A DEAD SECRET.

jinking Fp a Forgotten Crime.

THE MURDEROUS MANNINGS,

(FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)

London, February 11. The death-bod confession of an old woman of 56, that ono Patrick O'Connor was tho father of hor children, has led to the raking up of as ghastly and feareomo a murder etory as ever horrified all England. For 35 years thia extraordinary woman (living under nn aesumed name) refused to give hor children any information about their father. They wore too

young nt tho time of his disappear ance from tho family circle to romombor anything of tho circumstances, and to queries on the subject as they grew up she uniformly refused to reply. There was a mystery about his end, that waa all they could gather. At last, whon tho woman had reached the greet ago if SO, and tho hand of death Boemed to be upon her, tho truth eamo out, though even then sho pro forrad confiding in a stepp>on rather than in her own daughter. Tho mysterious father, ehesaid.was Patrick O'Connor, the victim ot the appalling Manning murder. Mrs Man ning (with her husband's consent) was O'Connor s paramour. Sho sought him f_■ his monoy only, and . i'.h hor husband's assistance eventually murdered him in cold blood. It was tho knowlcduo of these facts that induced Mra O'Connor to alter her identity to conceal from her children their father's namo and to leavo his property unclaimed. The children scarcely soem to bo afflicted with much delicacy of feeling. Thoy ac, in point of •fact, endeavouring to make good thoir claim to O'Connor's proporty and it waa in connection with some regal applications on the subject that the case came before the public. Theie ia-says the "Daily News," recalling tho details of thu Manning murder —no moro sensational ■chapter in our annala of crime, and about eight and thirty years ago people seemed to talk of nothing else. Tho circumstance? ■wore dramatic from first to last. On tho Sth August, 1849, Mr Patrick O'Connor, an elderly man, who had been a gaugor in the eorvice of the Customs, was missed from his lodgings. Search was made for him high and low without effect, until on the 17th bis body was found in the back kitchen of an empty house in Minver-plaee, Bermondaey. The house had been occupied by a Mr and Mrs Manning, known to have been acquaintances of O'Connor, and they had left it abruptly soon after tho fact of his disappearance had boen noised abroad. Immediately after the murder, j Mrs Manning had visited O'Connor's lodgings—by no means for the first timo— and as it was afterwards ascertained, had carried off a considerable amount of rail way scrip and all the monoy sho could find. She returned to her house, and re mained thero for two or threo days, during one of which the police mado a cursory inspection of tho placo undor tho belief that the missing man waa most likely to bo found there On the 12th, under the as sumed name of Mrs Smith, sho fled with her plunder to Edinborough. On the 17th, as already stated, the house was searched by the police, and the discovery of the body made suspicion certainty. O'Connor's remains were found buried under ono of the kitchen flagstones, in a grave, about a foot deep, filled with quicklime. The body was lying face downwards, with the legs doubled up and tied to the haunches. Three days after after " Mrs Smith" was apprehended in a private lodging houso in the Scottish capital, through tbe instru mentality of a stockbroker to whom she had offered O'Connor's scrip tor sale. In eight days more, her husband was in the hands oi justice. The pair had sepaated in their flight, and he was tracked to Jersey. Ho did oot long keep their secret. Whilo his wifo was stoutly protesting her innocence, whieli, by tho way, Ehe did to the last, he made a statement charging her with the -crime. It waa to the effect that, having induced O'Connor to come to dinner, she asked him to go downstairs to wash his 'hands, and, aa he reached the passage lead ing to tho kitchen, ehe put one arm round lis neck, and shot him with the other. His rgrave waa ready, and tho rest did not take The trial commenced "at the Old Bailey _n the 25th October, 1549. It continued •over two daye, and it fitted in with copious and crushing circumstantiality tho outline .already sketched. Manning had been a Tailway guard ; bis wife had been a lady a maid. They had been married but two years, ana when they stood togethar in the •dock the man was but thirty yeara of ago, and tho woman twenty-eight. Mra Manning •waa a foreigner, aud at the outset ot tho trial a difficulty arose from her claim to be tried by a mixed jury of aliens and English men, and to be tried apart. The claim was'arguod by her counsel, Mr Ballantme and'Mr Parry, They were not successful, and the trial was ordered to proceed. There could be no doubt of the nature of -the relations between O'Connor and Mrs Manning, nor of the fact that Manning was perfectly well aware of them. It is hardly too much to say that the -murderers had neglected no precaution that might connect them with tho crime. Manning had consulted a medi cal student who lodged with them as to the effects of laudanum in stupefying a man, and bad observed that O'Connor was a person of considerable property. Ho had also requested bia lodger's opin ion on the probable fate of a murderer in the next world. When thoy had completed their preparations for the deed pthey gave the lodgor notice to quit. He Heft on the 28th July. Then they bought the lime, and a crowbar, and Manning was TOry indignant with the man who brought the crowbar home because it was not wrap ped up. Later on Mra Manning bought a shovel. While O'Connor's grave lay -waiting for him, he saw it more than once, io his visits to the kitchen to wash his hands, when taking dinner or tea in tho house. Mrs Manning, in reply to his questions, said the londlord •was repairing the drains. When all was ready there waa another attempt to get him to dinner, but at firat it failed. A second invitation was more suce. sful, and on the 9th August be left home to dm* with his "Maria," whose invitation he had bapponed to Bhow to two friends that after noon. A little later, on the some day, he was seen again, but after that none but the Mannings saw him alive. There waa no dinner waiting for him at Minrer-place, only the bullet, the crowbar, and the grave. He waa once more taken downstairs to wash his hands, and ho never returned Ah the trial proceeded the wretched creatures, through their counsel, bandied accusations one against the other. Ihe woman declared that the man was a murderer, but the man had the last word, in a long confession published after the execu tion. In this he laid the whole blame of the conception upon his wife.and said that rage, rather than cupidity, was he* original motive. O'Connor had irritated her by refußing to lodge in the borne., and she eaid she would have her revenge, if she were hanged for it. Manning a statements are only to bo taken for what they are worth, for he was moat certainly a consum mate sneak and scoundrel. He declares that he pointed out the neks of the crime, and then its wickedness. "I asked her what would become of her eoul if she committed an act of murder? lo which she Baid, "We have no soul; after we are dead, we are like lumps of clay, and there is no more thought of us. When O'Connor came in to hia last dinner, or semblance of a dinner, the dish covers were on the table, but there was nothing beneath them. He at first declined to go downßtairs, but the murderess told him that Miss Massey, a lady he eupposed he OTis going to meet, was " very particular about clean hands; and then he went. Manning, who was in his own hedroom then, heard the report of a pistol, and his wife came upstairs and said, "Thank God, 1 have made Uim all right ot last I' bhe insisted on my going downstairs. Upon my reaching the kitchen I found O Con nor rearing on the grave. Ho moaned ; and, aa I never liked him well^ I battered in hia pkull with a ripping chisel." When the woman went out in the evening to search O'Connor a lodgings, she left Manning along with tha body. But he could not remain in the bouse, and he went into the garden, and sat on tho . aIU and smoked a pipe with a neighbour. The pair evidently lost all ialth in each other, from the moment of -the crime. The woman ran away at last, without telling Monning when she was -iroing, or where. She was fiercely defiant an the dock after conviction and declared -that Bhe had not had a fair trial. "If I wished to take anybody's life, why should I not take that of my huaband, who was the greatest enemy to me in the •world?" They were both sentenced to be hanged. The man did not say a word ; tho __*_. _f%S_tT9.

