The Condition of the Czar.

It seems to bo incredible in thoso days of rapid communication and unprecedented press enterprise that tho true story in regard to tho suddon death of Count Ren torn, the adjutant to tho Czar, has novor yet been divulged. The first report was to tho offect that tho Czar, in a moment of anger, had shot the General on account of that officer's name having boen mentioned in connection wilh a Grand Duchess of the Imperial family. Tho semi-official version of the story is that a grave accidont hap pened to" Count, Rcutern, resulting in his death. There was also a strange story in regard to the suddon demise of Genoral Yon \ "illaumo, the Ger man military attache at St. Petersburg. The " Posthos Lloyd '' reiterates tho former statement that the mental condition of the Czar causes the most intense anxiety in Russian imperial society, aa the Emperor is not merely in constant dread of assassin ation at the bonds of tho crowd, so to speak, but regards with suspicion oven tho highest noblea of the empire, and even his own relatives, whom he is constantly suspneting of conspiring against him. Tho only per sons, indeed—aa is reported -with whom ho feels absolutely at his easo aro the Empress and his chileren, and some idea of tlio desperate nature of the situation may be formed whan the rumour ia spread in the court circlti3 of the Russian capital of the proposed deposition of the Czar, his Majesty's mental condition being S"ch aa to incapacitate him to conduct tho affairs of tho Stato with safoty during tho present crisis. It is stated, moreover, that the question was mooted in an interview recently held at Borlin botween the Grand Duke Vladimir and the Emporor of Ger many, tho latter monarch being urged to use all hia influence with the Romanoff family to bring about a change in tho oc cupancy of the throne. A Russian regency would, thero ia no doubf, bo regarded by tho courts cf Europe as an additional guaranty of peace

SOCIETY LETTER LONDON.

Gladys. Conntess Do Grey.

Coronets can add little to the distinction which came by birth to this stately daughter of a really historic race. Yet bo fore she had rounded her first quarter of a century, tho Lady Constance Gladys Herbert bad twice won and worn the coro net of a countess.

Far from me be tho attempt to put into words the beauty of a woman ; where photo graphers ignobly fail, what hops of success is thero for a pen ? Above all, for a pon of a woman dealing with a woman ? Enough to say that fow women of this century have commanded such an unanimous verdict of admiration as was accorded to the youngest daughter of Lady Herbert of Lea when sho (iret made her nppeaiance, loss than ten years ago, in tho drawing-rooms of London. Her beauty is not of tho type which solicits, perhaps not thorofore of tho typo which secures, the most intense apprecia tion and enduring liomago. It rathor carries the spectator away like a procession, and processions are, after all, not the things which are longest remembered. Lady Gladys cannot como into a room without making a stir, not in the least of her own intention, for there is nothing vainglorious, arrogant, or demonstrative in the temper of her mind; but the sort of stir, for example, which would be mado by the De vastation suddenly steaming through a fleet of yachts in the Solent. It was, perhaps, come dumb senso of this whicli captured for her at once, when she first appeared in Lon don, tho heart and hand of tlio great parti of that season, the young St. George fiow ther, Sari of Lonsdale, for the only real faculty which that poor lad possessed was a certain sailor-like adoration of a fina craft nnder full sail carrying all before them in a stiflf breeze. He really had in Mm tho making ot a sailor. If he had been born a Quaker i_ Cumber land in the timo of his great-grandfatbor — '•the wicked Lord Lowther" —and impressed with all the other Quakers of that county by that humorous peer, I have no doubt he might have become one of the naval heroes of England, and pa?sed into history as a leader of " Lowther 'a Fighting Quakers. '' It was his evil fate to come into an enor mous estate and a great position a hundred years too late, ami to euirender at first sight to the attractions of a woman with whom he was utterly unable to cope. That a woman co exceptionally gifted by naturo as Lady Gladys Herbert, falling into such a marriage with such a man should not escape Calumny, was inevitable. Perhaps in nn age when calumny cheapens itself, as in ours, and is put upon the market by all forts of unli censed manufacturers and vendors, under going as much adulteration as indigo or honey or beeswax or any other commodity, it is hardly worth while to take up the tie fence of any man or women worth de fending. But those who aro most familiar with the cirsumstances of Lady Gladys life havo the strongest feelings of respect for tho courage with which she carried her self through triaU of a sort certain to havo torn to pieces the self-respect and the health of any weakly-constituted woman. For tunately for himself, for his wife, far their little daughter, ihe young Earl of Lonsdale lived but four years after his ill-omened marriage. Her Second Marriage took the world by surprise, mainly because Earl Da Grey having already passed his first heady youth, had firmly established his reputation as the best shot and the most confirmed bachelor of his years in Great Britain. By common consent of all who are, or think themselves, wise in such matters, it was decided when the engagemene was announced, that Lord De Grey must have been prostrated by what the French call a "thunder-stroke" of his bride's Junonian beauty; and I am willing, boing a person of a humble and un excursive mind, to accept the verdict as correct. If it bo so, he is to bo con gratulated ; and in any event the pro sent Countess De Grey, and future Mar chioness of Ripon, will certainly represent, most creditably and brilliantly, the position won in the peerage of England for the respectable

Family of tho Robinsons, by the patient industry of her husband's father, and the wit and worldly wiedoai of his vivacious and charming mamma. It is not on the cards that with all her clever ness, and Bhe is much more clevor than tho world suppose her to be, Lady De Grey should ever do for her present lord what haa been done by his mother for his father. He has no making in him of a man of affairs, of polities, or of the world. His bland in dolence and amiable egotism hopolessly shut against him all tbo gateways of ambition in this crowded nineteenth century. But, aftor all, ought he not to be contented ? With a great fortune in prospect, tho coronet of a marquis dangling over his hoad "in act to fall," and tho present possession of a gorgeous wife, whom all men, from bishops to cab men, turn their heads to stare at when sho passes, what can it matter to Ghvor ilobinson that his father's dream of the ducal strawberry-leaves grow faint in the torrid sun of India and vanished for over in the fog of Gladstone's Irish apocalypse? When all is over and said and done, that interesting creature, tho future historian, will find a charming niche in the annals of the House of Herbert for Lady Gladys. No William Browne will compose for her perhaps such an epitaph as tbo author of the "Pastorals" wrote for her immortal ances tress "Sydney's sister, Pembroke's mother, nor will any Ben Joneon steal tbe credit of composing it. But of Sydney's daughter, Pembroke's Bister, there will be many very interesting things t_ be said and sung after her tall form and picturesque features, her glorious eyes, and her superb colouring, pass for ever from the realm of life to the realm of art. She inheritp, with the noblo aquiline features and the charming sm le of her peerless father, Sydney Herbert, a certain touch of Oriental Dlffnity which harks back to her Russian grand mother, the countess Woronzoff, trans planted from the proconsular splendours of the Caucasus to adorn the level meadows and somewhat damp magnificence of Wilton Abhoy. whore by a curious irony of Fate eho closed her life jußt as tho Peace of Paris bad consecrated the victory of tbo land of her adoption over tho land of her birth, won in that great Crimean war which afforded her son the occasion and tho opportunity to devoto hia extraordinary abilities to the re-construction and re or ganisation of the British army. He did his work royally, at tho cost cf hia life. Of such services a bronzo statue, stuck into a courtyard in Pall Mall is not perhaps a wholly adequate recognition. Let aa throw upon his grave, then, a not less grateful garland of kindly thoughts and goodwill when the name comes favour lips li his brilliant and most beautiful daughter. . „ T n an d —Beltenebrosa, to the „AOW Country Journal-

A Romance in Real Life.

