The Cardigan Observer and General Advertiser for the Counties of Cardigan Carmarthen and Pembroke

THE FACE IN THE GLASS. PART L—THE WiBsnra. > lie far distant Yorkshire, many years ago, stood an old manor-houiQ-Ht gray, grim building surrounding an open courtyard, in the middle of which, played a melancholy fountain. The house was close to the wide moon that stretch away to the city of York, and beside the village there was not another place within miles. Bxcept for the housekeeper and the usual staff of servants the house had been uninhabited now for some time, for the late owner had been a great traveller, and had been drowned during his last voyage; close at home too, which made it all the sadder, and he was brought baek to be buried in the dreary family vault one day in tint spring before my story opens. Since that occurrence the housekeeper declared that, when- ever there wire storms out at sea, the wind used to howl and wail down the long passage like a soul in pain, and 'that 4 dreadful sound of dripping water always w*tf to be beard in the room where the poor body was laid, in the interval before the funeral. There were also some mysterious chambers in theman- aion where the deors disappeared periodically, and entrance to them was thereby prevented for month* together; and when they were at last restored, the walls would be found adorned with diabolical sketches of fiends, iiicl"" furniture would be arranged in anything but an, artistic manner. Howeveiv this did not seem to weigh very heavily on the spirits of the new owners, Mr, ^nd, Momoe; abigb-spinted, courageous couple, who* bad, not, long been, married,, and were as Happy as lie day waslong.. Mrs. Monroe, indeed, wofessed herself most Murious to see one of these wonderful ghosts, but then she was strong- minded, and actually thotfght nettling of going to bed alone in the dark, and she would vait the haunted chambers and walk about the passages at night until the servants almost Believed she must be a ghost her- self, so extremely fearless was she on the subject. Hm* Mr*. Monroe, let us get Betty's keys froifl her this very moment, tod go in for a regular ghost hunt. The MtttiShg has come on very rapidly, and the moon on the snow will make the rooms as Wghtas day. See," she added, drawing apart the he*yy*erin&on curtain* that hung over the deep, arndf-jAned windows, the clouds are all gone, and to-morrow you may be able to shoot again, and we may never have such a glorious opportunity for months 4ome, so don't let us miss it. We're both tired of tfKittg over tbC fire, and a rush" throughall those nfeystoriouif rooms above our bechrooifc floor will give to im, appetittf dihtfer;«venif we are not rewarded by the sight of the much-to-be-dewred bocios* «It wtfl b* horribly cold," toswered Hugh, shrug- ging uphisShOuld^rB and stretching out his hands to thelrig mrethat biased up the chimney; and besides, if we did sect gaoat, it would be the death of you; you know it's Only because you didn't believe in Betty s stories th*t~>Otr are'sOf courageous." "My dear Hugh;" said Ruth, impressively, I don't for one "moment believe we shall see anything worse than ourselves, as old nurse used to say; but if we did? What'coiild -possibly happen to us? lhave be* tip aad about all hours of the night,'especially whtfn Bittgr was so ill the week before last, and really if there wcw anything to be seen, I should have eeen it then. However, I won't go now if you don t like it." !ti "Oh, we'll go," answered Hugh. "I was rather lasy, that's alii" And so1 saying, he rang the bell aud ordered tte-imni;^find after a little delay-a goodly assortment Watt-siseSand'speeiel of <kdy was brought tbsin. andoff started? Miv tatd Mrs. Monroa oa their Mosthuhl^. v >ijWT. l 11 v 1 ni < • Hush's spirits rose with the <e"Mb.. and they, we .t, upstairs and doWnSt&frs,'Altilo'eklng.many a cupboard and rooni^tUib Mid not Men lobked it fdr theritha, and maybe jfrarifrhat'tot a ghost waa to be seen. Every now andJIfieWa uiostsuggesfcive rujtlewas to be beard among th<i*fa«5l ba»kiilferf Oak ft*#- po*t*' rs, and TTwgfa aiid Ruth held ea^ ot^^|« hand|r a I it.tie tighter tbavrasaalp but an in^#ti^ti«^ ,i^ tinned out ty> be eithertheiwind^MWas wginn.ihg ti» rise, or* shimmer from tHUntp tipy carried thoWed' them a little gray mouse<s0ttttli& £ away under the beda./now and then, too>a dreary, grow seemed to pierce the darkness ss tbeyopefled some heavy doqr; but^hifl, too.generally turned out to be caused by the rustiness of the hinges. They <weife gettiag^gradufcliy in extreraelyhigh spirits, and as the-buHt proceeded* and nothing- was found, tbey wer»la«gl^B|g <uid piking loudly, when suddenly th^y, cvxae upoa a doofsA-the \&rj end. of the passage that led4o«n bo lfae^qhabited .portion of the house, which they had n^t poi^ed. bef<»re.. Of course, it was locked,, a{i thQ5vdi»<sred »t once, and after trying to unlock ii with every key thg had, they came to the conclusion that they, would have to go downrfiaira after one that jrould fit th^ lock; when suddenly thejrind seemed ia. rise' yrt' higher, qind a gather strong puff came throui^i the keyhole (through which Mrs. Monroe, wasjieeping to see if the key' had been left there), extmguirtiing,; the lamp she held,' and they wqra at ojitf^e.plynged in darkness. However, Mr, Monroe soon lighted it again. "The windows must all be open,* -said he, in which ca^e it was quite time we investigated our domain. I dare Bay old Betty has lost the key, and is afraid I shall scold her for her I carelessness. However, if you aren't frightened, Ruth," he added, turning to his wife, I'll run down I and ask L-her, about it. If she's lost it, I'll have the door broken open and those windows shut, for there's wind enough here for a ship in full sail." | "Yes, do," answered Mrs. Monroe brightly; j doubtless here's the sailor's ghaut that makes our nighta so extremely squally when the wind is high; and if we can get rid of bim, perhap. t shall not be driven to have a new maid every time the wind blows I from the north-west; which is beginning to be rather a trouble, especially now when the snow is so deep. I should never get one out from Yoi k. Well, wait there, then," said Mr. Monroe, and he hurried off into the downstairs regions and asked the old housekeeper for the missing key. She rose frOta her seat by the fire, trembling, and in a hurried manner laid, New doant'ee. Master Hugh." f "Doanfee," repeated Hugh scornfully, doant ee what? if you've lost the key, what does it matter ? we'll soon get a new one; but if you haven t, and it s any of your superstitious nonsense, you ought to know us better than, to try on anv of that with «». Be quick, too, tor it's mighty cold up there. The WlttuOWl are open, I think, and though the night is still, the wind seems to chill onp. through." "Master Hugh," said Betty impressively, in that room has lain dead taanv momberi' of the Monroe family; somehow or other every Tuember has either died there or been carried thither in his boffin'to wait for his faneral day. And to-night, Master Hugh," she added, waxing more eWiUbnt as her dread of his taking the key increased—^•" to-night is the anniversary of the day Master'Charles was brought there drowned and dead from Flamborough Bay; and you know that ad sure as you go into that room, so sure will you see reflected in the glass the face of any member of the family who has to die before the year is out; and on K the bed, Master Hugh, you'll see the coffin, with its >adful drijf, drip, drip, from the shroud of the poor uead boy, just as it drippted ceaselessly with sea-water until they buried him out of our sight." What on earth are you about, Hugh ?" broke in a voioe from the doorWfy I am nearly frosen to death, and I want to fjet into the room." Give me the k«ry, Betty," ikid,,Htigh;, -I,, I'll run the tiak of the ghcttts, coffin and an, andbesides, we are ghost hunting. So, my dear," he went on, turning to hie wife, who, tired of waiting, had t&me dOwa te see what he was doing, M aoeordaig to Bfttty we may ery Buraka, for theghost is found? aftd. laughing tery