perfect methods of preparatom for l,ket and the formulation and establish ment of laws and provisions of a character M will mean adequate protection both in tho field and in the market of tho ditlcr- Mt products. To attain all this involves the careful and exact analysis ot soil, the judicious selection and thorough testing of fee superior varieties of cereals, fruits and veeetablos, testing of the ditierent methods of preparations of the soil, manufacture and employment of manures, of tho different ways of planting »nd subsequent cultiva tion- the study of insect pests and tho in vestigation of disonscs ; of tho ditierent, modeaof harvesting, and practices employed in preparation of tho various products for market, will all tend to mako gar. cum- bo a much more profitable industry here than It is at present. Wo havo, as a rule, good M il It only wants systematic working and manuring to make it much moro pro ductive than it is at present.

" Fruit Grove, "Qucenstov.-n, Mount Rcskill. | "February 18th, lS^.".. "Diak'HoßTl'S.'—You ask for experience ro blackbirds. I have nearly 1,000 fruit, trees of various kinds. I find that apples, pears, mulberries, cherries, peaches, plums tomatoes, strawberries, blackberries, antl grapes are all eagerly devoured by those pe«ts. Htho apples and skinned fruit? aro left undisturbed on the trees, nothing but skins and coro will remain evo.i before they are ripe. I have not had any mul berries torn six trees, for they were eaten by them before they were ripe. A small basketful oi fruit of various kinds could be gathered every day, what they had begun .opon. I had to protect, all (he openings in my vino house with wire netting, and oven then occasion al/ one or two would get in, and wien disturbed ily off to the end of the vinory aid smash through the glass. Abonta month ago, whon working in my ground, I saw them very busy with the apples, so I resolved to try to catch somo. Igotneommon snap rat-trap,which I baited with ono of my best strawberries, tying it bymoans of its stalk with a string round the platform of the trap, and placed it undor an applo - tree, in view of whero I was working. The Wit »m t'l.nt during thre's hours I caught) five, ' and during the next three days (notfbeing present to attend to jhe trap) caught six moro. If all who havo orchards would try this plan it would destroy largo numbers. Sparrows aro not nearly so destructive to fruit, whether the;'aro with grain.—l am, etc., W . . EV'ESBOS."

THE HEATHEN DEAD.

BllS«Wne a SlUpicent tor fcnina-Ai} '" 'Sam's Resurrection Contract.

Tpp may be something rational in tho desire ol the Chinese to have their bones moulder into dust in tho soil of China, but there is nothing human about tho manner in which thoso bones are dugout cf the sand in the City eemotery. Thoro aro just now l)eing exhumed the "bones of several hundred Mongolians1 to be sent back to tho Celestial kingdom, in accordance with tho solemn pjfonant mado by the various Chinoso com panies' with each of their members. FroK November. 17th until yesterday, there liav fen resurrected at tho City Cemetery about 180 coffins, with their decaying contents and this nunibor will probably sco n kirgi increase before the year expires. Tin pause of this wholesale exhumation of bona is said to be connected with C. C. O'Don noll's election os Coroner. It seems that O'Ponnell's anti-Chinese denunciation has had some influence upon the living Chinese, (latin particular they are afraid' that he will Wry out his threat of preventing tho transfer of human bones to tho land of Heir birth, and that for this reason they I*B undoing the undertakers' work as fast Mpossible beforo tho doughty O'Donncll Moines charge of tho morgue department of tho municipality. Others, howovor, deny that'apprehension of that kind has Wything to do with tho matters, but say [W a combination of circumstances has W)ght about tlio transplantation move ment,

Theso circumstances are, first, that November and December aro "lucky tnontha; socend, that a largo number of 'to dead aro "ripo," having beon in tho Pland for two yoars or moro ; third, that s»_(niances of several Chinese companies sre5 re in a flourishing condition ; fourth, that Wtht to China is low j and fifth, that •toman bonos havo not been, and aro •Jt likely to be, declared contraband *, ww by tho French. But, what- Wf may bo tho cr.uso, tho fact is jjj*t Ah Sam, a semi-Americanised wimeso, has taken a contract to resur- Ml several hundred of his deceased and that he is now at work "Tying out his contract. He has pitched TO in tho plot of the Fook Yam Tong Wany, and every morning at 7 o'clock *• begins blowing a Chinese immitation "Qabriel's trumpet, with the result that "Wtds evening several waggon-loads of rw, and somotimes moro than bones, rolling into town. Jfoterdny Ah Sam was digging up tho •Open's corner in the plot. Five living Wise women wcro ready to welcome the ™ted onos bt;ck to light, and whenever a ™J would bo knockotl off the decaying "*», .these Celestial beauties would yiy bond ovor tho contents, without TOW to tho direction of tho wind, and WO a search for the jewels and money of 00 mto lamented. The first article looked if'* 118 generally the coin which is placed tnttu Chiimman' B mouth so that ho may JrJ? ™W«i'agate with sufficient toll to TOaseadmission. The earrings wore tho JSJP1 * Thon the jasper bracelets hJwt b6,? ls(!ngaged from the bones of tho E_?M^rcarm> an(l this do "c, the nro raional bone - picker would begin'his o (^ iQnj?B at tho foot, these mon pick out Car Xii ovory bit and !,iver of bnne> twem ll ? lnshine ai>y soft substance bo c'en <Ph fin X°rsto mako sure that not thn i,»j .° ,of bony structure remains in ZITa . the »Wto devils. Tho bones WHt 0i ea,,ed after a fashion, and, if it is taiZl evsn a i°int of the small too is gton-f fl*.B»Toi tho coffin, and the «U Z J* 0 thoroughly searched. When »tsnriLi i BOa. havo been found> they are Ui,ftT?P««ceß of muslin, oach part of plscaT l y, ." Belf> ftnd then the -whole is MttariMlV Uttlo one-lined box, which is """My the package which goes to China,

A STRANGE LOVE LETTER.

CHAPTER I.

At a small table outside the Cafe Orien t'.lo 011 the llivu degli Schiuvoni, in Venice,

I tat one evening in Septoinbor, a middle i aged Xii;. ishmaii. Ho was v tall, spare man, with a thin, sunburnt lace, greyish hair, well-cut features, a fierce moustache, and a pair of kiiul ;,'rey eyes. It waa a glorious evening. All Venice was out of doors. In the Piazza of St. Mark the band was playing, and crowds were promenading; around tables at tlio Cafe t'lorian and the (.'aft Quadri were officers, ladies, cosmopolitan artists, tourists and middle class Venetians : vendors of ovoniug papers woro plying a brisk trade : llowcr-

girls were exchanging bou(|uots for half pence ; a gayer or a brighter, or a more quickly changing scene it would bo ditlicult tn imagine. 'The Cafe Oriontale, though not far removed from this resort of fashion, presented a sedate and unpretentious air, llore gay uniforms woro tho exception. I'lMsy. looking elderly civilians chatted, sippt d colleo and cognac, and matchod their skill in games of choss ; a sprinkling ol such artists as disdained the attractions of the l'iarza wore to bo seen and heard, lounging on accustomed scats, and discuss ing ail and cigarettes : a certain number of Americans were horo, as woro not, in places ol Venetian rendezvous: and somo work men in blouses had put in an appearance, bringing with them wives,sisters, daughters, or swoethoarts.