14th November, fifty thousand per sons waited outsido Horsemongor • lano Gaol for the last sceno. The crowding waa fearful, and from timo to time tho injured woro dragged out of the crush with ropes, Just beforo tho culprits woro pinioned, tbe woman consented to see her husband, and to spoak to him-for tho first time

.'.inco the crimo. Two warders eat bo tweon them. Ho leanod over and spoko to hor in an imploring accent, and then they both rose, shook hands, nnd kissed each othor fcvoral times. Manning waa a coward to Iho la;_t, and during tho pinioning ho asked Caleraft if ho should suffer much pain. Not if he kept still, he was told. Tho woman nearly fainted at tho sight of the hangman, and on recovering she asked the surgeon to bandage her eyos, which was done. In thia way sho was lod to tho scaffold, pa-sing over hor own grave-like O'Connor's lined with quick limo. It waa an agonisingly long journoy, for the wholo procession had to mount, by a narrow staircase, to the very roof. Tho man ap peared first, and then tho woman. Tho fifty thousand spectators reeoivod them in perfect eilonco. As thoy stood sido by side, both blindfolded, he hold out hia pinioned hand towards her, and ono of tho turnkeys guided it into hers. Thon the drop foil, Mrs Manning waa hanged in black satin Black satin has never been in fashion r-inco.

A Scene in the Dublin Bank ruptcy Court.

On' Friday in tho Bankruptcy Court, before Judgo Boyd, the ceso of Thomas Moronoy, tenant farmer and ehopkoeper, Herberts town, county Limerick, was listed for the firet public sitting. On the last day on which the cbbo was before tho court, Mr Moroney was examined by Mr Gerrard, Q.C , on tho part of tho assignees, with reference to tho adoption of tho Plan of Campaign by tho tenants on the O'Grady estate, whoro Mr Moroney holds hia land Mr John Dillon, M.P., and Mr William O'Brien arrived in tho court at 11 o'clock, beforo tho judge had taken his seat, nnd oc cupied places on ono oi tho benches beside Mr Moroney during the proceedings. When Moroney was called into tho witness box, and when the Registrar tendered him tho Book, ho Boid : I refuse to tako tho oath. Judgo Boyd : On what grounds do you refuso? Mr Moroney : From the notico to quit—l beg your pardon, notices to quit aro co much in my mind I mado the mistake ; but for tho notico to attend this bankruptcy court, Judgo Boyd. Now, look you hero, si ', I bog to givo you notice at once that I won't. Mr Moroney (standing up in the witnesa-box and holding out his hands): Far dearer tho grave or tho prison, Illume.l by ono patriot name : Thai tho trophies ot all who have l iaon On Liberty's ruins to fame. Judge Boyd : You bad better behave your self I won't allow any improper language to be mado use of in thia court. Mr Moroney : I have a great power on my sido — G;d and my country Judge Boyd: Have a care, sir. tako the book and listen to tho oath. Mr Moroney : I won't be sworn; I refuse to tako the oath. Mr Dundon : I appear for tho bankrupt, my lord, and hia 'reasons for refusing to take the oath nro those:—He saya that in no real eeo.=e of the word is ho a bank rupt : that he has been made a bankrupt in hia capacity of a shopkeeper by reason of a debt due in biscapacity of a tenant farmer. EIo says that tho action against him in this court is a vilo und infamous attempt to crush him as a tenant-farmer and a shop keeper ; and therefore it ia that he refuses to ba examined and to be sworn. Tint is hia explanation. Thero ia another matter, that, as his solicitor, I beg to bring before your lordship —the adjudication of which haa beon appealed against, and that ap peal ie si ill pending. Of course, my lord, wo don't know wliat the issue of that up peal may bo, but I have been advisod b> vory eminent counsel that the appeal will bo allowed Judge Boyd said that wob no justification for not bdng Bworn. This was the first public sitting after his ad judication, and according to the statute ho waa there to answer upon oath such questiono as might bo put to him by hia creditors or thoso repre sontingthem. Mr Gerrard, who appeared for the assignees, pressed to havo the bank rupt eworn. Judge Boyd (to Mr Moroney): Take tho book, eir. Mr Moroney (deter minedly): I refuso to take tho oath. Judge Boyd (to the registrar): Make out an order for his committal for contempt oi Court. Mr Moroney hero stood up in tho witness box and flourished the cartoon of "United Ireland." Judge Boyd : Sit down, sir; don't mako a braggadocio in thi.j court. You will have to conduct yourself with propriety. Mr Moroney : I know how to conduct myself. Judge Boyd : You must conduct yourself with propriety iv this court. Mr Moroney re3umod his seat in the witness box, and taking a copy of this week's " United Ireland " out of hia pocket proceeded quietly to read it : in the meantime the Registrar was making out the committal order, and it was handed to the officer of the court, who immediately placd Mr Moroney under arrest, Ho wus conducted t) a sido bench in the court while arrangements w. re boiog mi-e for a conveyance to Kilmainham. After some minutes the officer directed Mr Aloroney to accompany him, and, with the greatest readiness, Mr Moroney rose from his seat and moved towards tho door with tho officer. Before he left the court he turned and shouted out, in a loud voice "Hurrah for the Plan of-Campaign !" A crowd had assembled in tuo yard, and a car waa iv readiness. Mr Moroney and the officer of the court got on ono eide, ond two police-constabloa on the other. Several friends rushed up and shook hands with Mr Moroney, who cried out, "Hurrah for tho Plan, and hurrah for the women of Limerick !" The car thon drove off towards Kilmainham amidst c ios from the crowd of " Bravo, Limerick " Mr Dillon, M P., and Mr O'Brien got up on another car and drove after lit Moroney. At the Prison Messrs. Dillon andO'Brien had an interview with the governor, .ho informed them that Mr Moroney would be, treated a-= a first-class misdemeanant. At night a number of City bands pro ceeded to Kilmainham gaol, and played National airs, in honour of the bankrupt. Mr William O'Brien spoke from an out side car. He eaid that if all the tenants in Ireland acted as Moroney had done they would soon oie tha green flap; floating over Kilmainham, and they, would make short work of the landlords. He promised thorn that Moroney was a happier man in his prison coll than Sir Michael Hicks Beach on the Treasury Bench, or Mr Goschen, who had not a seat to ait on. While Mr O'Brien waa speaking, a police sargeant, who was present with a largo force of police, called upon him to desist, but he paid no attention to. the police officer. Bands afterwards played opposite tho Imperial Hotel, in Sackville street, and speeches were delivered by Messrs Dillon, M.P., Loamy, M.P., Gill, M P., and Mr O'Brien. The crowd sang "God save Iroland" bGforo separ ating.— " Hastings Gazette."

With the Prince of Wales

I asked Wilder about hia parlour entertain ments io Europe, and eap.cially about hie evenings with the Prince of Wales. " I gavo my imitations for him six times," said the little man. " Last time I saw him waa t_ Mra Slcano Stanley's, and he kindly set me at his right at the table. All stand till ho sits, and ho rises first at the end as a signal to the others. It ia not etiquette to eat after he finishes, but he fixes that vory neatly by continuing to pick at the food aa loni; aa ho sees anybody else busy. He is a msn of wonderful tact in placing pereone *b their ease, '< For instance, I took a sip of water on sitting down, ■' that's water 1' said the Prince with a laugh, touching my wineglass. 'Ah, sir,' I said, ' I am a blue-ribbon man. I nevor drink any wine.' "<No?' ho Raid ; ' pretty well." Ho was polite. He did not quiz me or laugh at or banter me as another might, and say, 'Aw, now, just this once, you know ! Nothing of the sort. He turned the talk to other things." , „„ _ , , " About the entertainment ? I asked "Oh, my share? Well, I generally have to stand on the table, but the Prince lifted mo up on his piano, where, in the intervals of my imitations, there was good music made by an eminent professional, stood with my face to the Prineees and near to her, for she is getting quite deaf. One thing I noticed as odd ; the higher up you get the less ceremony there is, The Prince inßißte that everybody shall tall at the table without any reference to him, as they jrould if they were at home ; and he bftn^ghes were formality just as far aa court tradition .ill permit I had a royal time in Englaad. Hia Highness offered to make arrangements for me to appear before the Queen next winter. In Bpeaktng to the Prince you don't say ' your Highnesp,' eic. cept tho firat time s after that you merely say ' Sir,' " —Correspondent " Washing ton Post."

AMERICAN EVICTIONS.

(By as Americpan Journalist.)

