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CHRISTOPHERS FAIRY.
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^COPYRIGHT.] CHRISTOPHERS FAIRY. A TALE OF CHRISTMAS EVE. DY J. PIATMMEIU <041 BEXiTETB in fairies! Nonsense, Charles; how could .you imagine me to be so absurd ? and Eleanor shook her luxuriant flaxen ringlets in saucy derision. But I have faith in them, when you are by," exclaimed Charles, seizing his fair cousin's hand, and gallantly imprinting a kiss thereupon. Naughty flatterer replied Eleanor, playfully tapping Mm with her paper-knife what would Uncle Stamping- ton say were he to witness your extremely rude behaviour ? I neither know nor care, so long as you are not offended with me," exclaimed Charles. But suppose that I were offended with you ? Then as a culprit I should have to plead to my fair judge for mercy." What! to a fairy ? Hilloa, there. What's all this about fairies ? Eh ? suddenly shouted a gruff, stentorian voice at the door, and the next moment Uncle Stampington-old, fat, and gouty—bounced into the room. Charles crimsoned up to the eyes, while Eleanor, secretly enjoying her lover's confusion, pretended to be petting the canary, whose cage hung in front of the window. Uncle Stampington looked first at his niece, then at his nephew, but neither uttered a word. The silence was irritating to him, for he was not one to brook delay or contradiction. Come, girl, come. Am I to wait all day before you .can find your tongue ? And you, sir, have you forgotten your manners to your own uncle ? "No, uncle, but—but—but "None of your buts, nephew; I'll not be made a butt <of. How came you to be talking of fairies ? Fairies! stuff and nonsense. I am a plain, practical man, and do not believe in such childish things. Do you?" Eleanor glanced, with a malicious twinkle in her eye, at Charles, who was about to blurt out some stupid excuse to Uncle Stampington, when there came a loud rat-a-tat- a-tat at the street door. Uncle Stampington went to the window for the purpose of obtaining a glimpse of the visitor, while Charles, blessing himself for the unexpected reprieve, darted up-stairs, never resting until he had locked himself in his room, and flung his panting form into a chair, bitterly reproaching himself for having acted very much like a- well, not like a sensible person. Miss Hannington, sir," said the servant, ushering the new comer into the presence of Uncle Stampington and his niece. Humph and who is Miss Hannington ?" growled Uncle Stampington, turning towards Eleanor. One of my old school companions at Madame Frangipani's. Such a dear, delightful creature Bosh was the surly reply I have no more faith in vour I dear, delightful creatures' than I have in the -existence of fairies." I am sorry to hear you speak thus, Mr. Stampington; but, perhaps, in time you may learn to form a better opinion of me," said Laura Hannington, advancing to uncle and niece. Uncle Stampington was about to utter a sharp reply, but, somehow or other, as he beheld the merry sparkle in Laura's eyes, the retort failed to rise to his lips, and he sought to hide his defeat by a bow, intended to be extremely polite, but which became awkward and bear-like as he detected the faintest possible approach to a smile on Eleanor's features. Well, ladies, an old man like me is but poor company for young damsels like yourselves, so I'll leave you to talk scaudal of your friends, while I go and look for Master Charles." Saying which, heedless of their protests, he hobbled out of the room with as much dignity as a recent attack of gout would admit of. Before he had descended the last stair, he heard Eleanor and Laura giving vent to extremely unconventional peals of laughter. Hang the girls he testily exclaimed, but there is no help for it. 'Tis Christmas Eve, and they will have their own way. I must console myself with a pipe. James!" Yes-sir," said that individual, making his appearance *>\L:nhi.stophiles' fashion, at the door. My pipe." Yes-sir." "Tobacco." Yes-sir." That bottle of port which I uncorked last night." "Yes-sir." 41 Have you been drinking any of it?" Yes-ii o, sir." James!" Yes-sir." « You're a fool!" Yes-sir." Be off with you, or-" James was gone before the sentence could be completed, leaving Uncle Stampington alone with his pipe, his bottle, and his temper. Uncle Stampington was gradually smoking himself into a more placable humour, when a sudden bang of the street door caused him almost to drop his pipe, a valuable family heir-loom, richly mounted with silver. Uncle Stampington tugged furiously at the bell-rope. There was no sound. He had broken the bell-wire in one of his fits of rage on the preceding day. The thunder- clouds began to gather on Uncle Stampington's brow. "James!" he roared. "Yes-sir," replied that worthy, showing his head, but ■discreetly keeping the rest of his body out of the room. Experience had to him proved the mother of prudence. "Who went out just now?" Master Charles, sir." Bother Master Charles!" Yes-sir." None of your impudence. Be off." Yes-sir," and James's head disappeared. Mentally invoking sundry maledictions upon the head of his nephew, Uncle Stampington proceeded to re-light his pipe, but he had scarcely taken a whiff of the soothing narcotic, before the street door was violently banged for the second time. James bellowed Uncle Stampington. Yes-sir." This time only the upper part of James's head was visible. Uncle Stampington, when irrate, was ■slightly given to shying his slippers, or anything else which might be at hand, at his butler, whose cranium <was none of the hardest. Who was that, slamming the door off its hinges?" Miss Eleanor, sir, and Miss Hannington, sir." Confound them Yes-sir." And confound you, too! Don't stand there, grinning like a monkey with the tooth-ache. Begone, or by Jove, I'll an(l Uncle Stampington, with a ferocious gesture, ,seized the neck of the decanter. James instantly becamf invisible. 