Our I'.nglislim.-in sipped his colleo, and conned his newspaper with the air of an habitue. When ho lifted his head from its printed columns to watch tho cloud of smoke from his cigar disappear in tho air, or to glance over the moon-illumined water boforo tho Kiva, his expression of counte nance testified familiarity with the scene before him. Truth to toll, tho Englishman —his 11:11110 was Henry Courtney—had occupied the samo corner, under tho awn ing, among chess-players, eoll'oo-dritikors, readers and conversationalists, evening aft ci evening, for more months than I caro to count. Venetians had begun to look upon him a-; a Venetian institution. He know every inch of their town by heart. He had poked his investigating British noso into every narrow calle and insignilicant eani/io ; lie had explored remote churches ami com paratively unknown galleries : he was as full of information as a guide-book on the merits and demerits of dill'eront shops, res taurants and hotels. His knowledge—goo graphical and general—oxtended itself to numerous otlioi- continental towns. And yet, whilo essentially a travoller, he was es sentially a travelled Englishman. Tho cut of his clothes and tho shape of his boots proclaimed a London origin : tho newspapor in which ho had buried his faco was tho leading English journal; and his nccont, when lio called to a waiter iv Italian for a glass ot water, admitted no doubt as to his nationality.

"Excuse mc-am I addressing Mr Court ney!"

Down went the newspaper. Courtnoy looked up, with tho half-aggrieved, wholly surprised air common to his countrymen when spoken to by a stranger. " Courtnoy is my name," ho answered, shortly, a shade of resentment in his voice. But tho corresponding shade of resentment vanished from his faco when his oyes met thoso of his interrogator. Ho found him self addressed by a young man, who had just taken a seat near him, antl who was of singularly attractive appearance. The new corner-obviously a British tourist of the better clasi—was tall and well made; he ha<l a good carriage, an air of good breeding, a frank', boyish faco, close,curling, yellow hair, antl a pleasant, smile.

"Conrtnoy is my name," repeated tho Englishman, relaxing visibly. "Can I do anything for you '.'" " Well, yes, yos can. Yon know Cribble* —Frank Cribble, of tho Twelfth Hussars?" " Yes, I know Frank Cribblo—well ?"

"My name isEdwardos. Ihave brought" —feeling in his pocket for a lottor, which he produced and handed to his neighbour— "a letter of introduction from Cribble, whom I loft the other day in Florence I intended giving myself tho plenst.ro of call ing on you to-morrow. But 1 hoard that I should find you at tho Orient-ale. A waite< pointed you out to me, and I thought that you would allow mo to introduce myself at onco."

Courtney bowed; ho adjusted a pair of spectacles, took his cigar from his mouth, and read tho letter in a slow, olderly fashion, which contrasted with the evident eagerness of his now friond. "Can I do anything for you, Mr Edwardes?" ho asked again, as ho returned tho letter to the envelope and his cigar to his lips. Then, as if conscious of an omission, he added, with old-rfashionod formality, nnd with a stilt;' littloi .OW, "I am happy to make tho acquaintance of Frank 'fribble's friend."

"Thank you—yos, you can do mo a favour, if yon will. I want you"—tho young man bout his hoad low, and professed to be engaged in a minute inspection of his finger-nails — "to introduce me to Mr Kenyon—the Mr Kenyon whoso family is now in Venico. I'm sure that you know him, for—for—l saw you speaking this afternoon, in tho Piazza, to tho ladies of his party." Courtney lifted his oyeorows. '-.Kao.w Mr Kenyon I—knew Tern Kenyon I 1 have knoyn hira ail my "life': he is my oldest and best friend." *' And you will introdnoe mo to him, Mr Courtney? I shall bo exceedingly obliged." "Tho family seems already known to you, by sight." "V - es; but it was only yostorday, by ac cident, that I learned their names. I havo seen thorn in the Piazza, in tlio English charcli, hero, there, and everywhere in Ve;\- . ico. Of course,' I remarked thc-n ; thoy— the ladies, I men .—camict ic.il 'to attract attention, wherever they may chance to be."'

" I suppose not." Courtney gave a quick, searching, something like the apprehensive, glance towards tho haudsomo young faco bosi .0 him, then his eyes wandered thought fully-a littlo sadly—towards the wide water, whero the moon was touching with silver light tho gay coloured nail-'l oij tho fishing boats. " Miss Ij.onyon is very beautiful,"' he said quickly." "Two ladies aro with Mr Kenyon," re sponded Edwardes evasively; " aro thoy both his daughters ?" " No ; ono is his ward, a Miss Stuart. Thoro was a pause. Was tho desired promiso of an introduction not forthcom ing ? Edwardes begnn to grow a littlo im patient. But Courtney hid fallen into r, reverio. His eyes wore still fi^c.l on tho water bofore tho Kiva, hr,t thoy soomed to be looking beyond his present surroundings and into vague distanco. " Yes, Miss Ken yon is very beautiful," he said, musingly. " She grows "—his voice softened—" ovory day moro liko her mother." "Indeed, I did not know —" ''_Her mother, No, my lad "—Cout, ,noy woke from his reverio with a start—"not likely. -Mrs Konvon died whon hor child was birn." ...

" T suppose that thero is no harm in con fessing, • said Edwardon impulsively, as if in answer to an unspoken question—and ho gave up tlio inspection of his nails, and lifted his frank young face, with a boyish blush, to Courtney's—" that I admire Miss, Kenyon—l conclude that the lady is Miss Konyon—immensely, ?,nd that I foil in lovo with her at first sight." «: Check," eriod, from a table near, a gentleman, whoso clean hands pronounced an Anglo-Saxon, and whose accent, of American origin, and who was playing chess with an Italian artist in a threadbare suit and a picturesque slouched hat. " linhn—no, there is no harm in tho con fession, at any rate," replied Courtnoy, kindly. "I am not surprised : I suspected the truth whon you fir, t mentioned the Kenyons' name. It is not for mo, of course, to offer you encouragement or the reverse. But I'll give you your introduc tion. I-.et mo sec. Miss Kenyon receives t > morrow evening ; if yon will call for me al ittlc beforo !> o'clock, I shall bo happy to tako you to the Kenyons' room, "i on havo my address ?" '"Oh, yes—Cribblo- _ " Thon I'll wish you good-night. A rive derei as tho Italians say." Courtney rose, chinked his "lass to arrest the attention of a' waiter, and laid somo coppers on an empty plate. Beforo Edwardes had time to pour one-half tho grateful speeches which rose to his lips, Courtney had turned away.

CHAPTER 11.

He walked slowly down the Biva towards tho public gardens ;ho gnawed tho ends ot his moustache;.his eyes wore fixed upon the ground. How lovely was the quiet scene, tho moonlit lagoon, tho light on the filling sails, the glimpse of distant palaces and towers, and the reflections in the water ! Courtney raised his eyes for one moment to the moon, riding fast through Hooey clouds, abovo his path. " I havo been like a chi d, crying for that moon," lie said gloomily. On he went; ho crossed the PontedolScp olcro, passed a wine shop full of vocally disposed customers, and, at last, pausedjbo foro tho shabby door of a house whoso win

dows were decked with patches of whito paper, tlio Venetian sign that rooms aro to let.

"At my age, tool" Courtney muttered, pursuing the thread of his soliloquy. He produced a key from his pocket, lifted tho latch, and passed into a passage whore dark iiuAi •-._• made visible by 11 taper, which stood, surrounded by a number of candle sticks, on a crazy chair near tho door. Ho lighted a candle, mounted a broad staircase, and reached a large, bare-looking room, with a marble floor, an elaborately-painted ceiling, a number of mirrors, and some scanty articles of furniture.

Courtney deposited his candle on a small table with a marble top, took up an open book, threw himself on a sofa, and tried to read.

Hut his wits wandered

"I have been a fool for my dreams," ho muttered. " But—but"—in aiolf-npologotic tone—"she was like hor mother—it,all hap pened before 1 had timo to realise tho truth.

Ho turned his oyos again (0 the book, anil road a few paragraphs without, any clear perception of thoir moaning. "It's a hand some lad," ho said to himself, "and a good hid, too, unless his faco holies him. Sho will learn, in time, to caro for him. And I —well—l am an old fogy, who—bnh ! how tirosomo this book is I I think I'll go lo bed."

CHAPTER 111.

