TOPICS OF THE DAY.

((Wf^...... book-Death lirfffjOWf/iJoOM HVSBOPBOBIA afcKWW^&SSP A Failure Wf TBE A™? N QUEEN'S JUBILEE -S^&itfol^ Earns - Paulus is"Vtt» ®Oii TKOKD PULLING OK '■fir Vit WHSft-MR Bskson ; faJrW&.Stf Hagazines-Nkw , iespos, September 7. "Viorfll comes the interesting « tbafour 'ipcious Queen is !^yco#i^nofanewbook> iil'< whichareking M * i secret. Princess Beatrice ***** friend Lady *3UKs*'«fr alone been per' l^the MS. TXssurmised, r aa&te household) that th° iSkdtobfeft memoir of Prince

*/2Slhas effectually shaken *#5Se in. the Parisian same's K£WdWs coachman were feSSSW*« which waS suffe"nS I^ yffioaeta*n * after under l&^eatmenfc for a few days, ISSftvere. He-survives, where- SSrfSStft is ae*d- Th 6 Jss^lh6siisW^ 6L-iiW'«P^ speech on the Hffiaudienceab Hawarden the Ilf Wtafltt one of his happiest *?&m~ TW grand bid man con |pbiMeofW."L^ththe WtMiK iot y describing the one 4S'tStWtheotherasa !Kifcted"ty great folks, cor- J&sp» Indeed, the masses SSffi W*' pressed to think of Saftifl ; of the poor Hi«'wfciMis* pithily th«s de" 8W poor flterved and were S» "The feod-■'<»{-the people was SirfSl-wrt pumfehed capi- ll!b va? f» a PPu. nd J su? ar y^tifos tli^ P fm {t is now ; LS^tJaau four times its present K'Sp obeaper only because there Illiil twofftf ol^sses to compete Plp^|§toreli<Jtle niore than half »iiil 40* f b.6 Queen has associated Sfitf! aft gr&jpJiSSges for the better, «n eKaniple of a pure ,' Mr Gtedptorie concluded K^TOW^ S'Udi6"o6 that those in ISpiotnecessariLiremoved from uarf W felifc thS Queen deserves to the hearty prayers of Kp:iang i 3 often a far more vain - i^w^ivadays than a successful illsP'S ?*y*' fiucn phenomenal Vuktt Rider Haggard's fairy tales, M'betn* any work pub- Kir/.j tiidisast l#eli?^tnonth has re uanth'^ so much as Chas>\ Cpborn [{bc'vj: oi "Two Lovely Black b H JP?* afT 0''" when sinking li'jl trnTO iuimnrous ditties, Coborn IP difficulty earn ,C 6 r>r so a week, l^ijji-batween £60 and £70. IHc^l leviathan hit no one Up ->'• o£ all its author. The |ra[%^i-k ffttittfiont- the Bpti) »s " Hy Nielly's BUte iJ^Hibcfore ( loborn wrote h6w ia -, u'j ucvor attracted much ap- Ea Ma iiinifelf adinil« he parotliecl !;ic£=-*:y s^ a makeshift. He has !tfcf';i" 'Vw fm thfi 'fiesti pftrfc of fewa pHH futre being1 done to ki- jMJtfMgoiiH, one mi«ht imagine pbiifT iifcusb irtightsj "wheti the hifmWn aref- fTOWiihally out of Is, a Traiadero continues crowded to a i i'ij! ?, hat a Surprise !" is KsiEtsitli unabated fervour. ' No Wofi illctfopolitan feduoatibn can M:c peafc original \-ocalist" in the h^"1;^! however, as are Coborn's rv- i) fhik into positive insignifi u ffisW^d ivith those of the 'flllll'aultig, whose 3oulan^§r |SatiEtti&ti! in the Frfijch dapital. U fPii ,)'" n^ ail ordinary i &-'- ffi|~^s* uft perliaps £4 a Ir' 1 ■Hmß^" ' • lna"e ° hit ws'^-^'Sm^*^ Jong all over feaj.'^j *^ vi' Sting us. tsnifl with kp H jl^| a constant attendant Et Lj,MH|i^ fc#fehft his wounded iaS • ' ** wJtUi'ned to Parlfe, and PS^to^th 80"^ S°me monfca^ aS° Pl. ' appearance, and is P^ifp;- 5" nnal touch IffllSf St^ JuSfc the paine |lffl#%alterea words. B^^ibem^.like have Bijißfe^tidn as well"' i^;^w¥— dramatist, BiSii^lßl Perfion in tne BHwPiW. &c t*6 score R*l^SS|r POrfcibll of which fe|^^tef: -P^-goerfiVSvv, Klli^^llifeplo^waaTre 8 B^*Ctas f !SJe* c 1 dftt6 of

to prevent the catastrophe. The idea is quite ingenious enough to be Ayorthyof the author of " Vice Versa," and on uhe whhle has been cleverly worked out. The price of the book is six shillings. The melodrama of " Pleasure," produced at Drury Lane Theatre last Saturday even ing, is to all intents ahd purposes a failure. Two scenes—The Battle of Flowers at Nice and the Earthquake at Monte Carlo (both exceedingly clever effects), may pos sibly save the play so far as Mr Harris's house is concerned. It will, however, be impossible to reproduce them realistically on a much smaller stage. The plot (if it can be called a plot), scarcely deserves de scription. The hero (an Oxford under graduate, named Jack Lovel) seduces the conventional village maiden, and puts her in what the papers call an "interesting con dition. " Although in Act I, Lovel unex pectedly succeeds to a peerage, he seems Mailing to make his sweetheart "an honest woman." This, however, wouldn't suit the villain of the piece, Lovel's uncle, who hopes to induce his young relative to drink himself to death unmarried in the course of a year or two. He therefore insinuates that Jack is not Miss Jessie's only " friend." Jack believes him forthwith, and spurns the fair Jessie, and embarks on a career of "pleasure." After playing the fool in various ways through 3 long acts, conscience comes to the rescue. "If 1 am doing wrong," cries Jack, at the close of Act 111, "may God punish me, 11 an invitation to which Providence responds with an earth quake. Lovel is buried in the debris of his villa, from which the devoted Jessie, (much to the naughty uncle's discomfiture), picks him out. In Act 7 (fancy 7 acts), Lovel duly repents and conducts his "light o' love "to the altar. The moral seems some what hazy. Eighteen months ago Lord Savernake, despite his loud raffish ways and deplorable languages,, was on,e of the most popular young men on the turf. The general im pression was that though his manners were those of a stable-boy his feelings were those of a gentleman, and that he might be trusted not to connive at the pulling of a favourite or any other crime contrary to the current code of turf ethics. His colours were in consequence favourites, and when some hurdle-racer or selling-plater carried them successfully to the front the cheering used to be loud and long.

