A TRIP HOME.

v por Intondins: Visitors.

«oro Aboat Tho Ro tanraats. Sfc *■ —

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. mtoTE nnraws at Fixed Pntcns- ft> Anolo-Frkncii Dixn-eu - Extras TB ebanck Customers Discouraged— " rwETiTiox -Musical Attraction's lore's Menu 3s gd Dinner -Moms "fIvVSIVE TABLS D'HOTES-PAYING For bSckbou^divos-Daintiks TukLead Table d'hotes- Their Ekspective Re lations AND CIIAHACTKRIHTICS-FREN'CH itibants- Cafe Royal-■FrenciiSystesi French Table Diiotks-The Parisian » AT THE CniTEBIOS'B EAST ROOM— \ f^B Band—Wamk's Leading Fuen-cii niwOBANTS-GKRMANRESTAUUANTS-TIIE Jr.,"_ITALIANnKSTUAUANTrt-T)IE"SOL- VOL " no "CheapCakkk-UityKatin-oHouses f ' cUßO sUaks-Catkiu.\o at the Exm "■pon-ThoMuskumGhill.

fable d'hote dinners of nn Anglo-French character are like grill rooms, comparatively ec ant institutions in London. A lew years the Gaiety, tho Criterion, nod tho at James's were tho only great rostaurants ■drertieing them, now thoir name is legion. fable d'hote dinnora vary in price from n omi.ml 10s 0d to a nominal 3s Gd, I say ominal becaupo no one who goes to dine at (ssy) the Holborn Rostaurant, whero the ille d'hote ostensibly costs 3s Cd, noed Imagine he will get out of tho place for that am The extras include 3d charged for attendance, and aeixpence(voluntary)tipfor the waiter, who gets no wages, also 6d for coffee, if you want it. Moreover, unless •on order a bottle of wine with your dinner, you certainly won't want to (one there again, as the waiters have instructions not to encourage "boer " or iitemperanco" customers, tho truth being the profit on a good 3s Gi dinner is so email that it does not really pay where wine is not drunk. The competition between the cheap tabled'holes now runs very high, and all lotto of dodges are resorted to to enUco visitors* Tho Criterion has a tirst-class company of about 40 glee singers, perfor ming in tho grand hall during table d'hote ho«M (5 to 8 p.m.), and the Holborn, the jt. Jatae'a Gaioty, Tivoli Monaco, and Stherß, bands of muaic of varying quality. the iliako-up of a 3s 6d table d'hote al ways siemi tho ealne, but difference bo (seen the actual dinner at one restaurant and another ie often enormous.

the menu of a 3s 6d dinner at all tho {nt-class hnuae3 invariably comprises the fol!lowinj{ :—Two soups, two choices of jjh, two entreat, two .joints, one poultry, tired or four sweets (cold), cheese, water creß», dessert, tlere is an actual nieku of the Criterion Glee Dinners given this Honth:— Sotrrs. Macaroni Hare. Fish. fresh Herrings and Mustard Sauce: Cod and Oyster Saiice. Entrees. Salmi of Game Curried Mutton. Joints. Roaifc Beef, Saddle Mutton, Koant Loin Pork, Koast Gosling. Entremets. Lsmon Pudding, Maids of Honour, Noyau Jolly. Chbkse. Stilton, Cheddar, Gingoro. Watkrceess. Dessert Various. Tablt d'hottt range from 3a 6d to ss, 7l 6d md 10e 6d, the latter being tho price charged by the Hotel Bristol, the Hotel Continental and Hachette'd, in Piccadilly. The difference between a 10a 6d dinner at one of these three housos and a good 3s 6d meal such as the Criterion Gleo Dinner mnaHy affords is slighter than many people imagine. One pays at tho Bristol and Haohette'a for the privilege of dining in aristocratically [Bathetic rooms with care fnUy-Bhaded lights, and waiters who, if appearance goes for anything, should be dukes at least. Expensive dainties of coarse figure in the menu, and the cooking b fair, sometimes more than fuir, but I confess I have never been able to even ap pioximately figure out the value given for the extra 6s 6d, more especially as the wines are also outrageously expansive.

The following brief " resume of the characteristics and current reputation of the leading West End Anglo-French table £'holts may be of use to tho visitor : —

Gaiety Commeroial Dinner, 2s 9d. Plain home dinner, no sweets, icos, or dessert; somewhat slovenly served. Criterion Restaurant Glee Dinner, 3s 6d. The beat of its claas at present. Holborn Restaurant Table D'hote, 38 6d, Gorgioua rooms. A place to ccc, thongh the dinnor is usually very indiffer-

ent. First Avenue Hotel Tablk Diiote (Holborn) 3s 6d. Nothing retnarkablo. Gband Hotel Tablk d'hote (Charing. Onus) 6s. Used to servo the best 6a dinner ever known in England. It has, I hear, unfortunately fallen off Boroewhat lately. A place to tee. St James's Restaurant, 3s 6d Dinner (Piccadilly). Very philistine. Hotel Continental (Waterloo Place) lib 6d. Elaborately decorated rooms in sithetle fashion. Cooking variable. Wines expensive and not very good. Not a place to take your wife to dine. Hotel Bristol (in Bond-street), 10a 6d. Company aristocratic, cooking recherche, wines costly, but good. Haohette's Hotel, 10a 6d. Thie has at present th« reputation of being the beet table <Thote in London

Bunchabd's Restaurant (Beak-street, Regent street), 3s 6d and 6s. Average good. Hobse Shoe Restaurant (Tottenham Coart Road), 3s 6d. Very philistine. Lanoham .Hotel (Langham Place), 6s. Expensive and nothing special. Royal Aquarium (Westminster), 3s 6d, Amusing Bights but indifferent music Pbbtitah's (14 Arnndel • street), 3b. Average French cooking.

All the railway and leading hotels serve Übkithote more or lees philistine in charac ter at from 3s 6d to 6s.

We now come to the purely French res t&srunti, at the head of which stands the O»fe" Royal in Rogent-street. This establish ment boast* the best wines (clarete.Burgun- and champaprnes) in London, and the woking la unusually excellent. Though the dishes appear expensive in the menu, % are fairly cheap in reality, for here, as •tew restaurants conducted on the French «y«fem, ene portion v more than enough for tmpertons. Inorderiogforfourpersonsyou »y "portions for two," for cix persons " portions for three," and so on. WhereWtree people are dining together a single portion o'eaoh dish, providing of coureo the dinner liv several courses, will generally suffice. Tho Criterion and St. James's Restaurants devote special rooma to 5s table d'hotes, parely French in character too, bat I cannot recommend them. Tho Criterion haa, how «'er, recently inaugurated a new French Wrtaurant a la carte in the East Room, Wkicb is presided over by a chef, who is a veritable cordon bleu, and where all the greatest inspirations of Pariafon cookery can ™ obtained. If the Antipodean visitor desires to experience a first-class Frtnch jusner he cannot do bettor than take a Wend who knows how to order one to the gist Room at the Criterion or tho Cafe j*°y»l. It won't be a very ruinous business Nder £2 for both, with a bottle of (superb Burgundy at 10s or 12e, and liquors in cluded), and he will dine far better than he would in Paris unless there under a French "urn's wing.

Other notable French restauiant? are in Regent-street; Cafe Mouico, jwgent-street; Komano's, in the Strand ; Kettaer'e, Churchstrott, Soho (« popular "■afasbioned I.tt'.e place, which ia tary W) and Previtah's, in Arundel-street. *• the establishments I have mentioned *«och table d'hotes at from 3 s M to 7s 6d (Cafe Monioo) are also Wrved. The greasy messos which .jwnmjs consider luxuries are not much "tacied in London. Lager-beer (usually ™y good) can of couree*be got at most jMtaarants, and should the tourist deeiro to Wyertipte the my&toriea of saver-kraut, ••Mtphalian ham, and potato salad (Ger ™»n fashion), or to try a slice of Frankfort Wnsageora Wiener-schnitzui, he cau pro jwethem at the Tivoll, in the Strand, a «"?mcdious Anglo-German restaurant, '«a!ting a fairish grill and a vilo string mid, ihti M 9 are a nulnbßr of Italian restaurants ?the«treetßoffLeioeeter Square. Perhaps ra« nestle the Bolferino, in Rupert-street.