mti§fa,"i&e €wo youig people took the key from Betty's unwilling hand, and rushing "up the wide oak staircase, they were soon at the door of the ghost chamber. The wjipd aeeined to. have risen in their short absence, and as they rested for a moment, after their hurried race up the stairs, there seemed to come to them the regu]M,dpp,i(djip, fdrip, that old Betty had prophesied. Bven tneir stout hearts quailed somewhat, but with an impatient "Imagination, of course," Hugh turned the key in the lock, apd the door came open. Only a bare boarded. £ hapi|>er, and in the griddle the bed that had held so many, many corpses; three tiny windows al1 close shuttered, but through the chinks came stray moonbeans, and a most tremendous rush of wind that agitated the light chintz hangings to the bed, until all sorts and sUllpes of figures seemed in the folds, peeping and glaring at the new-comerf. Between each window was hiiWg a looking-glass, and above the mantel-pieee was another—other furniture was there none. "A window must be broken," said Mrs. Monroe* and so saying she advanced to throw open the shutters, which she had no sooner done than she was alarmed by hearing her husband fall with a loud bang behind her. with the muttered exclamation, My God!" Ruth tore to the bell, and rang a tremendous peal, and before the servants came rushing up she had dragged Hugh into her arms, and regardless of any ghoststhatpaightbe about, turned all her attention to her husband, wiVhing heartily that, the could get at some of the water she hear.<l toO continually driooing near ner. Just as the servants reached her she oaught sight of a thin stream of water meandering towaxdi them, making a line of light through the dust, and eh, stooped forward to dip her handkerchief into it, when Betty, who, notwithstanding her age, was the first to answer the summons she had been awaiting breath- lessly ever since the key had left her hands,—rushed forward, and with a M—m—missus, that's corpse water," deluged'Hugh and Ruth with the oontents of a jug she had brought up with her, convinced that it would be required. Hugh was carried out of the room into his own, and just as Ruth turned to lock the door. she saw, or fancied she saw, in the moonlight that now flooded the room, the pale shadow of a coffin on the bed, from which proceeded the thin stream, of water which she had so nearly used for her husband; and with a judder of horror, but with a promise to herseli ta^-ipvestigate the subject, she clonal and looba,tht deor, slipping the key into her pocket, and followed Hugh iato his room. i By this time he had come to himself, and fas beginning .to winder, what on earth had been. j^he matter; but the moment he saw his wife, the remem* brance of the horror came back to him, and he nearly fainted again.. r .ul,vr; When be was all right once,, more, which was npt until the next day, and they wereseated at a lata break. fast, Ruth implored him to tell her quietly andoaknly all he had seen; but all she could draw from him Was the assurance that no power on earth should induce him to tell her, and that he wished to forget all about it assoon as he could. "Ghostø P oh, ghosts were nonsense, of course, but still there was no need to talk of them." "But Hugh," said Ruth mysteriously, "I saw, it too, and I didn't mind a bit. After all," she. added, alarmed at the expression on her husband's face, it might have been only a leak in the roof that allowed the water to come inland moonbeams do take such curious shapes, especially when reflected from the snow, that I believe the coffin only existed in our imagination; and I shall go up again to-night, and set, the matter straight once and for all. If there realjy should be a ghost—well, we must use all our endeavours to lay the perturbed spirit; but if there iwrt, we had surely better discover that it is so, for neatly you look white and ready to faint at the mere idea of it." "You must do nothing of the kind," answered Hugh decidedly. I saw neither coffin or water, and what I did see was probably nothing of any consequence, but I cannot mention it to you of all people under the sun,—at all events not until the first shock has worn off. And I must ask you to give up any idea you. may have of going there again." Before Ruth bad any time to either give him the desired promise, or argue himoitf of. his absurd superstition, as she characterised his it^eas in her own mind, Hugh had caught sight of the weekly postman labouring at last through the melting mud in the avenue; and doubtless wishing to forget all about the affair ef the night before, he went out to meetfhjm. "Very sony, sir," said the postman," to be late, but still more sorry to be the bearer of bad news; your poor brother's heart-broke. He've lost hit missus, and wants to see you at once. The funeral's to-morrow, and he does hope the roads will be open enough te allow of you to cometohim, for he's terribly cuI- up about it." > Hugh Jjppkj jihe letters and went in, and who shall Say how thankful he was at the bad news ? for he had fully believed he had seen his wife's face in the glass in the ghoat. room last night, and now it has turned out—so he thinks—to be that of his younger brother's wife. who was his wife's sister, and who resembled Ruth greatly. In his joy at the load lifted off his mind he almost forgot he bad to tell his wife of her sister's death, and he was glad to find her absent on her household duties, where she remained until he had read his letters and felt in a more saddened frame of jnaind..Poor Ruth was in so much trouble, and at the same time in such a bustle to get her husband and his groom and garments off in time, that the ghost qqite" slipped both their minds, and it was only when he was halfway to York, and had got out on to the open mper, where the snow was rapidly melting under a warm north-west rain, that Hugh wished he bad told Ruth all ahout it, and had arked her to gi ve him the promise he wished for in the morning. But it was *°ft,B!t> k? jogged on until the fotfy-ffive miles of damp, (coJ3 riding were over, aod he found himself entering the dark, narrow streets of York. PART H.—THE FtrLFiiilisirr. AFTER the tot «d. questions and an^wejj had passed' between' Mr, Monroe and his brother Edgar, Hugh proceeded to tell how alarmed he had beep, in, ^be ghost-chamber the iiigbt before by the apparition in tbtfglasy. Kdgar looked up frpm bis>eat hy the fire, ancNaictj'What lime did TOU see it, Hugh T I canVin the least tell." answered Hugh, "but I should say about six or, a little after, But what does that matter ? the warning was conveyed to me, i? only I hid'ft^at orice jumped tothe conclusion that it must Mary died the day before yesterday," said Edgar; e was1 sitting there, looking to me as well as you are^and'all'of a sudden she fell forward, and must, have died' ihstantly. Thank God," he added, inbrokei^ accViits1, whe never suffered at all. Dootoi" Boroham told me that her death was instantaneousand it's ] just' as h^father died too. It must be in the family" 1 "God forbid," exclaimed Hugh, jumping up. "Don't for Heaven;s sake taltf like that; Maryland Ruth are sisters, remember. Think of what you are saying?' r "I never' could see why we pray against sudden death," said Edgar, still in the same quiet tone of voice. Think how mercifully one glides but of all th £ turmoil and pain of this mortal life into perfect rest. Would I could lie down at once by MaryS side and»leeptoo!" "Merciful for those who go," said Hugh, "butnot for thofctbat remain behind. Think or the shock! But it is getting late, and I have had a long ride;" I II mttSt gO to bed l" and bidding his brother good night, he went up the staircase into the room appointed for hkn» Just across the narrow passage was that other quiet room, in which lay the body of his sister in-law, under the doorway of which came a thin line of light and'subdued'murmur of talk, that showed some one j. was still in the room with her. Hugh had not seen berllinoe tbe day on whioh the two brothers and sisters had been married. He took up his candle again, and going