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----.--NATIONAL ODDITIES.…
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NATIONAL ODDITIES. Peculiar Characteristics of the World's Peoples. WHERE WOMEN MTJSX Wont "When one gets into Switzerland the term weaker sex," as applied to women, seems a misnomer. In point of endurance, and often even of muscular strength, the peasant women of the remoter valleys appear quite the equals of the men. One sees them mowing on those green, beautiful slopes over which the snow peaks tower, and a party of girls swinging the antique Swiss scythes, with their straight handles, that bend the figure so cruelly, cut broad, even swaths with the regularity of veterans. They do not work with any appearance of haste or conscious overflow of energy, but in slow, plodding, untiring fashion they toil hour after hour, beginning at half-pnsl five in the morning, and turning homeward only when daylight fails. To see the storing of hay in the Alpine chalets is to get a new idea of the muscular prowess of women. The crops of the upper elopes are carried in back-loads to the little red-brown log structures that dot the moun- tains as high as the cattle can find pasturage, and the weight that a woman will lift on the wooden frame that is adjusted to her shoulders, and with which she will climb, or, which is much harder, will descend to the nearest chalet, dropping her burden through a hole in the roof, from which the shingles and the heavy stones that hold them,in place have been removed, is a source of perpetual wonder. When the harvest has been gathered there are back-baskets of manure to carry to fit the ground for winter crops, and even the little girls not yet in their teens climb like cats, carrying their own little back-baskets well loaded. On the Lake of Lucerne the boatwomen are characteristic figures. The long, low, black freight barges are pulled from port to port by mixed crews of men and women, from ten to twenty to a boat, who work the heavy sweep,4 standing. In the heat of the day the men strip to their waists and the women un- lace their bodices and work with bare arms and in the white peasant chemises. Occa- sionally one sees women porters, who carry portmanteaux and luggage of all sorts up and down the mule paths for the summer visitors. In Germany one can nowhere escape the sight of the outdoor labour of women. Along the flat valley of the Middle Hhine the vine- yards, the grain patches, and the tobacco fields are full of them. In an afternoon's ride the proportion of women getting in the harvest often seems as three to two men. In these fertile lands there is a social, com- panionable side to the work which one might go far to find paralleled. In the fields whnh stretch between the huddled villages one sees whole families busy. At the end of the corn strip, under a tree or clump of bushes, stands a baby's cradle. Its occupant has learned to take life philosophically, and croons at the blue Lky or green leaves. At the noon hour the mid-day meal is eaten, picnic fashion, with the cradle for a centre. The loading of the great German hay- wagons is always interesting. You will see a brown woman, her head tied up in a scarlet handkerchief, on top of the load, distributing the forkfuls as they are passed up to her. If one woman loads for one man her work is the easier, though requiring more skill. But when, as one often sees, one woman loads for three or four men, she has by far the hardest position. There are few evidences, indeed, of any division of work between man and woman as to the stronger and weaker animal. The physical capacity of the woman is oounted on as being at least equal to that of the man, and, to all appearances, with good reason. How THE BOER GOES A-WOOING. The practical and phlegmatical element in the Boer charaoter is nowhere more conspicuous than in the manner of his "wooing." An account of the operation in question is given by Miss Olive Schreiner, in the chapter of The Story of an African Farm." in which Tant' Sannie holds an "up-sitting" with her unpromising admirer. Assisted by a vision in her dreams, she has quickly recognised the object of his visit, and sums up his personality and claims in the words, "Little Plet Vander Walt, whose wife died last month—two farms, 12,000 sheep." The preliminaries are very quickly arranged. "Aunt," said the yuung man, starting up spasmodically, can I off- saddle?" H Yes." The account goes on to describe how after supper the actual "up-sitting" is accom- plished. Tant.' Sannie produces two long candles, and fills the coffee liettle; thus pro- vided with light and refreshment she and her weak-eyed, white-haired swain sit through the night with their feet on the stove and their elbows touohing-silent, but satisfied. In this case, however, both parties were expe- rienced. The swain was a widower, and the lady certainly no chicken; and this accounts for the expedition with which matters were brought to a satisfactory conclusion. Gene- rally, however, there is more ceremony and more tentative advances before the betrothal. The first sgn of the approaching oampaign is the purchase of a new saddle and saddle- cloth, with which the weedy Africander steed is