Since, however, his lordship came into the family title and assumed, With the Marquisate of Ailesbury, the " red jacket, yellow sleeves, and black cap" of the Brudenell-Biuces a change has come over this state of things. Lord Ailesbury's horses do not somehow show the same consistent form as Lord Suvernake's. On more than one occasion lately the mob have loudly hissed Martin (who is Lord Ailesbury's chief jockey), arid last week, at York, both the youngster and the Marquis would have been literally torn, fcb pieces if the Tykes could have had their o^n Way. What occurred was this. Lord Ailes bury's well-known " sprinter " EveHtfc was made a great favourite for the Harewobd Plate, in which he was opposed by a very indifferent field. Mr Benzon selected Everitt for one of his big plunges, with the result that when Lord Ailesbury went into the ring to back his horse he found hardly any money on offer. Naturally the young man was very angry, and being of a noisy disposition, be mstde no secret of his wrath, What Martin's instructions were none can of course say, but no sooner had thejockey left the paddock on Everitt than the ring evinced a durious desure to lay against that animal. From 8 to 1 the favourite went back'to s's and 6 s (with no token*), More over, it Was pMiri much longfei 1. prices than this would have been vouchsafed had any one dared to take tliejji.

The race Itself wtl3 a curious one. At the distance tSveritt liad everything settled save a turncd-loolte old Ijbrse named Whit tington. Opposite the sfcanrl the latter was betiten too, but Martin rode with such obvious fcldvenlinfes that Evisrifct only jtiafc got up and succeeded in making a dead heat of ii. The fury of. the Yorkshire crowd knew no bounds. Appearances wore certainly dead against the jockey. He de clared that he thought htt had "JiiSt won." Elis enemies averred he intended to "just lose." The fact* however^ remains that in the hin off odds of 6 to 1 were laid oh Evoritt and that he beat Whittiiigton any how.

Lord AileSbury and M^rfcin weresntft ntoned before the stewards, &hQ their ex planation not being found satisfactory; the matter was referred to1 the Jockey Club., It is not improbable that Mr Benicm'B plunging has niitch io do with the in-and otit running of certain <S\Vuors of horses just now. Certainly it must be very ex asperating after paying for the k^ep and training bf an animal and planning an effective coup to .find the cream of the betting market skinned, and a false price formed by some irresponsible plunger who has had none of the trouble or expense. The i! Jubilee Plungers'" wagers at York totalled up to over £100,000. Amongst .other., bete ■'''he' had £7,000 on Prince Rudolph (lost); £6,000 at evens on Crow berry (won) ; £10,000 on Hark (lost) ; £11,000 on Gantby (lost); £4*ooo on Merry Duchess (lost), ahd £3,000 on EverittatS to 1 (won). Mr Benzon's investment on Prince feudolph had the curious effecib of making that dnimal a worse ihsteM of a better favoiil-ib ior the . Bbor Handicap. On Tuesday evening "IPhe Prince was looked upon as really good btisiness, and 2 to 1 could with difficulty be obtained. Mr Benzon's £7,0d0 shbuld have linded the colt at evens, whereas the ring generously offered 5 to 2, find were ready to accommodate the public to any amount. In the race itself Prince Rudolph never showed promiently, Devby has of late years become one of our best English race meetings. The arrange ments there, are admirable,, tho stakes valuable, and the fields ifa variably large and of good quality. Last week th' 6 principal handicap, the jnile Peveril of tile Peak' Plate (of Ij600?ovs)iell to Harpendeir, who has so often and so fatally been fancied for big staked On this occasion Mr Child wick's erratic colt started favourite at 2 to 1 iha field oi nine, and won very easily. The rich Champion Breeders' Foal Stakes, for two-year-olds. ,was carried off by Lord Londonderry's colt by Hermit, outof Hasile deah, a smart youngster that ; niade rtrinbG meat df il opponents. The Hazledean |olt j was the crack Blankney yearling of 1885, and fetched £1,750 at theJtily sales that yeaij most of which lias beeii got back at the initial time of asking. The first of the Nurseries (now such a feature at autumn ineetings) was won by Lord Caltliorpe with Sandal (by Kisber—Shoestring).

The German's Capacity for Lager.

Today, "Sedan Day" will be kept with due solemnity all over Germany. In Berlin fcfuHts" hefglibburfcobd great preparations have been niadd bjr several proprietors for the entertainment of Warrior Societies, &c. As matters stand, there does not.seem any ground for fear that this day will lose any of its claims on the enthusiasm of the nation ; and the amount of beer then cori fiumea-will certainly surprise those who read fhe statistics afterwards. At the s&me time this cfoes hotimply drunkenness. The weatbir is hot; the beor is cool and refresh ino-; and the Tentdri, male arid female alike, though a thirsty ..soul,-; is not given. to intemperance. An idea of the quantity consumed on holidays by large assemblies may be gathered from the amount of beer but away at the Exhibition Gardens last Stfndriy. 18.000 Visitors. passed through the turiistile on that day, and the 180 waiters who wei-e occupied in serving .tbiis multitude handed to• tbenv a total "of 70,000 litres of beer- 122,500 English pints* -which is tfearlv an average ofmrenpvtis a head»-^lMly Telegraph." ,

DRAUGHTS.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Problem No. 9-Correct solutions received from. F.M., Newton; J.X,., Auckland; J. Martin, Ponsonby, and R. Ward, Newton.