across the passage, knocked at the door. It was opened about an inch by the old family nurse who had come to live with Miry on her marriage, and she, seeing who it was, came out, and shutting the dopr carefully behind her, drew Hugh back again into hi. own yoom, and shut that door too. "Now, Mr. ) Monroe" said she, "I know what you want; but listen to me, and don't ask to see poor Miss Mary again. You had far better remember her as she was the last titne you saw her—abonnie, liappv'bride—than take away''in your mind how she looks now; and belidea¡" she added, "she is so like dear Miss Ruth that I am sure you should not look at her; it can do her no good now. poor lamb. and may give you ft shock yon m not easily get oyer—and you look white and tired enough now too." All right, Povia," answered Hugh; perhapayou are right, >ut X thought Mr. Edgar might feel hurt. Anyhow, I'll leave it to you to explain matters, and as I really am almost done up, I'll take your advice. So good nightand the nurse having gone back to her melancholy task of watching by the coffin, Hugh proceeded to hurry into bed. As he was seated on the side of his bed, divesting himself of his garments, he happened to catch sight of himself in the looking- glass, and there, looking as it were over his shoulder, was the dreadful face of the night before. This time the eyes were opened, and seemed to look in an im- ploring and appealing manner into bis own, as if urging some action upon him. Qnly the face was to be, seen, fas if the head were cut off at the neck, or' as if the head and body were enveloped in a gray fog, out of which loomed the fair appealing features of his wife—for that it was his wife Hugh never thought of doubting. He rose and hurried forward to the glass, but as he advanced the face gradually vanished; and although he stood for some time trembling and looking in all directions it did not come again. So putting it down in his own mind to imagination, he hastened to get into bed, and being dreadfully tired, soon fell fast asleep. The morning found him rested; and his intellect clear and alert. He rose and dressed, but when he was brushing his hair in the glass a cold wind seemed to pass over him. The brushes were poised in mid- air, and there looking again at him over hiR shoulders, the sad gray eyes meeting his, was the face of his wife. This time more of the figure became visible as he looked, and as he stared helplessly into the evea before him, a hand was raised, and on one finger he saw their ) bethrothal ring shine, the curious old ring by which all the eldest sons of the Monroe family had been betrothed since time immemorial. "What do you wish P" asked Hugh, in a curious, hard voice that sounded weird and far off to his own ears. What do you want ?" The pale lips opened as if to speak. Nn words came from them, but in the room echoed, like the strain of distant music brought from afar on a soft breeze the words, Too late! too late!" and then the vision vanished. Utterly miserable, utterly unstrung, Hugh finished his dressing and hurried downstairs to his brother, who sat in almost the same attitude and place where he had left him last night, looking haggard and miserable in the pale light that struggled in at the closed blinds. He started up when he saw Hugh, and asked him what was, the matter. Hugh told him the whole story, amended by saying he must order his horse and go home at once. You cannot leave me like this," urged Edgar, just for a viator or* dream, or what was most likely your own tired brain playing you a trick. You have not recovered the first shock, and then dear Mary's death harrowed you again; believe me, it is only year fancy. And what can. have happened to Ruth since ten o'clock yesterday morning ? I shall never get over this terrible day without you, and I do beg and implore of you to remain till, ito-morrow at least, when I shall be-thankful to ride back with you and remain for a little time." :u: Hugh still persisted in his desire to go home at onoe, but Kdgar used so many entreaties, and at last wept in the dreadfulmanner that men shed tears, and so he felt obliged to give in; and what with making all arrangements, and going to and from the church- yard, and oopsoling and comforting his brother durmg tbe trying ceremony, the day went quickly by, and evening føaoo, them sitting again over the dining- room fire. Hugh had gone into his room several times in the course of the day, and each time had gazed with a shuddering horror at the glass; but he bad never seen the face again; and he was beginning to think that, the night once over, and his ride fairly begun towards home, he could then afford to laugh at superstition and all auch follies, when a low, oilrions sort of moan caused both brothers to look up and listen intently. Just as Edgar was going to speak, the. moan grew louder and louder, until it sounded like a tremendous wind wailing through the room. Hugh started to his tfeet, and just at that moment the door of the room blew open violently, and there glided in a thin gray figure, that passed On silently and awfully until it reached the fireplace. The door closed after it quietly, and as Hugh and Edgar, grasp- ing each other's tiands, in a clasp that was agony, advanced with slowiteps towards it, a misty veil that enveloped it faded gradually and slowly away, and with a mutual shudder of horror they recognised, the figure of Ruth Monroe; The wind and moaning had gradually died away, and a dreadful silence filled the room, which felt suddenly chill and damp, as if the veil of mist- bnd faded-into the atmosphere. Ruth never stirred, pever took her eyes off those of her husband, into which sjje SMed with the same appeal- ing glance as she had done before. Edgar's voice trembled as he spoke, but he addressed, her by her name, and implored her to speak to them. At the sound of bis voice the figure raised her hand, and then moving her lips just as the face in the glass had done, words unformed and-soundless seemed to pervade the iloom, but in such an. indistinct manner that neither brother could, make .them out in the least; and on Hugh's darting, forward- to take the outstretched hand the agutealowtyvaniahed, leaving no trace of its extraordinary visit. j It's no use," ejaculated Hugh; I shall go mad if 1 don't get home. Somethieg dreadtul must have happened. I shall order George and the horses, and be off at once ;~jaaother > night like last night or another apparition will be the deafh of me." And so saying he rang the boil/and OMkred his man and the horses to be ready at once." So they started, through the quiet York streets,.xUtforing,over the stone3, and cut ipto the night through-Micklegate Bar. The morning was beginning to straggle through the cold thick fog that hung over-the village as they drew near to the (grange, and the tired horsea and men paused as they got on the bridge; and gazed at the house that stood quietly, among the. trees, Hugh eagerly pushed his tired horse up the avenue,, and hurrying up tbe steps, tjang the bell as if to wake the dead as well as toe living. The door by old i^etty, who yras m the act of letting out the doctor; ^rho, when he saw Mr. Monroe, paused in an undecided manner on the door-step. For Heaven's sake," ejaculated Hugh, my wife The doctor took him by the arm and led ljiili into the dining-room, My dear Mr. Monroe," he said, you must prepare yourself for a terrible qalamity vOur dear Wife has received a shook that Will either kill her, or result in her being out of her mind for the restr of her life. I cannot tell how or what has caused this, btJt 'Betty tells me that she Was found in the death-rocjm last night in a state of in- sensibility, and'sinep then she has been calling for you ip a dreadful mttnner. Listen," he added, you can bear her now," and bjjenipg the door Hugh heard his name called in the accents as those used by the figure that* had visited him in- York. Shaking off' the doctor's dtfyafeing- hand he flew upstairs, and tpere, sitting u^'in bed j -and watched'by the horrified maids, was his wife^xaUing. perpetually on his name. The moment she saw him she stopped, looked fondly at him in fth^ sapif somwiul'. manner >tha £ the ghost did, and the? 9&id*(l'! I. have waited for you to say good-bye, I rfKent-thrgfc times to see you, but I wanted jou at bome«, .Thefo,:jt0 aJlghostupltaiø. I saw myself laid out <9$tjhpt dreadful bed* and it killed me* The doctor a^ajs ^id any shock, would. And i,t yearly killed you. I am only waiting to kiss you before I go, i nui.oiiiuH • D, ¡ 'tj Poor Hugh threw hiMwelf-on his knee8t>and clasped her.in his arm?