caparisoned. This purchase is a sufficient indication to the young man's family of his matrimonial intentions, and they are there- fore by no means surprised to see him ride away, silent and thoughtful, some afternoon to a neighbouring farm. Arrived at his journey's end, he rides up the stoep, or raised platform outside the house, upon which the Baas is quietly smoking his pipe, and wishes him Good day." The farmer stares at him with surprise until he catches sight of the new saddle; then his face broadens into a huge smile, and he calls to his sons, Paul and Jan, to show the new comer where to off- saddle, and to his frau to prepare coffee. This, of course, if the young man is considered eligible; if not, he very soon sends him to the right-about. Meanwhile the ladies ot the house gather in the sitting-room, and when the admirer enters, he shakes hands solemnly all round. The special object of his affections is there, but he cannot speak to her; he is at once taken in hand by his mother-in-law elect, who puts him through a series of ques- tion. How is his mother? his sisters? Is his mother's kinkoest (cold) better? and so on. Meanwhile coffee is served and a cup is brought to him. Probably he drops it in his 0 7 trepidation, and the girls nudge each other, and laugh at his awkwardness. After he has stayed an hour or so he gets up jerkily, and again he shakes hands solemnly all round. Then be saddles his horse and rides away again. This visit is repeated at intervals during the next few months. He also stares at his lady love at the church of the dorp (village), and at the predi- kant's (clergyman s) house, when he and the young people go there for the cate- chising. At last he meets her alone one day. Then comes the chance for a tender passage or two. But no all he says is, Well, what do you think?" She replies, Well, what ao you ? Ihave a farm and three thousand sheep. How many will your father give you ?,, If they come to the conclusion that their united resources are sufficient, the marriage is announced to their friends, and the banns are put up without further dflav. As for the wedding, that iA described with accuracy in the chapter of The Story of an African Farm," following that describing the up-sitting of Tant; Sannie. All day long the guests arrive' horses, carts, and wagons bring young men and loads of massive tantes and buxom young women ohildren, too, under the care of the Hottentot and half-caste nurses. Towards nightfall the dancing begins. The mud floor of the large ball has been rubbed with bul- locks' blood until it shines like mahogany. And on this surface the young men and women, with not a fewer of the younger matrons, whirl round and round, obedient to the scraping of fiddles. Outside, on the stoep, a group of men and boys collect, smoking and cracking rough jokes, while all the side rooms are filled w ith a medley of children, nurses, and old women. At twelve the bride retires to the marriage chamber, and the bridegroom is subsequently led there by his best man, who solemnly presents him with the key and then leal es him. Meanwhile the revels go on all the more noisily, culminating in the cushion dance." Evening Standard, VJ'
Engineer Jim Cook's Story.…
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Engineer Jim Cook's Story. 0 We were sitting in the sun on the south side of the Montana Union Depot, in Butte, when Jim told the story. There was a tremor in his voice and a moisture in his eyes that marked how deeply his feelings were moved by the tale a chance remark led him to tell. Everyone who knows Jim Cook—and who doesn't kno w the rugged engineer, one of the oldest men in the Union Pacific service P- knows that his heart is built in proportion to his massive frame. Touch him right, and no woman could be more tender; rile him, and no grizzly could be more fierce. Jim has seen exciting times in the service of the Union Pacific, and his mind is stored with reminis- cences of the early days of trans-continental railroading. We had been chatting in a rambling, desul- tory way of snow-bound trains, when the sub- ject was suddenly shifted and I happened to mention the robbery of a Northern Pacific train near Fargo. Jim's manner changed in- stantly. He had been leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees and supporting his chin with the palms of his hands. Now he sat bolt upright; his eyes flashed and his whole manner seemed to indicate that his brain was conceiving a flood of eloquence his tongue could not fashion into words. One could see tragedy in his face, but the next minute the expression changed to one of pity. Then he began to talk. 1 wish an adequate idea of his manner of telling it could be given with his story. He seemed to see the thing he was describing. Hold up," said he. I never was in but one, and I never hear of one that doesn't call up the ghost of poor Charlie White to haunt me. Charlie was an express guard in the early days. A pluckier little man never breathed. He had been a telegraph operator in 'Frisco before he got on our run, and I knew him first rate. Knew his wife, too, for he was married, a little pink and white wax doll sort of woman who looked like a saint. We had long runs in those days. Our