Tiik question is whether the ovont will take placo in St. Petersburg, Vienna, Paris or Florence. What event? The chastisement of Princo Serge Galitzln by his angry cousin, M. Wladimir P—n, who is a lineal descendant of tho great favourite cf Catherine 11. and a welTknown Parisian. Princo Serge Galif.tn is a cr__y boy.ird, who married a Bohemian girl whom ho found in a eafe-chantant at Moscow. After a few years ot married life he grew tired of hor and wished to obtain a divorce ; but this fascina ting and intelligent lady insisted upon an arrangement favourable to herself and to her children, and accordingly Prince Serge agieed that he sh-uld be caught by her and hor witnosse" in flagrante delicto. The divorco was, therefore, pronounced against Prince Sergo. and hia wife waa allowed to retain the title of Princess Galitzin and to keep the family jewels and the Galitzin palace, and received withal an indomnity of two millions of roubles. This lady is still living in Moscow. Prince Sergo married a second wife, from whom he also obtained a divorce, and who now lives in Paris with an indemnity of ono million of roubles. He oven married a a third wifo, with whom he now lives at Florence in the winter and in the Government of Toula in the summer. It is needless, howevor, to add thut the two latter wives aro not legitimate accord ing to Russian law, which does not allow tho party against whom the divorce has been pronounced to marry a second timo, much less a third. Prince Sergo Galitzln inherited a splendid collection of pictures, objects of art, manuscripts, and books, tho origin of which elates from tho French Re volution, when two of his ancestors, accord ing to the family tradition, took part in tho capture of the Bastille, and aftoiwards brought many treasures from Trianon, Louveciennes, and other ransacked places. This collection has for tho past twonty years been nominally open to tho public under the title of tho Museum of Moscow. Prince Sorgo, however, took no pleasure in his treasures, and paid reluctantly tho yearly expenses of keeping up the Museum ; and, thereforo, one day he offered the wholo collection to tho Czar for four millions of francs. Tho Czar refused. Thon cousin Wladimir P. was callod in, and a contract for threo yoara was signetl with him on condition that if ho could find a purchaser for tho Museum he should have twelve por cent, on the salo price. This contract expired last month ; but already in the month of August Princo Sergo telegraphed for his cousin to como to sea him. " Let us tear up this con tract," said Serge; " I havo changed my mind. I will pay you 50,000 francs down in consideration of the time you havo spent and the expanses you havo incurred in trying to find a purchaser." ;So the contract was torn up; and a fow days later, M. P. found that when ho had sent for him aud proposed to tear up tho contract, Prince Serge had already sold his collection to tho Czar for two mil lions of francs, and furthermore that he had concluded that salo indirectly through M. Phillippo Sichel of Paris, a purchaser whom M P. had found. And, to crown all, ho discovered that Princo Serge had concluded the sale to tho detri ment of M Sichol and with guile and deceit. Thereupon M. P., who considered that Princo Serge owed him rightly a commission of 2-1,000 francs, proposed to submit the question to arbitration. Princo Sorgo consulted lawyers, who warned him that tho arbitrators would certainly condemn him to pay, and so ho refused, and went to iho chief of tho terrible third ,-ection of secret police to demand the oxpul .ion of his cousin from Russia on the ground of chantage. M.P. was sum moned beforo tho successor of General Lon'B Melikoff, who informed him of Princo Sorgo's demand, and, instond of sonding him at once, to Siberia, offered him .-» ci^ar, and said : " I know, of COUI'SO, about Galitzin; that is all right: only if you do intend to give him a good thrashing, obligo mo by porforming that ceremony boyoDd tho frontiers of Russia." And that is why M. Wladimir P n is promenading through Europe after Priuco Serge, who flics before him liko tho timid hare, knoiving as ho doos the Czar is aware of his curious conduct both towards his cousin and towards M. Sichol. In the Russian colony hers in Paris, and also in Florence, where Prince Sergo lives, thero is much gossip about tho matter, tho more so as Prince Serge only narrowly escaped Siberia some years ago. During his mavriuge with hia first wife, Prince Serge used to amuse himsolf with lead sol diers, but finally ho got tired of toys, and tho Princess, hia wife, wishing to get him some occupation to keep him out of mis chief, appealed Jto the good offices of his uncle, Prince Dolgorouky.Governor of Mos cow, who gave Prince Serge a post on a comini_iou destined lo discover the forgers who were then inundating Moscow with spurious paper money. Wishing to givo proof of zeal and to obtain a decora tion as a reward for his pains, the ingenious Sergo simply bribed four peasants to accept the accusation, promising that he would g t them off with only a few months' imprisonment. The bargain wa3 natural enough, for it appears that for a fow roubles in Russia a poor dovil will sell his liberty, just as at Constantinople you can tempt a boatman to risk imprison ment for a medjidieh. Howevor, the four peasants were condemned to Siberia for life, and when they saw that matters were serious they told tho truth, and Uncle Dolgorouky had the matter hushed up.

A Sleeping Beauty

A singula- case of lethargy is reported from the French village of Thenella that throws into tho shade all th 9 fasting exhi bitions of recent days. L'lndependance Bilge gives the following picturesque account of the modern sleeping beauty : " Close to the village fountain is a little red cottage in which since June 1, 1883, Mar guerite Royenval has lain in a deep leth argic aleep. The cottage consists of two rooms ; in one the family lives, in the other, which is cold and damp, the sleeping girl ia lying. A feeble light fall 3 through the cunains of tho only window looking upon a little garden. Like the pictures of pale paints in a Greek church, the figure of tho young girl ia set off against the white bedclothes. Her eyes are closed. Does she dream 1 Does she think ? Her beauti ful face ia quite calm. Sometimes the mother opens the' heavy eye?, at which the girl seems to becomo troubled in her sleep, and her cheeks becomo slightly tinged with colour. Marguorito is dressed in an Indian costumo. Her handa aro cold as thoso of a corpse; she is vory thin ; her breathing is scarcely perceptible, and she is fed on nothing but peptone. During the three yeara that she has been in that state of lethargy she has nover been troubled by any indisposition, and she does not seem to have grown a day older. A committee of special physicians is just about to make a careful investigation of tho caso.

London Burglars.

A curious story has been told in a London police court, which appeals directly to the personal sensibilities of the individual householder. Charges wero preferred against three men presumed to have been concerned in a scries of burglaries com mitted at the West End. An allusion made by one of the accused, named Whistler, prior to his arrest, to his " little boy Arty having been disclosed to the police, led to the boy's appearance in the witness-box. Arty, it appears, lived with Whistler, and confesses that he was employed aa hia ferret to cot during the daytime into unoccupied houses, whence after nightfall be would make hia way to adjacent houses which were supposed or known to contain property ot considerable value and easily, removable. By Arty'a skilful agility a daring burglary in Audley-fquare was accomplished, and jewellery to tho valuo of UfiW ao Btraeted. which, when delivered to his employer, caused him to cry ior ioy" A resolution was formed to try a house in Uppor Brook-street, upon winch the boy was supplied with the requisite tools Whistler then obtained an order to view ths nearest empty house to the ono upon which operations were to be per formed. As he waa being shown over he contrived to leave bis gloves and umbrella in one of the upper rooms, and of course only discovored his loss just as ho was about to depart out of the front door, ihe agent's boy kindly ran up for the gloves, and during his absence Arty wos intro duced. Tho attempt on Mr Edlm s bouse in Queensborough-torroce was rendered easy of achievement by the previous con i ceataont of Arty in the.adjoining budding The moral of tbe whole narrative is that the presence of an empty house is in danger to the street hi which it stands. Once, gam entrance thither, which is an easy matter, and any bouse is at the mercy of a daring I and agile thief.

Submarine Boats

ScmtAßijiF. iioats, if they can be properly managed, will have an immense influence in tho maritimo wars of the futuro, especi ally in conjunction with that destructive

weapon the torpedo. Some interesting ex periments wero recently mado on the Thames with a new boat called the Nauti lus, invented hy Andrew Campbell, a well known Kcofeh engineer, of which tho fol lowing details aro gathered : The vossol is cigar shaped, is sixty feet long and eight feet in diameter amidships, and the lower ing or raising is done by the simple pro cess of increasing or contracting tha displacement by thrusting out or with drawing a series of metal cylinders which are easily worked by the crew of tho vessel, the propolling power of whioh is ap plied by twin electric engines, worked from storage batteries of large capacity. The Nautilus gradually sank and roso again several times, with a crow and passengers numbering eight or nino on board, the first intimation of her appearing again on tho surface after she had been lost to view for some minutes being tho small turret or manwhole; thrusting itself above tho water, and boing followed in a fow mo ments by tho dock of tho vessel, not unlike a shark or whale coming up for a " blow." Then, going down again, tho vessel was propelled into the centre of the huge dock, whon sho rose again with a similar effect. It may bo added that, for safety, the vessal is divided into four compartments, all tho projectors and inachinory boing contained in ono of these, so aa to rendur them easy of control; and a point is made of the fact that in case of an absolute breakdown, such as might be caused by collision, or other wise, a turn of a bolt would enable the crow to release a heavy weight and thus cause the boat to como to tho top. At tho presont time, when thoro is so much talk about torpedo warfare, on invention of this kind is eminently worthy of attention.

The Troubles of the House of Argyle.