* A^<he,. did, so the. eyes closed, the mouth fell into lines q|<,nin$Mte: Avpooe the aims back dead, and £ <3^1 ps #p} £ ^3ln her husband's embrace. for days fwiiJftWbtP jiugh> lay betwieen life and death, and i^fj^tpfh before he, could; bear to be i. told the old Mov. before,he oouldhear how, toe was foupd tito oldrpona, upstajrs. having gone up t| thitper £ 0 see w^aOj^ugi |daxmed Hugh, notwith- standing of old Betty,and her un- spoken promise to ^t whe^jlne did, and when he ^^g^v^i^edithe awful /oqn^, it was only JPIFWthe lipase |» be demo- lishea, and th^t ,no trace wlwtever ehoi^(>^j^nVio^ death'pham^er of the Monroes; ana J}ot uptjl another wife and half- a-dozen noisy chydf e^.lji^ )t>ee^ given to h^in tbat ha was knowii tcj.^Ie «jgain},iund if ever at phristmas- tim^ the co^ver^Q^^rned on that pipst enthralling topic, he would' abruptly change the subject, and he < never could be got to tell the story of the face in the glass. t-' The glass itself ^as not destroyed, and the Monroes still keep it, and reg^ it wifli superetitious reve- rence, for as sure as there is to be a death in the family in the ensuing ye^r,^ so sure on,the;night of All Souls is the face of tnp^ victim to be seen in the glass,— at least so tells thp Housekeeper, adding, with a smile on her rubicand coujjtenajioe, "No one temptsProvi- dence now by goingf^o look in the glass thpre; for the ghost c&n enly be seen by a Monroe, and it would be very dreadfuli yqu fenow, sir, if they saw their own faces looking', at them'out of the'glass.—From The Mulctoe Bough,' .-W_An

"THE NEIGHBOUR'S BAffiN." AT the present tiijae, Wfcen the progress of fcealum i* marking an epoch in stage management, a little special attention may not inopportunely be given to the hu- manitarian branch of stage realism—that of food. The old days of pasteboard pie and wooden chickens are gone from good theatres-let us hope, for ever. The real veal and hatu'er1' in tbe interesting reproduction j of Dot" at tbe Follj, was quite a success, and brought the dinner-hour instartpti of all present to the aid of I histrionic effect. X w^S much struck, not long since, by the thoughtful;'eonsideration manifested by a charming young lady in a successful opera bouffe. who took care that the vast amount of real breacl, which she had out so gracefully was ultimately distributed to that Eortion of the Prenefc army in tbe rear, who seemed tin ave been hitherto inadequately supplied with rations, and to whom the nightly addition to their present emolument may have been of some little service. < When, a year ago, we produced at the Lyceum, ae first pieoe, the old Scotch, drama of "Cramond Brig," the various members' of the company playing in the piece had full bhoica of wherewithal to wash down their "heed and hatrigle? "—(of which, by r the way, over a hundred were cohsumed during !the' rub)—and the miller's supper- became a nightly jollity, except, perhaps, to the Scotch hobility and the king's hunts- men, who, with watery moatbs and eager eyes, crowded the wings, forbidden by the^rony of dramatic fate to enter upon the scene until the supper had been cleared away. This piece reminded me of an incident which came under my notice a good many years ago. In the off ■ season of a large provincial theatre, in which I was a stock actor, I took an1 engagement at a small town, then known as one of the most thriving seaports of the North. The salary was little; the parts were long, and there was not much opportunity for gaining I renown. However, it was better than remaining idle,* as, at the worst, the amount of debt to be accumulated was.- minimised. The manager was not a bad fellow. and, having been a gooi actor in his time, was only too glad-to be surrounded by a class of actors whose cervices he could only obtain by the opportunity afforded by the bright summer-in those palmy days the darkest and wintriest season, to the airy comedian or the thoroughly legitimate tragedian. Our opening bill ^consisted 6f "Oramond Brig, Lord Darnley, "Wallace, the Helo of Scotland," and" Gilderoy, the Bonnie Bey," in all of which I played, besides con- tributing my share in the National Anthem, which was right loyally and loudly sung by the entire strength of the company. After the rehearsal of Cramond Brig," our jolly manager said, "Now, boys, I shall stand a real supper to-night; no pasteboard and parsley, but "a retd sheep's head, and a little drop of real Scotch." A tumult of applause. The manager Was as good as his word, for at night there was a real head well equipped with turnips and carrots, and the "drop of real Scotch." The neigh- bour's bairn," anlmportant character in the scene, came in and took her seat as usual beside the miller's chair. She was a pretty, sad-eyed, intelligent child of some nine years old. In the course of the meal, when Jock Howison was freely passing the whiskey, she leaned over to him and said, Please, will you give me a little? He looked surprised. She was so earnest in her request, that I whispered to her, "To-morrow, perhaos, if you want it very much, you shall have a thimbleful." To-morrow night came, and, to mv amusement, she produced from the pocket of her little plaid frock a bright piece of brass, and held it out to me. I said, What's this P "A thimble, sir." But what am I to do with it? You said that you would give me a thimbleful of whiskey if I wanted it, and I do want it." This was said so naturally, that the audience laughed and applauded. I looked over to the miller, and found him with the butt end of his knife and fork on the table, and his eyes wide open, gazing at us in astonish- ment. However, we were both experienced enough to pass off this unrehearsed effect as a part of the piece. I filled the thimble, and the child took it back care- fully to her little creepy stool bftstde the miller. I watched her, and presently saw her turn her back to the audience and pOur it into a little halfpenny tin snuff-box. She covered the box with a bit of paper, and screwed on the lid, thus making the box pretty watertight, and put it into her pocket. When the curtain fell, our manager came forward and patted the child's head. "Why, my little girl," said he, you are quite a genius. Your gag is the best thing in the piece. We must have it in every night. But, my child, you mustn't drink the whiskey No, no! that would never do." "Oh, sir, indeed I won't; I give you my word I won't!" she said, quite earnestly, and ran to her dressing-room. "Oramond Brig" bad an unprecedented run of six nights, and the little lady always got her thimbleful of whiskey, and her round of applause. And each time I noticed that she corked up the former safely in the snuff-box. I was curious as to what she could possibly want with the spirit, and who she wa3, and where she came from. I asked her, but she seemed so unwilling to tell, and turned so red, that I did not press her; but I found out that it was the old story-no mother, and a drunken father. Still it was strange; what could she want with the whiskey—a child like her ? It could not be for the drunken father; I was completely at fault. I took a fancy to the little thing, and wished to fathptn. her secret, for(a; secfret I' felt 'sure there was: After the performance, I saw my little body come out. Poor little child I There was no mother or brother to see her to her home. She hurried up the street, and turning into the poorest quarter of the town, entered the oom- mon stair of a tumbledown old house. I followed, feeling my way'tishM I could. She went up and up, till in the very top flat she entered a