Problem No. 12,

By Mr C. Brown, Cambuslang. (Ehd-Game from the "Switcher.")

Blaok.

White,

White to pla,y and win,

{Solution to Problem No. 9,

28-24 4-8 2-7 16-23 29-22 5-14 7-11 6- 2 11,16 30-26 14- 9 10-19 24-19 8-12 7-10 W. wins.

A SOLID BRITON.

Height: 6ft. Jin. Weight: iO Stone.

The " British Medical Journal" gives the following interesting particulars of the height, M'eight, and dimensions of Thomas Longley, of Dover, who is said to be'the heaviest British subject in the world, Mr Longley, who is a respectable and in telligent publican, is forty years of age, being born (of parents not above the normal size) in 1848. As a baby, he was not considered large. His present weight is 40 stone, height 6ft. fin., measurement of the waist 80in., si?e of the leg 25in. He finds considerable difficulty in walking, and does not trust himself in a carriage for fear of breaking the springs. He is said to be very temperate both in hoJtt ing and drinking, and has never suffered from anjt ill-health of a eeribua nature. '

Coincidences of Parnell and Grattan.

A sequence of coincidences in the lives of Gratfcan and Parnell was printed in the '' Freeman's Journal," Dublin, recently. They are as follows : Grafctan was born in 1746; Parnell exactly a century later. Grattan entered the Irish Parliament in 1775; Parnell took his seat in the Ho\ise of Commons iv 1875. In 1779 was established that body led by Gratfcau which enabled him to achieve legislative independence; in 1879 was founded the organisatidn of which Parnell is leader, and which bids fair to ©liable him also to refrain legislacive independence. The freedom of Dublin was preseiifced to Grattan, and exactly ii century later the same compliment was conferred on Parnell. Both \yere Pro testants". G rattan attached hinWelf to Fox, who visited Ireland in 1778; Parnell to Gladstone, who visited Ireland in 1878. A golden tribute from a jrntteful I>eople was presented to both. Gratfcan (dllg-ht fttt estate in Qwfeen'a County, the stronghold of thb Patnells, b'nfc choSe his home in county Wiekltow, whither Charles iStewattsPameU's grandfather,had migrated a»d also tixetl hijj I'efsidehCc—Cxvatban at finneliShchi l^afhell at Avondala In 1780 Grattan'e declaration of Irish rights was fiercely attacked by the (idvernmfent: do a,U6 was ttirneirs programme in 1880 by imeans of .State prosecution. Botli Ayere in tended for the bar intVOutlv, but neither had a ta.?te for the .profession. A base effort was made to implicate Grattan in thS treasonable plots or his time, and failed ; the same remdrk applies to Parnell.—"Boston Trahsbfipfc,'' August 29.

The Emperor of China's Marriage

The expenses of the forthcoming marriage of the Emperor ot China are estimated ah neatly £2,000,000, W b6 raised by special cbiltribatiohs ffbrii the diffeiferit province^. The EraSfess DOWagSr has issued . th& fol lowing deci'ee on the subject: "It is proper that preparations should now be made foi* the great event of the marriage of his Ma jesty* th<§ Emperori We have* therefore, or dered the Controller of the imperial house hold to take all the stepp prescribed for this occasion in the imperial statutes. The state expenditures strictly limited by fixed rules,, and grfett ikpfen^lare Ming incurred for the work elf Military t-eof|anisation. More than one ihisery has b|.en general throu^Jiout the prbvinces, 4M consider ation for the sufferings of the people accen tuates.the impbrtllhce of economy. The Court ought to set an example of thrift to the nation, and the sacred duty of all high functionaries is, according to our desire, to encourage simplicity of living and to dis courage extravgance. Let them, there^ fore, enjoin their subordinates to pursue honest courses. With tlifs object we have commanded Prince Cliuh to examine, from time to time, all fhe accounts opened uhoer this liead. As for the duties and firepaf atipns i^hich devolve, in fconsdquence of this event oh the different public depart ments, let each of them, after complete and respectful examinJitidn bf the established usages, address us roeinbi'«i.ls on th« Subject, and"await our further orders."

Cigarette Smoking in America.

A Veky complete report has beert published in New York City containing statistics cohceffi in g the nianufactm-e, sale," Slid t&x of. cigarettes, together with the views of Various physicians and chemists as to health- of ha"rffifulngs6 of the arEicm During the last, year, Bay» the "Jersey City Argus," ite revenue received by the Government from cigarette raanafatr tuKers was nearly 60,000dblS, and tES number of cigarettes „ manufactured was about 1,200,66u,<§(5)., The internal revenue on each cigarette is one-twentieth of a cent. Two-thir,ds .of the. cigarettes manufactured in the United States are made in New York State,, mostly in New York City arid Rochester. . Virginia manufactures about? lik),ooosos;. u 4nd, North Carolina' about 140,000,000. \Thbse three have pr^cti caily a monopoly of the Business, although Michigan and Massachusetts are making rapid strides in cigarette manufacturing. Missouri made its first cigarette last year, and did not get beyond 2,000. It is cal culated that as many cigarettes are made every year by the«mqker§ as by the manu facturers, so («fiat the total number bf cigarettes consumed would be 2,400 000,000—68 cigarettes for each man, woman, and child iif the United States, or about 100 for each-male inhabitant. _The estimate does not include imported cigar £tteU from Tul'key, Russia. France, rftfd other European countries. About 50,000,0(30 were imported from these couh- last y&iiv Ifi the UriifeSci States fbiir Cities have a monopoly of the manufactur ing, New York, Richmond, Rochester and Durham, Npr6li Carolina. Detroit has iust put up some big factories, and ban Francisco' promises to rival the eastern