Edwauiirs was duly introduced by Court ney to Mr Kenyan and his family; and from that day Iho young man dated the commencement- of a now epoch in his Venetian experiences.

Mr Kenyon was an Englishman of con siderable means, of good social .standing, of genial tempornmont, and of infinite re sources in providing amusements for thoso around him. He had established himself for a month, with a daughter and a ward, in spacious apartments in a palaco noar tho Academia, on the Grand Canal ; and his hospitality had beon enjoyed by a largo num ber of English visitors in Vonico.

Edwardos soon gained a footing in tho house. Old Pietro anil young Oigi—othor wise Luigi—the Konyons' two gondoliers, smartly attired in livories of blue and whito, with broad bluo, fringetl sashes, greetoil him, when his gondola stoppetl before the seaweed-covered stops of the palace, with a cordial " lliton <iiorno, Signorc," a saluta tion which Mariep tho French maid, who re ceived him at tho head of (ho line marblo staircase, translated into a cheerful " Bun join; Monsieur." Tho rapidity with which ho established himself in the good graces aliko of Kenyon pnter-familias. Alary Kenyon tho daughter, and .Lilian Stuart the ward, was as noteworthy as—to Bdwardos,, at loast— it was agreeable No excursion from tho stately old Gothic palaco by the Academia was considered complete without his pres ence ; at no afternoon or ovoning rocoption v, ithin its walls did ho fail to bo reckoned among tho guests.

Courtney received many invitations to join expeditions and homo-gatherings, but ho porsistently declined them all. " I'm not a socioty man," ho answered, shortly, when any question was raised by his ac quaintances as to tho oauso of his refusals,

CHAPTER IV.

Many years earlier than tho tlato of this story, Courtnev—then a young man of small independent moans—had boon bo trothed to a certain Mary IVirtholomow, whom ho lovod with all tho ardour of an in tensely earnest nature. Truo lovo started on its course smoothly enough. Hut the waters woro soon troubled. Courtney in vited to his homo a college friend, Tom Kenyon, who was a merry, good-looking young man of fair abilities, fascinating manners, and infinito assuranco ; a man on good terms with himself and all tho world. Mary Bartholomew had known Conrtnoy all her life, and had deluded hersol1' into look ing upon a friendly liking for him as a warmer and tenderer feeling. With the appearance of Tom Kenyon on tho scene tlio delusion vanished. Tom fell head over ears in lovo with Mary, and his love was ro turnod. Slowly, but surely, tho true state of the case rovoalod itsolf to Conrtnoy. Ho uttered no reproaches. Reproaches, ho told himsolf, would bo out of placo. He held that Konyon was a man in every re spect calculated to win a woman's affection, while ho himself was a dull, stupid fellow, with nothing to recommend him but his honesty and his lovo. Ho relinquished all claim to his darling's hand ; ho said a few words of good-will -very hard to speak—to the friend who had taken hor from hiw, and ho turned his back for awhile en England and the scone of his scivc.v.;. Courtney's self-banishment was q, long ono. Whon ho had been abroad B, couple of years, he heard tfc,at iiary, then Mrs Konyon, hail dicci, in giving birth to a daughter, After that news reached him, ho cared loss than ever to return homo. Ho wandered hither and thither, now inVone continental city and now in another. When, at last, ho went back to his own country, ho remained thoro only n few months, and thon resumed a lifo of restless travel, broken only by oc- I ctistonal visits to England. With Kenyon his relations wore most amicable'; his sorrow had always boon frpo from jealous bitterness, and, he fta_ spoken in simple truthful d.-.s \yhpn hp called the man who had gained the love denied to himsolf his " host and oldest friend." Whenevor he was in England 'r,o looked upon Konyon, nnd Mary's: littlo daughter made friends—after tho fashion of all children when Conrtnoy was concerned —with him, at onco. Years wont on so fast that Conrtnoy, liko tho " lawyers in vacation," referred t«;,\"^s You Liko It," "perceived i\r_,i how timo moved," and when in Hiy. u,tumn, when our story opens, hoeactj.untc.ret;! tho Kenyons in Venice, tli-3 Viet that Mary's fluid had grov/u out of childhood camo upon t^im as a groat surprise His hoart soomod foT a momont to stand still, when a young woman with Mary's eyes laid hey hand confidingly in his, and bade him wel come in Mary's voice. Then and thoro his fate was sealed. An absorbing lovo—a lovo in which was a great (Jomcnt of,pathos— for Mary Kenyon took possession of his heart. Ho realised, sadly enough, tho disparity of years between Mary nnd himself. Ho had small faith—ciycinvitr.tiocs had shokon his faith—in his power to inspiro affection ; and yot-, aide by sido with his fears, a now hopo had entered his life, and in its light all his futuro seemed transfigured. But tho hopo was destinod soon to fade. Conrtnoy had scarcely discovered how oagor a suitor ho was for Mary's hanil, when ho found, him self confronted, in tho person of young Edwardss., 'wiii';i a formidable rival claimant tax its possession. Ho gave up tho gamo as lost. "What was hoY" ho asked himsolf, "an uninteresting, elderly suitor, to pit him self against a lovor armed with the in vincible weapons of youth, high spirits and good looks V" Courtney, learning that Edwardos was frequently at the Kenyons', kept designedly out of the way, not daring to witness t .0 triumph of his rival. He hare his disappointment in characteristic silence, and ho had no friond solicitously observant enough to remark how worn and weary alook had becomo tho habitual cxpics sion of his face, or how slow and apathetic were his movements. At last he suddonly determined to leave Venice at onco, Ks ap priscdrjho padrone of his Icdgingolhla inten tion, and paid c, anicll sum in lieu of giving lont'er r.otj&e j then he packed a portman teau and wont out to order Angolo, whoso jrnr.dolastand was just under his window, to take him betimes the next morning to tho station, to catch tho first train for Milan. It was a Tuesday evening when hie decision was mado. On Tuesday Qvoaings Miss Kenyon was " at homo ''' to her friends ; It occurred to Ce.u vtney that it would be im polite to yo away without calling at " Casa Konyon "to say good-bye, Ho looked at his watch, there was plenty of timo. So ho donned his little-worn evening suit—some what antiquated in cut—and sot out on foot. Gondolas were not to hia liking ; wherever in Vcnico he could walk ho chose to walk, in energotie British fashion. Courtney crossed the Grand Canal in a ferry, in com pany with a fat priest nnd two peasant women, nnd after making his way down a dimly-lightod callc or two, and crossing a small campo with an unpretending calfo and a sombro old church, arrived at the back door of tho Kenyons' palace. To his " E in casa la sinnoyina ?" Pietro and Luigi responded with bows and smiles, antl they handed him on to Mario, who ushered him up the broad staircase and through a lone stone corridor, tastefully ornamented •with plants, flowers, and statues, and witl: masses of flowering thistles from the Lido, Courtney entered a huge, lofty room, almost chilling in tho magnificence of its dimen sions. The walls were covered witl portraits of old Venetians, in scarlet robes o Senatorial dignity.

CHAPTER V.

Guests of many nationalities—over which English predominated —woro disporsed about the room. The first person whom Courtney saw, as ho steered his way to the hostess, was young Edwardes, who was talkinf to a pretty girl in an ultra-fashionable dress of dull greon; Courtney addressed hor, in passing, as Miss Stuart. "Mr Courtney, at last I I thought you had quite forgotten us," said a sweet voice

and a littlo hand was stretched out to Courtney, and a pair of soft groy oyes looked up at him reproachfully. "Forgotten you 1" Tho power of protesta tion seemed to havo left Courtney ; ho could only echo tho words vacantly; their vory sound scorned to him preposterous.