division—Charlie changed with me—extended from 'Frisco to B-" (I've forgotten the station named by Jim). "One afternoon-we left at 2.20-as we were pulling out of the depot at 'Frisco I got the bell. As I brought her to a stand I saw the Wells Fargo run up to the express car and hand Charlie a square tin box with a grip handle. Looking back as she got her head again I saw the express agent make a motion to Charlie. Leaning half out the door Charlie slapt his belt and smiled. Just beyond them I saw something else- two rough-looking, bearded men, swinging up one after the other on the rear platform of the last car. Then I thought nothing of it; afterwards I knew they had been shadowing the express agent, All afternoon I had an uneasy feeling. ICvery engineer is a bit superstitious, I sup- pose, and I remember that I wondered if my uneasiness wasn't a premonition of bad luck. We ran along without mishap during the early evening, but when we stopped to take water about nine o'clock I caught sight of a dark figure stealing along in the shadow of the express. I called to Tom, my fireman, to see who it was, but when he turned it was gone. This didn't bother me much at the time it might have been a brakie or the conductor, but I hadn't noticod any conductor. While we were tearing away again at a pretty good pace I suddenly caught a clicking sound like the putting on of brakes. It was a trifle up grade at that point, and I hadn't called for 'em. Telling Tom to keep her going as she was, I climbed back over the tender to see what was the matter. "Just as I got to the rear I noticed a widening gap between the tender and the express, and realised that we were uncoupled, and that the bell rope bad been cut; at the same moment I saw one of the bearded men standing at the brake-wheel of the express. He bad me covered with a six-shooter. As I clambered back to the cab 1 heard a shot; then half a dozen of them in quick succession. Hoad agents,' Tom yelled in my ear as I took the lever. I brought her up as quick as I could and held hir ready to run forward or backward as circumstances might decide. The train had almost comi to a standstill when I saw a gleam of light cut through the night about midway of the car. Then that streak of light was darkened by the lengthened all idow of a man, which moved crosswise of the train and seemed to melt out into the night, Get back, Chai,l,e I yelled, for I thought he was about to look out for the cause of our I stopping. "Open your head again and I'll blow it off said a voice beside me. Turning I saw a man at each of the cab's front windows. They had jumped up on the pilot and crept back alongside of the boiler. There seemed to be a dozen of the robbers. Not more than two had come on the train I was sure. The whole thing had been planned. Those near the engine, with the exception of the two at the cab windows, made a rush for the express car. As they ran into the stream of light coming through the open door, a shot fired from the darkness to the left of the train tumbled one of them to the ground. The others fusilladed the spot from which the shot appeared to come, and then two shots fired under the train from the other side, and another shot from away out in the dark, laid one of the thieves out cold, and caused another one to howl. The trainmen were beginning to fight. My blood got warm. I had a good six-shooter under the seat, and if that fellow at the cab window had only taken his eyes off me for a moment I'd have been out there helping the boys. Those at the rear of the train then joined those in front, and all made a dash at the open door of the express. They were all in a bunch in the light. The first man to enter the door stood a moment and then fell back outside in the crowd. The shot came from the darkness away out to the left. Another man tried it. As he fell on bis face in the oar the others, who had been watching, fired a volley at the flash away off in the dark. The next man who triad to enter the express succeeded. "lhe others kept watch until he re-appeared at the door. Something was wrong. Two others got in to help him. Then one of them whistled, and my man at the window jumped off and ran back to the train. That was my chance. Out came the gun from under my seat, and I got a snap-shot at Tom's man, but missed him. As he turned on me Tom struck his arm with a wrench, knooking the pistol from his hand. He jumped off into the darkness. We backed her slowly up towards the train, firing as we went. Suddenly a dark form rose up on Tom's side of the track and threw something into the tender. Tom and I both fired at the man. He staggered up against the cab steps and groaned. Then by a superhuman effort he caught the hand-rail, and just as we were pre- paring to give him another shot he dragged his face into the light. It was Charlie We bad both hit him I Pull out, Jim, and save the box That was all he said. It was the box he had thrown into the tender. No matter how much there was in it, the stuff wasn't worth the life of the boy who saved it to the com- pany. While I lifted Charlie up into the seat Tom threw the old engine wide open and we ran away from the train, robbers and all. "It was forty miles to the nearest station, a small Government post. Tom fed and worked the engine. 