His Grace op Argylk ia floating in a sea of ttoublos. Tho anomalous marital relationa that aro said to exist botween tho Marquis of Lome and his wife, the Princess Louise, have led to an estrangement between tho Duke and the Royal Family, which was increased by the divorco suit of Lord Colin Campbell, with its attendant costs, that will still further deplete tho resources of tho highland chief. Added to theso family vexations his tenants havo rison in open revolt against tho high rents charged on his estates. Now, tho duke is vory sensitive when his pocket is attacked, ns tho following letter will show, addressed to his crofter tenants in Tiroo in reply to a communication from them, urging tho withholding of arrears until tho question of a reduction of rent ia dealt with by the Land Court: " Invorare—John Campbell. John McKinnon and others: Until about threo yoaia ago I had no reason te complain of any of you, but sinco that timo some of you havo boen taking ad vantage of lawlessness to avoid paying your just dobts. I am quito willing to allow for bad markets during tho past veara You aro mistakon about tho {intention of tho Crofters' Act. It was never intended to oncourago ten ants to withhold rents which they can pay till the commission como?. lam goi_g to apply to tho commission as woll as you, and I am quito willing to leavo one-third of your arrears to remain unpaid till tho rents aro settled by tho commission ; but the amount you aro withholding, somo times moro than two years' rent, is quiet unreasonable. I hope the time will snon return when you will havo prido in dis charging your obligations lillO Other llOnCSt men. —Aruylf. " By tho way, his Grace is writing a book entitlod " Scotland as it Was and ns it Is," with illustrations. Tho work is divided into seven chapters, of which tho titles indicate pretty clearly tho contonts : Celtic Feudalism, Ago of Char tors, Epoch of tho Clans, The Appeal from

Chiefs to Orvners, The Response of Owner ship, Beforo tho Dawn, Tho Burst of Indus try. Tho Duke is recognised at a clover writer, but his work is iikoly to bo tinged with prejudice. Thus in an able article on the question his (Irace deprecated any sweeping concessions being made in regard to home rule, as he stated that Ireland was in the position of a man bound hand and foot, and if one limb waa released he would naturally try the more to free himeelf altogether.

London Fog.

The fog fiend invaded London for six days together toward tho end of December, and it was erenerally conceded that it was the most acuto attack over known in tho great metropolis. This fog is almost of a light pea soup colour, and as an instance of its density it may be mentioned that nothing can bo seen at noon save the link 3 and gas lamps at a distance of six foot. The fog this year was of unusually acrid flavour, " a fine, full-bodied spaeies," as tho cock ney Mark Tapleys remarked, composed of a pleasant medley of smoke, sewer and river gaa. When it ia computed that there are 200,000 people who visit tho city overy day on business purposes, and that all traffic with horses is impossible, somo fuint idea may be had ot the misery of tho visitation, which is enhanced by the closing of many of the stores, as it would be impossible to pie vent opon theft in such a Cimmerian gloom. To add to their discomfort tho in habitants of tho West End wero diivon into a state of panic by tho sound of can non ono day at early morn, as they thought it was in conrequence of an outbreak, by tho Feniana or tho anarchists, and in this connection an amusing incident is related by a London correspondent. He states : " Attracted by tho firing of tho salute in honour of the accouchement of Princess Beatrice, I entered St. James's Park, but ; tbe fog was so dense that it waa scarcely possible to distinguish a light at a dis tance of ten yards. I carefully crept along, however, and in a few minutes found my self in the centre of as _all knot of loitorers. The firing had ceased, but I could hear the rumble of the wheels of the gun carriages and every now and then a snort from a startled horso. Cries of 'Whero are you, Sergeant?' 'Where aro you, gunner ?' were heard on overy side. Then I realised what was happening. A squad of Lifo Guards trying to change its formation wero getting moro or less in hopeless confusion. I could just distin guish the helmets of a dozen soldiers in line, and now and then a lantern was seen darting in and out among those who wero to take the lead io the march home. To move the cannon was, however, impossible, as a few paces brought them in contact with some obstacle. Everything was then at a standstill, save an officer or two who wanted to know in what direction waa Whitehall, the exit from the Park. One informant was positive it was lo tho right, while another was positive it was to tho loft. In tho end the officers adopted tho latter advice, and in a fow rods they rodo into the iron palings. Hover were Her Majesty's Guards in a more awkward dilemma, and how they would have extri cated themselves had the tog not lifted it is very difficult to say.';

The Royal Mausoleum.

The Royal Mausoleum of Frogmore is not an imposing buildiog from the outside, being plain in appearance and but seventy feet from horch to south and from east to

west, and only eighty-three feet in height to the top of the dome. Quite £200,000 haa nevertheless bean expended upon it The place abounds in the finest of modern decoration. Tho ceiling qt the porch, ia P. Venetian mosaic, and all tho interior beyond is a rich combination of colour and artistic form. The dome, which is lighted by eight stained glass windows in the clerestory, is coloured blue and spangled with gold stars. The floor is of inlaid marble. Tho eastern transept (the ground plan being in the form of a Greek cross) is entered through elegant brass gates. The walls are covered with marble panelling of varying but always beautiful design, end around are basreliofs, urns, statues, fresco paintings of saints, and incidents in Scripture history, each with its appropriate description lettered in English and German. In the arch of oach transept hang lamps of bronze and gold, tho gift of the Prince of Wales. There aro two compartments in the tomb. That on the south Bids has been for twenty-three years the receptacle of all that was mortal of Prince Albert. That on the north remains empty, and ia ' destined for tbe Royal lady who, with hor children, kuelt around it on the anniversary lof the Prince's death.

Poor Old England.

Oc it Borlm correspondent, in hia telegram yesterday,", referred to the worlr. of Major Otto Wachs on " Tho Position held by Eng land n._ong tho Nations of tho World,' con sidered from military anel political points Of view, especially with regard to Russia, and described il as " written in a decidedly friendly but critical tone." A perusal of the brochure confirms this description. Major Wachs surveys the world further than from China to Peru ; he discovers that tho British Empire includes almost all that part of the earth's surface worth having in the shape of colonies, but that the means ot Great Britain to dofend her uniquo Empire by no means correspond to its greatness. Time waa, ho says, when tho proud song, " Rule,Britannia,o'er the waves " thundered on every breeze, but ho more than intimates that unless wo aro aroused to our danger that time ia gone by. When a learnod German critic misquotes even our national song, things must indeed be in a bad state somewhere Seriously ho inclines to the view that tbo British Empire at pro sent is in its vast extent, " Length without Btrength," "Lot mo have command of tho English Channel for six days, and on tho fifth I will bo in London," said Napoloon. " Thank God," says the writer, " we aro far from that result, and. for tho suko of Europo and the world, may it novor happon ; but tho careful observer cannot closo his oyes to dangers that threaten Britain's supremacy. So far as this rests in hor geographical position no Power on earth can shako it, but thero are other forces of tho greatest moment, on which tho strength of England rests. Are her pooplo the same as of old ? Is tho mother-country prepared against all eventualities ? Is tho possession of hor colo nies safe, and can sho maintain un broken the connection with the colonies ?" Commencing with tho socond question, our critic pro nounces the English coast and harbour do fences inadequate— "judged by tho Gorman conception of what ia required"—remarking that the eye socks in vain at tho Wide estuaries of tho Clyde, tho Humbor, tho Tyne, tho Bristol Channol, for military positions, oxcopting tho Morsey, which is covored by tho Seaforth battery, with seven heavy guns. As to our artillery, the ccrpa stationed in England would not sutlico to servo tho 910 heavy and 1,520 lighter guns, and it is vory doubtful if the Wool wich factory is itself what is required. In rogard to heavy guns genorally the author asserts -what Lord Brassey in his "Naval Annual" doos not concede—that in rango, penetration, precision, and facility oMoading,boththoGorman nnd French artil lery are superior. France, on the ether hand, hasoxocuted wonderfully strong work around her coasfc, particularly on tho Eng lish Channol, and " how dangerously noar Franco is to the British Islands is shown by tho following facts : Steamers can cross from Calais to Dover in ono and a half hours, from Boulogno in two and a half, from Havre in 12, from Cherbourg in 10 hours. Tho embarkation of troopa and ar tillory can now bo cll'ected in tho shortest possible interval, and on tho largest scale, so that tho English eoust, which on the evening of any day saw not a mast, may next day discovor a hostile licet at anchor, and busy landing its trcops." In succession the author next oxaminoa the position in regard to our distant colonies, our harbours in tho Atlantic, tho situation as affected by the Panama Canal -about which ho prophesies a tovcrer slrugglo thon has been occasioned by tho Suez Canal, " and the last word with rogard to it haa not yet been spoken"—tho Mediterranean, and tho Indian Ocean. Evoryivhoro tho wrilor sees England's power threatened, hor dofences and preparations insufli ciont- In Central Asia ho appears to think Great Britain should have nSvanccd to clrivo our Ivus.-ia, _i-ii ho holds as "delusive tho hopo that Afghanistan can serve as a bulwark for India." The strategic positions now aro Ghuzni and Khondahar, .vhich aro for Hindustan what Motz and Slras.burg aro for (lov many.'' Meanwhile, if tho Bolan Pass, the Rubition of India's future, he fortified according to the rules oi defensive science, and Peßhawur raised to a first-class military position, tho Russians will bo absolutely unablo in that direction to mako their way into India through oom'o of tho longest and moat difficult passes in tho world. On tho other hand, England must not wait for Russia to appear in the Indies. With regard to the British float Major Wacha considers that its relative power has been weakenedby thodevelopmentof thema ritimo power of othor nations, by tho intro duction of torpedoes, and by tho com plete change in tho conditions of naval warfare. The old skill and daring of tho British tars will not avail now that ovory. thing is scientific and men-of-war aro hugo machines. Ho points to tho recent declar ations of French admirals and Ministers to show that thoy avo straining every nerve in order to bo equal to Groat Britain on tho seas. But if there are possible au_ compara tive dofects of the Hoot, tho army is ridicu lously insufficient. Its numbers aro small, and tho technical training of its olhcers far below the German ideal. In tho Albion of to day, the writer asks, the Albion of Crocv, Agincourt, Trafalgar, and Ahoukir? tho samo Britain as that which against tho invincible Armada presorved ita own and Europe's religious liborty'.' -tho samo Eng land as that, in which at tho beginning of the century Freedom found her last, refuge '.' Is tho nation the samo as that whoso " Iron Duke" joined in brotherhood of arms with Marsha! Vorwarts nt Waterloo, and gave tha final and annihilating blow to the French conqueror ? Major Wachs opines that tho nation is tho same, but is unwilling to make tho sacrifieo which tho times do mand. When England realises tho consciousness that sho must arm liko tho rest of Europe, thou she will have nothing to fear in Europ" or in Asia. At. a time whon Kussia und Franco aro c. ting Mophi.. tnpholiun glaneo3 at. each other, Germany j must wish that England should " evnn ! at the eleventh hour — for he ttwall'th ; is ot band —set her houso in order." ---" One does not need to bo a prophet, nor tho aon of a prophet, to sco the handwriting on the wall." " The high tide of Penslaviam threatens England first, but iv the day of need Germany wil! not hear in vain the alarm-bell. When all other hands are loosed thoso of blood will remain." This note of danger from Russia pervades Major Wachs's work, and he qnito admits that it would require sharp eyes and a benevolent disposition lo find evidence of goodwill to Germany in Russia. Ho parts with hia readers in hopo that England and Germany may be firm allies—n hope in which many will concur who do not quite accopt the author's views as to Britain's " military and naval strength.'— Frcm tho London "Daily Telegraph," December Ist.