'Tis piercing cold," said Eleanor Mostyne, as she -.shivered on the doorstep of Uncle Stampington's, despite the warm mantle and furs which enwrapped her delicate form. Yes, 'tis cold enough to freeze one," was Laura^s reply still, a walk to Miss Mantua's will do ns good, .and I hear she has some charming novelties, in the shape of winter jackets, and so cheap, too We must go." The evening was setting in as they proceeded through the crowded streets, and the snow, which lay thick on the pavement and in the roadway, seemed whiter in the glare of the numerous gaslights which illuminated the tradesmen's shops. Despite the cold, the streets weue -filled with people, for it was Christmas Eve, and there were many who had yet to purchase the good things to 'be consumed on the following day. Eleanor and Laura -stopped before the window of a large grocery establish- ment. They were attracted less by the profusion of hollv, evergreens, tinselled inscriptions, and festoons of gay- coloured ribbon which decorated the proprietor's wares, than by the—to them—novel and exciting scene presented by the interior of the shop. It was crowded with customers, principally women and children, the commodi- ties most in demand being plums, currants, sugar, and tea. Old Bagwaggs, the master of the establishment, was waddling backwards and forwards, puffing and blowing like some gigantic porpoise, among his perspiring assistants, who vainly sought a moment s rest from the apparently ceaseless process of weig mg, pac mg, and banging on.the counter the countless pounds, half-pounds, quarter-pounds, and ounces of groceries, which constantly disappeared into the capacious baskets of the customers, when suddenly Eleanor, who had been gazing with an amused expression on the scene, felt a slight twitch at her mantle. Please, 'm, are you one of the fairies r "Am I what?" One of the fairies, please, 'm." The speaker was a child, poorly but cleanly attired, .and apparently about six or seven years of age. Nonsense, child I'm not a fairy. How could you possibly get such an absurd idea into your little head. Then you are not one of the good, kind-hearted dairies ? said the child, in almost piteous tones. No, my boy; nothing of the kind." Eleanor was about to say something more, when she suddenly recollected the manner in which faST .<39^3 Charles had that day bantered her on the subject of fairies. Had he prompted the child thus to address her? Yes, it must be so. It was an artful trick. She saw it all, and she would defeat it. Come on, Laura; if we stay hero we shall never get to Madame Mantua's." "But the child, Eleanor; will you not ask why he took you to be a fairy ? Not I, indeed It is only a beggar's trick. The child has been trained to it." I do not think so. Stay, I will speak to the poor thing. Why, you have scared it away." This was true. The child had disappeared. Eleanor was very angry with herself for having been so hasty, and mentally determined to take the first opportunity of punishing Charles for the deception of which she believed him to have been the author. As they hurried along, she told Laura how Charles had teased her that afternoon on the subject of fairies, and how she suspected his having had something to do with the startling question of the child. To her indignation, however, Laura refused to share Eleanor's convictions. The child was in earnest, there could be no mistake about that," said Miss Hannington. "Tut, tut, Laura!" exclaimed Eleanor; "you are almost as bad as Cousin Charles." What a poor opinion you seem to have of him said a manly roice behind them and the next moment Charles Renshaw was by their side. Pray excuse my accidentally overhearing your mention of my name. I am sufficiently punished. You know the old adage,4 Listeners seldom hear any good of themselves. Oh, Charles, how you startled us replied Eleanor; but it is just like you." "What is like me ? Come, sir, none of your quibbling. I am out of humour with you. How could you think of sending a poor child out on a cold evening like this ? It was a shabby trick What child ? What trick ? Oh, don't you pretend to be innocent, sir. I have a little of Uncle Stampington's spirit, and will not allow myself to be duped in this manner." Eleanor, what is the meaning of all this ? In the name of mercy let me have some clue to the mystery." Did you not send a child to inquire of me if 1 was not a fairy ? "As I hope for your hand, Eleanor, I did not." On your word of honour as a gentleman ? On my word of honour as a gentleman." If I find you have deceived me, farewell to all chance of winning my heart." A terrible penalty; but, being innocent, I have no fear of incurring it." Do you believe what he says, Laura ? said Eleanor, turning to her companion. I should be sorry to have to doubt Mr. Renshaw's word of honour," was the reply. "Bravely spoken, Miss Hannington. And now, Eleanor, what is this mystery ? In a few words, Miss Mostyne explained to Charles the incident of the child. There is something strange in it," said he. Of course there is, and I look to you to clear it up." "Me!" "Yes. Come, sir knight, sans fear, sans reproach, be this your task. Discover who and what the mysterious child is. Until then, approach not the portals of Stamp- ington House and, with a theatrical wave of her hand, Eleanor took leave of her cousin, who, in his perplexity, had lost all his presence of mind. Was she in earnest ? Yes; she would not be trifled with. Beneath Eleanor's seeming banter he detected an expression of uneasiness which he felt rested with himself to remove. But how was he to discover some traces of the child? Stupid fellow that he was, he had actually forgotten to ask Eleanor in what manner the child was attired ? How was he to rectify this want of thought ? He would hasten and overtake his cousin. No, he would not. Yes, he would. Hang it! what was he to do ? Ha a brilliant thought has just flashed across his mind. He would invoke the assistance of the police. There was one coming down the street. Bravo! his troubles would soon be over. "Did Mr. Policeman know of any child that was in the habit of asking ladies whether they were fairies ? No, Mr. Policeman didn't; but Mr. Policeman knew of something else. Mr. Policeman knew that if gentlemen as had been a dining-out, and asked impertinent questions, didn't speedily make themselves scarce, they would soon learn the nearest way to the lock-up. If it was Christmas Eve, that was no reason why policemen should be gammoned by gents as had come out on the spree. Cousin Cuarles turned away in disgust and despair. What should he do? The bells rang merrily forth from the old church tower, the strains of the carol-singers commingled with the notes of the distant waits, but Charles Renshaw heard them not. He must find the child, or, in the absence of Eleanor's smile, the morrow would