1 sat on the seat beside Charlie and held him up. The rattle and rumble of the wheels accused me at every revolution. "They seemed to be repeating the words, 'You've killed him Youv'e killed him!' Tom made those forty miles in an hour good time over that road at that day, but it seemed to me an age. As we were running in Tom gave them bell and whistle both, and then when she came to a stand he fired two shots. The bluecoats were out in a jiffy. Everything was told in a few words. Charlie was carried into the quarters and turned over to the surgeon, a fine old fellow named Hamilton. With an escort of twenty men we ran back to the train. The robbers had left. Finding the express empty of treasure they had tried to go through the train. There were too many revolvers among the passengers and they drew off. When we reached the post again Surgeon Hamilton walked up to the cab. Are you Jim Cook ?' said he. I nodded. ( Take these to Mr. White's wife,' and he banded me Charlie's watch, a bank-book, and a bunch of keys. f He told me to tell you,' the surgeon went on, t not to feel bad about that shot. The road agents found him with that last volley, and he would have gone under anyhow from his other wounds. His body will go back with you on your return, and I will give you a letter to the express company.' "Tom cried like a child. 1 couldn't cry; my brain seemed to be on fire; I was thinking one minute of how reproachfully Charlie had looked at me when he swung into the cab with a dying effort, and the next of a frail little woman in 'Frisco who was patiently waiting Charlie's return. The company gave her a pension, but she didn't need it long." What was in the box ?" I asked. c. Certificates of stock in a wild cat mining scheme." « Why It was like this," said Jim, wiping his eyes and bringing his story to a close. The express agent saw that somehow the fact that a shipment of treasure was to be made had leaked out. At the last moment he substi- tuted a lot of worthless securities. He eaw that he was shadowed on the way to the train, and he acted up at the depot just to throw the robbers off the scent and to make them Jto believe that the shipment was really being made by our train."—Joe Quail in Rthey- stander,
NOTHING FROM WHITEHALL.
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NOTHING FROM WHITEHALL. There was a motherly-looking old lady sitting in the midst of her bundles at the Grand Central Depot, when a man with a grip sat down beside her and began to read a newspaper. She eyed him pretty sharply for a few minutes and then inquired Any great news in the papers to-day ? inothiiig very extraordinary," he replied. See anything in there from Whitehall ?' Not yet." "I'm from Whitehall, or purty near there Bin down here visitin' my sister. Haven't bin her but two weeks, but it seems a hull year. Only got one letter from Joseph, and bout all he said in that was that he took his pen in hand to inform me that he was well, and hoped these few lines would find me the same, which they did. I'm a little worried. Don't find any item there about a house or barn burning up near Whitehall No, ma'am." Joseph was breaking a colt when I came away. Don't see anything about a farmer getting his neck broke or being kicked to death ?" "Nothing of the sort, ma'am." "Anything about anybody falling down a well or off a haymow ?" No, ma'am." "Joseph is awful reckless, but mebbe he's got through all right. Anything about a mad dog biting anybody, or a gun busting and blowing a man's head off while he was shooting at a hawk ?" Nothing whatever. I think you will get home to find everything all right." I hope so, but two weeks is a long time to be away, and I'm naturally given to worry more or less. I expect the pigs have got into the garden two or three times, and I 'spose the colts have broken out agin and Joseph has left the cellar-door open every night, but if it's no worse I shall be a thankful woman." Here is an item about a farmer running away with his hired girl while his wife was absent," said the man, as he turned the paper. Do tell Wall, that don't skeer me any. I didn't leave no hired girl there, and Joseph is so awfully homely that even the sheep dodge him. Much obleeged to you. I expect to find things a little topsy-turvy,but I guess there ain't no call to worry,"
HE STOOD PAT. --
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HE STOOD PAT. It was on a Sixth-avenue surface car, A young woman occupied one end of a seat and a young man the other. The young woman was perfectly sober, the young man had in- dulged in three glasses of beer. The con- ductor came along the outside of the car to colleot the fares, and as the young woman was far away she handed her nickel to the young man. He received it, looked at her for a moment through his tears, and then said as he passed it on I accept the responsibility and thank you for the confidence reposed in my integrity. Never beat a woman on a street-car out of a nickel in my life. Booze a little now aud then, but I stand pat on my record for honesty," She started to look confused and em- barrassed, but he fell asleep in about half a minute and she changed her mind.