It only to lunch off a plato of "risotto" or macaroni," cooked in one of tho native fashions, and to eamplo a bottle of sparkling Asti, or a flask ot Ohianto, this place is worth a visir. OaK*, coneisting for the most p»rt of a confectioner's shop with a small restaurant behind, abound all over London. Gatri'a nlone have, I beliovo Wty. The prices are a little (very little) lower than such places as the Criterion <>nll Room, and the victuals and tho cooking are immeasureably in ferior. You may pave 3d a meal or »o by patronising thorn in preferenco to "rat-class houses, but it is a foolish economy. It is not likoly the visitor will wish to penetrate beneath thelovelof thecheapcafds A« an experiment it may, however, amuee turn to dine at one or two of them, where a dinner of soup, fish, entr&j, joint, poultry Mveots and cheese together with half a pintof o aret (such claret!) i» Rorved for 2 s and ald tho waiter. 'Ilioporticns, I need scarcely say, are diminutive, and it doesn't do to in- CA"f 9 to° cloaoly of what the food consists Otherwise there is not much fault to be found. City eating houses form a c'ass by tliemsoUes. Some are wondorfully cheap. At Lake's in I'heapslde a cut off the joint with vegetables and broad costs Is and at Pimm's and othor iirat-class luncheon bar? capital cold meat lunches aro obtainable for tho same sum.

Talking of lunch rorainds mo that the bulFotß at all tho big restaurants, but mo-e especially at Spier's and Pond's establish ment, provide plated (liberal helpings) of cold roast beef, boiled or pressed ditto, chicken and ham, lobster, calmon, gnme pie' (if in soason) &c, &c , for one shining. There are some noted luncheon bars such aa Pimm's in Cheapsido, Lucas's at West minster ; the Gaiety buffer, &c. The catering at tho South Kensington Exhibition ha?, with tho exception of what is called the Quadrant dinner (a 7s 6d table d'hote) hitherto boon oxpenpive and second rate. Good cold luncheons are obtainable, but avoid dining there. Tho Science aud Art Musoum, opposite, boasts a good plain grill (chops and stakes only) served in a ideally decoratod chamber. Be suro and look in as you pasa,evon if you don't want anything to eat. I have now, I think, touched on all the necessary points with rogard to restaurants. In my next wesballroturn to a consideration of the cost of a month's stay in London.

THE BOTTOM DRAWER.

Pathetic Story of Memories Awakened

by its Contents,

f saw my wife pull out tho'bottom drawor of tho old family bureau this ovoniug, and I went softly out and wandered up »nd down until I know sho had gono to her sewing. Wo have some things laid away in that drawer which the gold of kings could not buy, and yet they are relics which griove us both until our hoarts aro sore, 1 haven't looked at them for a year, but I remombor each article. There are two worn shoes, a little chip hat with part of the rim gono, some stock ings, trousers and a coat, two or three spools, bits of broken crockery, a whip and several toye. My wife — poor thing — goes to the drawor every day of her life and prays over it and lets her tears fall upon the precious articles, but I dare not go-

Sometimes we spook of littlo Jack, but not often. It has been a long timo, but somehow we can't got over grievitg. He was a burst of sunshine into our lives, and his going away has boen like covoring our everyday existence with a pall. Sometimes when we sit alone of eveningn, I writing and she sewing, a child on tho street will call out as our boy used to, and we will both start up with boating hoarts and a wild hope, only to find the darkness moro ot a burden than over. It is so still and co quiet now. I look up at tho window whero his blue oyos used to sparklo at my coming, but he is not thero. I listen for his pattering feot, his merry Bhout, and his ringing laugh, but tharo is no found. Thero is no one to climb ovor my knees, no one to search my pockets and tei?e for presents : and I never find tho chair turnad over, and the broom down or the ropo tied to the knobs.

I want some one to toaso mo for my knifo ; to ride on ray shoulders: to lose my axo ;to follow mo to tho gate when I go and to be there whon I come ; to call "good night" from the little bod now empty. Ana wifo, sho misses him still more. There are no little feet to wash, no prayers to say, no voice teasing for lumps of sugar or sobbing with pain of a hurt too ; and sho would give her own life almost to awake at midnight and look across to tho crib and Hee our boy as ho used to bo. So wo prosorvoour relics, and when we are dead wo hepothat strangers will handle thorn tondorly, oven if thoy ehed no tears over them.

Death of a Great Biologist.

Dr. William Benjamin CARrENTEisporhaps tho foremost physiologist of Great Britain, .and eminent in scientific and psychologic research, has died in London at tho age of seventy-two. He waa tho aon of Dr. Lant Carpenter of Bristol, was educated there, at Univorsity Collcgo, London, and at the University of Edinburgh whero he was graduated as a physician in 1839. After four years' practice ho removed to London to devoto himself to literary and scientific work, and was in 1843 appointed Examiner of Physiology and Comparative Anato i y in tho University of London and Professor of Medical Jurisprudence in University College. In 1856 ho was made Registrar of the University His works on " Principles of General and Comparative Physiology," "Principles of Human Physiology" and " Principles of Mental Phyeiology"covertho wholerange of biological science. Ho waa a man of original thought, and firet dove loped many noteworthy philoaophic dis coveries in his line of work, as tho mutual relations of the vital and physical forces ; the doctrine that the truly vital ops rations of the animal are performed by the agency of untransformed colls ; the organic structure of the shells of mollusca ; cruata cea and echinodermata ; the application of Yon Baeur's law of development from the general to the special, to the interpretation of the succession of organic forma preeentod in geologic time ; the relation between the two methods of reproduction, by germina tion and by aeveral union ; the application of the doctrin of reflex action to the Borvous system of invertebrata, ospocially articulated animals ; and tho functional re lations of the Bensory ganglia to the spinal cord on tho one hand and tho cerebral hemi spsroaonthe other. He wrote admirably on "The Microscope -Its Revelations and Uses," on the "Foraminifera," and on a great number of subjects in scientific and literary periodicals. He took a principal part in the Government's deep eoa explora tions in 1868 69 70, and his reports on sub marine life and on ocoan currents and tem perature aio amongst tho moat valuable of their class. He wrote in 1849 the prize 6B?ay on the subject o; "Alcoholic Liquors, which it an authority on the subject to-' day and much prized by the advocatea of total .abstinence His resoarchea into tho physical basis of mipd have been notable of late years, and he was a prominent member of tho London Society of Psychical Research. Ho his always boon an opponent of Spiritualism as a gross de lusion, beginning its discussion on that ground as long ago as 18o3; ho found all phenomena explained by physiological causes ; how much his later studies have modified this view we do not know. Dr. Carpenter was a companion of the Bath, o Fellow of tho Royal Society, the Ltnniean Society, and the Geological Society, and a member of tho In stitute of Franco, and had received many other distinctions. He came to his death while yet in full mental vigor and a physical health not greatly impa-re-i by Le from the effects of a terrible burn caused by the upsetting of a lamp while he waa taking a vapor bath for rheumatism. ---» Springfield Ropublican," November 11.

That The New Zealand Farmer, Bee and Poultry Jouknal ia ateadily adding to Ha attractioDß and usefulness mtat bo admitted by all who read this month* number, with whi* is published an attractive four-page Ohiistmu Supplement, embellished with a I'fe liko pom ..it of Nordenfeldt, the brilliant winner Ofthe A.J.C. ardV.fi.O. Derby* accompanied by that of hU rclobratcd (ire, Musket, lhe sLplement »!*> contains an interesting tale mSSod " AIW- Christmas Gilt." The number ta taU of the usual practical information connected with the farm, garden, and hoL, including Bee and Poultry matters, and oontotaßimmoroTißOTpKallllnßtniuoiia. o-noi.pt wMch mar bo mentioned a useful enuring lowing the codlin moth in its several Btagea of development Tlwro are good descriptive ar ticlc 3 of th. Auckland w-d Ca-frbarr CattU, Phr.ws. and of tho went Horticultural Sfco*. The iTrait jtrowors1 BcpartmentiaesjiCcially fuJi and inferestinst. The Kahmkr can be V^oi at all bookseller*' ami from the I'nbltohmg Office, Star Buildings.

THE BRIGHTON BIGAMY CASE.

Extraordinary Revelation? at tho

Socond Trial.

Conviction of Maloolm.-HoaTy Sentence

(FROM OUK LONDON CORRESPONDENT.)

London, November sth, Tue second trial of tho meat-salesman, James Malcolm (alias Captain McDonald, of Iho Eaikoura) for bigamously inveigling tho young affections of Miss Emma Dash, of Brighton, occupied almost .as many days as the first hoarine, and excited fully as much public interest. The accused man came up smiling and confident to once more face the ady who claimed to be his wife. He foolishly fancied tho disagreement of the first jury a happy omen. Had the fellow only known it, conviction at the initial inquiry would have been an absolute piece of good luck. In the thon stalo of the case no judge would have passed a scntonco of more than 18 months or 2 yeara at most.but when at the close of the second hearing Malcolm stood fully oxposed a* a bold, brassy, heartless and unscrupulous libertine, Mr Justice Field proved pitilessly, and sentenced him to the extromo penalty allowed by law- seven years' penal s rvitude.