Aged Statesmen

The advanced age which some of onr famous statesmen have attained ia rendered omarkablo by tho activity and nnexhausti bility thoy havo exhibited in thoir public labour. Lord Palmerston was a fine example of such endurance, At oighty years of ago he stood iv tho House of Commons deliver ing a speech lor three hours, and thon sat down not to any perceptible extent fagged. Tho late Lord Lypdhurat was ninety _ when he made somo very able spoeclies in the House of Lords ; and Lord Brougham was close upon this age when he wrote his threo volumud autobiography. The Marquis of Lansdowne was a member of tbe Charles James Fox "All the Talents" Cabinet in 1800, and sixty years later the venerable but none the less agile marquia was a mem ber of the Hou«o of Lords. In tho olden times thore is an instance, in the case of the Marquis of Winchester holding high ond responsible offico under Queen Elizabeth. Guizot, tho French statesman, waa scan at eighty-seven debating hotly with a friend in the French Academy, and a few hours later writing in his secluded study histories and biographios.

Jubilee Events.

T here will be plenty of memorials in London for the Queen's Jubilee. Tho j borou.h of Chelsea opened its very fine new I Town Hall on January 12. A grand organ, to which Lord Cadogan has already sub scribed £500, is to be her Majesty's Jubilee Memorial. Paddington also • intends to erect some large municipal works ; and all the West End municipalities are likely to follow suit. What with tho Imperial Institute and the Church House, we are certain to havo a very considerable addition to the number of our large public buildings. But I rather expect that. Glasgow will be the first in the field with its memorial. It is intended to make the whole_ frontage of its Corporation rooms expressive of the toy of the city at the completion of the iitty years of her Majesty's reign. Statues re presenting thavarionsportions of tha empire w ill, upon the facade of iho building, do homage to the Sovereign,

SEALSKINS.

How Tlioy are Made Up so Attrac-

tively—Popular Errors,

There is a popular notion that the soal skin as wo soo it at tho furrier's is iust as it is taken off the animal. Nothing, howovor, could be mors contrary to fact. Few skins are less attractive than this at first, as the fur :s eornplotaly covered and hidden by a dull grey-brown and grizzled over hair. This mask has then to be removed, and thi. is an operation re quiring: a very groat amount of patience and skill, with a consequent in crease in price. The unhairing is effected by warmth and moisture, which softens the roots of the over-hair and enables it to be pulled out, or by shaving tho inner side very thin, which cuts off the roots of the hair which ponotrate deeply, and leaves untouched thoso of tho fur, which are very superficial. Whichover method is em ployed, tho hair must be taken off uniformly or tho fur will novor lie smoothly, but always havo a rumpled look, which can nevor bo corrected by any subsequent treat ment. This will explain to somo extent tho cause of the high prico of sealskin jackets and cloaks, and also tho causo of tho different prieo. ono hears of, as a gool many skins aro more or less .polled in tho dressing. Another cause, too, is the quality oi tho dye, nnd tho workmanship employed in its uso. Tho liquid colour is put on with a brush, and the points of tho standing fur carefully coveted ; the skin is then rolled up fur inside, nnd then, aftor a littlo time, hung up anil dried. The dry dye is then re moved and a further coat applied, dried, rcmovod, and so on, till tho requisite shade is obtained. Ono or two of theso coats are laiel on thick and pressed ilown to tho roots of the fur, mailing what is called tho ground. From eight to two'.vo coats aro needod to produco v good colour. No wonder a first class sealskin i.-i expensive ; it ft just as true now as over it was ; but in those days of univorsol cheapnoe. ono is apt to forget that, if you want a really good thing, you must pay a good prico.

THE SOUL OF THE WINE.

Facts that Should Be Borno In Minil by Drinkers.

The most important thing to remember in drinking wino ia, alter all, that ita essence, its soul, lios in tho perfume or " bouquet." On this bouquet the commercial and gastronomic value of wines depend almost entirely. Old wines are, as a rule, tho bost, because ago --Hollows their tartness anil intensifies tho purfumo. Tokay ia con sidered the queen of wines, because, whilo its percontago of alcohol ia smaller even than that of Bordeaux and Burgundy wines, it has a rich and most ex quisite bouquet, which tho art of tho chemist is as powerless to produco as tho fragranco of a wild violet. To know how to ilrink wino ia the thing noxt in import once. It is nn art but littlo understood by tho multitude. Unliko beer, it should always bo sipped, and tho smaller tho quantity taken at a time tho more delicious will bo its fragranco. Dealers in genuine wir.os {rarer, tn-cs) havo a habit of placing bo foro an intooding purchaser several samples in small glasses. If ho gulpa down tho wholo glass at once ho will in all probability not get tho choicest brands, for the dealer justly reasons that would bo throwing pearls whero thoy would not bo appreciated. Such a drinker is liko n tourist who "doos "a wholo gallery in rJio timo tbat should be de voted to a single picture. Epicures allow thoir Cbambertin or Leouillo to melt on the toriguo as it woro nnd roll down tho throat.

NEW YORK.

An Eminent EnKlislimnn's Impressions.