bities. The increase in the cigarette busi nessin the United States dmnng the last ten years has been enormous. Fifty per cent, a year is said tb have been the^average increase. As the cigar trade has also in creased, though not in such a large propor tion, it appears that the country is be coming a nation of cigarette smokers. What is the effect of cigarette smoking on the* health of the people? is therefore a pertinent question. It is a difficult one to answer. Some physicians and chemists agree with the manufacturers in declaring that the cigarette is a much-slandered article, and that it is no worse than a cigar. Others pronounce the cigarette a slow poison, a poison that is undermining the constitutions of the coming generations. The more general opinion among medical men is that the cigai'ette should be avoided, especi ally by the young. Dr. William A. Ham mond said: "I would not recommend the cigarette to anybody; still I must say that it is a much maligned little article. Smoked moderately it will not hurt any man with a good constitution, but to young boys it is poison. The same might be said of all kind of smoking, though the cigarette is the worst or the least beneficial of all. Everybody knows that excessive smoking will stunt the growth of the young and sow the seeds of diseases which will develop in later years. < Well, cigarettes will only drop the seeds a little faster. In my opinion it is only a question of the amount of nicotine absorbed, and the intensity of the heat carried into the lungs. On these two points the cigarette surpasses the cigar or pipe, because it is generally inhaled, thus carry ing into the system the largest possible quantity of nicotine, and because, on ac count of its shortness, tho smoke that passes through the mouth and nostrils is hotter,"

Persian Women's Fondness for the Bath.

The bath take* up a g6od deal of the time of all Persian wbmen. Even the poores^ will attend the Hammam at least once a weok. For the lady the bath is one of the serious affairs of life, and takes up daily from two to four hours of her time. It is something more than our idea of a bath. The victim is scraped and rubbed and par boiled. The soles of the fest are pumiced until they are soft and tender as those of a little child. The hair is thoroughly washed by means of hot water a»d the saponaceous clay for which Shiraz is celebrated. Then the attendants mix in a brazen bowl the aromatic henna With the requisite amount of lemon juioe, till a brown paste of the consistency of gruel is produced* and sev eral handfuls of the repulsive-looking compound are smeared over the lady's head. Then the hair, collected into a mass, is .bound up with cabbage-leaves. Small quantities of the dye are smeared over the eyebrowir; the soles of the feet, toes, the palms df the hands and the finger-tips are also covered with it. And now the lady has to sit perfectly still for from one to three hours, till, like a meerschaum pipe, ihe colours: and it is exactly the colour obtained on the best specimens of pipes that is most fashionable among the Persian ladies. Day aftor day tho bath is thronged with women, each sitting perfectly still Tor the colour to "take." But they ha\*o their reward, for the henna dyes the hair a beautiful deep warm chestnut; herifte grey hair is un known among Persian ladies. While the colouring process has been going on tongues nave been running and a good deal of Bcaiidal has been exchanged. Tho fe male barber, with a pair of tweezers, lias removed every outlying hair from the region bf the lady's eyebrows. It is the iimbition of every Persian woman that her eyebrows ahull meet, or at leaat appear to do so : tfo attractive are eyebrows that meet that they We called the ''bridge of love." The first enro* then, -of the Persian beauty is with v little pencil of antimony to unite her eyebrows, and then phe proceeds.to knake them appear Of unnatural thickness. Her eyelashes aj'e pencilled, too, in a mariner not unknown fcb-bur country-, women. By thi« time the lady will hafe Smoked many kalinns or water pipes, she will have partaken of tea and regaled herself with coffee; iced sher betSj too, will not have been Wanting. Her finger-tips, hails and palms, as well as the soles of her feet and toes, have attained a bright chestnut hue which will last a week. The hair is carefully washed brice rriore. It is seldom under a yardlong, bften much more, for the Persian woman never cuts her hair, except in front, perhaps, when two heavy lbve-locks arb left on either Side of the face. The ladies now return home to their noonday breakfasts. After breakfast there is generally a siesta, and this, in a hot country, is almost a necessity. , About 4 o'clock tea and pipes appear, and ; then the lady receives callers or pays visits, Or, perhaps, does a little shopping, or takes the air mounted on her ambling mule or a donkey of showy whiteness.—^"Pall Mall Gazette."

Singing Sands.

Ik one of the South Pacific Islands are some wonderful singing eands. These Sands ari in a imall dese'ri In tlie centre of the desert are about a dozen cocoanut trees, a'rtd about five miles distant is: the ocean. Ka Pule, a native guide, and my- j self reached the trees about noon. Our horses as well as ourselves were about used Up, travelling tln'ough the deep sand under I blazing sun. As we lay stretched at the roots of the towering cocoanuts, the trade wind set in, cool and refz-eshing from the ocean. Notwithstanding the heat. arid our wearied condition, there was ah enchantmentabout the situation that caused ftie to think of the beautiful stories 1 had reld in my childhood. I began to feel the soft touch of slumber, and ail at once I heard a faint musical tinkling as if troops of fairies were coining to greet us as they used to do the enchanted princes hi the dldeii days. I tried to locate the melodious sounds. In all directions . there wks nothing but hot gloMhg sand. I looked up — there was nothing but the beautiful tropical sky and the tremulous atmosphere. Still louder sounded the musio i it was all around us it filled the air. I gazed towards, the bcMii', and there, Apparently a short distance away, was a beautiful lake,- with its waves dashing $pon moss-covered stones.' ' It' was not ihere when wo first arrived at the place, arid I became half-convinced that it was fche wtifk of enchantment. Ka Pule hftd gallon ksUe\% irnd, at ■ the lake and listen'ifig to the music iii, the air, 1 rested my head against the rough bark of a tree. AM I did so I heard the distant gurgie of a brook. I could plainly heaji- the water splashing crver the glistening stones and dying away in quiet eddies. I was feiore and niclre bewildered, and at length. avVOke Ka Pale. I. told him what I had heard, and directed his attention to the lake. He explained that the seeming lake ,w&8 a wailiula or mirage ; that the sound of gurgling waters came from an under ground" sti earn, arid that the, music was caused by the stirring of the flinty sands by the wind. Anyway, the whole experi ence was beautiful, arid I have often said that I once-made a. visit-to fairyland.— f l Stockton Mail.".