Miss Kenyon, for it was sho who had spoken, was a lady whose claims to beauty, spite of their unquestioning acceptance by Courtnoy, wou'd not bo universally ad mitted. In Venico, as olsowhero, hor father's ward, Lilian Stuart, a vivacious maiden with dark hair, bright black eyes, and a brilliant colour, was accredited with a hotter title than hor own to general admira tion. Mary's features wore regular, hor smooth brown hair was soft and luxuriant, and her grey eyes were full of thought and feeling, but sho was small and palo, and a certain class of critics pronounced her do-

void of " stylo ;" certainly she was dovoid of the art of self-assertion. Tho better sho was known the more generally sho was ad mired ; hor nature was retiring, ami on first, acquaintance ahc Roomed shy and quiet, ' somotimos a trilto awkward. " You have not boon to sco us for ages." '■' I— l havo sont a substitute," stammered Conrtnoy. Ho had tnkon Mary's offered hand, nnd held it in his own whilo ho spoko; hiseyos nover loft his companion's fnco : ho saw nothing and no ono but the owner of that swcot faco, with its quiet smile, and its confiding grey oyes. "A substitute?'' " Edwardes, the young man whom you allowed mo to introduco <;a you, is horo often, is ho not?"

"Mr Edwardes—oh, yes. But," in the impntient tons, of ono obliged to utter a truism, "now friends aro not substitutes fc," old ones, Mr Courtney."

"Aro thoy not, child?" a pleased look camo into Courtney's eyes. Jfo drew Mary's hand through his arm, and led her out upon a balcony, looking ovor tho water. "Since wo moot so seldom," ho said, draw ing forward a chair for hor, and seating himsolf by her side, " it'fl only fair I should monopliso you th.ia evening, for a littlo while ut least."

Timo wc-ii on. Courtney had found his po,v.:ev ot spooch ; ho talked on anil on, in tho low iloforonti.il voico natural to him when ho addressed a woman, anil ho listened to Mary's answers with v marked attention, whoso respectful courtesy savoured of tho manners of an earlier dato. _ Evory now and again tho splash of an oar was heard, and a gondola with a twinkling lamp glided by ; sometimos tho sound o.{ singing voicos camo tloating down tho water.

Courtnoy novor alluded, in tho courso of his conversation, to his resolve to lenvo Venice. Ho had como horo to say good-bye, and lo I ho now began to toll himsolf that perhaps, aftor all, he noed not go ; that per haps, after all, ho had nothing to fear—his broath came vory fast, whon tho half-defined thought prosontod itsolf to him—from Edwardes and his lovesuit.

" You will not let so long a time pass again without coming to sco us, Mr Court noy ?" said Mary, as sho rose at last, op pressed by tho recollection of her dutios as hostess, to leavo tho balcony, Sho laid hor hand gently on hor companion's arm.

Courtnoy took tho hand in his. " No, no, my child," ho said, oarnostly. " You should mmombor that you aro by far my oldest friond in Venice, tho only ono who know mo as a child, who know," with a change of voice, " my mother."

Courtnoy still hold her hand in his; he lookod straight into hor eyes. "Havo you missed me, dear?" ho whisporcd, in a strange, breathless voice. " Of course I havo missed you," Courtnoy released tho hand. "Stay hero a moment ; I havo something to say to you," ho began excitedly. Ho had risen, and was leai. s,g against tho low wall of tho balgcny > in his voico an appealing, almost an entreating tone. A confession of his love, of his recent fears, of his present in toxicating hope, was rising to' his lips, lie had barely framed tho first word when tho balcony was invaded by two individuals, who socmec! blissfully unconscious of intrusion, who woro intent on the Venetian duty of watching moonlight effects on water. Moro guests followed. "I havo been looking everywhere for you. Miss Kenyon," said a man's voico. "Will you permit me to introduce " With astiilod expression of impationce Courtney moved away. Ho was quickly captured by a loquaoious elderly lady, who boro him"off into an ante-room and kept him prisoner, out of sight of Mary, whilo she opened on him a lire of questions and anecdotes. Courtney looked hopelessly round for somebody to whom to resign ■ his placo, , but ho could not see any one person-

any Kiiuwu to mm : Air Kenyon, Edwardes, Mary and Miss Stuart were" nil in another ] room. Ho did not wish to break up the in- j torview by leaving tho house, for ho still hopod for tho opportunity of saying a few words to Mary. Ho wondered who was near her now, who was speaking to hor, who had the happiness of looking into her eyes. Release was long in coming. But at length his companion showed signs of departing; she rose, and Courtney offered her his arm with alacrity, to conduct her to Miss Konyon, for the exchange of parting courtesies. Just then Edwardes appeared upon the scene, his face radiant with happi ness. He saw Courtney, and pulled up be side him on his way to another room. Evidently he was brimful of good news, and was longing to impart it to somo one. «' Congratulate mo," he whispered. "I am o"gaged." " Engaged !" in a tone of blank bewilder ment. "Engaged—yes—engaged tobemarried." Courtney's talkative friend moved on, minus tho support of his arm; she made him a little bow, which ho, in his confusion, was nearly neglecting to return. "How how long havo you been engaged ?" he asked, in a thick voice, as ho turned to Edwardes. "Five minutes." Off the young man

went, too much occupied with his happinoss to remark that tho congratulations for which ho had asked had not been vouch safed.

Courtnoy remained standing on the spot, whero Edwardes had left him. A dazed look was on his face; he seemed oblivious of timo antl placo. But, at length, he roused himself. "It's all over," ho mur mured, drawing his hand across his oyos. Then, without a word to host or hostess, lie mado his way out of the houso.

CHAPTER VI.

Tin; next day, on her return from an ex cursion to Toreollo, Miss Kenyon found a note waiting for hor from Courtney. It was datod tho previous night, and ran as fol lows :—

7>i.aui-.st M.mv,—l am sorry not to have said i ptood-byo to you this ftvoninir—tho more so, us I ' leave In-morrow for .Milan (Hotel (V\iii;lcterre), tosnond a few days. You know, I hop . that I have your interest always vory warmly at heart. VV'ai yon, thon. lot mo have a word to 101 lmo whon is to lie thehaiipy day/—Your nuiiit nH'cctioiititc. 11. 0. Two mornings later, Courtney, seated at, a breakfast table in tho tablo d'hoto of tho Hotel d'Anglotorro, Milan, read with no small stirpriso a letter which had arrived for him from Tom Kenyon.

I)KAU Coi.utnkv : What an original you are Wiw over mtoh un oiler of marriage penned us thai which yon havo sent, to my daughter / Of course, the child showed me your letter. Cer tainly you don't stoop to conquer, or, at least, don't slop to supplications; the possibility of a refusal sooms nover to present itself loyoiirhi^h mightiness, All that you can tliu! to nay is

•' hot inu know tlio happy day." Upon my word, your assurance Is almost sublime.

An oiler of marriage I What could Tom Kenyon menu'/ When Courtnoy had written of the "happy day," ho had re ferred to Mary's wedding-day with Ed wardes. Ho read on, his colour coming and going, his heart boating fast.

You may think yourself happy that Mary accept-., you. spito of your unflattering solf-con tHonoc. " Naturally, ho must know that 1 caro for hint." sho says, taking up arms prettily in your defence lutainst. my animadversions on your mode ot address. Sim tells me. with a ctiiirminK blush, that. sho fancies you woro about to plead youroatiso in moro humble terms the othor night, at my houso, but. woro Inter rupted.

Seriously, Courtney, for, of course. I havo been joking hitherto, I am rejoiced at tho turn of events. In (riving you my dftllglltor, it almost, scums as If I were in bohio measure repairing tlio old wrong ot years ago. Kvcr your aU'eotlonato friond. Thomas Kk.nvon. l\ !-'.—lt novor rains hut it pours, and just now the clouds are bier with matrimony, i'erhaps you have heard that, young Kdwardcs, who-e ai.iiunintmco we owe to you, is engaged to my ward, Lilian Stuart.