New York has nothing which can bo com pared with tho squai.n and parks of London. In this regard timo gives us nn advantage Tho leading thoroughfares aro lined with buildings often of noblo propor tions. From an architectural point of viow, all of tho effects aro completely destroyod by tho telegraph and telophonn . iimpnni. s Hugo posts oi fir aro plunted on both sides of the great thoroughfares carryinghundreda of wire", which intcrlaco at ovary crossing. It is a monstrous abuso to permit theso appli ances of civilisation to bo carried above ground. Subwaysehould bo formed for the purpose. Jn a city scarcely inferior in population to London, facility of locomo tion is of primary importance. In Now York it is rendered easy by tramways and railways. The latter aro carried overhead. It is a for cheaper plan than the tunneling adopted for our mctropolitian lines, and where tho overhead system is confined to streets of ample width and without pre tensions to architectural beauty thero aro fow objections even from the it-sthctic standpoint. In tho social condition of Now York the various nationalities of its inhabitants are a striking feature. As an illustration I may montion that in tho courso of a short ovon ing walk around Washington Square I stopped outside the opon windows of a house fillod with a largo assembly engaged in lively discussion. Tho speeches woro boing delivered in Italian. In tho large assemblage outsido tho majority were speaking French, and ovory cafe in the square and ndjacont streets was kept hy a German Now York is the third largest Gorman city in tho world. On tho day

after my arrival a procession of 40,000 por s'ins, organised by the Knights of Labour, iie-(ilcr] before tho Brevoort Hotel, at which I was _tavin!_. Each ot tlie associations was headed by abam J. There wero car riages and mounted mon at intervals. The several trades carried their distinctive banners, and many ultra-Socialistic dovi-08 woro displayed, denunciations of capital and exhortations to vote for Honry I Icorge as tho next Mayor of New York being fre quent. In America tho relations between labour and capital will call for discretion and self-denial not, less than in tho coun tries of the Old World. * * * Crossing by the steam ferry to Jersey City, a short journey by train brought us to onr destina tion. After a tlrive for a couple of miles along a flat road we reached the foot of a steep hill. Wo climbed it on foot, and on 1 .achinc tho summit found ourselves on the edge of an elevated plateau com manding n glorious viow. At our feet waa a level plain, in which cheerful dwellings and thriving villagos, cultivated fields, and dense masses of rich green trees wore delightfully intermingled. In the middle distance waa tho noblo stream of the Hudson, and beyond it New York. Who can look down without emotion, from a peaceful and solitary spot, on a vast city ? How many a struggling emigrant has trod the streets of New York for the first timo, looking out upon tlio future with fear and trembling ! And how many a gal'ant spirit owes to the cordial welcome which America lias given him the means of gaining an honest livelihood, for which he had found no opportunity in the crowded citiea of the Old World !

HEREDITARY CORNS.

Tho Statement of an Extraordinary Fact Not Hltnerto Known.

" What is tho cause of corns 1"

"It comes by nature, liko a wnrt or any other pimple. No greater mistake was ever mado than to say tight shoes caused corns, but when tho corn is formed tho pressure of t the Bhoe causes tho pain. You can bot it 1 never produces that nuisance of the foot, and my reason for so saying is that in my practice I have had children of three years brought to me for treatment. Now, it is not natural to suppose that a child of tender years is foot-clad with shoes so tight as to produco corns. With them, as, wi'h. o1 :... persona, nature is thp originator, proviv. corns are hereditary, as consumption ami kindred diseases are in somo families." " You don't mean to say that corns can bo handed down from siro to son 2" " I most certainly do say they can bo re produced, liko a bad temper, good dis position, or any special feature of tho faco ; and why not ? If a eon or daughter has a long or short nose like either of their parents, why can't they havo corns like their pa or ma has ? Is not this idea sug gestive and reasonable ? It is an old maxim with students that like begets like, and the offspring would not be a clear imago of the parents unless it resembled them in one way or anothor, corns included. It- may be said that corns are cut and often eradicated. That may be true, though I doubt it, but for sake of argument we will admit tho assertion. What are we to say about boils, pcurvy ond all other ills flesh is heir to ? Is it not often the case that parents subject to such abominations are, to all appearances, free from them, and yet their immediate des cendants at one time or another suffer as they did. So it ia with corns, my boy, and ' don't you forget it."

FOE THE YOUNG FOLKS.

HOW THEY MAKE SLATE PENCILS. In tho northwestern part of the town of Castleton, Rutland County, Vt., is tho only manufactory in tho United States of whito slate pencils. Tho stone aa it cornea from

the quarry is first sawn into blocks from four to .oven inches wide, according to the length desired for the pencils. These are split oasily with a chisel into slabs a little thicket than tho finished poneiis-say 5-ln inch These are passed through a planing machine and over an emery belt to make them flat, smooth and of a uniform thick ness of about 3-10 inch. Next they are pushed into the jaws of a "crocodile,' which consista of a pair of Bteol platea, in tho under one of which aro six rows of curved knives, oach sot so aa to tut a little deeper than tho one that went before it. Thoso plough out parallel grooves half way through the slab, whicli a man then turns and lays upon a steel plate having ridges which just fit these groovos. This slides hack under tho six rows of teeth of a second " crocodilo " lying in wait alongside, which cut the groovos on the othor side. Lastly, thoy are brokon, and rolled for an instant, to point them, upon an emery bolt. A man can ''ivo this last touch to about 8,0(;0 in a day.1" Tho average daily output is 30,000, and the mill gives employment to some 25 hands. Tho old plan was to saw out square pencils from the slabs with a circular saw, ono by one. These were boxed and distri buted among poor families, who whittled them round by hand at from a quarter to half a do'lar per thousand. Tho " croco dile " has spoilt this buainoss.

NOT AFRAID IN THE DARK.

Tho littlo oiios wero playing happily in tho nursery one evoning all by themselves, but they were not afraid, for the rcom was brightly lighted. It looked just liko day light in there. By-and-bye Albert wished for a toy bo had left down stairs, but was afraid to go after it. There were those long stairs and a dark hall to go through, and he could not bring up his courage to run such a " risk." It would have been hard to tell what ho was afraid of in that quiot, ordorly houso, but I suppose it was just tbo dark. Did you ever hoar of tho dark hurt ing anyono? Albert would not go, but he kept on wishing for tho toy more than all the other things he had. "I'll go," Baid 3-year-old Louio bravely; "I'll get it, Albert." So he stepped out resolutely into the hall, and tho children listened at the door to tho steps, and thoy hoard him _ay over again. "Lord, ore you thero? Lord, ure you there?" Ho camo back through the silont hall with tho treasure, and said, " I wasn't afraid, for tho Lord was thoro ?" That was tho way Louie kept up his cour age. If ho had boen 00 years old he could not have dono better.

How a Spider Changes its Clothes.

When a sptdor is preparing to molt it stopa eating for several days and fastens itself by a short line of its snaro, which holds it firmly whilo it proceeds to un dress. Tho skin cracks all around the thorax and is held only by the front edge. Next the abdomen is uncovered. Now cornea the struggle to free tho legs; it works anil kicks vigorously and seems to have very hard work. But continued porsovoreneo of about fifteen minutes brings it out of its eld dress, and it eoems almost lifeless and is limp and helpless for several minutes, but gradually comes to lifo, and seems brighter and prettior than before. To young peoplo, and ovon tho littlo children, it is an oporation of extreme interest. 'My littlo nephew watched tho _oltin« of a nearly full-grown pot spider, anel ran to his mother, saving : " Mamma, my spider un dressed and hung his clothes on a line."

An Umbrella Story.

1-t'RiNQ tho recent wet weather a gentle man emerged from his club in Piccadilly. It was pouring with rain, so ho hoisted his umbrella and looked about for a cab. He could not sco an emntjr nun. !>••- Ua nspi_l _ lady taking shelter in a doorway, and evi dently also waiting for a cab. With true gallantry, hu mado toward her and politely offered to hold his umbrella ovor hor until a eah should pasß. The lady agreed to share tho hospitable shelter of tho umbrella, and, so aa to got well under it, raised her arm nearest tho gontleman and with her h?.nd assisted "in holding the umbrella up Presently an empty four-wheeler passed. It was hailed, and pulled up close to where the pair stood. On reaching tho cab tho gentleman relinquished hi 3 hold on tho umbrella and oponed tho door. As the lady prepared to enter the cab aho lowered the umbrella and was about to take it with her, when her companion touched it and remarked, "My umbrella." Very softly tho lady replied : " Pardon mo ; mine, I think." The situation waa a littlo awk ward. Tho rain was pelting down, and tho gentleman did not care to continue wrangling with a strange lady ovor the ownership of an umbrella. So there was nothing for it but to surrender hia um brella, and resolve never again to protect a lady in tho rain.

The Siege of Carthage.