prove to him anything but a day of peace and happiness. I Close to Bagwagg's grocery establishment was a narrow entrance leading to one of those close and squalid courts in which so many of the metro- politan poor are compelled to reside, and from which fever, destitution, and misery are seldom absent. The houses presented a monotonous appearance of sooty walls, dingy windows, and dilapidated doorways, sufficiently typical of the poverty of their several occu- pants. In one of these habitations resided Mark Wilmot, his wife Lucy, and their two children. They occupied the top room of the house, and a very cheerless apartment it was. Eight years previously, when Mark Wilmot courted Lucy Ashdale, and indulged in bright dreams of the future, he little dreamt of what the bitter reality would prove. He married, and for a time there was joy and happiness in the household. He and Lucy had selected the springtime for their wedding, as emblematical of their start in life. The summer and autumn glided rapidly away, and as the church bells heralded the approach of the great festival of the year, a son was born to Mark. Very proud was Mark Wilmot when the nurse told him that he had become a father, and still prouder did he feel when the garrulous old lady congratulated him on his child having been born to a life of good luck, as all children were who were born on Christmas Eve. What did nurse mean ? Why she meant that all who had the jfeod fortune to be born on Christmas Eve had the power, on that day, of seeing the fairies-the good-natured little people that protected all who won their favour." "Nonsense!" said Mark, "'tis only a superstitious tale;" and he took no more notice of it. Christmas passed away, the summer came again, and still Mark was prospering. He was now head foreman in the great engineering establishment where he had been apprenticed. Very happy, too, was he, for Lucy had proved a good and faithful wife to him, and rendered his home a little earthly Paradise. Thus things went on, until at last the clouds began to gather and to dim the sunshine of their domestic joy. The firm which employed Mark had been specu- lating largely, and at last had found themselves bankrupt. This was sad news, but Mark had a stout heart. He would go to London and cbtain work there. So the furniture was sold, and Mark came to London. He soon procured work, and again things seemed to be coming round, but one day there was a sudden shock, as of thunder, and the next moment the factory wherein Mark worked was a shapeless lieap of ruins. The news of the fearful explosion spread fast and wide, until it reached the cars of poor Lucy, who was merrily humming a snatch of one of the love songs Mark had sung to her in the sunny days of their courtship. Hastily snatching up her baby from the cradle-for Mark had since become the father of a second child—she flew to the scene of tho catastrophe, arriving just in time to behold the senseless and mutilated form of her husband, as it was being carried to the hospital. It was long before Lucy recovered from the terrible shock of that day, and when Mark left the hospital he scarcely recognised the features of his wife, so intense had been the anguish endured by her. They had a hard time of it. Mark struggled bravely against his fate, but fortune seemed against him. One by one, the articles of clothing and furniture went to the salesman or the pawnbroker, and at last Mark and Lucy found themselves compelled to reside in the squalid court which ran by the side of Bagwaggs' grocery establishment. It was Christmas Eve, and Mark thought sadly of the change which had left him no prospect but the workhouse; not that he cared for himself, but—his wife and little ones—the thought was unbearable! A sorry Christmas this for us, Lucy I really know not what will become of us. If my arm was well again, we should be all right." "Never mind, Mark; it was not your fault. You will be better by-and-by. Until then we must suffer and endure as others have done before us;" and the brave- icarted little woman looked cheerfully at her husband, who pretended not to notice the tear which she could not, do what she would, prevent from rising. ■ U • it is the children I'm thinking of," said Mark. is is lristopher's birthday. Here, my boy; come, kiss your father. There's a gallant littie fellow. I wonder if the nurse's story was true?" "WhatdoyoumeanP^nquSLy. Mar.v told her how the nurse had predicted a life of good luck to Christopher, by reason of his having been born on Christmas Eve. Neither mother nor father marked the peculiar look in the child's eyes as he listened to the conversation, It was idle to heed such foolish words," said Lucy ■jravc.Jy. c any rate the luck has yet to come, Lucy; but Cliri,- ? "He iv;i-- here just now. Perhaps he has gone into the next is am." But the child w as not there, and a further scarch showed him not to be ii the house. Just as Lucy was putting on her bonnet to go in search of him, the child appeared, with flushed features, and tear-stained eyes. Oh, Christopher! Christopher! where have you been ? » cried his mother, as she caught him in her arms. Looking for the fairies." What do you mean, Christopher ? They told me to go away. They were not kind fairies. Yet they looked kind." "Christopher/what are you talking of?" said Mark. "I went to look for the fairies, father." Oh, there are no such beings." What! no fairies, father ? No, my boy; I almost wish for your sake that there Were." Disappointed, the child crept towards Lucy, and tear- fully nestled by her side. Then all was silence. Father and mother were too sad to speak. So the hours glided away, when suddenly there came a tap at the door. Does Mark Wilmot live here?" "Yes." This is for him." As these words were uttered, a small parcel was thrust Into the startled Lucy's hand. It was dark, and they had no candles, but by the assistance of the little bit of fire which flickered in the grate, she saw that there was an address on the packet. Giving it to Mark, she said, I wonder who it is from ? He looked at the inscription. It read: To Mark Wilmot, from a Fairy." Husband and wife gazed at each other in perfect bewil- derment. What was the meaning of it? Little Christopher clapped his hands. "I knew the fairies would come at last," said he. "And so they will," said a gruff voice at the door. The voice was as unlike that of a fairy as could