Lilian Stuart I Tho paper fell from Court ney's hands. Then it was to Lilian, and not to Mary, that Edwardos's addresses waro paid. U hon he caino to think ovor tho matter ho romomberod that tho ladios woro unknown to Edwardos by namo when tho young man first spoke of the attraction pos sossoil for him by-one of thorn. Courtney had down to thotionclusion that ho referred to Mary. Lilian Stuart I What a mistake Courtnoy had inndo I And how strangely it was corrected I A misinterpretation of a letter had changed tho current of his lifo. His now Rinldon joy scorned moro than he could bear.

Konyon's lottor contained an inclosuro from his daughter. " Como back to mo for your answor, dear," Mary wrote.

And Courtney wont back. That vory ovoning ho sat again -upon tho Venotian balcony, looking over moonlit palaces and water. His arm was round Mary: her head lay upon his breast. lie ditl not, toll hor—in all his future lifo ho never told her —-that sho had misread his lottcr—that ho hud not intended to mako hor an offer of innrt'ia'/o at all.

" Do you lovo me, child?" ho whispered, laying his hand with a shy, reverent motion upon hor hair. " Vory dearly." " Vott lovo mo—mo, a grey-headed follow old enough to bo your father?" " Yes, dear. Oh, hush I —l lovo you with all my heart." Then Courtney drew his arm moro tightly round his darling. Ho bent his hoad—the light of his great love shining in his eyes— , and his lips met Mary's in a long botrothal '' kiss. "I am lr.oro than compensated," ho : said, softly, lifting her face to his, andgaz i ing down into her tondor oyos, " for a sor | row which, till I learned to lovo you, j clouded all my life. God helping me, I I will make your own life happy, little ono." j And Courtney kept his word.—Annette ! Calthropo, in tho "Christmas Belgruvia."

Choosing a Husband.

A f:n_l_, if sho cannot always choose, can always refuse; and generally her difficulty : i,s this—it is evident that this man is making love to mo. Ido not lovo him, but I think I might do so if I choose; shall I chooso, or : shall I forbear ? It is horo that tho power of ■ choico comes in ; and it is here that tho ! voice of prudence must be heard, if it is to 'be heard at all. In such circumstances a girl will act wisely if she pays considerable attention to tho general opinion, which, in i nine ca-:cs nut of ten, is held of tho gentle ! man in question by his professional brethren lor his business acquaintances. It is, in short, not the man who is agreeable among ! women, but he who is well liked by his own ; sex, who is the man to choose as a husband. j There aro certain persons, however, of the I opposite sox who are almost as good judges lof a man's disposition as those of his own, and they are his sisters. A girl can always tell how a man stands with his sisters, and jif they are really fond of him she may feel I almost sure that he will make a good hus ■ band. A mother, of course, always speaks ' well of her son ; it is not what she says of him, but his behaviour to her, that is to be ooked to.—"Home Journal."

THE JUDGMENT SOLOMON.

How It was Viewed by an Obsorvant Col-

oured Scriptural Btudont,

I r.KAD considerable to Jim about kings and dukes antl carls and such, and how gaudy thoy dressed and how much stylo they put on, and called each other your majesty, and your graco, and your lordship, and so on, 'sfoad of mister; and Jim's oyos bulged out, antl ho was interested. He says :

"I didn't know doy was so many tin lira. I haint hoarn 'bout none un urn sknsoly, but old King Sollcrmun, onloss you counts tlcm kings ilat's in a pack or ic'yards. How much do a king git?"

" (let ':" I say; " why, thoy get a thousand dollars a month, if they want it; thoy can havo just as much as thoy want; every thing belongs to them."

" Aint dat gay ! En what doy got to do, I luck?" " Thoy don't do nothing ! Why how you talk ! They just set around." "No ; is dat so';" "Of course it is. Thoy just set around, exceptmaybo when thoro'sa war; thon thoy go to tho war. But othor times they just lazy around :or go hawking—just hawking nnd sp SI. ! D' you hear a noiso?" Wo skippod out and looked ; but it warn't nothing but tho flutter of a steam boat's wheel, away dewn coming around tho point; so wo camo back.

"Yos,"says I. "and other times, when things is dull, they fuss with the l'arly niont; nnd if everybody don't go just so, ho whacks their heads off. But mostly thoy hang round the harem." " Houn' do which V" " Harem." " What's do harem?"

"Tho place whero he keep his wives. Don't you know about tho harem ? Solomon had ono ; ho had about a million wives."

" Why, yes, dats so ; I—l'd done forgot it A harem's a bo'd'n houso, I rock'n. Most likely doy has rackety times in do nussory. En I rock'n do wives quarrels considablo ;en dat 'crease do rackot. Ylt doy say Sollerman do wisos' man dat ovor livo'. I doan't tako no stock in dat. Be easo why ? Would a wiso man want to livo in do mids' or such a blimblaminin' all de timo? No—'deed ho wouldn't. A wiso man 'ud take en bull' a biler factry ; an don ho could shot down do bilor factry whon he want, to res'."

" Woll, but ho was tho wisest man, any way ; because the widow sho told bo so, her own self."

",I doan'k'yor what do widder say ; ho warn't no wiso man, nuthor. Ho had some or do dad-fetchedes' ways I ever seo. Does you know 'bout dat chile dat ho 'uz gwyne to chop in two ?" " Yos, do widow told me all about it." " Well, den I Warn' dat do boatenes notion in do worl' ? \ rou jes' tako on look at it a minuto. Dah's do stump, dah—dat's ono or do women ; hoah's you—dats de yuther ono ; I's Sollerman ;on dish-yor dollar bill's do chile. Bofo un you claims it. What does Ido ? Does I shin aroun' 'mongs' do neighbours en fino out which un you de bill do b'long to, on ban' it over to do right one, all safo on souu', do way dat anybody dat had any gumption would ? No—l tako on whack do bill in two, en givo haf ud it to you, on de yuther half to do yuther woman. Dats do way Soller mun was gwyne to do wid do chilo ? Now, I want to ask you : what's do use or dat half a bill?—can't buy iiuth'n wid it. En what use is a half a chilo ? I wouldn't givo adorn for a million on urn."

" But hang it, Jim, you've clean missed tho point—blamo if, you'vo missed it a thousand milo."

"Who? Mo? Co 'long. Doan't talk to mo 'bout yo' pints. I rock'n I knows sonso when I sees it; en doy am' no sonso in sich doin's as dat. Do 'sputo warn't 'bout half a chile ; do 'sputa was 'bout a wholo chilo; en do man dat think ho kin settle 'sputo 'bout a wholo chilo wid a half a chilo doan't know enough to como in out'n do rain. Doan't talk to me 'bout l-'ullermun, Huck, I knows him by do back."

" But I tell you, you don't got tho point." " Blame do pint! I rock'n I knows what I knows. En mine you, do real pint is down furdor—it's down deeper. It layß in do way Sollormun i>as raised. You tako a man dats got on'y ono or two chillen ; is dat man gwyne to be wasteful o' chillen ? No, he ain't; he can't 'ford it. .Re knows how to value 'em. But you tako a man dats got 'bout fivo million chillen rtmnin' roun' do house, en its diffunt. He as soon chop a chilo in two as a cat. Doy's plenty mo. A chile cr two mo' or less, warn't no consekens to Sollormun, dad fetch him I"— Makk Twain, in tho "Century "

Marriage by Advertisement.

Thf. oviis of attempting to leap blind folded into matrimony aro sadly illustrated in tho bridclcss condition of a middlo-aged Bristol bridegroom at tho present moment. Ho was a comfortable tradesman with a weakness for religious tracts ; and °ho was a good-looking young person at Tun bridge' They had corresponded, exchangod photographs, and agreed to marry, with out having oven seen each other. When they met at last the young lady did not seem too pleasantly surprised, and at the most critical point of the marriage service sho blurted out " most decidedly no," in stead of murmuring a blushful " Yes."— "Tablean." In tho above pathetic narra tive it will be observed that the parties had exchanged photographs without giving the lady any real idea of her lover's ap pearance. The result should be a warning to amorous Bristol tradesmen and others that flattering photographs aro not un mixed blessings.—"Globe."