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THE FINE OLD WELSH DRINK.—Special Notice. —Mr. Morgan W. James, manufacturing chemist, Llanelly, desires all customers for the "Fine Old Welsh Drink" to send in their orders early, so that the drink may be delivered in good time, and thus prevent delay during the busy BGaeon which iJ q9.tf Ja3 ppproicWng. 633t,
A Mortal Duel. .« : ,
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A Mortal Duel. « U I always had a great horror of snakes, said Lieutenant Marsden, of the -tb Bengal Native Infantry, leaning back in his deck- chair with the air of a man who had a long story before him; and so you may think what a time I had when I first came out to Bengal, where they're as thick as pease in the wet season. I haven't forgotten yet what a scare I got one morning, when I found a big fellow snugly coiled up right under my bath, just as I was going to step into it; and how- ever carefully my servants might have over- hauled my bed, I never turned in without going through the whole business myself all over again, for fear of finding a snake curled up between the sheets or under the pillow. I got so nervous about it at last that, as if it wasn't enough to light upon a real snake at every corner, I began to imagine them even where there weren't any at all. One morning, awaking earlier than usual, I thought I saw a small green one crawling over the chair on which I had laid my clothes; and, after all, it turned out to be nothing more thnn the green book-marker of my diary hanging out of my coat pocket, "Another time a facetious chum of mine amused himself by putting an india-rubber tube into one of my boots, and I-of course taking it for a snake-nearly stamped out the boot sole in trying to crush it, to the great delight of the other fellows. In short, so long as my snake fever lasted, I was a regular nuisance to myself and everyone about me. A fter awhile, however, I began to get over it and and not to bother my head about these 1 indigenous creepers at all but I wasn't to get off without a genuine snake adventure, and a pretty exciting one, too, as you shall hear. One sultry afternoon I was lying in my hammock in the verandah, eating fruit and biscuits (for it was too hot to do anything else), when all] at once I saw a little, sharp- nosed, bright-eyed creature covered with smooth hair—like a sort of cross between a bandicoot rat and a squirrel —come creeping along the floor. I threw it a bit of banana, and at first it seemed satisfied, and made as if it would run away; but presently it turned back again and snapped up the. fruit, which it seemed to approve of highly. I gave it another bit and then a piece of biscuit, and by degrees it began to get more familiar, and appeared quite in- clined to make friends. But just them one of my men came running across the courtyard, and the sound of the footsteps scared it away. The next day, however, it came back again, and by this time it seemed to have quite got over its first shyness, and took readily enough whatever I gave it. After we had been on visiting terms for two or three days, Tommy' (as I had named my four- footed chum) got to be so friendly that he would climb up on to my hammock or chair, and let me stroke him and hold him in my hand, just as if he'd been a kitten. I got to be quite fond of him at last. Just about this time I managed somehow or other to catch a low fever, which, though it wasn't what you'd call dangerous, left me as weak as water. In fact, for three or four days I could't even raise myself in bed with- out help. Well, one day-it'll be long enough before I forget it-I had sent away the native boy who used to sit beside me, telling him I was going to have a nap. it was the very hottest time of the day and everyone was either smoking, lounging, or fast asleep; and it wasn't long before I fell asleep to. How long I slept I have no idea, but when I awoke it was still so hot and I was so drowsy that I was just going to doze off again, when I caught sight of something that woke me up in good earnest. Creeping into the room from the verandah, coil after coil, was a huge hooded cobra,' the deadliest snake in all India, more than 7ft. long, and as thick as a man's arm. It was evidently meaning to attack me; and there I lay, too weak to lift my hand, all alone, and with no one anywhere within hearing. For a moment I was fairly dumb with horror and then, although I knew it was no use, I instinctively called for help; but my voice was so weak that it couldn't even have been heard in the next room. "On came the snake, rearing up its horrid spotted head angrily, and blowing out its hood, as it always does when it means mis- chief. It had already got to the foot of the b-d, and was just preparing to crawl up, when I heard a skirr of tiny feet across the floor, and I saw my squirrel-rat friend, little Tommy. The brave little fellow never hesitated for a moment, but went right at the cobra like a tiger, and gave it a bite that drew blood like the cut of a knife. For a moment the snake drew back, and a quiver went all through it, which showed that it was hard hit; but it pulled itself together at onc., threw back its head viciously and