possibly be, nor did the appearance of the speaker tend to increase the illusion—a stout, fiery-faced man, in great overcoat, immense neckerchief, and wielding a stick big enough to have felled a. giant. "Surely there must be some mistake," said Mark, attempting to rise. "Nothing of the kind. Sit still, will you ? Halloa, my little fellow, don't be frightened of me. As for you, Mrs. Wilmot, may I trouble for a light? You need not be afraid of me—I'm not the landlord. What! no candle! Bless us, woman, you cannot mean it. Now then, James, i are you coming up?" he continued, shouting down the I stairs. Yea-sir!" was the prompt reply from the bottom of the stairs, and in a minute or two in staggered that worthy, bearing something which looked very much like a huge hamper. I beg pardon, sir," said Lucy, coming forward; as my husband said, there must be some mistake." -No, there is not, my good woman. Is there, James ? Yes—no-sir." James U Yes-sir." "Don't be a booby." Yes-sir—I mean, no-sir." Unpack that hamper." "Yes-sir." And James set to work unloosing the cords which bound it. While thus engaged, a man's steps were heard ascending the stairs. Does Mark Wilmot live here ? "Yes," said Mark's strange visitant. "And who may you be ? "What!" exclaimed the new comer; "Uncle Stampington here ? Hilloa! shouted Uncle Stampington. Is it you, nephew ? I suppose the ladies will be here next." They are here already," said a voice which Uncle Stampington instantly recognised as Eleanor's, and the next minute Eleanor and Laura made their appearance. The fairy! the fairy shouted little Christopher, running towards his father, who, no less than Lucy, scarcely knew whether he was awake or dreaming. What does it all mean, uncle ? inquired Charles. Come, tell us, uncle; how is it that we find you here?" said Eleanor. First inform me why it is that you and Charles are here," replied Uncle Stampington. It was all through being mistaken for a fairy." Bother the fairies Now, James, when will that hamper be opened?" "Drekly.sir." I'll drekly' you, if it is not;" and Uncle Stamping- ton moved towards James, who instantly gave a wrench that sent the lid of the hamper flying to the end of the room, and revealed the contents of the package. Here, these things are for you, Mark," said Uncle Stampington, in á voice more gentle than was his wont; They are a Christmas present from Jeremiah Stamping- ton. Do you remember the name ? I cannot say that I do," replied Mark. Well, then, I'll refresh your memory. Some ten years ago, a visitor, passing through the interior of a large engineering establishment, ventured too near the machinery, and was caught by a large wheel, and would have been torn to pieces had not a young workman employed in the place darted forward, and, at the risk of his own life, saved the incautious man." I only did my duty," faltered Mark. The visitor took down his preserver's name, and promised to do something for him; but the promise was never kept." I had quite forgotten all about it," said Mark, And so had I," said Uncle Stampington, until this evening, when some gentlemen, desirous of giving a Christmas dinner to the poor, called on me for my subscription. They told me of your case, which they had learnt from the neighbours, and the moment your name was mentioned I recollected it to be that of my preserver. A cab, a visit to a few shops, and here I am. Eh! James." I Yes-sir." Need we tell the rest of the story? How Mark and Lucy sobbed forth their gratitude; how Uncle Stampington, forgetting his recent attack of gout, suddenly kicked James for foolishly weeping also, and then suddenly found that a severe fit of coughing necessitated the use, on his part, of a pocket-handkerchief; how Charles explained that, going back to Eleanor, at Uncle Stampington's, he obtained such a description of Walter, that it was readily recog- nised by a neighbour, who had been making purchases at Bagwaggs', and how he had hastened on to Mark's residence, and there found Uncle Stampington; how Eleanor described the manner in which she and Laura had, for the fun of the thing," and unknown to him, followed Charles to Mark's room; all these, and many other matters, need not be here related. But the parcel ? Well, perhaps uncle knew more about it than he chose to tell. James had not secretly followed, to no purpose, Eleanor and Laura when they went to Madame Mantua's. He knew Uncle Stampington's whims and ways better than they did. All were happy. That is enough. Stay, there is something more to be mentioned. Christmas Day came, and there was such a jolly party at Uncle Stampington's There was uncle himself, all smiles and good-humour; there was Eleanor and Charles, who would talk about fairies there was Laura and a young gentleman, with turn-down collar, who was reported to be her intended; there was Mark and Lucy, together with little Clara, whose wonder-eyes were fixed on Uncle Stampington, until he took quite a fancy to them. Lastly, there was little Christopher. There was'laughing, there was merriment, there was happiness. It was glorious Lucy forgot all her cares even Mark felt himself quite a new man. Hurrah for Christmas Hip, hip, hurrah!" sang cut Uncle Stampington. Yes-sir," chorused James. "Not forgetting the fairies, said Charles, looking slyly at Eleanor, who blushed, and said something which uotic but her cousin could hear. And may they appear when wanted, on every Christ- mas Eve added uncle, as he danced Christopher on his Hurrah!" shouted Christopher, and everybody Kvi.ont joined in the shout.
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IT is better to yield a little than quarrel a great deal. The habit of "standing up," as people call it, for their little rights is one of the most disagreeable and undignified in the world. THE parent's duty is not finished when he feeds, clothes, and educates his children, nor even when he has secured their filial attachment, and made each one inde- pendent and self-respecting, unless he also succeeds in infusing into them the sense of trust and dependence, in cultivating in them the habit of confidence in each other, and in maintaining in the home that affectionate brotherly and sisterly intercourse which, while diffusing the truest happiness through the household, also lays the surest foundation for the social duties and responsibilities that await them in the future.
JMISCELLANEOUS EXTRACTS.