THE EXECUTION OF PRANZINI.

Disposal of the Remains.

In France they have a rather round about way of disposing of a criminals reusains. This, according to the Paris correspondent of the " Daily Telegraph," is exactly what happened on Wednesday after the execution. The van carrying the corpse from the place of punishment was escorted by mounted gendarmes, and preceding it was a cab con training the Abb 6 Faure, the prison chap lain. This mournful procession—to which was also added a carriage, which contained some police officials—proceeded at a quick trot to the Ivry Cemetery. On arrival there, the assistant executioner, who had charge of the remains, handed them over to the gravediggers. The decapitated head and the trunk were joined together in an open coffin. The hands and face pre sented an appearance of extreme pallor, and the eyes were Closed as if in quiec repose, although, as a rule, the aspect of those who have been guillotined is hideous and horrible to an extreme degree. When everything was ready the chaplain recited the prayers for the dead and after the re mains had been covered over, the coffin was removed from the grave and taken to the Faculty of Medicine in the Boule vard St. Germain. There the post mortem examination waß made by Dr. Brouardel and Dr. Kemy. A cast was taken of the head, and this was placed with the other presentments in plaster of notorious criminals. The brain was taken to the Museum of Anthropology, where it will be placed side by side in strange proximity with those of celebrated tnen, so that students old and young may study the physiological differences between social ex tremes. In the same museum will soon be seen a skeleton with the inscription On it, in ink, of "Prarizim, executed August 31, 1887." What remains after the dissection will be buried in the Cemetery of Ivry or Clamart.

SUCCESSFUL ELECTRIC LIGHTING.

A fortsight's experience has shown that the electric lighting of the Vienna Opera is a complete success, and, as an evidence of Imperial approbation, Baron Becenzy, director of the Imperial Court theatres, has received the Grand Cross of the Francis Joseph Order. But the "Times" corres pondent says the credit of the whole under taking and the thanks of the Viennese theatre - going public properly belong to the British Imperial Continental Gas Association, ahd tb its energetic inspector general, Mr Herbert V. Lindon, who had to combat innumerable difficulties raised by municipal ill-will, to the association's en gineer, Mr D. Monnier, and to the English contractor, Mr R. E. Crompton, who manu factured the Whole of the machinery.^ The success which has been attained in Vienna has a Bomewhat important bearing on the lighting of large public buildings in towns, us Mr Monnier has solved the problem of supplying a perfectly steady and regular light to a theatre of such huge dimensions as-the Grand Opera, one of the scenic re quirements of winch is that lights equal to tliose ordinarily burning in 60 or 80 private houses, may be suddenly put out or turned on without affecting the remaining lamps even in the smallest degree. Further, tho generating machinery, which usually would require to be of 6QO-horse power, and which it would therefore be impossible to place in, or even near, the building to bo lighted, has in this case been established a mile away—a ; feat which nobody had previously attempted, or even considered possible. The difficulties in dicated have made the construction of the machinery an exceptionally difficult work, and the creditfor this part of the undertaking belongs to Mr Cromptbn. The chief points which" strike the spectator fire the fixity and brilliancy of the lights.in fche auditorium, foifer ana loggia, and the beauty and stoadi hefiß of the scientific effects!. The changes in the intensity and steadiness of the lights can be made so slowly that in the garden scene of " Faust" the gradual darkening bf the stage extended over a period of 20 minutes, so as to be imperceptible to tho audience —which ib a great contrast to the jefky effects obtainable with gas, or even previously with electricity.

THE GIRL AND THE GIRDLE.

trtis morning, in a cai',,l found myself, says a correspondent, beside an acquaintance who has some pretence to social pbsitiott. Her slim figure was encircled by a hitge pilver girdle, from one side Of which dangled forty-six little chains. At the end of every chain was a trinket. We fell to talking about thenii and I looked them over, while she chatted about the history of every one. There were fourteen Roman coins, a latch key, penholder case, viriidi^rette, skating medal, button-hook, glove-buttoner, silver address tablet, tiny silver button-box a corkscrew, a immature cimeter, a chatelaine watch, a small oxidised iron parfesbl, wliich when opened^ became a fan, a bullet with which her brother had killed a bear, a card case, a lock of hair in a locket, two min iatures-one of Herbert Kelc^Vj with a drooping moustache, and the other of Osmond Tearle, with his eyes heavenward —a chain purse, a compass, a small paper cutter, a dozen old trinkets of every con ceivable shape, and a double-barrelled dog whistle. • ■ ■■*■ ■'■■■ ' " Where did * you collect them all ? I asked. '. , , ,'. "Everywhere," said she, with a shrug. " Don't you find them troublesome ?" " Oh, no ; they're vastly useful. ■'' "Hbw so?" "They supply subjects of convevsaftion to men who are a little stupid in the morn ing," she said, sweetly.

American Girls Abroad.