The terrible scenes witnessed at tho fall of Jerusalem several centuries later did not exceed the horrors of tho siege of Carthage. Tho story of the heroism nnd tragic end of the wife of tho unworthy Hapdrubal is thus told by Professor Church :— Tho next thing t,n be done was the attuck on the Upper City. Wlion that was accomplished, Scipio ordered the streets to be sot on fire. The sceno of destruction which followad was terrible, A mnnbor of non-comba tants, old men, women, and children, had hidden themselves in the houFes that were now blazing. Some threw themselves on to tho spears and sworda of tho soldiers ; somo wero burnt in their hiding-places; some Hung themselves from tho windows into the streets. Many were buried or half buried under the ruins, for the pioneers wero busy clearing a way for the troops, and did their work careless of the living creatures that camo in their way. For six days and niehts those horrors con tinued, described, it must be remem bered, by an eyewitness, the historian Polybius On the seventh day a train of suppliants came from the temple of __culapius, which stood oon- SDicuous at tho summit of the citadels. They begged that tho lives of such as still survived might be saved. Scipio granted the request, but exoeptod the deserters, and fifty thousand men and women availed themselves of his grace. Tho deserters shut themselves up in tho templo—thoro were nine hundred of them, all Romana — and with them Hasdrubal and his wife and thoir two sonß. Tha place was impregnable, but their position wa_ hopeless, for there was no fighting against hunger. Hasdrubal contrived to oscupe from his companions, and threw himself, humbly begging for lifo, at the foot of Scipio. Tho" boon was granted, and the Roman general showed his prisoner to the deserters, who were crowned on tho temple roof. They bitterly approached tho coward who had deserted them, and then set tire to the tempi". When the flames wero burning fiorcoly, tlio wifo of Hasdrubal came forward. She had dressed herself with all the splendour that plio could command, nnd had hor two. children by her side. Turning to Scipioi she said, " Go thee, man of Home, I call no vengeance from heaven. Thou dost but use the rights of war. But as for this Hasdrubal, this traitor to his country and his gods, to his wifo and to his children, I pray that heaven, and thou as tbo instrument of hetiven, may punish him." Thon she turned to hor husband. '• "villain, traitor, and coward," sho cried, • I and my children will find a tom,b. in tho flames, but thou, the mighty •-Ctieral o. Carthago, wilt adorn a Roman triumph I" Sho then sleiy her children, throw their bodies into the flames, and followed them herself. Tims, after seven centuries oi greatness, Carthage fell. Tho conqueror, as ho looked on tho awful spectacle, burst into tears, and murmured to himself, as ho thought of the fate which had overtaken empire aftor empire, and which would one day overtake his own country, the lines of Homer, in which Hoc tor foretells the doom of Troy.

" Who aro the benefactors of tho human race ?" thundered the lecturer as he brought his hand down upon tho elask with a thump that made a waterspQiit'r _}e o.t oi tho pitcher ; '.' who' ar. tjio benefactors fef the human race, I ask }" " I guess I'm one of 'em," said a little man, rising in a back seat. The lecturer was rather taken aback, but after a pause he managed to inquire : " And what have you dono—built a rail road?" "No, sir, I've invented a bedbug poison."

As Her World Wags.

10 a.m.—How dreadfully done up I am, to be sure. Let me sco, where wns I yester day? I saw those wretched Fitzfidgots. Horrid people ! Three dances, and Smith aon brought me home from the last. Quel horreur! The idea of my having a hus band of the name of Smithson ! But then one can't havo everything. Oh ' it's you, Parker, is it 1 Yes, I'll have my Pekoe and a dry biscuit before my bath. 11.30 a m.—Wear Makart greys and yellows. Yellow droll, isn't it? I mean to heat that awful Balcarras affair in the Law Courts this afternoon. It's better than making calls, better than my matinee. I We're terrible creatures, of oouree. Every one is, well-a leetle, ehl-oulre. I'm aure it's no fault of mine. 12.30 p.m.—Dropped in at Faidaiaes. Daren't even look at anything there, such a frightful bill against me. What that poor, unhappy Smithßon will say when ie comes to his ears and they're long enough for any thing to come to, poor man 1) I can't say. Told cousin Gus.tho other day.on the Btriet QT. He offered to, aa he called it, " give me a bit." I don't see why you shouldn't be ablo to take a chequo from your cousin. What good friends we u_d to be, Poor Gus, ho hadn't come into anything then. I wish he wouldn't call mo little woman when he uioets me Of course, I shouldn't think of taking a cheque from Gus. His impertinence shocking I 1.30 p.m.—Lunched with Aunt. I ought not to take anything but claret at lunch, but I did. Only tho girls, Aunt, and Gua where there ; quite petit comite, you know. At Faidaise's I had some red lavender. Why should women tako red lavender for their nerves? It only makes you silly and stupid. Of course Aunt U going with mo to the Law Courte. I shouldn't dream of going without her. No, no, I know what I owe to myself and society better than that! 5 I'M.—Really tho Balcarras case was too awfully awful. Auut quite crammed her handkerchief into her mouth. He I he! I wonder how it suited those new teeth of hers I ,_-.., 8 p.m.—Really it is too absurd. Smith son absolutely putting on tho indignant be cause I have been to hear the Balcarras. "Everyone goes," I said. He said, "The more shame for them." Really the poor man is a perfect wild Indian. He knows nothing of the usages of ordinary people. The man ie a perfect boar. He was really born to live at Clapham, or aome other awful place too dreadful to reflect upon. 3 a.ii.-Such fun. Danced six times with poor Gus. Twice at tho Fitzfidgots', twice at the Mashvillea', twice at Aunt'a crush. When we ware driving home, Smithson began somothingabout " Madam " As if I were going to bo awed '. Dreadfully sleepy. Yes, Parker, I'll have some coffee and curacoa. Good night—beg pardon, till morning—girl.—" Fun."

Her Conscience Was Clear.

PATERFAijiMAS-Oh, so you've engaged yoursblf to that roaming Count Luna, eh ? Daughter—And why should I not, pray? You know perfectly well that, although he has a title, he is simply a poverty stricken fortune hunter." "Well, he certainly has not seen any evidences of wealth around this house." "Perhaps not; but you are your uncle's sole heiress." " I did not tell him that." " Humph ! I must say there is a mystery somewhere; that fact is not known outside of tho family, and no ono has told him unless you have." "He loves mo for myself alone." " A true, good man might very easily, my dear; but that follow wouldn't, I know, You must have let him know you woro an heiress." " No, I didn't say ono word. I only said I was your only child, and I was so sorry your only brother was not. married, because he had no loving children to leave his millions to ; so there now."

Hand Reading.

SooiCTV in New York is at tho present momont turning attention to its hands, far an exponent of the ecienco of tho hand is there who is believed in as infallible, and who undertakes to initiate ladies and gontlmen into tho reading of their hinds. He is much I- ra „ u o | io «„__-_• _•«>-_- __l~p-rt_J_, whore handß of all sizes and shapes are thrust under his notice that he may tell the character of the respective owners thereof. Ho af serfs the handtobeaneesential member of tho body, whioh ie perfectly true ; he calls it the mirror of themind, which may or not bo 80, and alleges that it indicates the character, habits, and degree of intelligence of its pos sessor. He cares loss about the Hne3 in tho palm than ho does about the Bhapo of the members. Smooth fingers, he says, indicate tact; knotty oneß taste in actionß ; long lingers sho - a power of reasoning in detail; short ones a tondoncy to jumpat conclusions; vory short fingers, cruelty ; thick fingers, lovo of luxury ; stiff fingers, avarice ;. supplo joints generosity. We should be sorry to think that there are pooplo of gentle breeding who aro in the habit of telling lies, othor than what may be called society lios, not admitted aa genuine false hoods, which aro told to escape from a visitor who calls at an inconvenient hour or from a dinner party which there is a desire to declino without giving offence. But to anyone who is in the habit of telling what aro real downright lies, tho American exponent of Cheirosophy says, 'Try to tell ono with your hand open ; you will find it an impossibility."

Scotch in India.