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J MISCELLANEOUS EXTRACTS. I AN ACADIAN COUHTSHIP IN LOUISIANA.— The wooing must be done at balls or in the presence of the family. Flirting being impracticable, it is always understood that the wooer means marriage, and conse- quently he eagerly avails himself of the few privileges deemed by the rural Mrs. Grundy consistent with tha proprieties. These usually begin with prancing, cara- coling, racing his horse on the road in frent of his belle's dwelling-place. He repeats the performance as often as possible, and enjoys it immensely. The more spectators, the greater his delight. The sweets of courtship are necessarily expended on the old folks. Macaboy snuff a la vanille, a bottle of anisette, Ac., for maman go far towards making the course of true love run smooth. With the old gentleman, tact at los.ng half dimes at play is equally effective, always provided the lover comes under that comprehensive descriptive "bon gallon." While thus courting the parents, he avails himself of every opportunity to make" sweet eyes at the daughter, and, after a few weeks of such wooing, proposes. The ballroom is generally the place; when the pleasurable excitement of the waltz has reached its climax, while her slender waist is encircled by his arm, and her head almost leans upon his shoulder, then comes the opportunity. If the coy maid favours his suit, he instantly seeks the approval of her parents. With that one might think the affair settled. But no; he must obtain the permission of the numerous relatives of the bride elect, even to the cousins, who may be of no special importance. Dressed in his nattiest suit, he proudly prances around on the grand tour, and formally asks the consent of each in turn.—Scribner's Monthly. ABOVE all things, reverence yourself. — Pythagoras. NOVEL APPLICATIONS OF WHITEWASH. — A missionary stationed at one of the South Sea Islands deter- mined to give his residence a coat of whitewash. To obtain this in the absence of lime, coral was reduced to powder by burning. The natives watched the process of burning with interest, believing the coral was being cooked for them to eat. Next morning they beheld the missionary's cottage glitterin a the rising sun white as snow. They dance ey sang, they screamed with joy. The whole islan s in commotion. Whitewash became the rage. Happy was the coquette who could enhance her charms by a daub of the wtiite brush. Contentions arose. One party urged their superior rank; another obtained possession of the brush, and valiantly held it against all comers; a third tried to upset the tub to obtain some of the precious cosmetic. To quiet the hubbub, more whitewash was made and in I a week not a hut, a domestic utensil, a war club, or a garment but was as white as snow not an inhabitant but had a skin painted with grotesque figures not a pig that was not whitened; and even mothers might be seen in oviry direction capering joyously, and yelling with delight at the superior beauty of their whitewashed babies.—Chambers's Journal. Base natures joy to see sorrows come to those they deem happy. THE CAPIT-AL OF CHILI. — Santiago is the Chilian's head-quarters, the home of his pride. A Peruvian's fortune, easily made, is too often as readily squandered in some foreign pleasure haunt at Paris or New York but a Chilian, whose wealth is to be accu- mulated by hard labour, is as a rule a comparatively untravelled man. To settle at Santiago, to build him- self a handsome house, is the height of his ambition. To praise the city, to describe Santiago as a slice of Paris dropped at the foot of the Andes," is for a stranger the best way to get at the Chilian's heart. And the town is indeed splendid, with broad, straight streets, with good stone pavements, with groves and fountains in the squares, with stately public buildings and sumptuous private dwellings, with an alameda, or poplar avenue, three miles in length, watered by four living streams, with a park" or round carriage drive, and a "Jinca normal" or model farm, also a promenade, with cool, shady grounds, an exhibition palace, and a museum and finally, with a high hill of Santa Lucia, visibly intended by nature for a citadel like the Acropolis at Athens, overlooking the town like the Pincio at Rome, and commanding a vast panorama of plain and mountain like the Superga at Turin in fact with everything befitting a large, a rich, and a broad new capital. Better site for a city could hardly any- where have been chosen; in the centre of a vast green level, compassed all round by brown hills, and crossed by a stream, the Macocho, the valley of which forms a ■gap in the mountain wall, opening up a broad view of the snowy Cordillera, with the Tupungato rearing its head to a height of more than 22,000 feet—an andean giant so huge that our own Mont Blanc could barely reach up to his shoulder All the elements of a grand city are certainly here but somehow, though Santiago ivas laid out and founded nearly three centuries and a half ago (1541) and has always been the sovereign residence, it has all the look of a town of yesterday and reminds one of the fine family mansion," which the builder and the upholsterer are instructed to rear from the ground and furnish in the most approved style and regardless of expense." It is the home of a parvenu people. Hardly any trace of the old Spanish dominion is here, if ive except the solid stone bridge once flanked by houses and shops, one half of which have been unfortunately pulled down; and the low, large, but common place cathedral and the Moneda, or Palace of the Mint, which is now the President's and the Government's residence, which only dates from the latter part of the 19th century, and for which Chili is indebted to a lucky mistake of the royal architects of Madrid, who sent to poor Chili the model of 'an edifice intended for wealthy Mexico—a mistake which, owing to the slowness of communications in that age, the Government only found out and vainly attempted to rectify when the palace was more than half built.-Corre.pondent of the Tunes. THE MEAN DEPTH OF THE SEA.—A large amount of material for arriving at some approximately correct notion of the mean depth of the sea has accu- mulated in recent years. In a note to the Gottingen Academy, Dr. Krummel has btelyattempted this, in view of the vague and variable statements on the sub- ject in text books. Soundings were wanting for the Antarctic and a part of the North Polar Sea, i.e., about 475,000 square miles, or 7 per cent. of the entire sea surface, so that he gives his estimate only as a closer approximation. He estimates, then, the mean depth of the sea as 1877 fathoms, or 3432 metres, or 0-4624 geo- graphical miles. It was natural to compare the mean height of dry land above the sea level. Humboldt's esti- mate of 308 metres is regarded as quite out of date. Leipoldt has since estimated the mean hei lit of Europe as 300 metres. Accepting this numb for Europe, 500 for Asia and Africa, 330 for America, and 250 for Australia, Dr. Krummel obtains the mean of 420 metres, or 0'0566 miles. The surface ratio of land to w-ater being considered 1: 2-75, the volume of all dry land above the sea level is inferred to be 140,086 cubic miles, and the volume of the sea 3,133,000 cubic miles. Thus the ratio of the volumes of land and water is 1 22'4. That is, the continents, so far as they are above the sea level, might be contained 22'4 times over in the sea basin. Reckoning, however, the mass of solid land from the level of the sea bottom, the former would be contained only 2'443 times in the sea space. Dr. Krummel also compares the masses (taking recent data); he finds that of the sea 3,229,700 cubic miles, and that of the solid land 3,211,310 (a small difference). If the specific gravity of the land were raised merely from 2'5 to 2'51432, we should thus have perfect equilibrium. Such equilibrium is probably the fact.-NatllTe. HE but waters his soup who takes many words to tell a short story. THE HousE ANT.—The variation in size among ants is as well marked as it is among the higher animals, and the proportions of the largest and smallest ant are much the same as those of the elephant and the mouse. Some ants, especially those belonging to the genus Componotus, are as large as our hornets, while others, such as the common house ant, Myrmica molesta, is only the fifteenth of an inch in length, and so slender that its pale yellow body is hardly discernible if it be alone. But it very seldom is alone. Minute as are its individual dimensions, collectively it is so formidable an insect that it has rendered houses uninhabitable. The houses have had the floors relaid, cement and porcelain tiles used wherever possible, but the house ants have retained possession of the premises. I have received many letters from persons whose houses are infested with these ants, and have been asked to sug- gest some mode of destroying them. Unfortunately I know of none. 'I he passages to their nests are so small that boiling water loses its heat Jong before the few drops which can trickle through them c.vm touch the nest. Insect powders are equally useless, flnd sulphur smoke has no terror for lliese in-ects. It dc-.is not appear to be in- digenous to this country, and is evidently of American origin. It is the opinio." Of Mr. Smith that, like the cockroach, it hw U^14 impoiled in merchandise, and. like that insect, will retain if place in the land of its adop- tion.— liev. J. G. If ood, in the Sunday Magazine. ALL efforts to hide our real character are inju- rious, whether snccesslul or unsuccessful. Manners are not a veil to conceal, but an aperture to show our real selves; and the sooner we put ourselves into harmony with this truth, the better for all of us.