little room. A handful of fire glimmering in the grate revealed a sickly boy, some two years her junior, who crawled towards her from where he was lying before the fire. Oissy, I'mglad ypu're home," he said. I thought you'd never come." She put her arb). round. him, laid the poor little head on her^tbin ^shoulder and took him over to the fire agajn, trying to ceirifort bim as she went. Is the$a&V(^15ad,~ to-night, Willie f "Yes." A sadder "yes" I never heard. Willie, I wish X could bear the pain for you." "It's cruel tif'fMher to send me out in the wet; he knows how" bkd Hush! Willie," hush he might hear you." *1 don't caite! I doht'eare! I wish he would kill me at once." Tbe reckless abandon of the child's despair waa dreadful, ft&usnJ hurfhi he iaour father and we mustn't say such things 1" This through her fa"t-faUing tears. Then she said "*Xiet*me try and make the pain better." M ,5,' u y The boy took off his shirt. The girlleatièd"<»vfrl';ånd put her arms round him, and kissed the shoulder; she then put her hand into her pocket and took out the snuff-box. "Oh, Willie; I Wish we had more, so that it might curethepatin." Having lighWiHiip candle, she rabbed tbe child's rheumatic shoulder with the few drops of spirit, and then covered up'the little thin body, and» s'tting before the fire, took the-boy's bead on her knee, and began to sing him to sleep. I took another lobk into the room, through the half-open door; nty foot creaked; the frightened eyes met mine. I put my finger on my lips and crept away. v But as 1 began to descend the stair, I met a drunken maM ascending—slipping and stumbling as he came. Heslipped and stumbled by me, and entered the room. I followed to the landittg unnoticed, and stood in the dark shadow of the 'half-open door. A hoarse, brutal voice growled: "What are you doing there?—got up r** I can't, father; Willie's head is on 'my knees." "Get up!" She gently laid the boy's head on the floor, pillowing it in her little shawl, and stood up. Father, Willie is very sick! you oagh*. to try to get him cured." 1 Shut up. If I hear another word, I'll make you and him too keep yourselves quiet." And tha brute flung himself onhis bed, muttering to himself in bill drunken semi-oblivion—" Oure him, indeed ?: Not if I know it. That's not the way to get the money; his oough is worth a lot alone. Cure him. indeed' Not likely!" The black-hearted scoundrel! The girl bowed her head lower and lower. I could not be& iti I eatery) the BMtn. The brv^te was on the< |>ed already in his besotted sleep. The ohild stole up to,me, and in half-frightened whisper aaid, Oh, sir, oughtn't people to keep secrets if they know them? I think' they ought, if they ,are other people's." This with ttledignity of a queen, I could not gainsay,her. so I said, as gravely as I could to the little woman, "The secret shall be kept, but you mint,ask me if you want anything." She bent over, suddenly kissed my hand, and I went down the stair., The next nigljtahe wasshy in ooming for the whiskey, and I took care that she had good measure. The last night of our long run of six nights, she looked more happy than I had ever seen her. When she came for the whiskey she held out the thimble, and whispered to me with her poor, pale lips trembling, "You need only pretend to-night." Why ? "I whispered. Because—he doesn't want it now. He's dead 8- Herny Irving, in the Green Room. ng, sn

AN AWFUL SELL. ON leaving St, Pancras we were three in A smoking carriage. My friend Oarbutt and I, absent on leave, were due at Richmond (Yorka), where the Bleventy- eleventh was quartered, and it was an object with us to report ourselves before retreat to satisfy the require- ments of Our Martinet Colonel. The third passenger, a total stranger to us, was a man of stout proportions, and attracted our attention by frequently beaving sighs. I do not know whether the intensity of sighs can be gauged, but all of his seemed full sue, as if they came from a distance, pumped from the depths of a bottomless pit and betokened a weight of care on his mind of no mean kind. Melancholy did not mark him for her own however. He had a jolly round comedy face which would have served Momus for a trade-mark. It was not neoessary to be a Iavrster to judge that he could only be under some temporary depression. Perhaps he had baeked Robert the Devil for the Derby, or had a heavy bull account on shares i n waterworks. Anyhow we sat in the carriage two on one side-and one on the other sighed audibly. Bedford •• Bedford Change here for Peter- borough and Northampton 1" cried the guard. Time for a B. and B. said Oarbutt, pointedly to our companion, thinking a nip of spirits—an English- man's specific land panacea—would pull him together and make him forget his grief. Are you coming out to split one ?" Not here. Let me reflect a moment. No, I really can't, considering the awkward position I am placed in." P Whatever is the matter with you ?" asked Garbutt. Let's liquor up." Impossible I but taking you to be a man of no ordinary intelligence, I should be glad of your advice." Well-I shall be happy in a minute or IO-when I come back. 1 think we have five minutes left." Not so. I had been absent during the above dialogue—called to the bar, and M-entered the car- riage on the caution, "Take your seats, please. Any more going on?" Dash it, I have missed my drink!" said Garbutt, pettishly. "Now then what's all this about?" __0 "I must tell you I have lately returned from the river Tyanza—escaped from savages." The devil you have! Is it at that you are fretting?" No, but my aunt and uncle are there still, probably by this time scalped by Red Indians" Garbutt mumbled some common place remarks to effect if that were so, nothing could be done. He could not help him nor reeommeod him what to do. He might apply to the Foreign Office. F. 0., however, he did not think would bother much about it except for some howling swell. In fact he considered his aunt and uncle not in it," except they belonged to the upper ten. But how did you get in such a mess? PerhapB out touring with Oook and strayed from the influence of his personal conduction?" Thereby hangs a tale. In memory I must take you back some time. It is now nigh twenty years ago Oh! blue blazes! This is quite dramatic." You flatter me! You will say so when you have heard the end." Up to this I had not spoken. At first I had taken our acquaintance tor a lunatic escaped, but quickly changed my mind. He spoke rationally, eirnestly, deliberately, and with the fitting gesture that Hamlet would have exacted from the players. You must know l was a posthumous child." How much is that 1" asked Garbutt. Born after the death of my parent." Which one ? It is as well to be precise." My father. My mother expired in giving me birth, and my aunt and uncle generously adopted me." In return for their amiability you have left them as hostages with Bed Indians." The stranger seemed to wince under this implied sneer, as he offered me a cigar, which I lit. It was a Medium Intimidad, of excellent aroma. Carlin need not have disowned the brand. The Unknown resumed: Brought up by them with every tenderness and consideration, life was joyous, undarkened by a cloud. I pass by youthful years and school and college days, to come at once to the. immediate subject of my trouble." Thank Heaven!" ejaculated Garbutt, let us have it short." My ruling passion was for foreign travel. How to gratify it was the difficulty. Money was no object, but my aunt and uncle could not endure the thought of letting me leave tbeir sight, so great was the love they bore me." "No doubt you richly deserved it," struck in Garbutt. "Thanks for the compliment, but perhaps you would have made the same remark had you heard I had been sentenced to be hanged." This be said wtth perfect bonhomie and a smile which assorted badly with his grief. Garbutt laughed, ,.1 laughed, and the stranger caught the infection, and we all laughed in chorus. You have been so intensely dramatie up to this," I observed, permit me to say in the language of the stage, Continue, stranger, your story