Tub statistical bureau in Now York has just issued a set of tables which should bring enlightenment to tho mlrda of tho anti oviction agitators. A common cry in this country is that tho pei'3»cuted tenant haa only to go to the United States to bo free from the iniquities of tho landlords and to find an acknowledgment of his rights to livo moro or lees rent free. Bo it ro membered that tho Irishman in Amorica never attaches himself to agriculture — a prima facie, proof that farming ia not hia natural bont; he stays in the towns. From the ISSO records of the 11 district courts of New York it would seem that ho brings with him his i oie it t euiei, and thoso samo reports show how thoso theorioa aro received in tho land of froidom. Tho number of families hiring rooms from month to month in New York ia set dowu at between 15.000 and 175,000- It is found that in tho districts where native Amoricans nnd Germans congregate app'i cationa for dispossess summonses and evic tion warrants had boon very fow ; in tho Jo v quarters they aro a littlo more frequent, and, as a rulo, develop into litigation ; in tho districts where tbo Irish swarm thoy aro so abundant na to bo oommonplaoe, and thoy generally require forcible action. It is calculated that nltogother bouio 20,000 Ti i li families wcro evicted in Now York last yoar, and ns the nverago numbor of poraons in thoso families is greater than in other classes, it ia assumod to be a fair estimate to say that there wero 120,000 men and women and children forced to move olsewhoro through inability to pay rental debts.

Tho item of rent is undeniably a heavy ono in Now York, hoavior by far than in London, but tho evicted como undor throo distinct hoads—-those who cannot pay, oven if thoy would ; those who mako no effort to pay, and have views on tho subject; and thoso who could pay, but are professional rent-evaders. This last class has sumo slight knowledgo of law, sufficient at least to onable thorn to tako advantage of legal technicalities, to bo up to ail tho dodgos connected with tho leniency of juatico. Thoy ineitt upon making the landlord provo ownership, previous notico, spocitie contract and violation of it, with a'l tho countless devices for evading service and preventing admission beforo possiblo ojoction can bo elloctod. Tho landlord must bo mado of good stuff boforo ho gots rid of a tenant of this sort by lo^al procaduro. 110 generally finds it choapor to resort to moro personal processes with tho aid of a full-grown man and a handy weapon, lv tho second class aro tho shiftless and the drunken, who begin to think of ront paying whon thoy recoivo tho landlord's call, and who woigh with groat eoriousnees tho comparative advantages of giving tho money in rent or spending it over a spree. When notico to quit arrives they know that disregard of it will only bring forcible ejection, nnd therefore thoy soil thior furnituro at onco or niovo elsewhere Thi_i class annually provides numorous rocruits for tho groat army of tramp 3.

In tho first mentioned class aro tho woll moaning poor, who find lifo in _ow York a harder struggle than it is in any othor part of tho world, bo it rule! by a monarchy or a republic. To thorn the item of rout is a matter of duty. Tho ordinary hard work ing Irish labourer in the towns of tho States, earning about ono dollar n day, or 2li dols. (about £5 5?) a month, haa to pay a rent ot £1 15s or £2—rather mora than a third of hia whole earnings. Thia is about as low a rental as is possiblo, oven in the poorest. district. Should the workman havo hotter wages, say 3 dols. 50c (14-) a day—no un common w.igo - he can live decently at tho same rcat, or in a botler block go up to £3 or £-1 a month. Ho would got better accom modation in London or any British t iwn for something undor bn'f tho money. Tho evicted of thi.i clasa generally succumb to tho pressure of rent. Cheap food, but doar fuel and dcaror clothing muat bo bought, and the stricto.-t economy is required before tho rent can bo paid. If it is mii-sod, Heaven help them "'"or they live in tho cheapest tenements aa it is. 1 nek of work or sickness havo had no margin provided for thorn, but tho Republic protects tho proprietary rights of its citia.-na beforo everything, ar.d when theimmigiant tenant has to go, ho begins to appreciate tho dis comforts of tho land he loft lie has boforo him tlio alternative of starting ovar anion in a new neitihb-.urhood, but, n? it is a cus tom for landlords to requiro in liou of ro ferenoes n Bight of tho last rent receipts of tho applying tenant.thoro is some difficulty. Whilo immigrant? pour in ovory day with funds in h.ind for a star;, landlords can afford to bo particular. Should the ovictod tenant loso hoart or dospalr, his family must break up, and he may becomo a tramp, a criminal, or a pauper.

Scoiea of those unfortunates may bo met who tracs their troubles to thoir rofmal to pay rent in Ireland at the instigation oi tho Loaguo, when it would have boon no groat hardship Now thoy aro adrift, and blnmo tho English Government for it Philadol phia, Chicago, Cincinnati, and particularly Boston, arc worse than Now York in Iho matter of evictions. Their proce-ses aro simpler, and aa they havo a less numer ous cla-s calling for dispossession and eviction, their ways are harshor Now York may bo said to stand half-way be tween theso cities and English or Irish houses or farms in tho matter of eviction, tho latter being mill and gentle compared to tho " dinging out " of a Chicago marshal of the civil court. ' Furthor west they trouble loss about legal forms, and the tenant generally pays up or seta himself to stake the claim as his own landlord. Tenants who cannot, or will not, pay rent have a poor chance in the United States : and a man who could eot along comfortably in his own country by resolutely Bottling himself to pay nothing to a landlord except undor the direct compulsion, fares worse when ho becomes an immigrant to the Stnte3.

LONDON'S VEIL OF FOG.

Vapour Thick Enough to Cut with a Cleaver and as Foul as a Fen.

The air was bo thick one could chew it, and even a closo cab could not keep aw3y the deathly cockecrew-io-the-marrow chills. Warm and brightly-lighted rooms and a good dinner soon put foes out of mind that night; but the subject was not to be ignored tho following morning. I n-voke, I" suppose, at the usual hour, but finding everything in darkness took it for granted that the sun waa not up, and turned over for the blissful boon, tho morning nap Again I awoke and again I slept Threo times this arousing and dozing occurred, when somehow it seemed to mo I had had sleep enoue-h. I struck a vesta and looked at my watch. The hands pointed to 12.45. "Confound it," I soliloquised, "this is the first time in yeara I have neglected to wind my watch, and I know I wont to bod sober " Grumbling at r#y stupidity, I lighted tho gaa, and, fumbling tho key out of a V6ry difficult-to-flnd pocket, went etumbling out iuto the noxt room to set the watch by tho mantle clock. But clock and watch agreed to a minute, and, further, an aural examination proved both to bo ticking away as usual. Hurrying to the window, I " palled up tho blind," only to rub my oyos and stare in amazement. 1 couldn't see the opposite houses I couldn't see so far aa the curbstone. I cou'.dn't coo anything but a blackish grey film outsido the pane. Now, London windows are never clean exteriorly more than a couple of hours after washing, but I had never before been unable to see through ono. Anatheraatis ing tho housemaid for neglecting her duties, I threw up the saah. A whiff of vapour drifted in, tho smell of which equalled in malodorous.nesa the fumes of a keroeene refinory. Choking and spluttering, I banged tbo window dowD, regardless of possible damage to tho glass. — London Letter in ■" Boston H< aid."

Wrongfully Accused.

"Did you Eay to Mrs Jonea that I waa a perfect brute around tbo house ?" asked a travelling man of his wifo,

"No, my dear; I certainly did not. How could you think it possiblo ?" "I believe you. I'm glad to find that goasip has lied in this case, as usual." " You should not hove entertained such a thought for an instant," she said, whim peringly. " Darliog, forgivo me; it is all over. Yet you cannot blame me. I bad it from an excellent source."

"But haven't you learnt by thia time that I never tell family secrets?'

A lady correspondent, who assumes to know how boys ought to be trained, writes aa follows:—"Oh, mothers, hunt out the soft, tender, genial eide of your boy's nature.'' Mother's often do — with the BbSO.

An Anarchist Sentenced to Death.