At first there seems something shocking and unjust in a man of unblemished busi noss character, strictly honest in ordinary matters, steady, hard-working and a teeto taller being sent to herd for years with couvicts, and all through being too suscep tible to tho charms of "woman, lovely woman." There can, however, be no doubt Malcolm is now expiating not one, but a great many soductions, and seduc tions of a particularly brutal character? His whole story indeed reads more like a penny dreadful than anything 'elee, espe cially tboso portions of it affecting the lovely Emma Dash.

Who can say tliero is no romance nowa days ? (querieß tho " Daily Telegraph " in an amusing articlo on tho salient points of the second trial). Hero we have a love affair crowned by matrimony within a week or ton days. Captain McDonald, to give tho name Malcnlm assumed, came, saw, and con quered. Ho came to Brighton from tho Metropolitan Meat Market; he saw Miss Dash, evidently a sprightly and impulsivo young lndy, walking about with her mamma ; and he conquered all tho scruples of morality and conscience which ought to have bees, but apparently were not, tho result of having a wife of his own alroady living in London. The excuse given by the spurious mariner for his ardent dosiro to get married off hand was one that it behovod Alisa Dneh, and still more Mrs Dash, to inquire into a little more closely. Ho said that he was only on shore for a short time, and had to rejoin a ship of which he was appointed captain in loss thr.n a fortnight. He further stated that he had previously boon angagod to a lady, and when ho came homo from sea ho found that she had bten false to him, and that now he wa« determined to prevent the recurrence of such an evont by taking his lady-love with him on his next voyage, in the lawful capacity of wife. All this sounded very : specious, and unfortunately it was belioved in without further examination. One morn : ing a self styled sea-captain, of whom nothing whatever ia ktiowu, takes off his hat to a girl whom ho has Dover seen before, on Brighton Pior; two days later they were engaged to bo married ; tho wedding ceremony takes placo in ton days, and tho happy pair depart for tho honeymoon. All this is romantic and remarkable in the ox tromo, but it is nothing to what follows. Tho Bigamist Itooognlsod. The marriago is celobratod on Saturday, tho fourth of April, and on noxt Monday, late in tho evening, offgoos tho gallant tnr to London, driven thither, as ho explains, by the sad necessity of a sailor's profession. His supposed wifo, still trusting inplicitly to him, sooa him off to town, grieving, yet rosigned to Ilia departure. He says he i 3 going to join "his ahip ;" but from that April dny ho is never scon or heard of again until, four months later, he is discovered drnoaivl »n ns a Highland nhinftnin "*■ » Dntolicrs' Gnrdon Potty at li\,U> nm . T1,., moment whon James Malcolm, meat sales man, was tapped on tho shoulder at that party by Mr Osborne, who had been present at his mtrriago to Miss Dash, and f^Uy rocognised as "Captain Macdonald," can hardly have boon » pleasant one. Everything, however, in the way of punish ment which the man has receivod he most entirely merits, and thoro will be no pity whatever felt for tho fact that for tho next seven years he will find himself forcibly prevented fiom pursuing his custom ary occupation of decoiving credulous females.

New Witnesses.

At tho first trial, a month ago, tho prisoner and his frionda contrived to throw enough duet in tho eyes of a jury to prevent a verdict of guilty. It is in every way satisfactory that they have not beon able to repeat that success. There cannot now bo a shadow of a doubt that Malcolm and Captain Macdonald were one and the same individual. Two now and striking- pieces of ovidonco wero adduced at this second trial which told most strongly against the prisoner, and to which, indeed the verdict was largely duo. At tho previous inquiry Mr Blolield, tho meat salesman, in London, in whoso employment Malcolm was, gave evidence as to the prisoner having ten days' holiday at Easter time, and returning to his work at the Moat Market at four o'clock on the Tuesday morning. This was important, because, curiously enough, tho mysterious Captain Macdonald had told Miss Dash that ho was duo " to join his ship " on tho same morning at precisoly tho same hour. Hia ship, as Mr Poland obaorved, was tho Metropolitan Meat Market. Now, how ovor, Mt Blofield has givon an additional pieco of O7idenco of the utmost value. One day, bo said, a week or two after the prisoner's return from his Easter Holiday, the latter took a photograph of a young lady from his pocket, and asked wh:it iis employer thought of it. Mr Bolfieid replied that it was a nice looking faco, and particularly commonted on the protti noss of the eyos. Hiss Dash's Photo. That photograph was a picturo of Miss Dash. At least, so the prosecution as sorted, and no contrary evidence was forth coming. If the jury bolievod this stato ment, practically there was almost an end of the case nt onco ; for, if Malcolm was, as he assorted, an uttor stranger to Miss Dash, he could not have had her portrait. It was natural to ask why Mr Blofield had kept this fact about tho photograph to himself at the first trial, and he replied that he was not asked about it. If anything, he ap peared reluctant to say what would incri minate the prisonor, so that his production of this damning circumstance on tho second trial could ha»dly be ropreaentod a3 a do liborato falsehood intended to ruin Mal colm's cause with the jury. Another Victim. The other novelty of tho second trial was the instructive little story told by Miss Emma Dickinson, a young woman resident at St Albans. In June last tho prisoner Malcolm attonded tho Harpendtn Races, n»ar that town, and was introduced to Miss Dickineon, with whom he appears to have at once commenced a flirtation. She told her tale simply, and apparently with truth, and there was no attempt to throw doubt on her assertions. Nothing could well have been mora fatal to the prisoner's pros pects of escaping punishment than this young lady's recital of what went on down at St Albana. The prisoner's name at that time was said, by the friend who introduced him to her, to bo Mac donald ; and as Macdonald he always represented himself to her, and in that name wrote her letters. This spurious Macdonald, the supposed bachelor, who was really the married meat salesman called Malcolm, presented Miss Dickinson with a ring and earings and a broach, and according to her evidence, as well as that of her sißter, ho was virtually engaged to her It is therefore perfectly evidont that the'prisoner, whether ho was or was not the Captain Maodonald who pretented to marry Miss Dash in April, did offer himself m marriage in tho name of Macdonald to Mian Dickinson in June. When the first trial was going on, tho sister came up to town and recognised Malcolm at once. Afterwards the prisoner went down to St Albans and begged that Miss Dickin aon, to whom he had got engaged, wou c forgive him, and also wrote that " He woulc bo only too pleased to do anything he could for her, through hip eolicitor." This was ,icned "J. Malcolm " If the letter and vuit wore intended to keep tho Miss Dickinson s out of the witness-box on the occasion of the eecond trial, it is fortunate for the cause of justice th-it the attempt failed. The St Ai'hinH errsode is just what is wanted to iSowS Spring doubt of the identity

of the prisoner with the Captain Mac Donald of Brighton, and it throws a flood of light on the character and usual coarse of conduct pursued by the faithlebs meat salesman of the Metropolitan Market. A Suspicions Dofeno*. Of tho defence which was set up for the prieonor perhaps thu less said the better. 4 s Mr Justice Field remarked, it is not necessary to impute perjury to anybody i but there are incidents in connection with tho evidence adduced oil Malcolm's behalf, and still more in connection with the evi dence that was not forthcoming, which can only be regarded with the gravest euspicion. The prisoner waa a bold and throughly unscrupulous man, and nothing could, therefore, be mora natural and in evitable than that ho should attempt to wriggle out of the meshee which so fatally encompassed him Some of his witnesses no donbt, honestly believe that he was not the porson who waa stopping at the Victoria Hotel, at Brighton, last Apiil; others probable were quite aa honest in swearing that they saw him in Lon don or elsewhere at times at which, according to Miss Dash's statement, ho was flirting with her at Brighton, It is astonishing that witnesses should be so ready to swoar to people's faces and to dates sir months afterwards. How can a cab driver for example, be now positive that he drovo Miss Dash aid a gentleman who was not tho prisoner on the evening of the 3rd of last April to Fame place near Brighton ? These questions of confused indontity aro difficult onough in themselves, but they are rondored far more so by the cheerful alacrity with which people are ready to go bail for the infallibility ot thoir own momories. At all events, there is nothing in any of tho assertions made by the witnesses for tho defonco whiah need cause thoslightesthesitationabout accepting tho vordict of the jury an correct. One of the most heartless deceptions of recont years has thus boon fully exposed and appro priately punished. Tho bold sea-captain who won Miss Dash's affections expressed hisdosire to bo marriod in " Highland cos tume ; " and it was in Highland costume that ho was found at tho Butchers' Garden Party. The coincidence is curious, and shows that tho cleverest deceiver is not quite clever enough to prevent a little bit of his real nature peeping through even the most artful disguise.