interests me. "We all three made the grand tour together, Berlin. Venice, Rome, and Palmero, but this did not satisfy my cravings. I sighed for the wilds; the primaeval forests; the prairie and its trackless paths, Nothing restrained-sne from going except their deters mination to accompany me. Indeed both longed to join in my wild adventures, for each thought they had a mission in life tofulnl." Most idiots do," said Garbutt beneath his breath, but the stranger did not hear it, or pretended not to do so. My aunt had some of the proclivities of Mrs. Jellaby of Borrio-Bboola Gha celebrity, only the views of the latter ware visionary, while those of the former took a .practical turn. She held that dress was the main step towards civilisation, and that the light and airy costume which obtains among tropical tribes is the fostering cause of their savageness. No one, I have heard her say, can expect to command respect in puris natuxaUbus. Fancy a- Lord Chief Justice sitting in Banco with a simple langooti on; a Chancellor of the Exchequer imposing wins duties with an apron of vine leaves; or Doctor Mary Walker lecturing on Comparative Anatomy claa merely in a classic, cestus. The invention of the sewing machine she considered heralded the uni- versality of civilisation, and if its use were adopted by mankind she predicted the nineteenth century would not expire without leaving iwions of savages clothed and in their right mind. My unele on his side had his hobby and overrode that noble steed, whipping and goading the generous brute to death. He had a profound telief in parochial organisation and our vestry system^ which he considered more valuable as bulwarks to the British Constitution than the National Palaver Shop at Westminster, facing the St. Stephen's Club." Excuse me!" interrupted Garbutt with a gesture of impatience, "but for the life of me lean see no connection between an English Vestry and Bed Indians." We must not anticipate nor break the chain of continuity—I am fast coming to my climax. "Uncle would hkVe joined my aunt in a foreign' expedition to reclaim savages, as be believed he exer- cised no mean power of control over mankind —' An eye like-iXafrs to threaten and command How he got this notion Heaven only knows and won't tell. On the first formation cf the volunteers he had been drum-major, and in an absurd bead-dress like a muff inhysterica, and with an exaggerated poker in his Set. he swaggered in front of the band, putting no end of pantomimic side on, to the admiration of nurse- maids and the terror of small boys. On his resigna- tion he conferred brevet rank en himself— —' Not a drum was heard!' He carefully dropped all allusion to that empty- minded instrument, and modestly styled himself, Major—late Kentish Town Volunteers." I must interrupt your story." said Garbutt. Here is Market Harbro', where, I think, we have five minutes for refreshments." "Not by this train," said the stranger. "Allow me to offer you my flask "—suiting the action to the word. Garbutt, although longing for a modest quencher, pOlitely refused the offer, not knowing its contents. A suspicion Hashed across me What if my cigar were drugged, and his pocket pistol charged with opiates! Qtd sait? Passengers cannot be too cautious, especially with one-recently returned from the Tyanza river, who wriggled out of the clutches of the Red Indians without getting scalped. « # The whistle sounded and off we steamed. The mysterious one resumed: "We now come to act the second in our melo- drama, which I greatly fear must end in a frightful tragedy." Here he was overcome by strong emotion at the thoughts ef his aunt and uncle. He took one pull at his flask, and another at himself together; composed his feelings and continued. I am now alone in the rocky passes of the snow- capt Asimbanoosj gone by mutual consent as pioneer to prepare the way for my aunt and uncle. They promieed to join me in a year. She, with all the latest improvements in sewing machines, and the Major with his parochial system adapted to the wants and requirements of Bed Indians. I wrote home, favouring the scheme apparently, little dreaming they would leave their suburban paradise in Kentish Town for the weary solitude and dangers of the desert. After ten months sojourn al fresco, sometimes in a wigwam, anon under canvass—shooting and tracking gamo with an old shekari, one Wang-Wang, formerly chief of a half-caste tribe long since extinct. I revisited Kokayloo to replenish my stock of gunpowder and portable proYJaion8, in order to begin a fresh cam- paign. Judge of my surprise at reoeiTing letters from home, saying they had started. Hz. the dates I concluded they had already arrived. This proved true,. Seriously intending business, my aunt had brought out sewing machines in all varieties; my uncle potted food and tinned meats for camping out— stores enough in a military sense for a small movable column. Not to be diverted from their philanthrepio purposes, we prepared to take the field. Two lliul. were purchased and the sewing machines divided between them. We christened these animals Wilcox and Gibbe, and while the senior partner had the addi- tional honour of carrying my aunt, Gibbs was loaded with stores and other impedimenta, which made the handicap a fair one. Uncle and I marched on toot. He wore his old volunteer uniform, busby and all, with tbe idea of producing a telling effect on the untutored savage, and favourably impressing theNoble Red Man in palayer or durbar. My old camping ground waa reached thofim night, where we halted to shape our plans and 1"8- engage Wang-Wang as guide, philosopher, friend and fidua Achates. Wang'did not relish the idea. He reported the surrounding tribes treacherous and hostile, and counselled us for the present not to advance. His objection was over-ruled, and we pushed on to the front. The disposition of the forces saw on this wise—the Major, with his great military experience, usurping the command." Our Martinet Colonel would enjoy this," remarked Garbutt in an undertone to me. Wang was advanced guard, and did skirmishing business generally. I acted as connecting link between the skirmishing rarty and the main body of the army, to wit the Major, whe on the Aldershot plan of sham fights represented in himself a whole brigade. My aunt, mounted on Wilcox and in charge of Gibbs, commanded the oavalry contingent, and the eyes and ears of the army' had, according to the prevailing cavalry tactics of the day, strict orders not to expose itself on any account to the enemy's fire, but to keep carefully concealed in some safe place ready to come in and share in the honour and glory of the day when past all danger." "This is intensely interesting," said Garbutt; "I am quite absorbed in your story." c One day our advanced picket was suddenly driven in. Wang-Wang ran back in terror—wholl? demo- ralised—saying the Red Men were in sight. My binocular confirmed this. I detected a tribe of naked savages in. the distance, and the prospect was not assuring. Wang-Wang reported that they were hostile and had exterminated his race. He rushed madly to the rear for strategic purposes-he said to obtain reinforcements—and we never saw him again. What was to be done ? To encounter them on the plain would have been madness. The Major lost his head, as even Generals sometimes do, so I put myself in orders to command the column, and deter- mined on taking up an entrenched position. Aban- doning Wilcox and Gibbs to their fate, we made for a small cave which appeared in the mountain side. Getting in. we hastily rolled some loose stones to its mouth. With a wild war whoop, flourishing toma- hawks and javelins, the Bed Men were down on us in a swoop. The Chief of the tribe, known as the Roaring Thunder-Gust, addressed us. (He spoke the same lingo as the trusty Wang, from whom I had learned the language.) Hail within Listen to the voice of Thunder- Gust, the Roaring, the Devourer of Mountains, who lives on lightning flashes. Inside the cave are three children of the pale face. One with the hairy head of the bear will make a lovely