Bkfohe the Court of Assizes of tho Scino, France, an Anarchist named Duval waa tried Early in Octobor, assisted byaecom.

places, Duval broko into the mansion of Madame Madeline Lemaire, stolo a quantity of jewollory, destroyed somo valuable pc tures, and set the house on fire. Duval was arrested, and the jewellery traced to two reeeivors, who were put on their trial with him. In his defence Duval took crod.tto himself for being a I*adtog iiismbsr of an Anarchist socioty, "La Pantile re dcs Bntig nollee." When arrested ho offered cons dor ablo resistance, and soverely wounded the policeman, Roaaignol, who secured him. Tho greatest interest was taken in tho trial, the Assizo Court boing crowded Duval insul ted the judges, and called the polico "a lot of contemptible spies " M. Labori, who de feuded thoprisonor.deniod thatDuval wns r,ot nn ordinary criminal, and spoke of the per nicious thoorioa of tho Anarchists, which, ho contended, had wrought havoo in tho woak mind of Duval. Tho prisoner, ho said, was less guilty than tho leadors of the Anarchist part}, who had inatillod thoir subversive doctrinos into his mind. Ho added, "It la not a crime of cupidity you havo to judgo, but a crimo prompted by political and revolutionary passion." Duval repudiated tho pleading of his counsel. " What I affirm," bo said, "is that I did not commit a crime; overything belongs to ovorybody colloetively.'' Turning towards tho public thut filled the court, ho said, " if Anarchical logic makes you tremble on your seatß, I am sorry for it." The judgo bade him bo silent. Disregard ing tho injunction, Duval wont on, and cried out, " Tho money to got was to blow you to atoms, with thanks for your partiality, Monsieur lo President. ' Vive I'Anarchio Vivo la Revolution Sociale !' If I am not allowed to defend mysolf you can not provont mo from crying ' Vivo la Rovo lotion Sociale !' " Finding that the violence of tho prisonor mado it impossible to pro ceed with tho trial, tho tribunal ordered his removal. The soldiers on guard executed the order, but Duval resisted onergotieally, and scroamod out " Vivo l'An.archio ! Vive la Revolution Sociale !" A large numbar of Anarphists boing among tho audience ; theso cries found an ooho in court. Tho tumult which follow od w>is in describable Tho so'diora on duty rußhed in among tho public, and poizing aovoral of the Anarchists, struggled with thorn, trying to push thorn out of court. During tho ecullla tho Anarchists s'look thoir Ihts at the judgo and jury, cried " Vive Duval ! Vivi la Revolution Socialo !" and tifod their fiats frtoly. The jury returned v verdict of guilty, and sontonco of death wns pronounced on Duval. Didior and Houchard, who wero accused of receiving tho goc«h Btolen by Duval were acquitted.

The Stone Image of Easter Island.

A STitANiiK momonto of an unknown raco ia tho gigantic stono ima^o from Enater Island, now on tho way to tho Smithsonian Institution, Tim lonoly isle of tho Pacific is of volcanic origin, and it id but eleven miloa long and six miles broad, and, fiom ita solitary situation, is seldom vi-ited. Tho na tives, but fow in number, are of the Poly nesian race, and woro originally exceedingly hostile to tho fow whites who visited thorn. But within tho pist twenty-live years thoy have embraced Christianity under the in fluence of Fronch missionaries. Tho Island is owned by v Tahiti firm, who utilise its fertile valleys for cuttle-raising. Tho ro markablo featuroa which distinguish it from other solitary islands aro tlio huge Btone statues, to tho number of several hundreds, which lie scattorod about. Thoy wero chisollud with rudo skill from tho lava in tho craters of extinct volcanoes and tran sported to all pails of the island, where thoy worn eot up, but mo. of thorn have sinco boen overthrown by earthquake shocks. Sjmo of theso statuos aro forty feot in heighr, ar.d some Bt.ll remain un Ini-hed in their quarrio-> .Nothing is known of their origin. Tho pro one in habitants possess neither tho skill nor tho t'.ols for tho work, and havo 110 appliances for transporting such immonso massoa of stono. Thoir traditions furiiith no infor mation, as they merely ascribe a Buper natural origin. Thp statues aro all grotesque efiigiee of human boiijge, and while they are low in the ecale of art, thoy aro evidently tho work of a raco cwituries in advanco of tho pre3ont inhabitants. A th&ory has boen advanced that Eastor Island ia tho remnant of a sub merged Continent and that theutatues were made by a pooplo who -.vorshlppud them us idols. But this ia only theory, without a pirtielo of evidence to sustain it. Th* st.-.iv ■_, for tho Smithsonian lustitution is now- on bo-ird tho United Stale? steamer Mohican, which was at last accounts nt Val paraiso. It woi^hs botweon twelve and lif teon tons and it was with great dilliculty that it was placed on boird tho villi el, ns the island hag no good harbours, and although tho image had to bo trineportod overland about < ight miles, thero was not a treo to furnish tho material. Tho Mohican finally obtained a fow logs at Samoa, with which tbe work was accomplished. This i-i tho eecond monster curio which has beon taken away from Easter Island—a llorman vessel having eocured one about two J oars ago When it linda a permanent place hero our puzzled othnologists may possibly bo ablo to clear away the mystery of ita origin by a careful study of its design nnd work manship.—" Boston Transcript."

The Gigantic Forests of Puget Sound

" A MONO tho myriads of npitural curioaitlos and wonders tbat confrout tho visitor to the Coast of tha North Pacific Ocean," said a gentleman recently returned from a trip to that region, "nothing impressed mo bo deeply ns the gigantic forests of Pugot Sound. That arm of the Pacific ia '200 milea in length, with a shore so irregular and in dented bo plentifully with bays and deep harbours that ita measurement is 1800 miles in extent Along this wholo shoro line, and extending thence on both sides miles and miles farthor than the eye can sco, ia ono vast, unbroken area of forest trees, the like of which I nov3r saw. A few sawmills have been eree'ed along tho sound, and, although for several years thoy have ripped 500,000,000 feet of timber from these forests annually, the Bpaeeß made by what seems like tremendous inroada on tho timber up pear like little garden patches. Tho manufacturing and marketing of that amount of timber every year ia a busi ness of immense proportions, but its exis tence, I find, is entirely unknown to the trado in the East. The markets for tho product of these mills in tho doptha ot tho Washington Territory wilderness are South America, Australia. Central America, and the Pacific Ocean Islands. This great belt of virgin timber covers 30,000,000 squaro acres, an area equal to that of tho States of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vor lrontand Now Hampshire The foreate are of fir, cedar, maple andothpr valuable woods. Tho firs comprise two-thirds of tho timaer. An official estimate placoa tho amount of timber on this belt at 500,000,000.000 feet —enough to last thn mills thero for more than 1,000 yoars. Tho fir troos grow to tho enormous height of 2:')0 foot, and I have seen piles of boards cut from thorn, not one board in which was less than 100 feet long and six wide, without a knot from one ond to tho other,—Corr. "Boston Transcript."

Mirthful Morsels.

When men look sud and sigh " Alasl' And from conpanions fly, In very many chbob 'is A lass that makes them sigh.

" I can say one thing in favour of this good boy," remarked Mr Birohcm, proudly patting bis favourite pupil on tho summit of his cranium; "ho nevor takes the last piece of bread and butter on tho plato." " No, indeed, sir," cordia'ly asserted tho fool of the school. "He ajti't quick enough I" A citiven of New Mexico, being informed that in bis absence a panther bad attacked hia wife, and that sho had boaten off ai)d killed the animal, merely shrugged hia shoulders and said : " Ef that panther had knowod her as well aa I do, fco'd never riled her dander up, you bet."

" A man oon get nothing without labour," said a woman to a tramp who de clined to aaw some wood in exchange fur a dinner. "I know better than that,-' he re plied, as ho turned oway ; "he can get hungry." A ladieß' luncheon party dialogue i "Tea!" "Bel!" "Te-he!!!"

Firing the One Hundred and Eleven-Ton Gun.