_A-,.---!LADIES' COLUMN.
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_A LADIES' COLUMN. DIIESS AND FASHION. The recent sharp spell of cold weather was altogether so fleeting in character that those who put on" the fashionable "armour" of thick wraps and dainty seals had speedily to relinquish such cosy attire for the lighter habiliments of spring costume. Embroidered kid is now talked of all over Paris as a great novelty. Dressmakers use it more frequently as a trimming for velvet dresses than upon any other material. The shade of the kid is always precisely the same as that of the velvet. The arabesques peculiar to old Venice point are the designs usually seen in the embroi- dery. A French comtesse has quite recently appeared in a very tasteful dress of this description, the colour of which is the universally-favoured myrtle-green. The skirt is of velvet, with a flat tablier, covered with kid, em- broidered and applied as described above. Much of the design being open work, the velvet shows through the kid with very good effect. Below this tablier are three narrow myrtle-green satin flounces. A 101']g velvet scarf hides the top of the tablier, and is tied in large puffed- out bows and ends at the back. The gloss of the kid where it catches the light supplies a beautiful contrast to the warm tones of the velvet, though the tint of both is precisely the same when seen spread flatly out. Friendly critics have suggested to the pretty comtesse that the satin flounces would be better replaced by velvet or plush, as more in character with the rest of the dress. The bodice is made of kid. These bodices are sometimes plain, sometimes embroidered. Occasionally, when the kid is plain, the basque is supplemented by a deep band of embroidered kid over velvet. T1 long kid gloves almost invariably match the colour the kid in the dress. The only exception to this rule is when the costume is chocolate brown velvet and kid, in which case tan-coloured Swedish kid gloves form a pleasant relief to the monotony of the darker tint. Origi- nality, a quality which Frenchwomen once feared to display to any appreciable extent in individual costume, lest they should be accused of eccentricity, is now the aim of every pretenuVL to a voice in the modes of the day. Even a French modiste will consent to carry out the ideas of her customers. Some years ago she was autocrat pure and simple. Now, her clients come provided with the most delicate little sketches of dainty dresses, supplemented with lists of fabrics, and the result of repeated consultations on the subject is, as a rule, highly successful. The Americans who visit Paris, on the contrary, fall in love with what they see ready prepared. A walking-dress of dark brown Indian cashmere has three small flounces running round the edge of the skirt, except just in front, where a large hollow pleat of plain brown kid runs from the waist to the feet. On either side of this pleat are placed an in- liuity of narrow cashmere flounces, extending about seven inches towards the side of the dress. These flounces are met by two panels of embroidered kid over cashmere. The whole of the back of the skirt is covered with small cashmere flounces. The frivolity of this meandering trimming is curiously contradicted by the perfect simplicity of the bodice, which is of brown kid without embroidery and without trim- ming, but fitting as kid only can. This bodice is laced down the back. Kid in gold colour and bronze is begin- ning to appear on velvet and cashmere of the same hues, but the effect is not so good as in the darker tints. Sulphur colour is much worn, especially in conjunc- tion with brown. A simple dress of this description deserves record, for the good taste displayed in its combination. The skirt is of seal- brown velvet, edged with one deep flounce. The tunic is of sulphur-coloured brocade, with large brown velvet flowers raised in relief on the surface. The mantle is of brown velvet, trimmed with sulphur-coloured i chenille fringe round the edges, and a band of chenille j embroidery down the back from neck to waist. The small bonnet is of brown velvet, with a drapery of brocade similar to that in the tunic, and a wreath of vellow chrysanthemums. The Mexican costume worn by Mdlle. Ugalde in the first act of the operetta, Le Jour et la Nuit," has given a great impetus to the popu- larity of sulphur colour. The skirt is of brown cloth, and the tunic is of sulphur-coloured cloth, embroidered with roses in two shades of pale pink, with brown leaves, and edged with a deep fringe. Ladies who possess old lace should now cherish it more carefully than ever. Each day adds to its value, and lends it a charm that nothing can take away. Lace will be very largely emplo-yed in the trimming of dresses, both morning and evening, in the coming season, and not only for dresses will it be used, but for linen, and also for sheets. I know of one lady who has Valen- ciennes on her white silk petticoats to the value of £300! Sheets trimmed with old point or Flanders lace with the initials worked in gold thread or coloured silk, are very lovely. The pillows of the bed are made to match, and quilts of rich old brocade, trimmed with point, are among the latest luxuries of this luxurious century. All old lace, whether Venice or Spanish point, Alencon, Mec1 n, Bruxelles, Argentine, or point de France, will be the fashion this year. There are, unfortunately, persons in this world who, though, as Tennyson says, they needs must love the highest when they see it," yet are prevented by certain circumstances from possessing it. They adore Chantilly, worship Valenciennes, and reverence Brussels, but yet have to content themselves with a machine-made imita- tion of nothing in particular at a few pence a yard. These are unfortunate. True economy is, however para- doxical it may appear, impossible to the poor. Lace at twenty-five shillings a yard is ever so much cheaper than lace at five pence. The former, with care, outlives the purchaser. The latter barely manages to survive its first wash, more especially if trusted to the tender mercics of the laundress by profession. Every old lady ought to have a supply of old lace. There is something about its delicate refinement of texture that harmonises pleasantly with soft grey hair and