About 1856, at a meeting held in Bombay to commemorate the anniversary of St. Andrew's Day, Dr. Buist showed how much India was indebted to Scotchmen ; stating that the " Bombay Quarterly Review' was chiefly written by -cotchmen, printed by . Scotchman, and published by a Scotch man. The " Bombay Gazette " was con ducted by a Scotchman ; the " Telegraph ond Courier" has, with ono exception, always been conducted by Scotch men. He who did the "Times" was a Scotchman; the "Bombay Guardian " and " Oriental Christian Spectator" were founded or conducted by Scotchmen. The Asiatic and Medical Societies were both presided over by Scotchmen. The prin cipals of these colleges are Scotch, and some of the professors wero Scotch 5 and 1 those who had not been so favoured in their birth hod wisely endeavoured to remedy the deficiency by marrying Scotch women. The director of public instruction was a Scotchman, and tho senior inspector of schools. The governor was a Scotch mon, and three of hia personal staff wore Scotch. Of the last ten governors, five had been Scotch, and for thirty out of fifty yeare Bombay had had a Scotch administration. We had a Scotch man at the head of the commissariat, and another for his deputy. The quarter master and surgeon-general, the garrison engineer, civil architect, the dockyard en gineer, and physician general were all Scotch It was quito olear that onr noble army could noithor be fed, physicked, or clothed, taken to tho field, or made comfor table in cantonments, except for Scotch men. -. _________

The Shilling Case.

The great " shilling case," in which four teen of her Majesty's judges sitting in full court could not agreo as to whether one Ashwell had or had not committed larceny in taking a sovereign in mistake ior a shilling and sponding the balanco, ia bear ing fruit. A hawker, named Walter Thompson, was recently charged at the Guildhall Police Court with " having stolen haH-n-crown,' which was paid him in mis take for a penny." The prosecutor said he had purchased n penny la,m,pgf .sa cleaner from the prisoner, and present!, discovered that he had paid haHj-a.pro.wn for it, Ths pvisoner c^enied, that he had dono _>; but the §ilyov esiu was found upon him at the .police' station, and before the Magistrate lie himself unblushingl. offered to restore it. The magistrate (_r Cowan), to the prisoner's " evidently agreeable surprise," discharged him ; observing that " unfor tunately, the state of the law was Buoh that it did not hold a person committing rj_ offence such as this guilty of larce_7.'" He further expressed an opinion iaai the law, being so, should be e\tai'.d' with all speed ; and in this or>;nion most people will concur. Whether Mr Cowan's further observation, that " when a defect in the law appears, the more widely it is mado !j;ao,wn tho better," will be fpund equally satisfactory, ia open to doubt, .t is not altogether wise to tot dishonest persons know how simply, usuor esrtain circumstances, they may commit actual and moral theft without putting themselves within the pale of the law.

The woman who undertook to scour the woods has abandoned the job owing to the high prioe of soap. The last that was heard of her she was skimming the sea 3.

SELECTED POETRY

JUBILEE SONGS. No. I.—The Triumph of Song. Thoro was a cloud of smtow Krowning in the sky— A bitter wail of sorrow, A sob of agony; No void, to cDotr the weary. No word to man the brave, Baca uui verso tit error— Tha shadow of the zrave. Then came an ang _ singer, _md a crowd of mbu Rested ilieir weary chained limbs By meadow and by fen. Armed barons syved the weak. In their mailed armour fctrong; There was a universal shout— Tbe triumph of the wrong I But hark! what angel strain, ara these Bursting from the strings 1 " The slave shall stand in freedom s van, A peer amidst the kings." The poor were bondsmen to the great, The pure in heart wero cowed. The broad-sword of the armed knight Held away upon the crowd. The singer touched his lyre. The slave throw off his ohain». The martyr broke the cruel bunds That w-oughtsuoh bloody pains I Then faith in strength of ma _ood And memories of might Were pre ana for tha Freedom, Tha Majo-t? of Rmht. W. B. Wills. ♦— —

A SCANDINAVIAN LEGEND.

" He Hies hither out of the darkness, and he tiles back into the darkn _?, and he only stays for a moment in the light."—lvan Turheniekp. King Olal" sat In his hall.— The lire burned oheerf ally bright, The polished shields on the wall Shone cloar In the nickering light. A rustling of wines was heard, And from tbe darkness ol night Came fly in*, a shivering bird Into the warmta and tbe light. Ho rested, as if In pain, On one of tbe shields awhile, And then departed .gain; But tad wm King o!ui"_ smile. " The life of frail man," said he. " Is like this, our feathered gueat; From the darkness of m^ Stery He seeks the light for a nest; " Only a moment he basks In the warmth and in the light. And trom his unfinished tasks Speeds back again unto night." O. E. Hugo. *

THE CATHEDRAL.

Beautiful in radiant sunshine. The oithodral. old and grey. With the blue Bky all around it, Deep'ning far away; But when evening shades fall slowly. In tbe silence, soft and holy, Enter through the ancient portal At the close of day. Gloom enwraps the massy arches. Shadows darken on tlio floor. Thoughts -i_ of those who wandered Here in days of yore; Of the many eyes that brightened And the and beans that werellghtaned By the peace that ent red in them As thiy pjssed thedoor. While without is wildly -.owina Everywhere on life's deep tide. Here within is calm and peaceful Rest on every side. Here they rest, who once in sorrow Laboured for the brighter morrow When, their work on earth completed, They were glorified. Others too. with martial visage. Strode with hasty steps along. And the strain their hearts re-echoed : Was a battle Bong. Now the warlike scenes have vanished AU but or-aoef ul notes are banished ; The cathedral has out-la.ted All that eager throng. Stem crusader, monarch mighty, i Vanquished bra king more great, Pious monfc and solemn bishop. L _ug here in state ; Relics of the years behind us Silently and still remind us , We shall join their ranks though honoured . or uiscolebrate. They aro gone, bat we are living. And, as in tho days gone by, I In His house the sacred Presenoe ; Still is ever nigh; Mortal eyes sco noc its glory Felt but in the heart's strange story. Yet wbije heavenly thoughtß uplift us Earthly whisperings fly. INDA.

HUMOROUS

Shopping in the Country.—" No, ma'am ; those are articles we don't keep ; but the ojalo, a I think,7oU _1U __i~e_-__-p_«J* offico, and onions you can get across the hare r s." Henry George says the time will come when no man will be allowed to own land which he does not use. From that it will be only a step to the time when.no man will be allowed to own anything which anybody else wants. A witty man who lived in constant fear of the bailiffs, having absconded, one of his acquaintances was asked what was the rea_n of his absence ; to which he replied, " Why, sir, I apprehend he was apprehen sive of being apprehended." Women and the Weed. —Ladies don't know whether thoy like smoking^ or npt. With special favourites they like it; with general favourites they dent ] dislike it; and with no favourites they detest it. "George," said a young miss who was looming musio, "why is your moustache like the 'Bohemian Girl'?" "1 don't know, my dear." "Because there arejso many boautiful (h)airs in it I" [Collapse.] A Florida hotel proudly announces that ithae "a bevy of beauties from the north ac waiters." The place at which the hotel is locat-d bears the euphonious name, _it; may be stated in this connection, of Kis simmee. A scientist has discovered a. way to _o move moustaches from the lips of ladies. No prudent lady should allow a moustr-che to stay on her lips moro than a few seconds at the time. " Oh, pray let me have my way this time," said a young gentleman to his lady love. "Wei;, Willie, 1 Buppose I must thia onca, but you know that after we are married I shall always have ai Will c. _ty own." An old offender was lately brought before a learned justice of the peace in Shropshire. The constable, as a preliminary, informed his worship that he had in custody John Simmons, alius Jones, alias Smith. "Very well," said themagistrate. "I will try the two women first—bring in Alice Jones.". . An old soldier, who has had both legs amputated, complains of a violent sick headache. " What do you advise, doctor J. he inquired of the physician who had been summoned. ' I should recommend a warm footbath immediately," returned the man of wisdom. A medical student under examination being asked the different effect of heat and cold, replied, "Heat expands and cold contracts." "Quite right; oan yoa give me an example?" "Yes, sir. In summer, which is hot, the days era longer ; but in winter, which is oo!|d, the days are Bhorter." At the Liwe street Station, a few days since, s, waman was observed to be entering a Srsi olass currioge, and on the porter in quiring it she had not made a mistake,' she innocently replied that she had not; it was the third carriage from the engine, aad she had got a third-class ticket ( A lady suspected of Jiaoobitism was brought before a, jijstioe, who told her that nothing would i_ away with her suspicious conduct lout: calling the Pretender a knave. " I know nothing of the Pretender," re plied the lady, "but if I knew him as well as I do your worship I could very readily call him a knave." A practical joke was once attempted to be played on Mr Erskine as he went to Westminster, Hall, with his ample bag crammed full of briefs. Some waggish barristers hired a Jew's hay to go anct ask him if he had "any aid cla'to seli ?" " No, you, little Hebrew imp," exclaimed the in- Indignant counsellor, " they are all new suits.'* Two olid Scotch friends met and referred »o the days when they hud boen sweet hearts. At last he paid : "Ay, Jennie, an' I hue na loved anybody since you. I hae aaver forgotten you " "John," she said, with a little moistening of the eye, " y__ _c just as tig a leear as ever, an' I helleve ye jist the same." A Pretty Compliment—C__a : "I under stand that Mr Feathvriy paid me a very pretty compliment tn-doy ?" Ethel: " Yes » What wa£ it i" Glara :" He said that amons the most beautiful young ladies at tke party waß Miss Clara Smith,." Ethel (with '» cough): " Yes, 5 noticed you among them." It is Baid of A. JVscCiu.e, the witty ortho dox p ~__on ci Maiden Church, because he fe_d from the pulpit a notice for a meeting oi the ladies exclusively in the vestry, thus :—"On Wednesday afternoon all the old hens in this congregation will meet $0? the purpose of a general cackle; no scoster will be admitted." An old man who had, ween dreadfully henpecked all his Is*. was -visited on his deathbed by 0, c/iergyman. The old man seemed vs-'y kidifferent, and the clergyman tri^d. to rouse him by talking of. the King, ot Terrors." Hout, tout, man ; I'm no scar't at the King of Terrors. live been living sax-and-thirty years with the Queen of them, and the King cannot be muokle waur." .j ..:;,.:.■