The moat powerful guv evor produced waa fired for the first timo on February 10 (states tho "Daily Nows'') at tho proof butts adjoining Woolwich Areonal, and the event, which haa beon looked forward to with much interest in tho military world, attractod a considorablo number of offi cials, nmongsfc whom wore Goneral Sir Michael Biddulpb, Pre. dent .of the Heavy Gun Committee; Major-Goncral Wardell, R A. ; Colonel Maitland, Super intendont ol tho Royal Gu., Factories ; Colonial Barlow, Superintendent Uoyal Laboratories ; Admiral Hunte-v\ard, Vice President of tho Ordnaneo Committeo; Colonel Chauncey, Chief Paymaster jOolonol Markh-nn, Director of Artilleiy Studies; Colonel Cro/.ter, R.S., Inspector of Works ; Captain Ordo Brcwne, Inspector of Armour, &c. There were also present Lord Sudley and Mr Krafsmior, ropreaonting tho inven tors of tlio special gunpowder udopted for tho guns ; Ciptain Noblo, ol Elswick, maker of Iho gun ; and Mr Vavasour, who 13 now a member of tho same firm ; and Mr Roger son, of tho Steol Works at Wolsingham, whoro tlio heavy portions of tho carriage wero cist. Tho great gun waa seen stand ing on tho i iclineJ rails, or Maitland plat form, from which it was io bo lirod, and its gigantic proportions, especially in its enor mous length, excited general remark. From muzzle to broach it measures within a fraction of 44 feet. Although it ia nomin ally a gun of 110 tons, its actual weight is 247,7951b., and it will, therefore, bo known for tho present as the 111-ton gun Horr Krupp is now making for the Italian land service four guns in greater woight, being 229 tone each, butthepeculiar breech fittings in their case tako up a groat deal of dead metal, nnd it Is not claimed cither by Herr Krupp that thoy will be equal to ilia work which wili be got out of tho English gun The most enormous i/ur.s at present in use aro tho 105 ton guns on board tho Kalian ironclads, tho four British 100-ton muzzle landers at Malta nnd Gibraltar, and the four SO-ton gun?, of which two are nlloat and two in situ on Dover i'ior. Compared with any of these weapons the gun triod yes terday ia vastly superior. In length tho SQ ton measures 27 feet and the 100-ton 33 foot, and whereas these will penetrate 23 inches of iron at 1,000 yards, the 111 tonor is roliod upon to pieroo 35 inches at the eamo diatanco, aod probably 33 inchoa at ovor a milo range. At close quarters, if it should got a chance, it will bore a hole in armour 3 foot I inches iv thickness. These theories woro explained whilo Captain Holdon, R.A., tho proof master, and hia assistant. Lieutenant Lowe, R A , wero preparing the first teat. Tho proof, howover, must bo progressive, and although tho ultimate ehargo adopted fjr tho gun will probably be at least 900.b, it was determined to begin with COOib only. This was within 301b of tho largest quantity of gunpowder ever lirod at ono time in ihis country, but it was not regarded as a soiious trial for this enormous gun. It waa however moro than enough to provo whether tho gun was sound or not, and the isauo waa therefore not devoid of anxiety. Tho order being given to load, a dozen sturdy gunners withdrowfrom Ihebreech thebiKScroiv-bloek which eh. oa it-in weight 2} tone-and swung it, by tho help of a derrick, on to an adjacent aholf whilo tho projectile and cha go wero inserted. The former of those is a foarful bolt of iron, I,Boolb in wiight, and exactly fitting the bore, iv diameter , 191 inches. Tho ehargo was divided into Eetiaiate cartridges of 150 each for conveni ence of handling, and thoso — looking like, enormous pill boxes—were lifted ono after. another and thrust into thocipiciousbroeob. Tho screw-block was thon run in and tightly loekod, tho warning-i-01l was sounded, and the spectators withdrew to secure places of rofugo as tho electric tubo was inserted in tho axial vent. ! 1.0 screens iv front of tho gun and tho mechanism in the proofmastor's ulli-:o had boon all previously arranged to measure tha velocity of tho shot, und tho usual prossuro gnages wero in shot and gun to record tho strain upon the structure. A touch of tin hanil upon an elec trie button, and tho ehargo was lirod, Tho roport was not so qvorpoworing ua anticipated, b-.it tho volumo of smoke was very groat, and aa it c.oared away bofoio the sharp oist wind, the gun was seen to havo recoiled about 20 feet up tho platform, which, considering that tho total weight was 225 t:.na, and the inolino 4 dogroos, was as much aa could havo been expected. The vo ocffcy was found to bo 1,G90 foe*" per second, ana tlio pre«uro 9 05 tons, au ex ceedingly sati.-facfqry result, attributable to tho s.joeial qualities of the gunpowder. Two moro rounds wo afterwards fired with charges quito unprecedented, though still within Iho maximum, ono buiny JOO.b a;.d tho othor 8901b. Both showed high veloci ties with low prcs ure, and the 111-ton gun haa thus far achieved a moiitoriou^ record.

Russian Forests

Tun Government of Russia lias beon intent during the last five yeara on reclaiming tho wasto lands and utilising tho forosts that cover so lurge a portion of tho empiro both in Europe and Asia. Tho most important enterprise of this nature has bien the drain ago of tho marshes of Polessia ; already at the end of 1881 nearly 7,000,000 aerea had boon recovered for the u-e of p\eture, or tho plough, and 1,200 milea of cana's, with numerous bridges, constructed in a country previously almost uninhabitable and inpeno trablo Tho cost of theso works is Btatod in tho ollicial repsrttobe le?B that £200,000 Surveys and soundings are now proceeding in a large tract of ewampy country in the governments of Moscow and Riuz-m, with the object of rendering tho land productive nni improving the communications by canals and roads. In tho governments of tho north (Novgorod, St Petersburg, Olonetz, Juroslav, Vologda and Pskov) 2,000.000 acres of marsh havo been sur veyed, proparatory to cultivation, four fifths of which are in tho two first named. Tho forests of the Caueas"B are estimated at 12,(00,000 aeros, cbiwily in tho Black Sea territory, which ia at tho rate of nearly twenty acrea to each inhabitant. Tho forests of Western Siberia havo beeu hardly explored, but- thoy aro Btated to bo 200,000,000 of acres in extent, more than halt being in an absolute state of nature The gros» receipts by the State from the forests of tho Caucasus rose, in ISB4, to £50,000 - that is, to about 2s an acre ; the working expenses were £25,000 ; tho not profit, therefore, was ono penny per acre. The whole net revenue from the forests of Western Siberia amounted in the same yoar to no more than £3,542- "London Times."

THE PALACE OF ST. CLOUD.

A Glance at the Favourito Summer Retreat of Napoleon and Eugonlo Slxtoon Years Afterward.

Paris haa managod to obliterate moat of tho traces left upon it of tho momorable war of IS7O 71 ; but, thoro are plenty of buildings in tho neighbourhood of tho city which rocall very vividly tlio horrors of that timo. Of those, themq't impressive, by its vastnesa and its historical associations, is the ruined pa'aoo of 3t. Cloud, Tho town itself, which tho French sha'terod in their efforts to dislodge tho Prussians from tho park boyond, has beon rebuilt: but tho palaco remains vory much as it appoared when tho peace wns signed; the shell of a palace, yet nevertheless bo rich in architectural beauties that it in to be hoped, if only in tho interest of art stu dents, that it will not be allowed to Bhare the fate of the Tuileriea. It is only when wo take a close view of it that we perceive what sixteen years have done to make the ruin more picturesquely ruinous. The great heaps of fallen masonry which cover tho ground floor, and in which exquisitely sculptured corniceß and balustrades mingle with tho fragments of stairc _es and chimney-stacks, are now green with mossoa and lichens, or are quite hidden by the small-leaved ivy, and support a littlo forest of self-sown aepons, which rise to the height of twenty or thirtyfec.l through the Bcprched window openings upon a green mass of tremb jog leaves. Where the fire and the drppping shells hgve rent t.he walls pellitory and celandine havo established themselves, and at an angle of the south wing ivy has climbed up a Tuscan column ac far aa the first story. A numerous colony oi jackdaws, which havo taken pos- F63SBion of tho totterfng chiraneyretaebs, fly in and out of tho windows of rooms which were royal and Imperial bed chambers, and break the allenoe of this memory-hauntsd spot with their harsh ciies.