THE WAR IS THE BALKANS.

St. Pktersdcrg, November 15. — The Russian nowspapere, both official and un official, unite in condemning fratricidal Servo-Bulgarian warß, and declare that Rftssia will be unable to sit quietly .by while Bulgaria and Servia tear ouch other to pieces, Tho "Journal do St. Petersburg" hints that England, by delaying the meeting of the Balkan conference, is responsible for the outbreak of war betweon Servia and Bulgaria. Vienna newspapers here express the hope that tho Sorvo-Bulgarian war will be localized, but they admit that Russian interests aro oppoeod to those of Austria. Austria, they say, is bound to support Horvia, white Russia is inclined toward Bulgaria, as is ovident from the fact that she has permitted tho exportation of 18,000,000 cartridges from Tula to Bulgaria, having hitherto prohibited the shipment. Bulgarian Forces. Lo.ndok, Nov. 19.—Bulgaria is denuding the Turkish frontier of troops and is send ing nil her available forces to the iront to combat the Sorviana. Tho public aro allowed to go to tho depots en route on tho way to sco their relatives and friends Many of villager! tramp long distsneos and wait at tho depots several hours, and, in some eases, wholo days tnd nights, in order to ceo their friends and givo them flowors and presents. Prince Alexandor'a success beforo Slivnitza has rovived the couraeo of those going to the front, and they undergo oxtromo hardships with remarkable fortitudo. In many cases they aro compolled to march long distances in bad weather and at night camp in open spaces whsro th«y are sheltorloss, not having an ordinary tont to protoct them from tho severity of the weather. Tactical Mistakes. Bf.loradk, Nov. 20.—A Servian oilicial (linrmtoh from,TwirihroH »2V™A,,'Khe Servian repuleo at Slivnitza la nttribmuu tv vie action of General Clovanoritcb, com mander of the Danube division, who mado several tactical mistakes and failed to exocuto certain strategic movements. Four divisions of tho Servians have now been concent'ated juet beyond Dragoman, and will ronew tho attack on the Bulgarians de fending Slivnitza to-morrow. General Topolovitch, commanding the right wing of tho Servian army, is entrenched within » few hours' march of Sofia. A Battle Going on-Snffarlnfa of tho Wounded. Despatches from Slivnitza of November 21st, states that only v few shot* wore ex changed betweon tho Servians and tho Bul garians at the front yesterday. Both sides aro constantly hurrying reinforcements to the front. Tho battlefield is still strewn with unattended dying and dead soldier's. Tho medical and ambulance corps of both armies aro wholly inadequate to meet their present wants, and many of the wonded, who aro unablo to assist themeolvoe, aro left to perish where they fell. Servians Driven oat of Dragoman Pass After a stiff battle on November 22nd the Servians wer« driven out of Dragoman Pats by tho Bulgarians, who then occupied the Paes. Advices from Tcarlbrod state that tho weathor there is terribly severe. Drago man Pan is blocked up with snow, and the road? across the mountains aro impassable. Thore nre now 272,090 Turkish troops on the Balkan peninsula. A despatch from Tsaribrod cays that tho Bulgarians have massacred a Servian lieu tenant named Kotitch, who was found on the field of battle wounded, and also the Servian lieutenants Schivko and Batkovich, who wore prisoners of war. Action of the Power*. New York, November 22—[Special].— A cablegram coys : Intervention to prevent the further carrying on ot the war in the Balkans is almost assured. All advices received to day tend to confirm the report that England, as well as the rest of Europe, is sickoning at tho dotails of bloodshed in Bulgaria. Evorybody knows it is useless, because, barring an unfortunate: and un expooted war, tho central powers have already arranged a plan for the settlement of tho Balkan question, Keen observers profess to see danger growing out of the sympathy for Bulgaria expressed by the German army and people. The Slivitzna victories art due to Prince Alexander, his brother, Princo Francis Joseph, and other ex- German army officers serving in the Bul garian army. Several popular crack German army corps and hundreds of other officers have professed their readiness to follow the oxamplo of Princo Francis Joseph and their brother officers, by joining Prince Alexander at Slivitzna.

It is said that Austria has drawn Bis marck's attention to the fact that German officers are resigning for the purpose of entering tho Bulgarian army, and has urged the issuance of an order by the German War Office prohibiting volunteers from leaving Germany for eervico in Bulgaria. The Gormans are giving large sums of money, quantities of clothing and othor necessary articles to the Bulgarians. In Hungary the people are doing the same thing for the Servians. The Servian envoy at Pesth is enlisting surgeons and making contracts for army and medical supplies as if the war would last until spring. A correspondent at Sofia to-day had an intorviow with a Servian officor, who is a prisoner in that city. He said that the majority of the Servian Army officers were ashamed of King Milan's cowardly policy in declaring war against Bulgaria, and he added that the bulk of tbe Servian people, including tho rank and file of the army, were friendly to the Bulgarians. A Vionna cablegram says: The Bul garian victories have worked a sudden change in Austrian opinion. King Milan's oars would tingle if he could hear all the hard things that are said about him, while Princo Alexander, whom tho Viennese scribes were abusing last week, has grown very popular in ministerial circles. It is now an edifying conviction that the fratri cidal war between tho Servian and Bul garian brothers ought to cease, and pres sure will probably be brought to bear upon the combatants before Count Kalnoky's proteges are quite smashed and scattered.

Benefactors.—" When a board ot eminent physicians and chemists announced the dis covery that by combining somo well-known valuable remedies a most wonderful medioine was produced, which would . cure Booh a wide range of diseases that most all othoi remedies could bo dispensed with, many were Bcoptical, but proof of its merits by iictual trial haa dispelled all doubt, and to-day thrdiFcov erera of that gre.it medicine. Hop Hittera, ftre honoured and blessed by all na benefactors.' Bead.

Flat Catchers and Their Ways.

Anothbb most amazing feature of Barnet Fair, and one that prolonged my stay thero, was the incredible number of rogues and vagabonds of the "flat-catching" class that were present, and apparently in full and lucrative employment.

It has been remarked frequently of late, and by no means without reason, that, ex clusive of those whe resort to ratnpiug and undisguised highway robbery, the frater nity who by itaaus oi nil manner of gambling and cheating devices, including the "puree trie*," the "nimble pea," " prick in tho gaiter," the three cards, and similar exercises of hocus-pocus, have in creased alarmingly, and ara still increasing at all fairs and race meetings. Compared with but a few years since, it is as though the laws then operating agaiußt this species of pocket-picking were now re pealed, and that thoae addic ed thereto were now at liberty to play their various little games without let or hindrance. Of course, one,does|not 6xpect to find a strict obser vance of the moralities at fairs and race meotiugs, and it muse bo admitted that Barnet is somewhat notorious for the mixed company that two or three times in the course of the year assemble there in its green meadows for pleasure and business. But I may say that never before, in town or country, on whatever occasion of those congregations, did I witness such a strong muster of the JeremyOiddler family. They absolutely swarmed. Nor were they all ofthesoedy and flagrantly disrespectable typo. I rode in a railway carriage—l invariably at such times treat myself to third-class - in tho same compartment with probably fifteen, possibly eighteen other passengers (tho allotted space being designed for ten), and considering that we wore all IJarnet bound, I could not but notico how well dressed tho majority were. Not flashily, but nicely and comfortably. Three-fourths of my follow-travollers might havo been prosperous small tradesmen or shopkeepers who had made the possibility of purchasing a horse or a pony if they saw a good one going cheap an excuse for the day's outing. It is a fact, however, that, within a couple of hours of my arrival on the horse ground, I counted eeron of them highly busy, two uf thorn disposing of new pursos containing 7s 6'd, at the ruinous rate of 2s Gd each ; two at three-card practice, and tho other three in a brisk pursuit of a livelihood, the .simple tools of their craft being a length of coiled tape and a bodkin. One, who was sta:d and prim onough to bo a distributor of tracts, with one knee on tho grass, his other supporting a book—a vo umo of tho Mlgrim'B Progress of all things in the world —on the flat cover ot which was the wound tape, and tho other two innocents were spotting the centre with the bodkin for a level shilling a time, and winning such lots of money from the mau who was betting that they couldn't do it, it was no wondor that sdveral of the bystanders were induced to try their luck at such a profitable pas time.