scalp—'My uncle with tbe busby' —The other, friend of Wang-Wang, the craven skunk, must die. The third is a squaw; she can abide under the protection of the Thunder-Gust and cook his food.' "'I shan't unless he dresses himself properly,' remarked my aunt, and I frankly own the Obief was very lightly clad. In truth, his scant attire would have made a dead heat of it with the ball room dress of any modern Belgravian belle, and left but little to the imagination. They want our scalps," I explained, and in good faith I believe they'll have them too." What a parish to live in,' said my uncle. There is a want of their parochial system being revised.' We all began to see that the situation was not unfraught with danger." The stranger here broke off, to roll and strap up his rug. He put his loose parcels in his leather bag and got ready to alight. Derby! Derby!" cried the guard. I sheuld like to hear the end of this adventure," said Garbutt to the Unknown. We have ten minutes here," he replied. Come into the refreshment room and I'll finish it. I am staying here for the night, and shall dine in the refreshment room. You have loads of time. Sit down with me and have some joint." Well—go on about the cave." "TheOave? Oh! Ah! Yes—of course! Well, it was time to pull myself together, and I did so. Uncle! I said, to save us I see but one way left." And that was?" Seize my aunt by ber false hair—wave your sword over her—pluck it off—throw the chignon to the savages and they will take it for her scalp." "Never!" shrieked my aunt in an agony of desperation. "If I become Thunder-Gusts wife, what a fright and guy I should look without it." Then said I, Suave qui peut! Every one for himself, God for us all, and may we meet in a better and a brighter world! • Well, but how did you get out?" Ah there is the difficulty! That is the awkward position I am placed in. The rest is comparatively plain sailing. I want your counsel and advice." Counsel and advice—for what ?" To release my aunt and uncle." "Are you chaffing me, or are you a lunatic escaped ? "Neither. I have related to you the plot of my three-act sensation-drama, which I am elaborating for the local theatre, and ask your assistance to get my aunt and uncle out of that confounded "cave." "The Devil take them!" shouted Garbutt, in a towering rage. "Thanks for your suggestion to release them by spiritual agency. JIgad, its the only way out ef it after all. Instead of the devil taking them as you propose, I could substitute a good fairy. But seriously, don't you think that dencunement would be more suitable for a Christmas Extravaganza than for a sensation drama ?" Garbutt bolted for the platform, to find hit train had gone.—Biprose's AnnudL

THE FOX-HOUND.—In no branch of breeding has the art been carried to such perfection aa in the fox-hound. With definite objects, successive genem- tioas of huntsmen have selected and bred without any regard to post, and with all the advantages of recorded pedigree) which are enjoyed by the breeders of thoroughbred horses. But the breeders of racehorses constantly breed without regard to form, to soundness, or to constitution, if the blood of sire or dam promise speed. No matter what the defects of a are that has won great races, his services will be in great demand. Not so with the fox-hound; as he is simply an instrument of pleasure, as his qualities do not win money, the breeder of the most obscure as well as of the most fashionable pack aims at the same perfections. The fox-hound must have the sym- metry which insures speed and endurance, a vigorous body and limbs, with no superfluous flesh, and a full development of the chest and breathing powers. He must be keen-scented, and musical in the degree required in the country he hunts. To all these and other points, too numerous to mention, the masters of houndis and huntsmen of England, in continual com- munication with each other, have devoted their atten- tion for more than a century, and have in that time Sot rid of the crooked legs," the dewlaps" of old inglish and Continental hounds, in some instances saoriflcinglOOQt and hunting qualities to speed, but always oombining in a high degree hunting and racing qualities.:—The Book ofthe Horse. CALVIN'S WIFE.—The Reformer devolved on his friends the task of providing a wife for him. They nominated, and be exercised a veto. First a lady of noble birth and rich dower was found for him. He did not choose to mate with one above his own degree. He proposed that the lady shotild learn the French tongue; and, as Calvin had foreseen, she refused. Another-lady was named, and Calvin had made advanced, but, happily, he discovered in time suffi- cient reasons for not going farther. At last Bueex proposed one who had lately become a widow, Idelette de Bure, or VanBuren. She was a lady of deep piety, elevation of soul, and Christian courage, a most choice woman," says Beza. These were the qualities that suited Calvin. The nuptials took place m the end of August, 1540. She was a girdle of strength to. her husband. The reader cannot but remark the similarity of the names, Catherine deBora and Idelette de Bure. They were noble women, but as the wives, the first of Lntherand the second of Calvin, both stand in a sort of twilight.—The Hittory of Pro- tettantism, by the RøfJ. Dr. Wylie. THK INCONVENIENCE Of KNOWMDOK.—Take the statesman. How knowledge must hamper him! He is absolutely precluded from acting with decision by the consciousness ef the difficulties which lay in the path of his predecessors. He has to make up his sub- ject, to get facts and figures from his subordinates and others. He has to arrange all the party manoeuvres before he launches his scheme, by which time all the energy is gone out of him, and he has not half as much faith in his scheme as if he had never looked at the. pro, and eons. Nelson gave one splendid bit of advice, "Never mind manoeuvring, but go at them." The moment you begin to manoeuvre you confess your doubtfulness of success, unless you can take your adversary at a disadvantage; but if you fly headlong at his throat, you terrify him by the display of your confidence and valour. The words of Nelson apply still more closely to the General. His knowledge that fifty years ago the British army was worsted here, unnerves, paralyses him. If he does not know that shells are explosive and bullets deadly, he would make his dispositions with twice the con- fidence, and his temerity would fill the foe with panic. If be took no trouble to ascertain the strength or position of the enemy, he would be sure to disport himself in such a way that the keenest opponent would feel perplexed and confounded. His simple duty is to defeat the enemy, and knowing anything beyond this only tends to distract his mind and weaken his arm. In the middle of one of his Indian battles, and when he thought the conflict had been derided in favour of British arms, a messenger rode hastily up to the veteran General, who was wiping his reeking forehead on hit coat-sleeve: "A large fresh force of the enemy bas appeared in suoh a Elace; what is to be done ?" Gtough rubbed his fore- ead with the other sleeve, and shouted out, Beat 'em!" Obviously no better, no other so good, com- mand could have been given. Byes right!" "Load!" "By your left, fours!" "Limber up!" All you were!" would have been all trivial and unmeaning. But what the English nation wanted the English army to do with the enemy was to beat e'm." In the pictures uf the Victoria Cross there is one of a young dandy officer with an eyeglass in his eye and a sword in his hand, among the thick of the foe. He knows he is there to kill some one. He is quite ignorant of the fact that the enemy are there to kill him, and he is taking his time and looking through his eyeglass to try and find some enticing man to run his sword through. One of Wellington's most fervent Sraywa was, "O,spare me my dandv offisers!" Now andies are never very full or khowledge, and yet the greatest duke thought more of them than of your lear- ing-begrimed sappers or your acience-bepated gunners. —Tuuley'e Magazine.