About a mile and a half across the park is a Bmall chateau, which waß the favourite summer retroat of Napoleon 111 and the Empress from the troubled atmosphere ef the oourt. This building was not injured by the warj it remained closed for about fifteen years, and then the Government placed it at the disposal of M. Paeteur. The great man does not use it as a plaoe of resi dence ; but he has added to tho Imperial

etablep, and has turned them into dog-ken rels. It is hero that the unlucky wandoring doga that fall into the clutches of the po lice—or as many of them aa M. Paataur needs—are imprisoned. Here is the virus manufactory - the hope and consolation of all humanity tortured by tho dread of hy drophobia. The surrounding country ia made dismal by the howling of M. Pasteur's unhappy pensioners. A ghastly white wall has been built round an aero or two of ground, in the midst of which stands thia veritable inferno of the canine race. And with all thia the placo is beautiful in ita mo ns grown dilapidation and abandonment, its venerable treea, itsivy emboworcd nooks, its shattered banks where tho first violets bloom, and also replete with pathetic in terest. A drawing-room window at tho back of the houso opens upon a broad tor- - race bordered with fine trees. Betwoeii two of those trees ia a worm-oaten beam, to which aro attached a couplo of rusty iron rings. To these rines a swing watt onco fastened ; and a boy swung here, whilo a lady watched him from thu window or from the stone seat, now green with lichen, in the semi circular alcovo let into the wall at tlio ond of tho porraeo. Tho boy wua tho Prince Imperial, and the lady waa tho Em proas Eugenic. On the same terrace can also bo toon the rails of a miniature railway —another token of a boy's happy lifo It ia seldom now that a footstep falls upon tho weedy terrace where each year's leaves aro loft to rot. Tho ],e.r«ii:nnei are closed over tho windows, and tho houso ia iii semi darkness. Tho plaeo would ba utterly silent but for tho howling and barking ol tho miaornble dogs.—"St. James's Gazette "

Liszt and the Ladies.

Madme Janka Woiil, contributes to the " International Review," of Florence, somo interesting reminiscencos of Liszt, Sho says tho Abbe waa voty diacreob aa regards hia lady admirers. Only onco did ho Bf_.tii.fy her curiosity on thia point. "I was woik ing one morning at Lowemberg," said he, "wben a card was brought into me. It contained a narni I did not know. Thn visitor, a fine young Bnijli-h man, entered tho room. I fancied I recognised him. Ho approachod mo, and whispered a word in my ear. I ot once detected the voice. I was thunderstruck. ' What havo you como hero for ? Have you run away '! Have you left your husband ?' Sho had thrown her self into an armchair, and was laughing outright. ' Thia is a nice reception, indeed,' said sho : ' it waa not worth the whilo my risking myself as I am doing. ' But you are ruining yourself,' I ex claimed, fearing somebody would come in. She flew to the piano, and b?gun playing. 'I nm your pupil; that's all.' And the continued ringing, filling the house with her voice. ' For Hoaven'B Bake,' I cried, 1 hold your tongue. Tho house is full of pooplo. They will come, and you will bo recognised.' ' What,' she replied, twirling the moustache she had not, 'if they rocogniae me I will con gratulate them Thr-y will havo seen worse than I am.' ' Enough of thia childishness,' I replied, seriously alarmed': 'tell me what brings you hero.' 'She was a cantatrico of European retnwn nod irreproachable character.' ' Mali bran?" 'Oh.no; showaadead.' 'Jenny Linil, thon V She waa also dead. My horoino waa not only watched by ajaalons husband, who did not doservo tho treasure which had fallen to his lot, butalsibyan infatuated, unscrupulous admirer, who trucked her liko a demon, hoping some day to profit by a fault sho might commit. Everybody know this, and I trembled for hor. I had met hor occasionally, I admired her greatly, but you know I nevor coveted tho moon To sum up. I could scircoly believo my eyison socing her thore, disguise! ns a yr.ungman, calm and candid, as if she were paying ma an ordinary visit. However, I posuaded hor to go, but not boforo wo had breakfasted together. I promised to call on her, but never went. } have alwaya avoided adventures of this kind ; 1 detest melodrama, particularly in private lifo. Two years later she came to me again in the eaine way. I was then living like a recluse at Monte Marie. I mado hor sing my 'Aye Maria.' She sang ii in a way that would have tempted a eaint. Alas 1 it will never bo sung again like that' What has becomo of her since ? Sho is doad." Liszt never divulged hor namo.

The Care of the Hands.

Alj, Ihe English Princesses, as woll as tho Qieen herself, havo romarkably beautiful bunds, whito, with rosy nails, and thiß is eaid lo bo the result of exquisitely caioful treatment. The hnud now is very much considered everywhere indeed, nnd there is no reason why both boys and girla thould not pay dainty attention to theirs. Tho American hund ia mare dolicato than the English hand, just as our feet and joints are all smaller. We aro the race-horse, thoy tho hoavy and tho stouter animal. But tho American finger-nail is not bo beautiful as the English finger-nail, which is a feature by Itself. English nails are rosy and shell like, kept clean, and cut to a rounded but slightly tapering point in the centre. The skin at the baao of the nail ia carefully pushed back to show the onyx, or littlo whito half-moon. With pereonß who take groat caro cf tho nail, the onyx develops every day moro and more. Ie i- always ob servable in a woll kept English finger nail.

The perpetual washing of tho hand in EngUnd, particularly in London, where tho water is hard, tonds to roughen tho hand, co that young girls sometimes wear dog-skin glovoe or propared French gloves at night to soften the hand. Glycerine and rose water, cold creim, and washing tho handa with almond powder are all resorted to abroad for beautifying the hand. Tho American nail is apt to be dry ar.d to break easily. Vaseline rubbed on tho naila after washing the hands will do a world of good to dry nails. It ia well, if the mils aro ugly and grow badly, to follow the English fashion and employ a manicure for a time. These adroit professionals first bathe the hand a long time in hot water, then with scissors and knives rfean and. cut tho nails, remove the superfluous skin about the onyif, then pollih the nails with a bnck ekin and fine powder, washing tho hand again in hot water with soap ; then drying them carefully they polish the nails with a fine brush Again they rub the nails with a rosy ungont to givo them a line tint and th-n with"the hand to suggest a gemliko poliah. Since the now science of reading charac ter by the handwriting has come in it is oven eaid that tho euro of tho naila aflbcts tho handwriting. Tho long almond shaped nail ia a groat support to the middlo finger, which guides the pen. One can hardly imagino a person with neglected finger nails writing the long, graceful English hnfld which is characteristic of the groat ladies of London. In old times, when Queen Anne bit her finger-nails, the English nail waa not what it is now. All Queen Victoria's uncles had finely-shaped hands and almond finger-nails j perhaps that brought thorn into fashion. Fashion exerts a potent in fluence on man, savago or civilised. But no girl should ever use bismuth or any pig ment to make her hands artificially white, for that fills in the pores of the a.in, and is dirty and dangerous.—" Wido Awake.'1

Why He Was Like a Fisher man

" Why am I lika a fisherman ?" softly a=.ked young Sofasitter as he reached for his hat.

"I don't know," sho answered, as-flhe butted her golden head into his necktie. " Why nro you like a fisherman, Augus tus ?"

" Because I never go out without my smack'," he replied. ffe had just secured tbo erflack when the old man entered the room and collared him.

" It is very seldom that I engage in pis catorial purposes myself," remarked the old man, aa he tightened hia grip on Augustus," but I enjoy yanking a gudgeon occasionally." And he proceeded to yanlc.

Rubbing Noses.

"Ma," said Johnnie De Blank, looking up from the paper he was reading, '* is pa o New ZeaJawler ?"

" You know well enough he isn't. Why do you ask eych foolish questions ?" "I didn't know but p'raps ha was, 'cause the paper says New Zealandors do their kissing by rubbing noses, and pa's nose Is so awful red and co ia Bridget's. '

Mra De Blank ib going to investigate 'he matter,

THE COCAINE HABIT.

How It Ruined a Chicago Physlolan and

His Wifo.