Reminiscences of Dickens.

His punctuality was a remarkable charac teristic, and visitors used to wonder how it was that everything was dono to the very minute, writes Miss Mamie Dickons, in the "Youth's Companion.' It is a common sayingnowinthe family of some dear friends, whore punctuality is not quite so well ob served, " What would Mr Dickens have said to this ?" or, " Ah, my dear child, 1 wish you could havo been at Cad's Hill to loam what punctuality moans I" Ho was vory fond of music, but not of " classical" music only. Ho loved national airs, old tunes, songs and ballads. Ho was easily movod by anything pathetic in a song or tune, and was never tirod of hearing his particular favourites sung or played. He liked to have music of an ovoning, and duets used to bo played Vory often for hours to gother, while ho would read, or walk up antl tlown the room.

Thero was a largo meadow at tho back of tho garden, in which, during the summer timo, many cricket matches were held. Although never playing himself, Charles Dickens delighted in tho gnmo, and would sit in his tent, keeping score for one sido, tho wholo day long. Ho nover took to croquet, but had lawn-tennis been played in tho Gad's Hill days, ho would certainly havo onjoyod this gamo. Ho liked "Amorican bowls," at which ho usod con stantly to play with his male guests. For ono of his " improvements," ho had turned a waste piece of land into a croquet ground and bowling-green. In the meadow ho used also to practise many of his " readings " ; and any stranger passing down the lano and seoing him gesticu lating and hearing him talking, laugh ing, and somotimes, it may bo, weep ing, most surely would havo thought him out of his mind I. Tho getting-up of thoso "readings" gavo him an immense amount of labour and fatigue, and sorrowful parts tirod him greatly. For instance, in the reading of "Littlo Dombey," it was hard for him to steel his heart so as to be able to read tho death without broakingdown, or displaying too much emotion. Ho often told how much ho suffered over this story, and how it would have been impossible for him to have gono through with it had he not kept constantly boforo his oyos the picture of his own " Plorn," nlivo and strong and well.

His groat neatness and tidiness havo already been alluded to, as also his wonder ful sense of order. Tho first thing he did ovory morning, beforo going to work, was to mako a circuit of the garden, and then go over tho whole houso, to see that every thing was in its place, neat and orderly. This was also the first thing he did upon his return home after any absence. A mare thoroughly orderly nature never, existed. It must have been through this gilt of order that he was enabled to make time, notwith standing any amount of work, to give to the minutest household details. Before a din ner-party, the menu was always submitted to him for approval, and he always made a noat little plan of the table with the names of guests marked in thoir respective places and a list of who was to take who in to dinner. Ho had constantly somo "bright idea " or other as to tho arrangement of the table or rooms.

Ho had a strange aversion to saying good bye, and would do anything he possibly could to avoid going through tho ordeal. In a letter to a friend Charles Dickens writes :

" Another generation begins to peep above the table. I once used to think what a horrible thing it was to be a grandfather. Finding that tho calamity falls upon mo without, perceiving any other change in myself, I boar it liko a man." But as ho so disliked the name of grand father, applied to himself, these grand children were taught by him to call him " Vonerables." And to this day somo of them still speak of him by his self-invented namo. Now there is another and younger family who never know " Venorablos," but who are taught to know his likeness, and taught to know his books through tho pic tures in them, as soon as they can be taught anything, and whoso baby hands lay bright flowers upon tho stone in Westminster Abbey every 9th of June and ovory Christ mas Eve. For, in remembrance of his love for all that is gay in colour, none but the brightest flowers—and also some of the gorgeous American leaves—aro laid upon the stone, making that ono spot, in the vast and solemn building, bright and beautiful. In a letter to "Plorn," before his de parture for Australia, Chailes Dickens writes: "I hope you will always bo able to say in aftor lifo that you had a kind father." And to this hopo, each ono of his children can answor with a loving, grateful heart, Amen.

Russian Pawnbrokers.

The pawnbrokers throughout Russia havo long been notorious for tho extortions which thoy practise on tho poor people whose necessities compel them to have re course to the pawnshops. The fact that many pawnbrokers are Jews adds to their unpopularity among tho mass, and Count Tolstoi, Minister of the Interior, has deter mined upon a measure which appeals strongly to the favour of tho people, both as a blow to the Jews and a check upon their extortion. Itis stated that after January Ist, 1885, the Russian Imperial Government will monopolise the business of pawn broking, and will establish monts de mete in all cities and towns where they shall be found necessary, to bo conducted upon the system now practised in Austria. The Government will not seek to make a profit out of the business, but only to make it pay the actual cost of rent, light, clerk hire, etc. To this end the maximum rate of interest charged will be 6 per cent, per year.

A Brooklyn Tragedy.

Suicide of a Husband Over His Wife's

Dead Body.

New York, December I.—The "Times" prints the following : Evor since tho simul taneous birth and death of her child, twolvo years ago, Mrs LuelW Saunders has been an invalid. Sho and her husband, Frank Saunders, the inventor, who first mado it possible for athletes to onjoy the exercise of rowing inthoir own rooms with his machines, lived until recently with her father, George P. Thomas, editor of " Appleton's Railway Guide," in Brooklyn. Saunders is a woll knovvn and popular man, and had always heretofore been a Republican, but this year bolted and became an enthusias tic Cloveland supporter. Ho and his wifo intended leaving Brooklyn, but so much wrapped up was Saunders in Cleve land's election that he decided to remain in tho city of churches and do all he could toward bringing about the Governor's elec tion, Whon the result was no longer un certain ho joyfully quitted Brooklyn for Plainfiold, N. 1., where he had already established a comfortable home. Saunders and his wife wore devoutly attached, and deeply regretted having no children, for tho child which mado Mrs Saunders an invalid for lifo was the only one which camo to them.

On an invitation from her father, Mr and Mrs Saunders came to Brooklyn a few days before Thanksgiving to take part in a general family gathering. Half a dozen members of tho family had an enjoyable time. Mrs Saundors was then comparatively well. Tho follow-tig day she becamo ill, and as the day progressed she grow rapidly worse, and in the afternoon, as she had been in the habit for years of taking chloral, sho took a doso. Unfortunately sho took too much, and on Saturday morning breathed her last, lying in her husband's arms.

Saundors was distracted, and all the morning romainod with tho body of his wife. Henry T. Chapman, a wealthy broker of Brooklyn, an intimate friend of Saunders, heard of Mrs Saunders's death und went to offer consolation. The broker found Saundors sitting by tho side of his wife's bed, buried in grief, and apparently out of his mind. Chapman tried to induce his friend to go out for a little walk, which he promised to do later. In the afternoon Saunders did go out, and it is thought to Flainfield. He returned in the eyening, and spent the night by his dead wife's body. Early yesterday morning his aunt went to him, and entreated him to leave the 100 m for a warmer one. After talk ing with hor for some minutes and counselling him to bear up under his grief, the aunt left. Scarcely hadshe gone half a dozen steps when the report of a pistol rang out. She went hurrying back and Hung the door open. A heart-rending sight mot her eyes. After the death of Mrs Saunders her body, dressed just as she had beon at the time of hor death, in a long, flowing nightdress, had been tenderly laid out upon tho bed, and had not been dis turbed. Now, lying at full length across the bod, with his breast pressing his wife's, lay Frank Saundors, clutching a revolver in his right hand, while from his mouth flowed, a stream of blood.

Meeting with Gordon in the Desert.