those tender tints of fading which Austin Dobson tias woven into graceful verse. Some old ladies are more Deautiful in their age than they were as girls or women m their prime. These we love to see decked in the shecniest of satin gowns of such soft hues as pearl, dove. )r palest lavender, and old lace seems the fitting accom- oaniment for gowns of such Quaker-like colours. We should, however, be silly sentimentalists did we ignore the fact that there are old ladies of aspect so forbidding that the soft folds of old lace seem to shrink away in pure dismay from proximity with their countenances. For my part, I feel sure that a False front, being the veriest sham, must be repugnant in the highest degree to the feelings of priceless yellow- tinted Valenciennes or Flanders point. A good complexion, whether young or old, assorts well with the idea of refinement that is invariably associated with fine old lace. On the other hand, hair-dye, paint, Dowder, cosmetics, false eye-brows, and a general effect 3f make-up are, if possible, rendered even more hope- lesslv vulgar by the contact of old lace than they would be otherwise. There is a tawdry suggestiveness about the" false colours that are but too common which wars acrainst our notions of all that pertains to the exquisite productions of the conscientious and industrious lace- makers of old. USEFUL HINTS. C-AKROTS WITH CCEKY.—Stew young carrots and cut them in four lengthwise; to half a gill of water in which they are stewed, and one gill of cream and one ounce of butter rubbed with half a teaspoonful of flour, a little salt, and a teaspoonful of curry powder. Let it simmer in a saucepan until thickened slip in the carrots, cover for a few moments, and then serve hot. PRESERVED OEANGES. Take any number of oranges, with rather more than their weight in white sugar. Slightly grate the oranges, and score them round and round with a knife, but not cut very deep. Put them in cold water for three days, changing the water two or three times a day. Tie them up in a cloth, boil them till they are soft enough for the head of a pin to penetrate the skin. While they are boiling, place the sugar on the [ire, with rather more than half a pint of water to each pound; let it boil for a minute or two, then strain it through muslin. Put the oranges into the syrup till it jellies, and is of a yellow colour. Try the syrup by putting some to cool. It must not be too stiff. The syrup need not cover the oranges, but they must be turned, so that each part gets thoroughly done. POULET A LA MAEENGO.—Cut up an unchooked chicken as for a fricassee, and fry the pieces in plenty of olive oil with a bruised clove of garlic whole, pepper, and salt to taste, and a small faggot of sweet herbs. Put 11l the thighs first, as they take longer to do. Take three tablespoonfuls of the oil used in frying the chicken, add some minced mushrooms, shalot, and parsley, a glass o white wine, and as much stock free from fat as may e necessary to make a sufficient quantity of sauce, wi l powdered pepper and salt to taste. Let the sauce oi ten or fifteen minutes, and pour it over the_pieces Ox chicken, neatlv piled up on a dish. Garnish with bread sippets fried in oil or butter, and whole button mush- rooms, cooked with the sauce. Fried eggs may also be added to the garnish. An economical housewife will alw ays buy her soap in «arcre quantities, cut each bar in square pieces, and store io a dry place. It lasts better after shrinking. I
ART AND LITERATURE.
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ART AND LITERATURE. 8 MESSRS. CASSELL, PETTER, GALPIN AND CO. will shortly publish for the Cobden Club a new volume on Loc;il Government and Taxation in the United Kingdom," edited by J. W. Probyn. The contributors to the volume will include the Hon. G. C. Biodrick, C. T. D. Acland, Lord Edmond Fitzmaurice, J. F. B. Firth, M.P., R. O'Shaughncssy, M.P., J. Thackray Bunce, W. Maedonald, and J. Roland Phillips. THE Rev. M. Creighton will contribute an article on "Alnwick Castle" to the February number of The Jlui/azine of Art. This number will also contain the first of a series of Byways cf Book Illustration. Mr. R. L. Stevenson will contribute an article on Bag- ster's popular edition of the" Pilgrim's Progress," with twenty of the original wood cuts. Contributions are ex- pected to this series from Messrs. J. A. Svmonds, Austin Dobson-, Cosmo Monkhouse, Richard Garnett, and other well-known writers. UXDEB the title of Passages in Girl Life," Phillis Browne, author of What Girls Can Do," will contri- bute Conversation Papers" on the most interesting phases of girlhood to Cassell's Magazine. The first chapter is to appear in Februarv. THE Rev. P. B. Power, M.A., whose popular tracts have delighted so many thousands of readers, has arranged to contribute a series of papers to the Quiver on the Footsteps of Christ, the first of which (The Footstep of Obedience) is to appear in the February number. THE £ 5 NOTE, AND OTHER STORIES." By George S. Jealous. Illustrated by A. H. Tourrier. Cassell, Petter, Galpin & Co. The stories in this little book, which is affectionately inscribed to the memory of Robert B. Brough, were originally written, as we learn from the preface, for reading in school-rooms, at working-men clubs, and other places and it was the favour with which they were received that induced the author to bring them out in their present form. The stories, which are all brief, possess the merit of running straight on without any moralising breaks. They are intended to teach useful lessons, and as these lessons lie on the surface, they can. be easily apprehended by juvenile minds. The style, also, is well suited to the simple nature of the stories, which are six in number, ending with The Lovers of Linger Lane." Miss ANNA BOCK, the eminent American pianist, has just arrived in London. SEXOB SARASATE, the celebrated Spanish violinist, is at present in Russia, but will arrive in London a short time hence. AN exhibition of decorative and industrial art is to be held at Ivimes from the 1st May to the 15th June. THE dinner in honour of Mr. Watts, which it was pro- posed should be given in the Grosvenor Gallerv within the month, has been indefinitely postponed owing to the state of the painter's health. MAKCUS WABD AND CO. will shortly