Them is nothing but friendly criticism in the remarks of b. recent article in the Lon don " Queen " on American women and their dress. Evidently a gentlewoman was the writer—a lady whose exquisite taste led to her criticism. She begins by saying that one is accustomed to associate only the go ahead, slap-dashing manner of doing things with Americans.; but, though that is doubt less the most eminent characteristic of the male portion of the population it is cer tainly not of the woman in respect to all kinds of household'and' needle-work. The neatness and careful finish of an American lady's work is, it is not too much to say, unsurpassed ; the scientific deftness of ma nipulation, together with the patient care expended on it, is worthy of all admiration. The most striking impression received is that there is a strongly marked tendency toward richness of stuff and ornament. Girls in their teens wear silk, velvet and point lace, together with jewellery of all kinds, including diamonds, which many a ; British matron, would hesitate to put on; Possessors, of young, fresh faces cap afford to array themselves thus, and they Certainly revel in assuming an almost regal gorgeous ness. Diamondsat 9 o'clock in the morjutig, even when in the simple forms of pins, earrings and rings, as part of a young girl's toilet, are a little oppressive. One point miis't, hosyevev, be tak^n; into accourib; in dividual pieces of "Jewellery^ are in bette,r taste than the Englishwoman's Bi'boelibs and lockets of ordinary wear, and, being adjusted t6 tlie person of .fche wearer wifcn an acute perception of beconn'ngness, do not prcive as aggressive asi a* desoription of the fects .of feM ease would leadT pne-to

suppose.

EFFICACY OF PRAYER.

A Wrinkle for Fire Insurance

Agents.

JODGE Esglakd, of this city, is not .'only well known there, but throughout the terri tory. Last year, while acting as adjuster for the Insurance Company of Dakota, also of Sioux Falls, he went to Pierre to settle a small loss on household goods sustained by a policy-holder in this Company.

After the Judge reached Pierre* but be fore he called on the man, he learned that he and his family were members of th c Methodist Church and very upright* sort of people, so the Judge looked forward to an easy settlement, as he doubted not tha^ they would be willing to do what was fair, and he knew that he was himself ready to allow all that was really due. It might also be mentioned right here that tKe Judge has not, so far in life, connected himself with any church organisation. He called at the man's house, and after some preliminary conversation, said :— "Well, Mr Wilcox, we? might as well make oub a list of the things burned or damaged. Just mention some of them, and I will note them down, and I think we can agree on this matter very readily." "Well, there was a silk dress for one thing," replied the man, '' Yes—how much was it worth ?'' " Seventy-five dollars." "Ah, urn, Mr Wilcox—expensive dress." j " It was," interposed Mr Wilcox, " it was j my wedding dress, and cost 125d01. I j wouldn't have taken 500dol,for it." " Er, yes, very likely. Anything else ?" " There was a sewing machine worth 60 dollar!?." "Sixty dollars, eh? Now you see sew ing machines have a more fixed value than silk dresses. I can get the best sewing machines made for 35d01." "Not brie like ours. It cost 70d01., arid was worth every cent of 60dol. —I couldn't think of taking anything else," said Mr Wilcox. "Pass it for now—give me something else." "Parlour organ injured—fully lOOdol. worth." "I can get a pretty good one new for that amount." " Not like ours, mister," said one of the largo girls ; " it cost 250d01." " Can't allow you so much, I'm afraid. What else ?"

"I lost a suit of clothes," said Mr Wil cox, " worth 70dol." "Now, look bore, my Mend, I don't believe your clothes cost that mitch," re turned the Judge; beginning to get warmed up. " Itell you they did ; they cost 80dol.,and I'm not going to let an insurance company beat me o«t of it» either. You just do this thing fair or get out, arid I'll sue yOur old company." "That's right* Henry," said his wife: " we're not going to let any travelling in surance agent beat us out of what belongs to us."

The children appeared to look at it in the same way, and the Judge didn't see much encouragement, when a plan suddenly struck him.

" Brother Wilcox," he. said solemnly, " we must ask for help in this matter." "What!" said Brother Wiloox, looking at him.-

" I say that we must make this business a matter of prayer, tdu and your excel lent wife here"belong to the Methodist Church, I beli^Vfe 1" '' TSfej sit—'So you ?" | " I have been a member of Chat church for thirty years; Let us pray find see if our way dosS hbb becOme aiore> clear4ti;-' tliiS' niatfer." - '' '-' .■■ '•■ ■ ■ ■■■'■■' >. ■ Sb they all ktiel't down and the, Judge led "in prayer. $c co'uia libt feipembfer having dotiiS such a-thihg since on a certain occasion when he tdnibled down an old x^ell while he was a boy, but he speedily got the hancr of it. He struck, it oh tlie Heathen in foreign l&nQs, nitide a tdiichiri^ app'e&l for the sick and heady, remembered distant friends, touched on tfie chtircli Md ehurdh extension in the west; and wouqd up with an appeal for the little band who had gathered together to adjiisb a certain in surance loss, The Judge grew very im pressive arid asked for (strength foi' himself and his good brother and devout sister And also their children* that they, might adjust the loss even as it should be adjusted ; that they might all know the true price of silk dresses and sewing riuichines and store clothes. He ended in a particularly touch ing manner, his voice tremblingy and when they arose, tears stood in the eyes of the entire party. * Wilcox grasped the Judge's hand, pressed it fervelitly, and said : . "Brother England, lefc usbeginagain." i "Yes, let us begin again, brother," re turned the Judge. : - ' . t , "Now, the:dress first. Mariaj was it the calico or the gingham V";ask4d Wilcox of bis wife. , v . " It—it—it was the.calico, Henry." " One calico dress, Brother England." "Worth about 40 cents, Brother Wil-

■0OX?"' ~ . •■'■' ~ ■' : _ •■'. . :,..■■ " Not more than .that, -wasjtj Maria ?" "Not more that thirty, Henryi I had worn it. all snmnier." t , . " Dress, 30 cents. Go on, Brother Wilcox.;' . , . , "The sewing machine got the, leaf broken oft". We had it fixed for half a dollar." . . "Sewine machine, 50 cents. Go pnj Brother." "The organ was scorched on one end, What did the varnish cost, Susie?" , . j "Fifty cents, pa." ... - . -~ \ ; "Organ, fifty cents. Proofed, Brother;"! " Suit of clothed Well, it's that I have. oh. The coat sleeve got wet." "It didn't daniage it much, Brother! Wilcox/?" -. ,: ', '• • ■ ■':■.:■■ "lt did it good, Brother England," said . Mrs Wilcox; " there was mud on the sleeve and the-water washed it ofe It improved i the coat." ;, "I.think that will be satisfactory to the Company. Anything else ?". " N-o-0-0, I guess notj is there, Maria ?" " I can't think of anything more. '[ -~ right; total 95 cents. I'll mtike you out a draft for that amount^ Brother," and the Judge did so and .went aWay with more faith in the efficacy of prayer than: he ever had before.—Prom the "Chicago^in vestigator."