SOCIETY GOSSIP. (From Truth.") I hear, on excellent authority, that immediately on the heels of Tennyson's new play, Mr. Henry Irving contemplates the production of "Romeo and Juliet," with himself and Miss Terry as the hero and heroine. HOSPITAL Toys." When, with pale cheek and fev'rish brow, The little creatures lie, And think how very slowly now The long, long days go by; Picture, ye kindly hearts, their joy, When they your off rings see, And the glad smile of girl and boy Your recompense will be! A decision was given laat week by the Scotch Gourt of Session in an action raised by Miss Tod, a minor, possessing a fortune of £50,000, against her trustees. It was decided that the young lady is not only entitled t9 an adequate allowance, but that she may herself choose how she is to finish her education and where she is to reaide. The Edinburgh judges are evidently more liberal to wealthy minors than the Court of Chancery. Such unorthodox dootrines will make the wig of Sir Richard Malins stand on end. The briefest criticism I have yet heard passed upon Bndymion" was that made by a divine, who said that when he found the noble author alluding to St. James's-streetas a "celebrated eminence," he thought it time to lay the book down. This expression occurs in the fifth line of the first page of the first volume. >. Mr. Brassey's carriage met with an accident last Week while going from Hastings to Normanhurst, and tpe hones, being frightened, started off at full gallop, and went two miles before a collision overturned the carriage, the coachman being knocked senseless to the ground. Miss Brassey, who was inside with a friend, showed great presence of mind, as she neither screamed nor attempted to jump out, and they got off vfith a shaking. Ladies will be glad to hear that fluttered frog is t)1e name of the last new colour; it is rather lighter than frightened toad or angry mouse." (From the World.") For the land of real liberty go to a county under njiob rule. When Captain Boycott passed through Dublin on his way to England ten days ago the pro- prietor of the Hannam Hotel, in which he had taken rboma for himself and bis family, gave him peremptory notice to quit, having himself received a threatening ijote, jf he allowed him to sleep or eat in bis house. And worse still, the manager of the once-respectable Shelborne Hotel, one of the finest and largest in Dublin, refused te send up a dinner ordered by Colonel Somerset Maxwell, to which Captain Boycott was invited as a guest, giving as his reason that Roiy of the Hills had written to say he would smash all the windows if he allowed Captain Boycott to enter his premises. LORD PENZANCK AND THE RITUALISTS. They care not for suspension or monition, Armed with a habeas corpus they advance; The Arches strikes its Jag to prohibition: What are they but the Pirates of Penzance ? B. J., a correspondent well known to the publie, writes: "I found Gustavo Dore lately in his old quarters, in the Quartier Saint-Germain, half buried under the accumulation of his Shakesperian studies. He is at his final work as an illustrator everv night, and sometimes almost all night. Some of the great drawings he has alreadlfiniahecJ-iIlustraüon. of cKao.. beth,' the.. Tempe8t, the historical plays, and Ooriolanus,' are of extraordinary power. He is thoroughly steeped in the subject. I asked him which play he held to be the poet's masterpiece. Ooriolanus,' he said; and he gave me a multitude of reasons that ahowed how deeply he has thought on the subject" The proof that the photophone can reproduce two different messages at once was given to Mdlle. Sarah Bernhardt by Edison, the inventor, when she pro- ceeded with her manager, Mr. Jarrett, to Menlo-park, where Edison's workshop is situated, whenc.. he lights or extinguishes in one second the 800 lights through the village. He made her speak into the machine a passage of Phidri while be himself sang Yankee Doodle," and the two were ground together in the most funny, but most distinct, fashion. (From the Whitehall Review") Private letters from Ireland reveal the existenoe of even a worse state of things than the ordinary new- paper reader can form any idea of. At any moment. there may be a rising o. a large scale, for the peasantry are not only armed, but drilled in prepara- tion for open revolution. A landlord living near Cork wrote on Friday: "We feel as if we were living on a volcano. There is absolutely no safety for eur lives and property, and each day we expect to witness the outbreak of an organised civil war." Will this Government of Feebleness never move ? Here is a story of Bishop Wilberforce which I do not remember ever to have seen in print. His lord- ship greatly prided himself upon his memory, and made use of various amusing expedients in order to make and maintain a reputation as one who never for- got a face or a name. One day, however, at a visitation, he oaught sight of a clergyman whose patronymic entirely escaped him. The bishop knew the man quite well by sight, but could not, for the life of him, recollect his aame. He approached him, and, as though struck by a Sudden wish to make a note concerning him, took out his pocket-book, and said, How do you spell your nameP I never knew, and I should like to set my mind at rest." I was not aware, my lord," re- plied the parson, that there was more than one way of spelling Jones J" A large proportion of the late Duchess of Somerset's wardrobe has been purchased by American emissaries for re-sale in the United States. In that country there is always a large and ready market for all treasures of the kind; and anything, from a soiled feather or pair of gloves to silk hose, will fetch fabulous prioes if sanctified with the odour of aristocracy. Tricycling is much in vogue, and even ladies find it an agreeable substitute for lawn tennis in the winter months. Where the roads are suitable, indeed, many fair riders may be seen in their Devon or Salvo," making afternoon calls or shopping in the neighbour- ing village. Sometimes, I observe, it is a double tri- cycle, and the. work of propelling the machine is shared with a husband or a friend. I met a double "salvo with two ladies working it the other day near Wey- bridge, going at the rate of eight miles an hour, and as I passed the church I saw another tricyole standing near the porch, and this was the vicar's, who was then taking the service. Doctors and clergymen have, in fact, greatly taken to these machines for their country rounds; the former, especially, use them for night work, instead of taking out the horses. I have even heard hunting men say tbat their tricycle saves the.n a couple of horses, and that a ride to the meet on a tri." warms them up more than striding across a hack. What has mainly led to this revolution is the marvellous mechanical development in tile con- struction of these machines in eteel wire, combined with hollow iron tubes, whichgives them a maximum of strength with a minimum of weight. (From" Society.") I notice that Miaa Jessie Landseer, who died recently, has bequeathed the famous Otter chair, with her distinguished brother's monogram on it, to Mr. Charles Lutyens. This reminds me that the best collection ot famous chairs in London belongs to Mr. George Godwin, F.R.I.B.A. He has the chairs of Goldsmith, Dicker, Thackeray, and others, picked up at sales. Sir Joshua Reynolds' chair, which was long coveted by Mr. Godwin as an addition to his stock, is now once more the Presidential Chair of the Royal Academy. having been at one time the private property of the latfe Sir Francis Grant, President of the Royal Academy. I see that' a general parade ot tbe Royal Jersey Militia has been commanded for 6t.h January next, by order of Major-General N ioboløon, V.B., Lieut.- Governor of the Jersey distiict, to commemorate the centenary of the defeat of the French, who made a descent on the idand in 1781 under the Baron de Rulleoour. Taking into condsideration the large French population in Jersey, I question very much the taste of tbe authorities in holding a demonstration which cannot fail to wound the feelings of our French-speak- ing subjects. This is an age of remarkable coincidences. The other week I had to point out the wonderful similarity between Mr. Tennyson's poem In the Children's ETospital," and some verses by an anonymous writer wbioh appeared a year or 80 ago in one of fiteuri. Caraell's publications. I now find that there i. JJothintr particularly new about the Poet Laureate'sM Nor hern bob bIer. Tbat the poem is an eJfeotiYe piece of poetical philosophy, and calculated to do an immense amount of good in the cause of temperance—" why nobody will deny;" but it so happens that the same story was treated by Mr. Robert Orompton, of Liver- pool, as far back as March, 1877. Talking of the Wesleyans, that important body will take an interest in anything that relates to their founder, however trivial the connection may seem to be —even as the old lady, who, not being able to get a leek of Wesley's hair, was quite satisfied to possess a curl from his blessed wig" Lot me tell them, then, that the churohwardenB of Epworth, Lincolnshire, have received a notice that, by an Order in Council, Bpworth Churchyard will henceforth be closed for burials, except in now-existing vaults and walled graves. I under- stand that the new burial-ground will probably be in the portion of the Vine-garth adjoining the east end of the churchyard. I visited a few years ago some cousins in the far west of Ireland. Times had been hard, and the large homestead was sparsely Berved. The butler, par excellence, was a general factotum. One morn- ing a letter announced an immediate visit from our grand relation, Lord And niver a livery servant at all," Aid my hostess.