struck at poor Tommy with all its force. But Tommy dodged the stroke cleverly, and fastening on the cobra, tooth and nail, gave him a second bite worse than the first, wounding him so severely that he was evidently weakened, and began to show signs of giving way. From the bed where I lay I could see the whole battle quite plainly; and you may think how trying it was for me to have to lie there helplessly while a duel was being fought out upon which my life depended. But it didn't take me long to find out how the fight was going to end, for the cobra had the worst of it from the very beginning. Do what he might, let him try as hard as he pleased to strike his enemy or to ooil round him, the snake might as well have tried to hurt a shadow. Brave little Tommy escaped him every time, and repaid each new attack with a fresh bite, making old scaly-back twist and wriggle like a speared eel, "At last the cobra, in its writhing and flopping about, knooked over a small table with a lot of glasses on it, which came down with a crash that might have woke up a country policeman on duty. The next moment there was a shout and a scurry out- side, and my chum, Harry Templeton, came bursting headlong into the room, just as the valiant Tommy got hold of the snake by the throat and fairly bit its head off. Hollo cried Harry, < What on earth has been going on here ? Why, my poor old fellow! to think of your being left to face that horrid brute all alone, and you not able to stir, too If I'd only known I would have been in to help you like a shot. Well, thank God it is all right now. But where on earth did you pick up that mongoose f" "'What sort of a goose do you call him ?' asked I, in surprise. I never knew before that a goose had four feet t" "Pooh!' said Harry; 'you're not going to pretend that you don't know what a mongoose is ? Why, man, they are the greatest serpent- killers alive; and if it hadn't been for that one, you'd have been as dead as a door nail by this time. I only wish we had a dozen more of 'em here in the cantonment, to olear off these confounded-anakea." "Thus it was that I found out that my little friend Tommy was a specimen of the snake-killing mongoose of India, and that my friendship with him had aotually saved my life. You may be sure that I made a greater pet of him than ever after THAT.—DAYID M lUsEBB'a yowG jPfimE." <
Footlight Flashes,'
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Footlight Flashes, By "CRITiCUS." The play's the thing.-HAMLET. Mr. Wilson Barrett, it is stated, will shorllf essay the part of Othello in the provinces. The Late Lamented" reached its 150th repre- sentation on Friday evening at the Strand. Richnrd-Heniy's domes'ic drama "First Mare" is now played in front of "Joan of Are at the Gaiety. On SOltltrday evening The Parson," a farcical comedy in three üCLs, was produced tentatively at the Globe. -to On Monday, the 19, h Inst., the tr:pe prognmtiia now being; performed at Lhe Shaitesoury will be transferred to Toolo's. Mr. Daniel Frohtnan, of New York, announces that the present is positively the last tour which Mr. and Mrs. Kendal will undertake in America. The title role in Miss Helyett" has been re- sumed by Miss Neaviil-1, who has been nbsent from the Ciiteriou bill for a few days through illness. Mr. D ily's next production at the Lyceum will b'J "As You Like It," although, owing to the success of The Last Word," the exact date of the revival still remains somewhat indefinite. Later on The School for Scandal" is to be performed. At the Avenue, rehearsals of "The Crusaders," the title given by Mr. Henry Arthur Jones to his new play, are proceeding daily; but the absence through illness or other reasons of some of the principal members of the cast precludes as yet the possibility of fixing the exact day of production. On Tuesday next Sir Augustus Harris will commence a seafon of opera at Covent Gardens; consequently the promenade concerts are in their last nights. Despite the fears of many, Sir Augustus has proved that his operatic matinees at Drury Lane were much wanted by our suburban friends. Saturday week the repetition of "Carmen'' drew a fine audience, which appeared delighted with the work and the manner in which it, was performed. Last Saturday The Bohemia." Girl was represented. Mr. Edwnrd Compton will shortly begin nt the Oppra Comique a series of Wednesday matinees, during which a selection of old comediea is to bo pmented. At the first of these—to be given on the 28th inst., or, at least on the 4th of November —Mr. C >mpton will appear as young Wilding in Charles Mathews's version of Foote's comedy The Liar." In front of thi, is to be played a blank- versa "dramatic fra.-nient"-as the author, Mr. F. Moora modestly describes his work-in which Miss Wallis will probab'y assume the lealing part. Other revivals are to follow in due couise; it being Mr. Compton's intentions, however, only to produce piecea belonging to the clil repertoire which have not been seen in London f.'r some time. Thus, such well-known comedies as The School for Scandtil," The Rivals," and She Stoops to Conquer" will be cschewed in favour of others with which the present gcnelation is .'Ouie- what less familiar.