The Khedive's Wife

'A GfEniiATH lady who receritly was admitted* into the presence of the Kheilive's wife describes her in the Vienna "N6ue> JWe Presse" as follows:—" She is *till young, ab most twenfy^four to tfvv&hty-six jre^rs old, and bas an extremely charming face-. Her whole appearance would be bewitching were she not an Oriental, and therefore, young as she is, already too stqut to be perfectly beautiful, according to European notions. ■ She has large dark eyes, and idng heavy eyelashes, a dazzling complexion —:to Which art has contributed nothing — and the loveliest little mouth and-teeth. Her neck and arms; asTvell as her snialLfafc hands, glittered with diamonds, "and-'her dark, fashionably-arranged ' hair tvas en circled with wreaths of preddus ' stoned, and yet somehow her toilet seemed not overladen; ■ On the left side of her Avhite surah dressj whose long trail was com* pletely covered witlirion lace* she -rcone a broche of fresli- orange leaves and white roses,- and below ib a miniatttve of \the Khedive set,4n diamonds '-.;> on a .little table lay her golden to6d{je»%e«with theftsignafcure of".Abdul. Aziz in diamonds and a lafgQ fly-flap of oatrich feathers/ whcis4 hariclle| glittered and sparkled with the slightest jnotion." ■ <■ .. ■ : ~ * '" :-' ■■-.•;•

POETRY.

LINES WRITTEN ON A NATIVE LEAF IN NEW ZEALAND.

(By a young lady residing aea* Auekiandu sent | to her aunt In Oi'ioit, Bedttand> and published, j, in the " Strathoarn 'HeraW i > OS, glorious ar6 New SSealand skies I Sweet is her balmy ahf I And grand hor mountain ranges, with Their waving tree ferns fair. But, memory loves to linger Still O'er Scotland's ruggecThills-; Ocr Bonnie Clyde and Kyi eS of Bute— O'er Highland loohs and rills. - ' Though far from home and oduntry, yet My love to Scotland fliesl And tender thoughts of faithful friend* Within my heart arise. This little leaflet which I send Shall bear to thee and thine The message that I'll ne'er forget— The days of "auld lahgsyne." Auckland. N.Z. Mat. • —

THE GRASSHOPPER.

A grasshopper sat in an oak tree green, Mending the shoes of the fairy orueen, For he was a cobbler of all the lays, Yellows aad purples and greens and greys, As he sat on the limb of the old oak tree; Oh, merry and bold and ever so old. As I heard one day when this story was told I A bobolink skirmishing over the way, Called to the grasshopper, " Sir, good day!" ; And the grasshopper, cobbling still at his shoo, Answered politely, " The same to you!" And nodded his head with a little bow, Though I couldn't exactly tell you how, For the prince of good manriers-^-the graashop' per—he, As he cobbled away in his old oak tree 1 "How much do you make by the day an 4 *$# week?" The bobolink asked with a flirt and a sliriek: } "Three golden leaves of the buttercup flpwati—- Three crystal drops from the latest shower; Three sacks of meal from the pollen's' beat That the elves shake Off from the epWßlip'a••■; breast; And thatdoth keep me both well andgqpdi For I'm the boss* cobbler or alfihe wootl r A barefoot hoyi as he Came aWWgi, Had loitered to list to the bobolink's song, Aijd shy a stone, as well as lie could. At the little boss cobbler of all the wood: ' " You cobble a shoe !"'he cried as he laughed, ** You're the funniest cobbler ofall your craft: Why, your leather's a leaf i and your paste—it \a dew! Oh, what a cobbler to cobble a. shoe." But the bobolink answered with honest wrath, , As he peered at the boy in the woodland path, " Each cma'is wisest and skilfulleet, too, .. Tttat kiiows just the work that he his to do; For elfin feet tliosßSli ppors.are bcist That are made from the tiniest leaflets viest! ; White Nature s leather seems nttei for you, As yori wear it still!" And away lie fiw; ; WitLiASi M. Bkiggb, in ''ina'e'petfaeat.* ( _*.—♦ /■ — ' •' ; . A DKEAM OF FAIR OCCASIONS, " ■■•• ■*.: In the darkening sha^e* of twyigHt, As I waiiderea, etiv6 distraught, •. Griefs and woes of days departed, Surged unbidden,on.my thought; Joys and Sorrows intermingled Jn the memories of the Past, Fair cfcfeasions f lost arid vanished**- ■■-..■ All too beautiful to last. = n. Suddenly between my fl&ion Aritl the lurid setting ixrti, I beheld-a tro6p at shaddws ■ Dimly rising one by one. . ~ _ :«„ ■•,; , But though iiliny, vague and shapeleß* Loose and fchin and undefined" Gathering form' End seeming sAibStance , lii the rushing of the Wind. . P': ' , ; GraiuaUy in humanfiubstarice, liraped in robes or txdilihg mist, ' I could trace the*f pallid feature* " tn the moonlightrnew up^riSL < ■ '■ Silently they flitted past in*, j ~ .-,.■,>• , Each with warning hand upraised*. : ;. Long aMlttnk, andijare and"skiiiny, • iPointilig at nic as I giMKL • - .:, '■: ■.. 'iv. ... • t Well 1 knew them I friends and loverit.. • ; U had in days off yore,., r UKobseryant anijurigfateful , ~ Forritheb!oßsingfl that they bore; Blessirigfe, ProlritsesandChanceß.' ' ■ All by k.inti ly Fortune pljuinea* T«> be Hioiiided to Iny purpose, And be fashioned by liiy hand J - - ■ \£& ' ■'■■■■■ ;'. ■' /■>.; Foftytt^Fame,DbniiMibhiOlbryi !. . Friendship, LoveandPeace of Mind - They had brought for n^y acbeptan.ee, Had I known what Jhey desighea. - But I saty*qt, or neglected— . > x •'■'■'■.. Hledless ihid the whiW of life^ Lured by pkiasiire^Bwayed:by.paß9ion l In the never-ending strife.. ; ..-„,,.". :Vl.\ Blinaed by iiiMeadihg1 gpiendpuffej Prddig&l of Strengthandyouthj, Late my weary eyes were Qpened ■. .tCq the knowledge of the truth.. : Tjiat I wasted liffe's'yfiiing morjilng iArid the ribon-time, past rcsturii; ■' ; Burning uv the y&ars a»d leaving > Notightbut ashes in th<s turn* ~• ~: ; ~ :,:' "'.: nvT[I' :' ' Mr 4 monient,■ft.S I sa:djj- ..;', S^fcd arid w*otidered;-every fßjico Of tfie pallid gHoßts And phantoios „, ( Seenied to glow with youthful grace; Aftd to woo me to cili'fess them r .AS I might in Life's, yoilrigpHme ; • • ■HayS caressed 8, r'adinntinalden, My heart's igoddess for the time., : . ~, 'yiiL '; ;;'. .. -" "And f oall€a in plairitiVfi*acc'^ntS— * "Stay, ygfaironteS! S*ay» oRStaYI V . I atii wiser* I amjjetter .. > v .; ' > Than in Youth's departed day :<.;,,., 1 hayo learned from Surrow'§ teabning Priceless truths, tdq long urikriown— S*ky tfrid guide arid Shape the future* Oh;mybeaufiful;nai|eown!" ■■•. _ .; [■■■■!_' :;:! ijc." ;" Siiddf niy to glopni rblapsirig, And evanishing from sight, They were lost ahiid the darkness' • Of the me anchqiy night, . •.; . And I heard as they departea," .'■• , Fitful as the wiridß thftt bore, MSurnfiu voices whispering faintly* I oh, lost, for evermore!'' ', •^-Gharlks Mackay in " Temple Bar,"