THB AUCKLAND EVENING STAE, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1887.

5



." I envy naught-nnlass 'Ua this. The test of moral might; The man who knows what Mine It _.' And feels that he is right." PUNCTUALITY LEADS IO SUCCESS. The man who misses his trains, trams, or steamers; who neglects bis appointments, or loses track of his minutes : who regulates hia aotion by a faulty, erratic watoh, soon finds himself left out o" the tide ot pros pariiy, and never comes within cooeo of his successful neighbour. Please make a note ot this, and remember that it is AS GOOD AS AN ANNUITY To become possessed of one cf STEWABT DAWSON _ Co.'a FAMOUS TIMEKEEPERS. Always reliable, saving time and money—a sure road to fortune. ENGLISH WHOLESALE! PRICKS, 27s 6d to £30. PERENNIAL PLEASURE FOLLOWd. And the Clerk, the Assistant, the Artisan, the Miner, or the Labourer, whp used to be habitually luce, soon gets into good repute, promotion is ensured, ail the threadbare, excuses— " Didn't know tne time," or " Watoh was wrong"—are no loriger made use of, perennial pleasure is scoured, and all for a small outlay, because STEWART T~iAWSO_ & /.O. THWART 1-AWSON _ _>0. MANUFACTURE ALL IM RT AL AND SELL EVERY WATCH THEMSELVES DIRECT TO THE PUBLIC. A eight to be remembered for a life time is STEWABT DAWSON _ CO.'S GREAT ENGLISH WATCH EXHIBITION, QUEEN-STREET. WATCHES OP EVERY GRADB. To Suit All Classes. Ample V__r__. fob Choice. ______ Margin in Pricb. 10 000 T0 SELECT FROM. ALL ENGLISH WHOLESALE PRICKS. RESIDENTS AND VISITORS Let your first business be to call at OUR GREAT ENGLISH WATCH EXHIBITION, 81. QUEEN-STREET. f you cannot be suited there, yon can nowhere; and if you don't buy you will carry a pleasant remem brance of one of the Prkttiebt Sights in Auckland* JEWELLERY! JEWELLERY I OF EVERY KIND. NEWEST NOVELTIES, LATEST DESIGNS. An IMMENSE STOCK To select trtun, at about HALE COLONIAL PRICES. LADIES' AND GENTS' GOLD ANDSILVER ALBERTS, MAGNIFICENT PATTERNS, All Imported Direct, ATPRICBS UNAPPROACHABLE. LADIES'AND GENTS' SILVER ALBERTS. EXTRAORDINARY VALUE. ALL HALL MARKED. 0a 6d, 10s 6d, 12s 6d, 13b 6d, and 15s 6d. CANNOT BE EQUALLED. REPAIRS. ~ " REPAIRS.- NOTE. It may not be generally known that we have astaff of watchmakers work ing on tlie .remises. ___ watches a every description, no matter whom , they axe bought from, are repaired and cleaned by us at about halt ordinary New Zealand prloes. Watches requiring cleaning oan ba returned to customers properly -- - cleaned within two hours it re»" qutrcd. All repairs dono on the premises, and workmanship guaranteed. Call and receive, gratis, a copy of our Splendid New Illustrated Watoh and Jewellery Pamphlet, and read fnll partloulars and most wonderful ' testimonials. . ~7. ~~ .TOE REAL____,U_ VISIT STEWART DAWSON 3: CO. _. GREAT ENGLISH WATCH EXHIBITION. it: M-QUEEN-STREET-M, | Opposite Wyndham-street; AUCKLAND.. " T\7E call the attention, of <.•*_** if T . BotUed Ale. Hotel Prdprlet&s, «_. Oonaumers generally to a ___oiai__ lioh. p__- ale, brewed __t Read B_otb__s. Bot tlers, of London, by Bass _ Co..ofß___i_n tho Light Ale li designed to ___._.• now. lng summer demand for a Sparkling and Re freshing Malt Liquor ot tow Aloohollo ______ ; and it is confidently re commended to those who. while, recognising the merits of Lager Beet, still apprec—te the superior delioaoy at flavour and greater tonlo properties of the more highly hopped Burton brewings. The Pale Ale of usual full strength xbms possibly be pref erred in winter time, end it will >ot be altered in any rsspeot; while the Lighter Pale Ale, whioh is also put np In fall __■.*- Champagne Bottles, ma. be identified by tha labels used in addition to the well-knowa Red T_«,ng_ and 801 l Doa'a Head marks, The outside of the oases containing it Is turtMr marked with a Red Star. j 1_ DL NATHAN _ 00. -OILLIARD mABLBB, _o„ to. - p**' _ .' V 7 We are Agents for the wsU__> wn Makers. Messrs ALCOOK _ CO., Melbourne, and invite attention of full-size Tables oa view at oni Warehouse. - Illustrated prioe lists ot various Tablet on Win able and posted on »pplieatlon by letter. Every requisite in stock. L. P. NATHAN tc 00. TitLORENTINB LIQUID ENAMEL ■B _*__A _&#__. __GB n____j_o BRONZES. TWELVE BEAUTIFUL COLOURS. ' ________ akd WASHABLE. LAMPS, CEILING ORNAMENTS, BUSTS, BRACKETS, FIGURES, AND ARTICLES OF ALL DB.CRIPTIONS . Done with these Bronzes by W. G. PAVXTT, WEST-STREET. NEWTON. Agent for "'.,.. \ T. PAVITT'S BRONZES AND BRUSHES. .Established 18WJ A UCKLAND JJ OLLBR -ftTILLS* AND BISCUIT MANUI. ACtOlnr, \ FORT-STREET, AUCKLAND, _,_. ..(Offioe at the MUI). j JO HN LAME HAS FOR BALE: WHEAT MEAL, in sacks, ICirtr, tor. __(__,: PRRMIKR __K.URHn__.kT; STANBaSd FLOUR, insaoks;QU___N'-l ELOuSTin «_»_., 100's, Ms.and«%: Ro_____>lßljr in sack., 100's, Wi, end __'«, BHARP3, BRAN, FOWL WHEAT, OATS ____tfM__^ V™ Brfcou»' Floor end Blsonits peeked in air-tight tins for Islands trade. Ask yonr grocers tar the Auck land Hollar Mills* Flour, and cnoowage lee*. ladmtry. James M.'JEwan * Co* Lokdon. Melbourne and Suva, Fin, Desire to Intimate that they have sec__d Offloesln DUNCAN'S BUILDINGS, Corner of Cs__,ol end Mancbestiir-streets,wh»_» their Representative, MR J. E. HARDIB. : WUlhegUdti '-„'.."' RECK-VK INDENTS For English, American, and Conthwatsi _pff» of all description-. '; ?j* §v Christohurch, December, 1888. FEMALES suffering from Sto__e_ end Heed Troubles have ft Genuine Fries* ln M_s De. Stdaht'b _____!_'_s_L___P__(__ Billo__e_,lndigestion;Costivenees. Wind and Spas-UUBlck Headache, Pain andFnUneeeftftar eating speedily relieved. One cox bee emred all these troubles of year, standing. They pre vent a host of maladies peculiar to theses, __ boxeeetlsSd. Bold every, hera, KKW ____!___» D__- 00. __________