There wore so many df those rogues at work that they litorally joggod elbows at ovory turn, and it seotned as though, like tho locusts, having devoured every groen tiling, and being still hungry, they mutt in tho end fall tooth and nail on each other. Tho competition for customers was so keon among thotn that thoy appeared to be at Choir wits' end for a novel plan to get a orowd about them, though only for a few minute-1. Thoy did such strange and start ling things to achieve their object as to Bug irost the fancy that there must exist some where or othor a school for this class of conjurers, tho masters of which gave all their timo and attention to the invention of new "fakes nnd dodges," in which the pupils were inducted on payment of certain fees. And this not anly as applying to the vulgar art of* palmistry, but to abstruso calculations ii» arithmetic and in the scieuco of " casting sprats to catch niackorel." To the uninitiated it ia incomprehensible how seme of these adventurers got a living at all. I siw ono man with it smart pony and cart, in which he was mounted, with a largo travelling trunk opon before him, and I was proeent when he commenced business. Ho began by roundly abusing those who halted to see what ho was about to do. "What did they want stariug at him like n lot of Btuck pigs?" he impudontly de manded. " They could pass on, bo didn't want thorn. He wasn't there to court thoir either? fiedft"nlt c^wn^neiUUV Wtf&i to liston to what he'd como to tell 'em, or if they walked off. Why didn't ho? Well, he'd procious Boon tell them why. Because it didn't matter to him if ho got rid of the things he had brought there in his trunk, or if he took tho whola lot back again. They didn't belong to him, but to those who em ployed him to carry out a novel idea. That's what nr\de him co independent, and so ho told 'em. H« was not there to get money but of the public—he would soon prove that. Hero 1 look at this shilling. Would anyone give him sixpence for it? That's the style. Oh, you may bite it and spin it. It's good onough. And now who would give him threepence for sixpence? What! you are waking up, are you? Collar hold then. Now wha'll give mo a penny for threepence ? It's yours, mister. Now who wantsa penny ? Here you are I" And the despised coin was Hung to anybody who chose to catch it. "That's how much we think of money in our firm !" exclaimed the well dressed man in tho cart, wiping his hands with hia hand- Uorchief, as though to free them from the contamination of the gross dross; " and wo think just about as much of goods that are ns valuable as money. Whal's our game, thon ? That's our businoss. You take my advice, and mind yours, and don't lot the presont chance Blip by you because you are auspicious of there being some cheating or dodeery at the bottom of it all. Pocket books? Who wants a pockot-book? I ain't in the line myself, so I don't know how much they cost, P'rhaps a dollar, p'rhaps no more than half a one. They're good onough to give away, anyhow. Lond me a sixpence, somebody, and I'll give him a pockot-book. What, you don't believo that I'll give your money back ? I should stand a poor chance, shouldn't I, one among fifty of you, if I promised and didn't koop my word? You shall have your six pence back right enough 1" And they got them. At least a dozen persons in the crowd took a pockot-book and "lent" the man a sixpence, and when he had no more to dispose of the monoy was returned to each depositor, the latter retaining the book. The crowd about the cart grow denser, but I was curious to see tho end of the affair, and I stayed on. How did the man hope t« make the " dodge " pay ? The pocket-books, at the lowest estimate, were worth fourpence each, so that there v?ent four shillings, which, with the shilling^ he lad given away at first, made five. " .Now let us see what else we've got in tho lucky-box. Hallo! here's some pipes. I hain't a judge of pipes myself, not being a smoker, but any fool can see that they are made of briar-root, and that they've got amber tops to 'em. I shall want you to fork out a shilling this time, and to trust mo if you ever got it back again. All I a»k you is to lend mo a shilling to take care of, and I will give you a pipe worth twice tho money. I don't care a button whether you trust me or leave it alone. You've seen what I've Sone already,: and if I say that I'll do it again I'll do it." And, encouraged by his previous acts of inexplicable generosity, the people handed in their shillings and received each a pipe in return, until probably twenty wore co disposed of. No more pipes being re quired, the eccentric negotiator coolly closed and locked the trunk, and, descending from tho cart proceeded to take off the pony's nosebag. "I'm now agoing," be remarked to the crowd with an impudent grin, " tor a little gentle drivo, and them I that require their shillings returned, have only to wait here till I come back and they'll got 'em." There waa uproarious laughter at this on the part of those who had not parted with their money, and they were by far the majority, so there was no chance for the non-contents. One pine-holder pressed forward with the evident intention of re monstrating, but as he was promptly bonnetted, no one followed hia example. Tho pipes may have coßt 2d each, which, taking the number as twenty, added 3s and 4d to the outlay already incurred, and made a total of 8s 4d ; and, assuming that there ■were twenty shillings collected a profit of Us 8d ramained, not an inconsiderable sum to net in less than twenty minutes, but, after all, it Beemed a daring risk to run for it. Supposing that instead of a good humoured it had turned out to bo a nasty tempered mob ! It was at le«3t 150 Btrong at the termination of the perilous oxperi mont, and most of the men carried an aeh stick. But the impunity which these rascnls enjoy is based mainly on the fun it affords tho wide - awake portion of tho cr.iwd, us well aa those who ware half re solved to speculate, but could scarcely muster courage enough to sco tho ventur ers bitten. •.-.-..■■ •, j.

Tho purse trick pantry displayed quito as much intrenui^.- h '"■"tering an audience. I saw one wlui, jju^liing- his way through the thrung, suddenly seized on a lad-of course a confederate—and, holding him

with one hand by the back of his neck, commenced stuffing money into his mouth —shillings, sixpences, halfpence—at the same time bawling out at the top of his north-country voice: " Thee's got to iwaller 'em ; down wi' 'em, I tell e'e, every man jack of 'em !" Those in the immediate vicinity, of course, stopped to inquire what such a strange proceeding might mean, when the boy slipped away, and with his broad face expanded with a grin, the man instantly produced a purse and proceeded to turn ba;k his coat-sleeves, so that the spectators might have their minds made perfectly eaey as to there being no deception in what they were invited to witness, I saw yet another instance of tke despo rate devices to which these poor cheats were driven by press of competition to resort to so as to give them a chance of a share of the " trade " that is doing. There were two men together, and one of them fell flat down with his face to the grass, having seemingly been seized with a fit. His friend, in a state of tremendous excitement, tried his best to assist the poor fellow, pat ting his back and chafing his clenched fists, and calling on the bystanders for goodness' sake to procure a glass of water. In less than half a minute tho prostrate one was surrounded with a ring of sympathisers, when, as unexpectedly as he had fallen down, up he jumped again with a purse in one hand and three half-crowns in the other, ready for business, and went straightway to work at his trade of flat catching as though nothing uncommon had happened.

THOSE CLEVER GREEKS.

How Their Architecture Was Mado to Con-

form to tho Eye's Defects.

If you turn a book upside down and look at the letters every " s " will seem much smaller at the bottom than at the top, although, when the book is properly held, both halves appear the same size to the eye. The upper part of the typo that prints the lotter " s " is made smaller than the lower half, to correct the fault of the eye, which always slightly exaggerates the former. When the latter is turned over, this same trick of the sight makes the difference seem greater than it really is ; and, of course, were it of the same width all the way, it would still look uneven. In greater matters the false report of the eye is greater. If a tapering monument, lika that on Bunker Hill, or like the obelisk in Central Park, wore made with perfectly straight sides, it would look to us—for, you soe, we really cannot trust our own eyes—as if it were hollowed in a little, or, as wo should say in a more scientific language, its sides would appear concave. Thoae clever Greeks, who did ed marly ranrvolbus things in art, thought all this out; and made their architec ture u^on principles so subtle and so' com prehensive that we have never been able to improve on them since. They found that their beautiful Doric columns, if made with straight "sides, had tho concave effect of which I have spoken ; and so, with the most delicato art in the world, they made the pillar swell a little at the middle, and then it appeared exactly right. The swelling of tho column at its middle was called entdsis. Of course; it had to be calcuated with the greatest nicety, and was actually so very slight that it can only be detected by delicate measurements ; but it added greatly to the beauty of the columns and to their effectiveness. Then the linos which were to look horizontal had to received attention. If you look at a long, perfectly levol line, as the edge of a roof, for instance, it has tho appearance of sagging toward the middle. The Greek architect corrected this fault by making his lines rise a little. The front of the Parth enon at Athens is 101 feot 3J inches long, and in this the ri«e from tho horizontal is about 2i inches. In'other words, there is a curvature upward that makes it a little inoro than 2 inches higher in the centre than at the ends, -and the effect of this swelling upward is to mako tho lines appear perfectly level. Indeed, this same Parthenon—the most beautiful, building in the world—when delicately and carefully measured, was found to be everywhere made a little incorrect, so that it may appear richt, which is cer tainly what may be called an architectural paradox. The graceful columns, which seem to stand so straight, are made to lean inward a little, since if they were perfectly true and plumb they would have (he effoct of leaning outward. The pillars at the corners slant inward more than the others, by being in truth a little broader angled, and the lines are curved in ordor that they shall appear straight to the eye.—"St. Nicholas."