Mr Frederick Bohndorff, a German natu ralist, who has spent many years in Africa, and whom General Gordon took into his service in 1874 when he wont to govern the White Nile, has furnished tho " Daily Telo graph" with come particulars of an interview he had with Gordon in the desert in January last, whon the latter was on his way to Khartoum. Mr Bohndorff, in November, ISS3, returning from a journey in the Niam Niam country, reached Uem Sulieman, the capital of tho Gazelle country, and there mado the acquaintance of Lupton Bey, the Governor of that territory. In December, ISB3, when Mr Bohndorff left, Lumpton Bey was very dispirited. Do had not at that time heard of tho defeat of Hicks Pasha, though it had taken place in the previous August, showing how completely communi cation had been intercepted. In January tho traveller reached Khartoum. Tho only Europeans thero were tho Commandant, Colonol Cootlogon, Mr Power (who was acting as English Consul), and HerrHansal (the Austrian Consul). All told, there were 1.0,000 souls in tho city, ©olonel Coetlogon spoke sadly as to tho prospects of resisting the Mahdi, whom he already regarded as master of the Soudan. Nothing, in his opinion, but a strong English expedition would avail for tho reconquest of the Soudan. He was in hopos that a force would bo sent under Baker Pasha. News having reached Khartoum that tho route to Berber was likoly to be blocked, Mr Bohndorff, upon Mr Power's advice, left promptly at the end of January with his guide and servant, and struck into tho desert, He continuos, " There is no track, and you commit your self to your guide. On tho afternoon of my fourth day's march I saw a groat cloud of dust far away on tho horizon, and presently n cavalcade came riding towards me at an extraordinary paco in contrast to my own wearied march. Tho leader was in advanco, and I noticed his eager manner and his compact figure clad in a blue military frock coat, rod trousers, and a fez. ' Bohndorff,' said General Gordon, for it was he, ' wo all at Cairo thought you were dead. I have often prayed to God to protect you and Dr Junker and preservo you alive.' I dis mounted and went to tho sido of his camel, and he shook hands warmly. I was over whelmed with astonishment, for they knew nothing at Khartoum or Berber of Gordon's coming, but immediately I saw him I divined his mission. I only needed to see him to know why he was there. ' Why have you left Khartoum?" said Gordon hurriedly 'I am very glad to bo going there. Why is everybody leaving! Aro you afraid?' ' Not exactly afraid, but I have finished my collection and am return ing.' ' Well, how goes it there ?' 'Every thing is in a terrible muddle, no one know ing who is faitiiful to tho Government and who is not.' 'Butarethopeopleof Khartoum afraid ?' ' Excellency, there is nothing to be afraid of.' ' Tell mo, now, is the Mahdi as strong as people say ?' and all through he exhibited in his voice and manner the most cheerful and buoyant confidence. ' The Mahdi, Excellency, is much stronger than you have any idea of.' 'Ah, ah I I shall manage him.' ' I pray the good God to assist you.' ' How is Lupton Bey ?' 'Well in health.' 'Emir Boy?' 'Also well in health.' ' And Slattin Bey at Darfur V 'I know nothing of him, as communication with Darfur is cut off.' ' What is tho strength of the movement in Kordofan?' 'I assure your Excellency that Lupton is in a peri lous position, and he has no ammunition.' ' And about Dr. Junker, when you go to Cairo make my compliments to tho Russian Consul, and tell him he need not havo the least fear for his countryman, as the Gazelle territory will be safe.' This was said in tho most joyous strain. ' Aro you coming back V ' 1 hopo so, but not now. Would you like me to come soon ?' ' If not very soon you won't find me. I shall not be hero more than five months. Now,' said ho, pressing my hand, 'do you want any thing/ 'Nothing.' 'Sure?' 'Nothing, Excellency.' He repeated tho question Eeveral times with the kindest emphasis, and then presented mo to Colonol Stewart and Ibrahim Pasha, who rode behind him, wearing grey tourists'- suits. General Gordon hereupon hastily bade me adieu, and thon'tho party, numbering about ten persons, started off again at tho tremendous paco equalling that at which I saw them approach somo fifteen or twenty minutes before."

Pain as Related to Meteorology.

It is generally known that depression of spirits and rheumatic pains havo long boon associated with a falling barometer and storm-brewing conditions—unusually scvoro neuralgic attacks coinciding wit's unusually intonso storm development, To. establish in his own caso this relation of pain and weather, Capt, Catltn, of the United States Army, mado a rogular anil detailed record in cennoction with the woathor variations of the variations of his neuralgic pains. From tho published account Capt. Catlin's foot was crushed by a shot in ISO-4, and it was necessary to amputate his leg bolow the knee. He continued to experience sonsa tions of pain as if in the lost momber theso sensations being greater or less according to the atmospheric disturbances. Arranged in months, March naturally took tho lead as a pain-producer; then came, in order, January, November, December, May, Feb ruary, April, August, October, September, July and Juno. Ho traced the average distance of tho storm centre at the begin ning of tho pain attack by investigating sixty well-defined storms in ton consecutive months ; it was 680 miles, ranging from two to 1,200 miles.

Among the working women of Paris, there are 1,027 who earn their living as ballet dancers of the opera, receiving wages varying from £45 to £115 per annum, tfhe annual sum paid for and to the ballots is considered to amount to £170,000.

CLIPTOMANIA

(SPECIALLY SEtECTT-D BY OUR LONDON

CORRESPONDENT.)

A project of a now papor has been started. Its function will be to pick holes in all the statements of all its contemporaries, and to publish the corrections and omendations in a lively way twice a week. If it be thorough, tho "Nettle" will be a big sheet.

It appears that tho Duko of Cumberland has come into another goodly fortune, in A singularly unexpected manner. The Duke of Brunswick left to him his villa at Heitzing, with all its contents, and on open* ing a certain iron safo on tho premises, coins, notes, and stock woro found to the value of £100,000.

A smart trick has been played Mr Max O'Roll by a Yankoe firm. Before the sheets of "John Bull's Womankind, sent in advance of publication to America, could bo got into type, the work had been translated from an early copy of tho French original, and issued by a Now lork publisher. The author's chance of any profit from the American salo of his book is, therefore, destroyed.—" AthenteuM.

M. Emilo Zola's new novel, " Germinal, will appear simultaneously in f°ujj languages—French, German, Italian, and English. Tho story, which is concerned mainly with lifo in the mining district, w written in a now vein, more welcome to readers—English renders in particular— who havo not been edusated under modern French "masters" of fiction.

In somo churches the seats on the right aro devoted exclusively to ladies, and those on the left to gentlemen. The latter is called the " aislo of man." Father : "Well, boy, what's for dinner ?" Boy :" A duck. Fathor: "Why, I had a duck yesterday and a duck the day before; how's that ?' Boy: "Woll, father, I can't very well put a bullock in my pocket, or a sheep, and all the fowl-houses round about hero are locked up,"

A scandalous pamphlet against Misn Terry has been printed in America, pro fessing to tell the story of her life, and dealing with it as the lifo of Peg Woffing ton is treated by the romancers of our own land. Tho pamphlet is sold wherever she goes ; and the Americans, instead ot dis couraging it, are buying it. There iB some talk of her friends stepping in to have it laid legally under an interdict.

1 have received a number of recipes, among them the following, which, I am told, will be found acceptable to jaded morning appetites:—"Cut a moderately thick round off a loaf of bread; on this spread a pat of butter and two table spoonfuls of anchovy sauce. Place it ia a frying-pan over a clear hot fire, and let the ingredients soak in well. Then take it off, and add to it the yolks of a couple of raw eggs well beaten up. This is termed ' Normandy Oyster,' and is much lauded by those who kave tried it." 8

Mr Digby Collins, who is one of the most "rampagioua" Tories in the west of Eng land, provoked a perfect tornado of protests at a dinner of the Callington Agricul tural Society, by calmly expressing his opinion that "the farmer must tako off his coat and work in earneßt it he desired to get along." The subsequent speakers considered that it was a most pre posterous and unreasonable notion that farmers should be expected to do moro than their share, in ordeamorely that landlords might receive their full rents, calculated on far too high a scale.