A Great Overflow.

Ax American traveller, awhile in 4 Venice, iuet a man dressed .in the unmistakable! '' fr>gg°* T "°* the Mississippi bottoms. :■" Ah,'' said the ; travelleiv approaching the Southener, l ' 1 am riot .acquainted with you, but I am glad to se*e ybu, for I knoW you ate.ffbtn my eo\intry." ' & ■'■'■ ;'.f lam from' Mississippi." . ; "Iknew,it," said, the traveller, extend ing hi? hand,; "Ify'hat do you think of Venice?** ." Wall, I doh!fcTeckbn I oughter express my opinion now, fdirFdidn't git here till : arter the overflow, an'hain st<had a chance' to see the town, but as the" -winter .'pears to me on a stand . riovy, I reckon it'll. begin ta go down putty soon,, an1 1 'low that when . sbs. starts, she'll go down right ptfart." " frtafiious, man, tliii i§ not an OV& ---flOWv 3..^ Wf* ' ... .- *« Then i^B ; abqut. as lively a fi;6sn.6t S,S ■ ever I seecf. -lii oiir cbuiitry, f^iifen wfeßdVe" to puddle round the, streets in- caffoes, We ,calJ :t4 putty,, goofl byeraow"." "You don't underatahcL This is VieniCe, i and the water is always here. :*' You cL6n't> say so !';;, Ah.' d6€S tii^ 'GW-. yerriulent have to ipsiie. ratiqns to ill fch'esd folks?" ■. -;-;-: '■'■ •/■ uOf course not. This ioifrn was Wiltj this way'to—" " Wall, that mbut be, but I cill it a bvif' ; flow, all the same ; but if it ain't coin' td ' fall enough for.me to s^etlie town,.! i-ecK^A . I'd better go. tfhis is the blam^st swfttap I ever seed."—"Arkarisaw.Traveller." 1

The" "l^ew York iMirtov" tells a d^iu;f < story concerning ati ancient dame wJip -$atir). a small boy in the Bojston depot crying fey i the washing room; door. " Whites the •■ matter, btfboy ?" asked the Jtady, " I dan'b / get up, to' the bapia to wash my handed' y "Biiid th&; boy. The lady took him.' in and. •fi^ed him;.Up; nicely, bi*u;sbiftd his haw ■ I Mined .his: naso. !&ll.at.'pn'o© she pauseot and blurfcetl out:•■*-• !'How old #c y6u r . sonny, tor Heavens Bake*?": " Thirty-seven I last Mdv.c\if,' blubbot^ed Ihe. faiqpas dwari, ,y- Major l?age, and that old. *Bostp^iacly i p*4";-v as good a lib as they have seen in New JBng ■ laiid'foryiakrs. :' - - > "}f^ :il

THE-AUCE^ANp gyBNIITG/-SfTAH, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1887.

3





Good Resolutions.—Atthe commence mnnt of every new y< ar hundreds and thousand? 5 Sir IS men-and old as well-form resp, fution/fd" tfiel'- feu dauce for the emnlniryear, 6 keep them, wM!e others b< qak tbcip. Tq we wish toKive.a wordof «§yice. In order to S«-tain f jour Setorinination of leading a