The Great Golden Pagoda of the Burmese.

'.8 the course of his lecture at Sydney on

" Burmah and the Burmese,*' Dr. Robert son mado the following observation with

rtgard to tho Great* Golden Pagoda Of Rangoon :—" At tUe notheni end of these lakes the Great Golden Pagoda, of all shrines the most sacred and revered, lifts its proud head far into tho ambient air. It would bo difficult anil lo ifciu* to describe the mental effect that its enormous size and beautiful symmetry impart, A long and strangely-carved colonnade covers a slop ing path and leads to a platform of masonry that occupies many acres of surface. The angles of this masonry aro supported by winged griffins, while the faces are adorned by allogorical figures. Around are niches or shrines containing

alabaster figures of Gautama; domes covered by glass tiles relieve the effect of solidity. Out of this platform the solid mass of the Pagoda rises, ever diminishing as it ascends with graceful curves, in the shape of a huge pomegranate, to form the tapering spire of the Pagoda to a height of 385 feet. Tbe whole mass is entirely covered with gold platos or gilding Tho spire ia surmounted by a peculiarly beautiful Htee, or umbrella. And this, thoughapparently small, measures fiO feet n height and 36 feet in diameter. It is composed of a diminishing series of fretwork bronze rings gilded, intricately braced together, and sot with precious stones Each of the many rings is hung with little bells, while the crevices are filled with gold and silver Gautamas. Above this umbrella ia really a large vane, but it can scarce be distinguished. This vane is decorated with emeralds and rubies to the value of over £80,000, the gift of the late King of Upper Burmah. And above the vane is an inverted glass bottle, as a pro tection from lightning, tho Burnose being perfectly aware of tho non-conducting virtue of glass. Along the retaining walls are numerous buildings, some containing alabastor Gautamas of all sizes, each wear ng that meaningless stereotyped aspect of tranquillity that is associated with a Buddha. Others contain bells suspended from tho jaws of brazen tigers. The out side of the bells is a mass of highly relieved figuros'of animals. Pilgrims, as they pass, striko those bells by means of deer horns, and evoko continual and sonorous peals of sound. The golden Pagoda was erected in the 6th century 8.C., and it has been kept in a porfect state of repair. On the occasion of a festival the niches and eaves are covered withminutepotscontainingfragrantflowers. Tho chapels are filled with devout worship pers. Thousands of coloured candles shed a dim religious light on the placid features of the Gautamas. The immense platform teems with pulsating life Every one per forms somo good action. One gilds an abraded spot of the huge structure ; others adorn a niche with flowers. Infants deposit candles or incense; others give alms. The sun lights up the great burnished spire with a dazzling glory, and seems to spirit ualise every object it enfolds. In the gardens, benoath the golden Pagoda, the educated mind finds congenial oc cupation in the contemplation of a very world of beauty—in artificial lakes, cascades, and rustic bridges, in charm ing- flowers and an endless variety of luxuriant tropical plants and trees. The eye delights to linger on this masterpiece of decorative art, on tho beautiful colours of birds and insects that flit among fairy scenes where the ear is allured by tho magic of that deep and solemn silence that is so closely associated with the stillness of tropical air and luxuriant surroundings. Tho fierce light streams through the dense green foliage, and dances on tbe still waters and lights up a group of palm trees, past which flit creatures with quaint costumes and silent tread. Yellow-robed phoonsries or Buddhist monks, with shaved head and reverential mien, quietly glide among the Arcadian beauties of these Elysian fields."

We see in pome of the papers that Prince Demetrius Tschawstchawadze haa been arrested in Moscow for swindling. We feel no particular inteiest in tho Prince, and are indifferent to his antecedent.", but as a mere matter of curio.-ity, we really would like to kno«' whether ho marked that name on his handkerchief by beginning at tho lower end and working along, or whether he ran it cat a-coniered across. Iraasino such a name on an umbrella handle ! It would hang over the ferule,—"Tit Bits,"

The Pope's Encyclical Letter.

The Catholic Church Not the Enemy tmt

the Friend of Liberty.

Tub New York "Herald's"Eome correspon dent gives the following additional details of the Pope's encyclical letter: It is a calumny to suppose the church is incom* patible with tho principles of modern civil Government and society as now constituted. Man cannot exist without society. This re quires authority, and alltrueauthoritycomes directly from God. The participation of the people in a State's Government should not be blamed; but encouraged. The Church is not the enemy but the friend of all healthful and legitimate liberty. If the Church holds that various sects of Christians cannot be tolerated on a footing of equality with true religion, she does not go so far as to blame Governments for permitting such sects to have influence in governing, provided those forming the Government seek to obtain some good object or to avoid mis fortune.

The Church is tolerant, for, according to St. Augustine, restraint can obtain every thing from man except faith. The church warmly patronizes all true liberty and es pecially liberty of nations, as of individuals, against despotism. The Church accepts moßt cordially all that contributes to the prosperity of the mortal life, and encourages all researches of tho human brain. The Church will always accept with joy all that contributes to the conquests of science, par ticularly of natural science. The Church encourages all modern discoveries and in ventions, an i countenances pleasure in all modern progress and devices that have for their object to adorn life or make it more comfortable. The Church encourages all arts and honest industries.

All Catholics must have themselves felt, as active elements in the day of political life in the countries where they live, that they mußt penetrate wherever possible, and that in the administration of all civil affairs they must constantly endeavour to exert the utmost vigilance and energy to prevent the usages of, liberty, from going beyond the limits fi'i'ed by tfod'S law. AH Catholics sboulddoall in'their power to cause the constitutions of States and legislation to be modelkd on the principles of the true Church, and a'l Catholic writers' and jour nalists should never lose sight for an in stant from the view of the above prescrip tions. All Catholicß should redouble their submission to the authority and should unite their whole heart, soul, and body and mind in the defence of the Church and of Christian wisdom.

A New Rifle for the British Army.

The results of tbe labours of the committee appointed to provide a new and improved rifle for the army, which have just been publiahedsho w,says the London' 'Standard," that the future weapon of the British Army will, as regards most considerations, be far in advance of the service' arm of any other nation. In the new weapon the Martini breech action has been retained, the altera tion being in the barrel and the weight of the projectile, the combina tion being called the Martini-Enfield. Taking the Martin-Henry as a stand ard of comparison, the diameier of the bore has been reduced from '45 inch to '40, tho weight of the new bullet being 384 grains, as compared with the 480 grain bullet of the old rifle. The powder charge, however, of 85 grains remains the same, with the im portant result that the muzzle velocity of the bullet is increased from 1,315 feet per second to 1,570, thus lowering the trajec tory to such an extent that Whilst the Martini-Henry bullet ifi travelling 500 yards rises more thon eight feet and a half above the line of sight, the improved projectile would scarcely go over the head of an infantryman if fired from the grouni' level. This is an important consideration, as it minimises any errors in elevations which may rise either from excitement or miscalculation. The system of grooving adopted is the ratchet. The number of rooves being 9, as against tho seven of ths Martini-Henry, although the latter is the largest number employed in any military rifle in the world, whilst the twist of the bullet has boon increased from one turn in 22 inches to one turn in 15, the latter being in excess of anything which has yet been iM8 Hiifrp"ufarffi nfcfiajn»'iP5... TAJwidiyan to the trajectory, tho higher velocity of the bullet and the improved rifling have Bhown remarkably good target results the mean deviation of the now bullet being only 3 feet and 95 fe«t at 500 and ',COO yards, respectively, as against 'sfl feet and l'Bfl foet for the Martini-Fenry. Another important feature is that the recoil of the new weapon is considerably leas than that of the present service arm, which has caueed so much adverse comment. Ex periments are also being made to provide the new woapon with an attachable maga zine, So that the soldier will be able to deliver a rapid fire of several shots with out reloading in cases Of emergency.

Ail Artful Dodge.

Three or four Commercial travellers were seated in the smoking-car amusing themselves as commercial travellers are wont to do, says the Chicago "Herald." The conversation was not altogether of thfc price of goods or probabilities of orders, but occasionally turned to the fair box.