publish a novel by Monica, entitled" Owlet Ash." A mistaken marriage, a separation, and a new departure with its results, form the leading motive of the story. A FAC-SIMILE of the statue of St. Peter at Rome has just been executed at Paris by M. Froc Robert, being a gift by the Pope to the French Church at Boston, United States. A SECOND edition of Bishop Mcllvame's Memorials," by Canon Carus, is in the press, and will be published shortly, with some additional matter of great interest in- corporated in it. THE Rev. Harry Jones, vicar of St. George's-in-the- East, will contribute to the February number of Cassell's- Mitgazine a paper entitled A Few Words on Kindness to Animals." MESSRS. ARTHUR TOOTH AND SONS are now exhibiting at their Fine Art Galleries, 5, Haymarket, an advanced: proof of Woltner's fine etching, after Frank Hoil:sr (A.R.A.) picture "Besieged," which will be published; next month. t THE Revisers' English," being a series of criticisms; intended to show that the revisers have in various in- stances violated the laws of the English language in their version of the New Testament has just been published by Messrs. Hatchard, from the pen of Mr. G. Washington' Moon, F.R.S.L. MESSRS. CLOWES AND SONS will shortly publish a work by Mr. Serjeant Pulling, entitled "The Order of the Coif," embracing as well the history of the old order of serjeants-at-law and the very wide range of matter with which the subject is identified. It will have illus- trative engravings and woodcuts. SIGNOB P. P. SOLMI, of the College of San Carlo, has been fortunate enough to discover in i>ts archives an un- published manuscript of great value by Castelvetro, the famous rival of Annibal Coro. It is a commentary on the Divina Commedia," and a fruitless search having been made for it in Muratori's time, all hope of ever bringing it to light again had been abandoned. MR. GEOBGES POUCHET, who was appointed last autumn by the Paris Museum to the command of a French scien- tific mission in northern latitudes, has, as a result of his expedition, enriched the collection of that institution with a number of skeletons of whales, which have just been landed at Havre. The Museum, which already possessed a large number of skeletons of cetacea, is now said to have the most perfect collection in the world. M. CABANEL is engaged on a picture of "Diana," which is intended to be a pendant to his Psyche." The new picture represents the goddess with the usual attributes, not as a huntress, but as queen of night. Her head is in shadow, but is faintly illuminated by a. crescent. IN the sale of the second portion of the famous Blen- heim Library by Messrs. Putiick and Simpson, from the 17th to the 27th of April, will be included, the Literary Churchman says, many rare MSS., and among them, the Opuscula of SS. Chrysostom, Gregory of Antioch, and Gregory of Nazianzen; a Palimpsest Codex containing an Uncial MS. of the Gospels of the eighth century the works of Ephraem Syrus in Greek, and two Greek Service Books of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. The catalogue also includes many ediiiones priiicipes of the works of the Fathers. A NEW natural history society, under the title of the North Middlesex Natural History Association, has just been established with a temporary address at Ino-lebv- road, Holioway. It is proposed to form a natural Mstory museum and library, to have lectures, &c., and organise field excursions during the summer months. WE understand that The Pictorial World is about to be increased to 6d. per week, and permanently enlarged, and that the first number in its new form will be issued in February. The paper will consist of twentv-four pages of illustrations and letter-press, together with a coloured supplement every week. THE comic opera La Mascotte," which met with such enormous success at Brighton, and which for more than 100 nights has been played to oversowing houses in London, will very shortly be produced in the pro- vinces by Miss Kate Santlevand a well chosen-company. La Mascotie will be assumed by Miss Santley, a part eminently suited to the versatile powers of this lady. =
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A NAPLES CORRESPONDENT telegraphs that Garibaldi has arrived in that city. He was taken on shore in an invalid chair, on which he lay stretched ima half-sitting posture, unable to tarn his head. In hia reft hand he held a white handkerchief, which he sometimes feebly moved in answer to the cheers by which he was gueeted. On being welcomed to Naples by the Syndic, Garibaldi said he required rest and quiet, and begged that no visits might be paid to him, not even by his personal friends. His wishes have been placarded throughout the city. THE MAEQUIS OF LOBNE has 1- AT Halifax. A very large number of persons, including the principal civil and military officials, greeted him on his arrival, and a salute of nineteen guns was fired from the citadel. A guard of honour from tne 19th Regiment escorted his Excellency to the residence of the Lieutenant- Governor. After dinner the Marquis of Lome left bv special train for Ottawa, stormy weather was exne-"i- enced on the passage from England. His Excellent however, suffered but httie from sea-sickness AX THE GI;ASEO^ EASTEBN POLICE-COURT ten boys, inmates of a Glasgow reformatory, were ehv-«l with malicious mischief during the late -iot Thev broke 150 panes of glass, and otherwise damaged property. Nine pleaded gUlL), and they were each sentenced to ag SS dismissicl. A LLOYD'S TELEGKAM from Suez reports that the Galzycs (S.), frorn Mejbourae, bound for London, hTm- /I 6 and Co., stranded on Sen- r"ir /\vtr u0a^ie^ during the next night. The f rf -'on L fC0113lsted of about 1800 of WOGl i ?SS Wbeat flour. The accident is pai a rioutabie to currents and to the compass. One anchor slipped and two or three hawsers were lost or damaged. A AN IT upon a, lady of independent means, named Watsrfield, residing at Magdalen-terrace, it. Leonards, has been epened in that town. Mrs. 'vatei field had been under medical care, and on the night of her death had taken, it is said, a sleeping draught under the directions of her doctor. It is believed, how- ever, that she obtained some laudanum in addition, and that she has died from poison. The inquiry has been adjourned.