Dr. D. C. Bradley, a victim of the cocaino habit, was found insane by a jury in the County Court, Chicago. He is a physical wreck. Dr. Bradley waa a prominent physician horo. Two years ago hia practice was worth 10 OOOdols. annually. About six teen months ago he began making exper menta on himself with cocaine, and speedi'y acquired an irresistible taste for tho dro( , His neighbours noticed his peculiar actions, and boeoming aware if tha prolonged ab sence from hia accustomed round lasc suromir, visited his houso on Bush-street. There they discovered tho doctor und hia wile, in a shocking con lition. He had carried his passion to tho extent of making hia wifo a victim of hia thoories concerning the insanity-producing compound. Her body, as well as his own, was scarred by v hypodermic instrument, and they were both suffering from tho effects of the drug. The doctor waa then taken before the Insane Court and waa sent to a hospital for treatment. He yielded to the treatment, and ic. uad to hia practice, but coon fell back into his old habit. Since then he has fallen lower. His family ia perfectly doeti luto, and he himself haa walked the streets trying to raise monoy to buy some of tho drug with. He finally becamo ao wild tbat he waa arrested and tried for insanity. His wife's health ia completely t battered, and eho lies in a hospital in a dying condition.

EXPLORATIONS IN SIBERIA.

Worls Accomplished by Russian Scien tific Men.

Wiies Do Long and his comrades wore struggling paiufully southwaid ovor the snow-covered tundra of the Lena delta tho leader of the little party recorded in hia jiurnal the fact that his chart of the river waa hopelessly wrong, and, of course, value loss for hia purposes. BU hope that Mnder mann and Noroa would bring him succour was based in part upon the relief derived from his chart tbat he waa much nearer Bulun than was really tho case. If any future explorer ie so luckless aa to be cast away in the Lena delta, be will probably at least have an accurate chart of this laby rinth of channels to guide him. Last week's cable despatches informed us that the explorations of Dr. Bungo and Baron yon Toll in thia region have been success fully completed.

For four or five years past Russian scien tific men have bean stationed at or near the mouth of the Lena, carrying on firet the work of oue of the circumpolar stations and then engaging in the exploration of the delta and of the part of tho large region oastward. They have made a number of in teresting discoveries, nnd scientific zsal haa been lichly rewarded even in this appar ently desolate country. In the region where the pole of greatest cold is situated, theso explorers have collected 400 kinds of plantsjoumerous paleontobgical specimens, and a large number of insects and other in vertebrate. Among tho mountains that di vide the Lena from the Yana Basin. Baron yon Toll obtained six specimens of moun tain sheep. He haa made a special study of tho fauna of the sea coast, and the latest newe from him was that he was going with a party o? natives to find a mammoth which a recent land-slide had revealed. An im portant feature cf the work of this party haa been the complete exploration of the largo Yana river from its headwaters to the fea, including two of its affluents.

Last summer the newe came that the party were busy, early in the spring, with their preparations lo visit the New Siberian Islands, which, since Anjou waa there in 15,23, have not heen seen by white men ex cept when the Do Long expsdi ti on landed on one of them for a few hours during its retreat. The baggage was being sent to tli3 island of Rotelnoi, over the ica on dog sledges, and tho party intended to take forty reindeer with them. The announce ment that the expedition haa successfully completed ita labours must mean that it haa carried out its instructions to explore carefully theso islands. It is known that they contain some very curious animal and vcgetablo fossil remains, and among the most interesting results of the expedition will doubtlefs be the etory of its work on thia cluster of islands —" N. Y. Sun."

A YOUNG EMPEROR'S SLAVES

Tbo Flvo Thouaand Who Guard tbe Harem of tbe Chinese Monarob.

I havi: been told that there are about five thousand malo slaves in tbe Chinese Em peror's pn'ace, a figure which it is, of course, very difficult to conceive. The num ber, however, must be large, Bince that class of individuals is alone called -upon to fill poets which everywhere elee are usually given to mon. Their business is to keep chirp watch over tho Emperor's harem, an institution of no great service for the time being, since Hia M-ijeaty is yet a minor, but in view of ita beconvng serviceable come diy, and to pay meet homage to the rites of religion.

The Empress selects the young beauties admitted into this Chinese eeraglio, and she has to renew tho personnel every three yeara. These young girls are recruited among the families of the Mandchou officers, who look upon tho honour of having the prettiest of thoir daughters in tho Imperial harem as a means of attaining hiirh rank Those young ladies make their debut at the age of 14, and romain ineide the harem until tbey are 25 years old. If, in the interval, they give birth to offspring, they by rights become "daughters of the Imperial blood," and re main bound with the fate of the child, for he may become a " Son of Heaven" and sovereign heir to 10,000 kingdoms. If, on tho other hand, the young lady rcacheß the ngo of 25 without yielding increaee to the Imperial household, she is sent home to her illustrious paronts, and honestly weds a mandarin in the placo.

The legal ex-concubine of the JSmpej-or is honoured as a person of high rank, having held at court the most exalted position, 'Ihe Emperor ia entitled to seven only of these lc_ al concubines, but the number of illegal ones placed at his disposal is un limited. That accounts for the large number of guardian eunnoha engaged to watch over and serve all these seraglio princesses, who aro placed under tbe vigil ant superintendence of the Empress.

Such moaners appear very strange to us at first sight, but genuine Chinamen, who hold out staunchly for ancestral worship, find them practical and good, and ascribe to them the results that Chinese civilisation has attained. They cannot imagine bow a nation can be endowed with better man no- s, if it hopes to endure aa long as the aero". The throne and family are thus never without heirs. This, institution of eunuchs is not of Chinese origin. It was imported, say the learned, from Arabia and Perßia, by a renowned Chinese oonqueror. It was at once adopted at the court of the Mogul sovereigns, and has ever sinoe re tamed, in spite of varying euecess, a por tion of that oooult iniluenoa which Orientals aro bq pasaiopately ready to stand up and defend.-—Peking; letter to " Paris Journal dos Debats."

All Sorts of Items.

TiiElanguage the telephone speaks is broken Engliah. If an energetic hen is pop the wrong lay she ought to be set right. A man wedded t6 his own ideas is a pretty difficult chap to divorce.- - ''•>.' A Note of Warning—People who steal watches are apt to wind up in goal. Tbe question is aeked, upon which eide will bank cashiers over the bolder fight in case of international trouble ? "1b the head of the family in, bub ?" asked a washing wringer pedlar. "Yes, mother's there," replied Johnny. After all, thero would be nothing bo very straDge about tho return of Brigham Young to li.'c. Perhaps he met a dozefl or eu of his wives in the other world. "Cati you use this?" timidly inquired the poet, as he laid a bundle on the desk. "I think I can," said the editor affably. "I am just about to stort a fire in the office etove." If ladies i" our street-cars would try to be about half as polite to each othar as gentlemen are to the ladies, tho situation would bo Ktarvellously improved. Lady—"Oh, dear I "I've forgotten my fan.andit'B dreadfully warm hero" Gentle tieman (in noxt back seat) —"I can't bear to see a woman Buffer. Would you allow me to make a suggestion for your comfort?" "Certainly." "Why not fan yourself with your hat ?" An Austin lawyer caught a tramp in his office stealing some law books, which the latter intended to pawn. Seising the in truder by the collar ihe lawyer exclaimed : " You scoundrel, I'll have you tried and sent to the Penitentiary." " Lst go my : neck, Colonel. If. you are going to have me tried, I reckon I'd better engage you'a< my lawyer, as you havo the luok to be on hand."

THE MASQUE OF PROGRESS.