Captain Dudley, the "hero" of the. Mignonette tragedy, continues to bo inun dated with offers of lucrative engagements from enterprising London managers. Dudley, however, declines to make an exhibition of himself on any terms, and as a. proof of his determination not to lend him self to anything that might lay him open to the charge of trading on his position, I may mention that he has even refused to al low tho famous boat to be exhibited, though the proprietors of Madame Tussaud'g wax works have offered a handsome sum down for the temporary use of the craft. It is, "Truth" thinks, much to be regret toil that Lord Wolseley should have offored a reward of £100 to tho battalion of tho Nile expedition " which makes the quickest time, with tho fewest accidents, betwcon Sarras and Debbeh." Lord Wolsolcy lias already done a groat doal to venaliso military success by n-.copting a largo sum of money and a poerago in return for servicos of a most ordinary description, and he appar ently judges the soldiers of his littlo army by his own standard, as being men more likely to ho inlluencei by the prospect of earning hard cash than by barren glory, Lord Kilmaino, always a popular Irish landlord, is Hkely to become quite a hero in his own part of tho' country. His Lord ship has bean down at Balla for the last few days, inspecting his property there, and his generosity to his tenants has been much lauded. Ho visited an evicted cottager namod Reilly, reinstated him in his holding aftor a two yoars' absence from it, gavo him an acre of land free of rent for ever, and presonted his wifo with a sovereign. Sovoral old female tenants on his estate ho mado glad with gifts of money, clothing, and other matters. I should say that al) his tenants will now be on the look-out for' him.

A curious and amusing incident took placo the other day at the commissioning of Her Majesty's ship Dreadnought for service in the Mediterranean. The ship is go fear fully and wonderfully made that it requires a study of her for some minutes before a landsman, not aw fait in the mysteries of modern vessels of war, can tell which is hor bow and which is her stem. Her own commander maae a mistake on this occasion. On the Dreadnought's pendant being hoisted at nine o'clock on the morning of commissioning, it was noticed that the white ensign waa flying gaily at her bows, while the Union Jack gracefully fluttered at the stern. Theamazingstoriesof canine sagacity with which we have been inundated of lata have naturally aroused a spirit of rivalry \i\ the breasts of certain other animals. The other day, for instance, a fox, when pursued by tho FitxwHliam hounds, executed a_ manceuvre worthy of the immortal dog off Charing Cross Hospital, After affording the field a fair rua, he made for the railway, and deliberately lay down botweon the metals. An express train was approaching, so tho huntsman was compelled to whip off his hounds for fear of a disaster. Tho fox lay still until tho train was close upon him and then quietly trotted off and mado good* his escape. —"Truth."

Twenty theatres in Europe are in receipt of State aid. The Paris Opera receives £32,000 a year; the German " Hovel " theatres get £25,000 atßerlin ; at Stutteart £24,000; at Dresden, £16,000; atCarlsruhe and Weimar, £10,000 each ; and Munich £8,000. The Imperial Theateo at Vienna has £12,000 a year; the Royal Thoatre of Copenhagen, £10,000,andthatof Stockholm £6,000. In Italy, the San Carlo, at Nan C' receives £12,000 > tho Apollo, at Borne £11,500 ; tho Scala, at Milan, £7,000 • tho Bellini, at Palmero, £5,000 ; tho Royal Theatre, at Turin, £2,400; the lW,la at Florence, £16,000; and tho Carlo Felice' 11 Genoa, £400. The Theatre Frangais w •S.^" y&.^thC°^C^- I hoard that tho judgos of tho teimic Supremo Court entirely rejects all the rivolous and absurd grounds on which the Grand Duke of flesso applied lor his divorce and it was only granted because it appears that m Gormany the raarriago of an officer in tho army is null and void unless he has previously obtained leave from tho mUitarv authorities to change his condition ltd certainly remarkable that both tho Grand! Dnko and Madame do Kalomine should! havo ovo. looked this flaw. He has behaved ni adisgneifully moan and shabby wav and if ho moved in a less exalted sphere he would run sorious risks of a horso-whi P »i nK . I hopo at tho east that tho Grand Duko will have tho decency to pay Madamo de Kalomine s costs, and that lie will settle an adequate income on her for lifo. It has b°a n T a t , Kf, r,n<lalouß b"sincst altogether.

Lord Sudolcy s fruit-plantations at Tod dmgton, in Gloucestershire, extend frs about 400 acres, and the land was formerly an arable farm rented at £1 per acre, which nobody would take. The past season has. not boon a good one, but seventy., re tons of fruit have been gathered. There arc 50,000 plum trees, 900 pear trees, 0 000< damsons, and 550 cherry trcos. Of s^all fruits there aro 222,000 black-curranf bushes, 120,000 raspberries, 2o!oo0 red currants, 100,000 gaoseberrios, while 130 acres aro entirely devoted to strawberries. There are also 10.000 poplaw, 100 Scotch firs, and 100 cob-nuts, planted for shelter ing purposes. Lord Sudeloy has estab lisheda f,oc farm as well, which he finds a valuable aid m his fruit culture. There are 1/0 hives, and they have proved most profitable. Adjoining the apiary is a rabbit warren of 200 acres> in $ bi _ «» rabits aro killed every season. Lord side ley sells all b . irult to a jam-makar of Ealing, who has built a jam factory at T<&* dington, where 16? ton, hare bwn,--^^ this season,—"Truth." ■ A™" ---.... .^irSpfPA'. .■. -

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 1885.

5



SALE OF T. B. ROBSON'S PONSONBY STOCK. J". EEUDELL, BRIGHTON HOUSE, TOP OF GREY STREET, Having bought the above at a trifle over half the cost price is NOW SELLING IT CHEAP as the list ~^ under will show— f\) CO Li v/"' Print Costumes, 4s 1 Id each Useful Dress Materials, 2s 11 _!<! for 12 yards ~ v Crewdscm's Heavy Calico, 4s Id dozen yards Double Bed size Crotchet Quilts, 7s lid /T\ 70-inch Whito Twilled Sheeting, BJd. yard Men's Serge Coats, 5s lid *"•* lloylo's Prints, Is. 11,1. for 12 yards 70-jnch Heavy Wigan Shooting, lOfd [^ £ Boys' Lined Knickoi Suits, 4s 9d 80-iuch do do Is K*\ «-j Tapestry Carpets, Is GA<l yard (Customers will find tlieso Sheetings good enough for anything.) *■>✓ I All Wool Dross Poplins, Is yard White Turkish Towels, Gfd ' ' Trimmed Hats, from Is each Cashmerettes, Autumn Colours, 4id yard A Good Flannel, GJil yard Black Louis Velveteens, 2s Cd yard Boys' Tweed Tunics, 2s Gtleach (Enquire what is the usual price.) I l Ladies' Mackintoshes, 7s. 1 Til Kid Gloves, Gd pair V 7 prj Nelson Tweeds, 2s 8d yard—SEE THEM! Men's Serge Suits, 13s lid « Boys' Tweed Trousers, 2s Hid Gordon Wool Serges, all shades, 8s lid for 12 yards, really cheap • ,\ji Men's Nelson Tweed Trousers, Gs Gd pair Beautiful Broche Satin Cloths, 12 yards, 9s lid © __. Ql AVOIDim PUFF AND SENSATIONAL PRICES OF ARTICLES WHICH ARE SOLD OUT WHEN ASKED FOR, JJ J. KENDELL has only quoted a few lines as a sample of what the goods are. Customers who want a lot for their money can get it at the SALE NOW ON at BRIGHTON HOUSE, TOP OF GREY STREET, , cr_ E\j hits] dpiTiTi.. ;