" By the way," said one of thedrummers, " before you boys came aboard I was back in tho next coach, and I saw there a magnificent girl, ac pretty as a picture. I was crazy to sot acquainted with her, but she wouldnx have any foolishness. Run back and look at her,'1

Of course, the other drummers sauntered back, and on their return were loud in their praises of the strafeße beauty. "Boys," said the first speaker, "I'M willing to confess it's a clean case of love at first sight with me, and, just to get up my courage, I'll wager any one of you or the whole party Sdols. that before we get to Indianapolis I'll be sitting beside that girl, and she'll be rest ing her head lovingly on my shoulder." The other drummers were so eager for the "snap" that they quarrelled as to which one should hold the stake. The four $5 bills were deposited with the fourth man as a stakeholder, and the smitten wagerer threw away his cigar and started for the other car, telling his companions to keep watch of him.

They watched him. As he entered the coach the fair stranger was reading a novel. He walked boldly up to her side and spoke to her. She looked up, smiled, moved to one side to make room for him, and when he had seated placed her pretty head upon his shoulder aa if she had a right to. In half an hour the lucky commercial travellerdrew from his pocketanother cigar, the beauty raised her he.ad and he returned to the Bmoking-car. "My wife has excused me long enough for another smoke," he eaid to his amazed companions. " She did not want to come with me on this trip for fear it would cost too much, but I told her we'd make money if she'd come along. So far we are about §40 ahead of expenses, and by fall expect to to have enoueh to buy a sealskin eacque. Those $5 notes, please."

A Test of National Sobriety.

Teetotalers will be glad to receive from the " Lancet" tho suggestion of an infallible te6t of national temperance. Our contem porary deduces from the Registrar-General's annual report the conclusion that the surest way of judging whether temperance is increasing or diminishing >s by comparing the mortality from liver complaint one year with another. Inordinate consumption of alcohol undoubtedly produces that disease in most cases, the people who can drink sixty glasses of punch a day without ap pearing any the worse being exceptions to the rule. Statistice are said to show that liver complaint it especially prevalent among publicans and others whose avoca tions bring them constantly into contact with alcoholic temptation, and that by itself affords some confirmation of the theory, Stronger support atill is obtained on com paring the annual returns of mortality from liver diseases. This reached its maximum in 1376, when the number of such deaths per each million of the population amounted to 466. That year, it will be remembered, ended the period when our prosperity had advanced by " leaps and bounds," with an accompanying augmentation of wages and of drunkenness. The decline in trade beganehortlyafterwards.andsimultaneously the mortality from liver complaint began to decrease, a process which has pone on un interruptedly until the present date. This is certainly a very curious coincidence, and we agree with our contemporary that the interesting question it has started fully deserves further investigation.

FOR THE LADIES.

Feminine Brevities.

Ex-QtEBN Isabella of Spain finds hot salt water baths beneficial. Lady Dufferin ia exceedingly popular among the down-trodden women of India. The most acceptable present for a New York society girl Is a cigarette case. For a Chicago girl the Bhoe horn is still the most acceptable. Mary Anderson is much grieved that the New Yorkerß do not applaud her Rosalind. A Western editor says it is not to be wondered at, as the man who will pay 10s for a seat is a greenhorn who does not know enough to applaud. Ifou may call a woman "a little duck," or even "a little gooee," with perfect im punity, but a Brooklyn court has just de cided that a woman who called another " a Shanghai ben " damaged her to the extent of £500.

English and American Fashion Notes. Double-face satin ribbons with metal pico'td are favourite^. Striped gfeen and grey velvet is used to trim grey dresses'. Dresses with full fronts and sides have straight back draperies. Although walking ekirts are platii, the bodies are elaborately trimmed. Light astrakhan cloth, lined with bright oolours, is used tor demi-saison mantles. Bodices laced down the front have the sleevetf laced from' the shoulder to the wrist.

Buttons constantly increase in size and cost. Those carved of ivory have beautiful designs. Broad cape collars of lace or embroidery are worn by children with cuffa to correspond. Sleevlesi jackets of velvet are worn with every sort of dress, the latest being the " yeate toreador," with a modified bell sleeve.

Eider down is used as wadding for hand some mantles, its extreme lightness and warmth being .desiderata not to be over looked.

Pearl grey kid gloves with the backs stitched with black silk and tan-coloured suede gloves will be much worn during the early autumn. Wooden beads are in great demand and are made in all sizes. Sonio are as large as Vainuta for cloak trimming ; others for embroidery and bonnet trimming are quite small.

Why Women Should Not Cry.

The approach of age shows itself about the eyea. Lines come, faintly at first, then deeper, until the incipient crows' feet are indicated, developed and revealed. The woman who, looking in her glass, sees these fatal lines diverging from the outer corners of her eyes, knows that she has reached an era in her life. She recognises it with a Bigh if she be a vain, a lovely, or a worldly woman; with a smile, perhaps, il she has children in whom she can live her own youth over again. But it can never be a gay smile; none of us, men or women, like td feel youth—that preciout possession—slipping away from us. But we should never be on the lookout for erdtfs' feet or grey h»irs. Looking for them is euro to bring them, for thinking about them brings them. Tears from a part of the language of the eye, which is eloquent enough when sparingly used, and which should be sparingly used iot ether reasons than that of add ing to their mute eloquence. Tears are a. disfiguring expression of emotion, and those who get in the habit of weep ing nvor every small vexation do much to acquire a careworn, miserable expres sion, and are sure to look old bofore their time. Excessive weeping has been known not only to injure but ac tually destroy the sight. Few women look pretty or oven interesting in tears, though it has long been a pleasant fie tidn id pOetry and romance to suppose that they do. Man/ women, some men, mosfc children, make most disguring and distorting grimaces wliilo crying, and the lady who thinks she can work upon a man's feelings by a liberal display of tears should carefully study a becoming mode of producing them before her looking-glass. Grimaces soften no heart, and tears, accom panied by the usual distortions, have a hardening effect if not i» visible one. In a prettily written work, now probably out of print, purporting to be the story of Milton's wives, the author makes the poet reßemb"ler~ rttn"e" -suinr'tiear-Trnrrn*})? * Ak-w the rain," a very pretty natural object, indeed, but during the rain itself the ob server is not inclined to be complimen tary.—" Whitehall Review "

Married Above the Clouds.

A novel wedding took plaae recently at Silverton, Colorado. Miss tfellie Conners of Lake City and Oscar Olson of Animas Forks, were married on snowshoes at the summit of a spur of the Continental Divide, the altitude being over 13,000 feet. Lake City and Animas Forks are on opposite sides of the range of mountains, which at this season of the year are covered with deep pnow. Early in the morning the bride, accompanied by her two brothers and a party of friends, left Lake City on snovr shoeß, the only means by which the moun tains could be scaled, for the summit of the divide. The groom, accompanied by Rev. Father Levy and a party of friends, left Animas at the same time, also destined for tho summit of the mountains. It. was an arduous trip for both parties, and not un accompanied with danger. It was nearly noon when the groom's party njached^ the designated point of meeting. The bride's party had not yet arrived, but they had not long to wait, for soon the bride came into sight, merrily trudging along, a brother being on cither side of her. For two hours they had been climbing above the clouds, and the extreme altitude and huge aaow drifts had made it hard work for them. The groom went out to meet his bride. They arrivad on the auintnit arm in arm. Miss Connera was seemingly the least fatigued of any member <4 the party. Ihe spot choien for the wed ding was the highest in all the San Juan country. It is fully half a mile above the timber line, and a region of perpetual snow. An uninterrupted view of the country for a radius of one hundred miles could be had. The wedding party were on a level with the highest of the bald-headed peaks, and the scene was an impressive one. The marriage ceremony was performed in the midst of a snow-storm, which fairly hid the happy couple from the view ot the minister. Champagne, which bad been brought up by a member of the groom's party, was drunk to the health of the newly married pair, and then the downward journey to Silverton was begun, the bride and groom leading the way. Here a supper was await ing them, and the romantic couple received tho congratulations of everybody in the camp.

Little People.

A littlb girl of two and one-half years burned her finger for the first time the other day. She placed her finger on a hot potato, aud suddenly drew it back, exclaim ing, " 0, dor's a pin in it!" A little boy eat in a front-row eeat at a theatre just beeide the French horn-player in the orehestta. Presently the horn man played a solo, and the blood rushed up and down his face and neck. Look, ma ! look !' cried the boy ; Bee the music run up and down the back of that man's neck." In a speech at Kiimarnock the other day, Lord Rusebery told a good story about his little girl. She had been told by her nurse that if she did not think bo much by day she would dream less by night. " But I can't help thinking," she told her father. "For you know," she added pathetically, "I can't make my mind sit down." A 3-yea.-old "pet of the houeo" some months ago lost his bal'y brother, and has missed him very much ever since; he was told when the child died it had gone to heavon. Recently when death was again hovering over the s&me household the fol lowing conversation took place: Child— Grandmama, you're going to heaven, ain't you ? Grandmama—Yes, dear, I hope go. Child -Well, then, Grandma, when you get there you'll Bend homo Georgie, won't you ? Raymond ia the name of a bright five year old youth who is noted for his strong analytical turn of mind. One day he had transgressed the domestic laws in his ex überience of spirit anJ bad exhausted the patien.-e of his mother. «' Now, Raymond," she said : " I am going to chastise you ; bring me the slippers at once." The younj man, who had been put througt this forn of exercise before, started toward the place where the innocent slippers were resting. Suddenly ho stopped, and, turning to his mother, in a plaintive sort of way, said : " Mamma, why do you cay slippers when I've only got one place to whip?" This waa too much for the mother, and the yournr philosopher escaped punishment on this occasion.