Whom the gods doom to destruction, they with murky madness blind, Clouding all tiw finer fancies that have being in the mind, Till their victims grope with darkened foot steps o'er the ways of life, Blind for labour in the present, lacking power for the strife, Till the hand grows touched with palsy, i and the sword falls from the grasp, And the fingers, waxing feeble, slowly one by one unclasp; ' So death comes to close the horror, and unrecked they pass away From the mockery of living, from the gloom where once was day. Such the tale; 'tis told of nations, they too wane, and pale, and die, Madden'd first with over-progress—till like Pluethon through the sky They rush onward, frenzied, guideless, and —the precipice ahead — Death awaits them at its basement, lurking thoro with muffled tread, Ready to strike down its victims, with uplifted hand and glaive— They have had no god but Progress ; now, at need, is none to save ; Nono to bid them rise upheartened, none to tear the cloud away ; Nono to couch their darkened eyesight, give again the joys of day; None to quell the rage of madness, and with calmer thoughts of life Bid them once again awaken to achieve the meed of strife. So in days of distant dawning other nations rose and fell, Falling from their early heaven till they weltered in their hell. Eastern races thus have perished one by one in doom sublime, Falling, madden'd, weaken'd, palsied, reel ing down the steeps of Time; Rome and Greece, despite then- splendour, thus have vanished from the scene, And, tho' tote, we trace in ruins but the place where they have been ; Read, in lambent lustre blazoned, thoir handwriting on the wall, Telling sadly " Mene, Mene," see our mighty sceptre fall. On the pages of F.arth's dominion what we were is writ, and now What we are thou sefest—shadows—all our glory lieth low; From our brow the crown haa toppled, lying idly in the dust, And the sword our warriors brandished now is but the toy of rust." Not alone their story telleth of the past; the present, too, In its accents, hears an echo. Let us heed it, lest we rue, And the fate which they have 'countered, oome to us, as erst to them, Like the torrent, storm-begotten, with a force we may not stem. We have Progress, none may doubt it, and in troops before her shrine, Lo, our myriads mouth and gibber, offering gifts well-nigh divine. Science, commerce, looming larger day by day with fuller front, Claim our gaze and win our worship, troubled with life's battle brunt, And we deem, and haply rightly, that we stand where none has stood, Giftod with a keener insight into what makes Right' amd Good; Children of a brighter present, holding all things at command; All the powers of Nature waiting ready slaves on either hand. Larger laws are ours, but ever larger wants from these proceed, And ovu' knowledge growing larger, ser veth but to swell our greed. Progress ! We may trace her footsteps in the freedom of the Press. Freedom to debauch a nation, foul its springs with wantonness ; Freedom must be wed with knowledge, in stinct by a nobler will, Giving us the strength to issue right, through maze of good and ill; Else our Freedom is but bastard—biased strongly—we but slaves ; Better, chance, we lay at rest, beneath the daisies, in our graves. Freedom to go wrong, say rather—evil in stincts from the past, Bane of blood and curse of race, a sombre •shadow o'er us cast, Ia such freedom : Nay, delusion. Ere in truth we can be free, We must start again, unfettered, in our race—how may that be 2 What is done, is done ; -we may not with vain words unroll the past, We are but its slaves—the poison, to our cost, is found to laet. From the first half-felt pulsation, to the latest breath we draw, We are in the grip of Nature, bound within the mesh of law, And our Freedom, could we clearly picrts the darkness of our cage, Is the freedom of the puppets jerking on some mimic stage. For a mightier hand than ours bends our motions to its will— Makes us, whilst we prate of Freedom, c'en its slightest 'best fulfil. We have Progress, aye we see her stalking proudly through the land, With great words and vaunting gestures scattering wealth on either hand; Wealth, which comforts but a handful, whilst the many rot and die— Helpless sufferers, maimed and blinded, writhing in then- agony,— Wealth of which they reap no blessing, proving but to them a curse : What else is it, as they witness life de formed from bad to worse ? Degradation lends them being, crime is but the breath they draw, Curses are the food they feeid on, living by theu- lawless law. Progress I —Folly. Is it Progress festering iv the fever den, Where alone death holds dark revel, 'mid the sweltering herds of men ? Is it Progress 1 Take with faltering foot step thy bewildered way Through the alleys pf tbe city, where vice thrives and meh decay. Where, death-fed, the harlot harbours, ply ing her unblushing trade—; Moloch of our youths and maidens, brazen . faced and undismayed, Where starvation pays its hard-wrung tribute to some cursed gain, And poor nature shrinks in sorrow lifting plaintive voice in pain. Is this soaring where fair Progress thro' the empyrean leads On to higher thoughts and feelings, thro' the ether of high deeds ? Nay, 'tis grovelling in the mudheaps where the scum of lower life Filters slowly to its level, with foul thoughts and refuse rife. Yet truth holds that from the lower we may rise, but nayer there Seek the impulse of. high actions— that is in the higher air, That must come from lives above us, ; where, untouched by self or greed, Our great brothers wing their progress, and their feebler kindred lead. ' For a while the issue, lingers; tho' it lin ger still ere long ■;,*;;. " '.'". .-'•'.'■ '' Nature yet will- claim dominion, banish all the rights of wrong. '; '.- . :' ■! ' Can we, think'st thou/ trample under foot what Nature meant to be'-j ---' Crush beneath our cruel car-wheels man hood's strength and infancy— \ : Doom our women, doom our children, soddencd, reeking, lost —to dwell Under life-conditions trammelled that make earth akin t_hell ? ".„■ ■■ Not for nothing, though, we fanoy,: Nature has been cast aside! "-- L * . Though awhile the flow'of. ocean leaves the shore with ebbing tide ; " ; , .' ; p» Yet 'tis but awhile—reverted ocean "flows,; and, where we stood On tho brown expanse of sand, again we xapx\% the tide in flood. , " jI« ttie. distance, drawing niglaer,. liko the ato rmcloud in the sky, ; '_ ■ Retribution comes—tho1 slowly, it will smite us by-and-by. •'■ .■ \ _ "' Boast your' Progress !—rather show it under higher forma of tife—' Not where earth, bowed down and cower ing, seems with heavy sorrow rife— Not where 'mid the shams we cherish, faith and love and hope die out, " Whilst.the brain-sick crowd the. folly brazened-torigued and blatant shout AU this under cloak of Progress, Freedom— ' none may interfere, Would'st thou leave thy child unrescued, marking danger drawing hear ? Leave him 'neath the burning rooftree, whilst the flames soared overhead, Saying, he is free, I _*sk not—thou wilt find him free, and—dead. . Would'st thou with some poisoned dagger let him trifle in his play, Till, absorbed, the numbing doathflood sw.ept its unimpeded way ? Fool'l Why ask such sickly questions? Yet 'tis thus we treat our race. Freedom mates alone with wisdom, finds to manhood's hands due place, ~.'Ti^ no gift for eerfa or' PQVaitfs, lacking power of brain and souL Ere thou give a. people freedom, dower them. feit with sglf-coi^rol. Give us Progress, but in such wise that its works may \t[in our love. '•■ '. ; Telling less of pain and failure, laying stress on things above,.

1 Till we reach a higher level and with fairer outlook scan, In the wide foreshortened distance, what awaits our brother-man. Progress brings too oft but luxury—let it bring some nobler life, Arm the heart and brain of warriors, ready marshalled for the strife On the battle, field where folly, crime, and wrong are brought to bay— And we hail the hour of victory when death-struck they pass away. • They are based on narrow maxims—self alone is at the root. Nobler aims will change such teachings, till we tread them underfoot. Brothers, onward—such our progress— hand in hand, and heart with heart. Let ns mass our proud battalions, bid the wrongs of life depart; Onward, —though . the hour of triumph halt, twill not be so for aye ; We shall conquer if we will it—shades ot night give place to day. Bare the blade then, proud and hopeful; courage, tho' the foe be strong, We shall conquer, and the turmoil of the conflict end in song, Song which tells of nard-won victory—we have fought and we have won— Whilst across tho field of battle dawns tho newer day begun. E. H. Gulliver,

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, APRIL 2, 1887

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A3f Ai.AUASToa Tlox. —Young girls flndlng their completion growing sallow, and tht irskin becoming rough or freckly, re-ort to perfumed ■jiutuieuta for a restoration of tb.-.ir bloom. All such fthou-d use American Co.'b Hop Bitlers, which will restoro bloom to cheeks whiteness ai a boauty to thoir complexion, inakinir rich blood, good health, and happy sualea. Rend.



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