A MAN OF EXPERIENCE.
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A MAN OF EXPERIENCE. Rural Youth What's them things called Dealer These are bicycles. I've spen em, but I couldn't think of the name. I'd like ter ride one." Can you ride a bicycle ?" Or course. Nuthin ter do but sit on top and work the wheels, that's all, ain't it ?" f. Yes, but you are apt to fall at first." fl S'pose I do. Can't do more than hit the ground, can I ?" N-o." "Then what's to hurt?" You might come down hard, you know." "But it's only the ground—no knives or things like that on the thing, is there ?" HOb, no." INuthin to worry 'bout then. I've drnv a hay rake. Good Ae ivs.
COULDN'T SEE THE MAYOR.
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COULDN'T SEE THE MAYOR. A coloured man, who was evidently a stranger in New York, was crossing City Mall Park when he met a young coloured man; with a cigar in his mouth and his hat slanted over his left ear. They stopped and looked at each other for half a minute, and then the young fellow said: Boy, I knows who yo' is. Yo' has come up yere from Virginny to hit yo'self a job." Dat's so." But yo' hain't hit it." No, sah." An' yo' is dun gone broke an' wants to see de mayor an' ax him for money to get back home on." « Dat's it." Well, sah, yo' can't see de mayor. He's dun gone away on a vacashun. I'ze ysre, howeber, and 1'ze gwine to give yo' dese two nickels and advise yo' to git yo'self right back home wid all possible soon- ness an' stay dar. Yo' is hayseed all ober, yo' is, an' de wonder is dat some white man hain't dun buncoed vo' out o' mo' dan two thousand dollars afo' dis!"
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"Ah, Jonesy, old man," said Hicks, as he and Jones walked home from the club; "there's a light in the window for you. You married men By George, so there is returned Jones. Let's go back to the club," Mrs. X.: I don't imagine Mr. and Mrs. Nothink get on very well together. Mr. X.: They seem to be happy. Mrs. X. I kuow it, but when I asked Nothink the other day how he liked married life he said happiness was no name for it. (I I see," said Stubbs, "that Dr. Michael Foster tells the British Association that smok- ing tobacco produces defective vision do you believe it ?" Oh, I am sure of it," replied Mrs. S., "for I saw your friend Butts last evening puffing away, quite unconscious that there were several ladies in the room." Waiter A guest has ordered frogs' legs on toast, and we have none left. What shall I say to him ? Proprietor: Tell him that wo have some, but that you wouldn't care to offer them to him. That will give him the impres- sion that you wish to serve him well, and at .the same time it will keep up the reputation of the house, —— One of Philadelphia's most prominen physicians, while in Virginia; wandered into a village court-room where a trial was in pro- gress. As he entered, a dispute which was being carried on between the prosecution and defence as to the advisability of admitting a certain letter as evidence was ended by the judge's desiring that the letter be given to him in order that he might decide the matter. When the letter was handed to him he put on his speotacles, turned it first inside out, then upside down, then sideways, examining carefully all the time. What's the matter with the judge ?" asked Dr. Blank of a bystander. If Why doesn't he read the letter P" "Pshaw," said the man, with a world of contempt in his tore, he can't read readin'-readin', let alone writin'-readin'l"
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GENERAL COMPLAINT is made of the indigesti- bility of the ordinary cocoas of commerce, it having been lately shown bv the medioal profession that the alkalies too often used by the ioceign manufacturers, combined with the fatty matters, itorm a soapy result which is most deleterious to health. In the case of cocoas made with care, suoli as MosM, Cadbury's, these pbjectioflfl do QOfc Stview. Lc5