ALL SORTS OF ITEMS.

Thb looks on the door are worn perfectly plain. It is the door that ia banged.

A gross offence—selling 140 eggs for twelve dozen, A grocer offence—putting Band in sugar. Better than novel writing is the faculty of getting paid for it. This means suc cess.

Sometimes a part at the theatre ia " boiled down " so fine that it is only fit for a supe. „' ~ Philippopclis is still in a warlike condi tion, though a town with »uch a name should make a strong stand for pp's. The Marquis of Bute has just finished another palace, to be known as Bute Castle, and described aa in every way beau tiful. Her lawyer-"It is a bad investment since they have watered the stock." She— " Yes, but it seems cruel'not■ to." "Er-not to-what?" "Not to water the poor things, and in such weather as this, particularly. There were 21,000,000 buttons made last year. And when a man is waiting for his wife, preparatory to her goin^ out with him, he imagines she's secured at least 20,C00,000 of them on her gloves. When a woman goes horseback riding she wears a silk plug hat.; : She doea that so the horsa will believe she is a man and won't become frightened at her. She couldn't fool a Kentucky mule in that way. An Oregon man recently invented a machino that, being attached to a sleeping person, will accurately register the dreams of the nieht. Any man who pnrchases oae of these machines wants to keep tho key where his wife cannot find it. They were talking of a politician who, aa one of the young gentleman affirmed, never opened his mouth without .putting his foot in it Tho Chicago girl looked at her pedestals ia an abstracted manner,, and was heard to remark, "How ridiculous !" Proof. Mr A.—"So I see, Jeanne, that Miss Bow is to be married. Nice little thing, too ; used to,'be in love with me," Mrs A. —"Now, John, you know that is not bo." " Anyway, she bought one of my pictures." "Theu I give in. She nrist have been awfully in love with you:" " Dose times va» no hard dot it vash im boesible to make expenshes," said Ike Levy to Mose Schaumburg, both being Texa» merchants. " I dells you vot you does Levy ef you vants to make monies. I dell you how you can ghoost double your invest ment" -"How is den dot?" "Split matchts and Bell'em." ' ,~ ' A man of Brunswick started on hie bridal tour and discovered when the conductor came around that he had purchased only one ticket. The minister had_ just pro nounced them "one," but no railroad com pany is going to cheat itself by recognizing any such authority in contradiction of mathematical facts. - ■ " Mr Ingersoll, did you ever try a bottle of my Magic Anti-Fat Remedy ?" asked the proprietor of a patent medicine. "I never did," remarked Colonel Ingersoll, blandly. " You should try a bottle. It does all that I claim for it in my advertisement,'^ " What do you say in your advertisement ?' "That a single bottle will convince the most sceptical 11! ' All Europe Is shaking with laughter To sea the Sultan grow daughter Arid Prince Alexander U aughter >v j Union and peace without slaughter. We doubt if the Inquisition possessed any combination for torture surpassing a tooth ache and a new pair of boote. At a circus, a trapeze performance was in progress. The performers were a man and his wife. The man was holding on the woman, whose feet wero supported by the bar. " Ah," said one lady, "if I were she I should take advantage of the occasion to ask him for a new bonnet."-^" Modern Society." .' : . . VAt VS LEAN. : .•■.. " Ah me I" sighed the loan man, "if I wore a fat man, i * ■■ ■ How happy tho world WOTUd seem f •' . ' "S'deathf moaned tho fat our, "how happy you thin men— O Lord 1 if I could bo loan I* ■■■ •* So thus doth tho loan man envy the fat mart, While the fat man would fain be lean; • Oh, happy am I, not fat nyn nor lean man— i Only betwixt and betwoen. > • " A man was arrested in Philadelphia for selling "doctored ' milk. His arrest,waH very untight. Some milk is so.weakthat it is an act of mercy to doctor it. Massachusetts ministers have always been unanimous in their condemnation of lotteries of every kind. And still they advise young people to get married. • ■ . : ->«.ll.A»fl..xAJ»_a»jrjii>f) of any. mitigirtinjj 'cir- Judge of a negro convicted <?T; norse etealing. " Yes, Bah, lots ob 'em. Ef 1 had time, Jedge, I could talk to you fqr.,a_,weok on dat subject." ." If you know of any miti gating circumstance please state it." " Yeß, sah ; I'll tell you ob one right now, sab. How easy would it hab been for me to bring my family inter disgrace and misery, pah, by stealin' dat boss. -Butl didn', eah. I jess remained single I bebber married, sah. Annudder mitigatin' 'caecumstance am—1' h gherif, remove the prisoner." —"Detroit Free Proas." A contemporary askß : " How shall we irrigate ?" There are various ways in which this can be dono. Some walk up to the bar and take theirs straight; others take it home in a jug and irrigate ," on. the sly." The subject is one concerning which great minds differ.—"Detroit Free Press." There are 3,000 women employed in Australian railway officeß.; The Australians are a long-headed people. What.a woman don't know about trains, how long or how short they should be_, etc., etc, ia not worth acquiring.—"Tit Bits." : One mother in Wilkesbarre, who dis covered that her daughter was being taught physiology and hygiene, addressed the following note to her teachor; "Dear.Miss : I don't want my daughter to be taught about her inaides TtLi.: .jlit,and I don't like it. Yours truly, Mrs —^." The grocer's son, a good dutiful boy, had never been away from home much, but stuck close to the chop all his life. His father wbb going to put up a new house, and one day the youth went to see how the workmen were getting along witH the cellar. He came back breathless, white, excited. "Father!" tho poor lad cried feebly," father! father ! Our everlasting fortune is made. The men digging the cellar have struck a sugar mine !" and he fell fainting to the floor.

Unwelcome Passengers.

Thb New York "Graphic" thus sums up the people who should not be allowed to rida on the public cars : Men who have been eating onions. Men who smoke bad cigars on the front platform. ' ; Men who cross their legs when the cars are crowded.

Men who chew and expectorate in the cars. '..:.>.

Peddlers who fill the cars with their wares and smell badly. Men who whistle. The staref ul dude. The awful masher.

Men who talk so loudly that no one else can hope to be heard by his neighbour. Men who eit sideways when people are looking for seats. i.V Men who crowd the platform so'that people are nearly squeezed to death in get ting on or off the cars. ' !'•'-■> Men who pick their teeth in public. Men who clean their finger nails in public. Juveniles who insist on skylarking. . Boys who eat peanuts. ; ■■■■- The small boy who, on muddy days, in eits on kneeling on the seats.

SquaLUng babies. Men who have been indalging in too much Pleasant Valley mixtures. Men who hum all the way.. ■ • Men who want to know where the car is going to and when they get there, Women who flirt with the wrong follow.

The girl who hangs on to him all the way. The bundle woman. The lady who has just been doing a little shopping and bought out tho store, Giggling girls. ' ; . ~ The u-nbrci'.a Hand who always psksa the driver in tho back or tho conductor in tho stomach. . The stoat lady who, when the car lurches, subsides in one's lap. The shrill-voiced female. ' " ;^'',!

Tha mothor of six who brings the whole six along. . ~ : . Tho lady who will mistake the bolli-ope for the strap.

The woman who at every Street corner aeks where she is to get out. ~-'-. •'■ '-, The gum-eating girl. . ■;. The woratn who after stoppipg the oar only take five minutes to kiss and say good bye. The old young girl. ~ ;-i Tho £oui.g old girl. The musical enthusiast. • The stage-struck girl. " , i ,.- The girl jvbo captures the conductor's atteution bo that ho has no syea or, ears;left for hie business. ' -' ooOuiti The loud girl., ■ . .,■.; -~. , ia ,., ../^-f ' The women who paint* '\'i:: .-V;n ojifdhl The girl who looks afryota too ha'rtf; • <*■ •'* ' Tha girl who won\ look at you at all.

5

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1885;